Hundreds of species show signs of adapting to a warming climate | Science & technology
In some species of Australian parrot, for instance, beak size has increased by between 4% and 10% since 1871. Another study, this time in North American dark-eyed juncos, another bird, found the same pattern. Similar trends are seen in mammals, with species of mice, shrews and bats evolving bigger ears, tails, legs and wings.
Ms Ryding examined museum specimens, comparing their bodies to those of their modern counterparts. She is not the first researcher to take that approach. But it is hard, when dealing with individual species, to prove that climate change was the cause of an anatomical alteration. All sorts of other factors, from changes in prey to the evolving reproductive preferences of males or females, might conceivably have been driving the changes.
For now, at least, the increase is small, never much more than 10%. That may change as warming accelerates. Since any evolutionary adaptation comes with trade-offs, it is unclear how far the process might go. Bigger beaks might interfere with feeding, for instance. Larger wings are heavier, and bigger legs cost more energy to grow.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Little more than swimming heads’: new marine fossil discovered in CanadaTitanokorys gainesi, a sea creature that was half a metre in size was a giant among others that lived around the same time, 500 million years ago
Read more »
Debunked Ivermectin sterility study only had sample size of 37 peopleInfertility is not a known side effect of Ivermectin, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Read more »
In American Crime Story: Impeachment, Pivotal Historical Moments Are Explained by Body HangupsThe show's fixation on women's bodies is gratuitous and cruel
Read more »
A Rape, A Pregnancy, and a Plea to Texas LawmakersNo one should be treated as a criminal for deciding what’s right for their body.
Read more »
Keith Urban opens up about 15 years of sobriety and effects of dad’s alcohol strugglesThe country music star also shared why he doesn't talk much about his sobriety and its relation to the views of his fans.
Read more »