An ant study in Katherine is looking at the serious implications of climate change.
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University of New England PhD student Sean Moore has connected with Casuarina Street Primary School to research the impacts of the earth warming by five degrees.
About 50 year four students are contributing to the Australia wide research project.
Mr Moore said the study is mimicking predicted future conditions.
“Five degrees will change the biology of ants completely,” he said.
“If changes in climate impact ants that will have a flow on effect for the rest of the eco system.”
Science teacher Anthony Bartlett said the study is an exciting way for the students to gain a better understanding of climate change.
“The students are very excited, they’ve meet the scientist driving the research, so it is real for them,” Mr Bartlett said.
“It is really about connecting kids to real science experiments,” he said.
The young science students have created a greenhouse for the ant experiment.
Using vials filled with six different substances they are able to assess the foraging habits of ant species inside and outside the green house depending on different temperatures.
The two-year study is likely to show increasing heat makes it difficult for ants to forage.
While this is an Australia wide study, Mr Moore has established more than 20 sites, mostly along the Stuart Highway, in schools and community groups.
The sites will be able to show comparisons across different rainfall zones.
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