Student Article
Animals Evolve Larger Limbs to Adapt to Rising Temperatures
Evolutionary (adjective): Relating to the gradual development of organisms over time.
Morphological (adjective): Relating to the form or structure of organisms.
Endothermic (adjective): Describing animals that maintain a constant body temperature through internal means.
Dissipation (noun): The process of dispersing or spreading out energy, such as heat.
Resilience (noun): The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adapt to change.
Climate change is accelerating evolutionary changes in warm-blooded animals.
Bigger body parts, better cooling
Recent research indicates that climate change is prompting morphological adaptations in warm-blooded animals, enabling them to better regulate body temperature in response to rising global temperatures. A study published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution highlights that species such as birds and mammals are exhibiting increases in the size of appendages like ears, beaks, and limbs.
Parrots are growing bigger beaks
This adaptive trend is consistent with Allen's Rule, which posits that endothermic animals in warmer climates develop larger appendages to facilitate heat dissipation. For example, several Australian parrot species, including the crimson rosella, have experienced a 4% to 10% increase in beak size since 1871. In North America, the dark-eyed junco shows a correlation between bill size and short-term temperature extremes.
How scientists know this is happening
These morphological changes, though subtle, represent significant evolutionary responses occurring over relatively short timescales. Researchers are employing 3D scanning techniques on historical museum specimens to analyze these shifts over the past century.
Will animals be able to keep up?
However, scientists caution that such adaptations do not guarantee survival for all species. The rapid pace of climate change may outstrip the ability of some organisms to adapt, leading to potential declines or extinctions. Ongoing studies, including genetic analyses, aim to identify which species possess the resilience to withstand these environmental pressures.
© Alice Lipscombe-Southwell / Our Media
Evolutionary (adjective): Relating to the gradual development of organisms over time.
Morphological (adjective): Relating to the form or structure of organisms.
Endothermic (adjective): Describing animals that maintain a constant body temperature through internal means.
Dissipation (noun): The process of dispersing or spreading out energy, such as heat.
Resilience (noun): The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adapt to change.