Climate change triggered dwarfism in creatures of the past

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-10/nsf-cct100609.php

Public release date: 6-Oct-2009
Contact: Cheryl Dybas
National Science Foundation
Climate change triggered dwarfism in soil-dwelling creatures of the past
Ancient soil biota decreased in size by up to 46 percent during period 55 million years ago

Ancient soil-inhabiting creatures decreased in body size by nearly half in response to a period of boosted carbon dioxide levels and higher temperatures, scientists have discovered.

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The PETM was a short interval 55 million years ago marked by a spike in the atmosphere's carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures, conditions being repeated on Earth now.

The study is the first to establish that soil biota experienced a loss in size similar to mammals, which were reduced in size by as much as 50 percent during the PETM.

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The researchers attribute dwarfism in soil-dwelling creatures to faster rates of development in individuals, along with decreasing life spans.

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