Fish are shrinking in response to global warming: study
Similar to Scottish sheep, global warming appears to be having a major affect on the size of fish
- Individual species of fish lost an average of 50% of their body mass over the past 20 to 30 years
- Smaller fish species are making up a larger portion of European fish stocks
- Smaller fish tend to produce fewer eggs and provide less sustinance for predators - including humans. Major changes in the size of fish can have "a significant impact on organisms in general".
An excerpt of the article is below. Read the full story at Yahoo! News.
Fish are shrinking in response to global warming: study
AFP, July 20, 2009
CHICAGO (AFP) – Fish have lost half their average body mass and smaller species are making up a larger proportion of European fish stocks as a result of global warming, a study published Monday has found.
"It's huge," said study author Martin Daufresne of the Cemagref Public Agricultural and Environmental Research Institute in Lyon, France.
"Size is a fundamental characteristic that is linked to a number of biological functions, such as fecundity - the capacity to reproduce."Smaller fish tend to produce fewer eggs. They also provide less sustenance for predators - including humans - which could have significant implications for the food chain and ecosystem.
Read the full article at Yahoo! News.
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