Animals Shrink with Climate Change

According to a recently released study, a tremendous increase in carbon over 50 million years ago caused the planet to warm by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result of the temperature rise, some animals survived by shrinking in size, sometimes by as much as 50 percent. About a third of the existing mammals at the time reacted to the hotter temperatures by shrinking.

Researchers say during the hotter period there were horses the size of pet cats. Other species such as beetles, bees, spiders, algae, gophers, woodrats and some birds were also smaller. That such animal shrinkage happened on a large scale all those millions of years ago points to the potential for it to happen again, as the planet once again undergoes an increase in surface temperatures.

“This has implications, potentially, for what we might expect to see over the next century or two, at least with some of the climate models that are predicting that we will see warming of as much as four degrees centigrade over the next 100 years,” said researcher Ross Secord of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. (Source: Calgary Herald)

One explanation for animal shrinkage during hotter periods, is the increase in metabolic rate for cold-blooded animals which means they either have to consume more food or shrink in size. Warm-blooded animals do well in colder climates because a larger body size helps conserve energy, but in warmer temperatures they can experience size reductions. It has already been documented some polar bears are shrinking.

The current climate change situation is happening much faster than the temperature increase over 50 million years ago, which could cause extinctions because the animals don’t have enough time to adapt.

Image Credit: arjecahn

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Debbie C.

8:34AM PDT on Mar 30, 2012

The article said it would take 100 - 200 years to see the shrinkage in animals. I'm glad I won't be here. I like the size they are now.

send a green star

Jay W.

4:06AM PST on Mar 2, 2012

i wish i could shrink my body mass lol

Muriel S.

1:19PM PST on Mar 1, 2012

It's not the first time I've heard that.

Manuela B.

3:36PM PST on Feb 28, 2012

i don't think so....

Pinke A.

5:47PM PST on Feb 26, 2012

Somehow this doesn't feel right! So we humans are just getting taller??-while the animals are shrinking??

Ainsley C.

4:26PM PST on Feb 26, 2012

There is absolutely no evidence for the claims/ comments you are making. therefore how are we able to assess the veracity of the climbs made. please bring some real science into these comments.

Past Member .

4:07PM PST on Feb 26, 2012

Have you ever wondered why animals suffer?

Duane B.

4:05PM PST on Feb 26, 2012

Thank you for sharing.

Helle H.

4:03PM PST on Feb 26, 2012

What's the explanation for the humans to get higher and higher then?

Mary B.

11:23AM PST on Feb 26, 2012

Interesting, what is your source of information such as climatologist studies? Siting your sources makes you more believable.