Climate change is altering squirrels' sperm.
Climate change is altering squirrels' sperm
New research has found that animals living in the Canadian Prairies that emerged from hibernation in unusually long winters were discovered to "shoot blanks".
The discovery led to experts from the University of Manitoba to examine squirrels in hotter African countries and determined that they grow larger feet due to the warmer temperatures.
The changes among squirrels are deemed "non-lethal" but are warning signs of more considerable consequences that could endanger entire ecosystems.
The boffins explained that this "study adds to the growing evidence that animal morphologies are changing in response to changing climatic conditions, although it remains to be seen whether these changes are adaptive".
Jane Waterman, head of the Behavioural, Ecological and Evolutionary Research Lab at the University of Manitoba said: "Our study, and the studies of many others, are showing us that nature, in some cases, can respond quickly to rapid environmental changes.
"Humans need to be mindful of all effects of climate change, even 'small' ones so we can respond with deliberate, swift action as needed."