Climate Change Makes Animals, People 'Shrink'

Drawing on several scientific papers, the Telegraph reports that warmer, drier weather makes plants and animals get smaller, which reduces food supplies for those higher up the food chain. "The consequences of shrinkage are not yet fully understood, but could be far-reaching for biodiversity and humans alike," two scientists say.

Toads, tortoises, red deer, and other animals have already been shrinking this century—which is no surprise, considering that invertebrates shrank by up to 75% during an earlier global warming (we're talking 55 million years ago). As for people, we're likely to eat smaller portions and face greater vulnerability to disease. Read the full report here.

Source: by Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff.