DISQUS

EML · 5 months ago

Uh, you are all aware that species on isolated areas (usually island) frequently get smaller as food supplies are limited and a smaller body uses less calories. So, nature adapts to allow an increased gene pool, by decreasing the size of the species so that more can be born into the same limited ecosystem, right? The news articles that I've read on this topic do not deal with that issue. Not having read the research of the study, I cannot ascertain whether they adjusted their model for this already frequently observed and documented effect.

PattyP · 5 months ago

Yes, and I'd venture a guess the scientists observing these sheep are aware of that too. I'm willing to further guess that they've taken that into account and found it a less compelling reason.

EML · 5 months ago

Oh and scientist never leave out important information to make their research more newsworthy, provacative and interesting for financial support?!?! Just like Doctors never take money from pharmaceutical companies to promote their drugs. Right. Do you want to buy some swamp land in AZ too?

PattyP · 5 months ago

Ethical scientists don't. You have no more reason to assume these scientists fudged their data than I to assume they're on the level. However, a quick scan of the literature reveals that Tim Coulson has been studying this sheep population for several years. Of course we have only his word, which is why we each should spend some time researching his findings to gain a better understanding of both the research and of the scientists themselves. In fact you can read a more detailed article at http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/4523....

As for the AZ swampland, thanks but no thanks. I live in Florida and have plenty of swampland access already. ;-)

kaysea · 5 months ago

I suppose next that North Korean's have gotten smaller because of climate change!

imapopulistnow · 5 months ago

Chris in Paris: T H I N K !!!

PattyP · 5 months ago

I have little doubt that most animals and plants are going to end up being more adaptable to climate change than the human species. We're terrified of giving up our luxuries and comforts, whereas the natural world (of which we're increasingly less a part) has far fewer such concerns. We could learn so much from the "less intelligent" creatures that surround us if we'd only take the time. They survive by instinct; sadly, we've lost that ability.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

I believe there are plenty of other species that will adapt, as well, but the eco-systems and humans will not adapt as rapidly, or if we do adapt it will be because we've actually caused such a crisis that a large percentage of us will rapidly die in the process. It won't be business as usual that is for sure! I smaller percentage of humans might survive and adapt but it will be more of a more awful "Water World-esque" kind of scenario and cause massive death, suffering and political changes. I'm not arguing your point just adding my two cents. ;)

GoBlue · 5 months ago

"Scottish sheep shrinking" -- try saying that fast three times.

Beep · 5 months ago

There's also something called the "Island Effect" where animals on islands always shrink in size.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

I heard this on NPR yesterday, and was just fascinated because of the different variables they identified, like expansion of herd size along with the longer grazing period, that was causing the more rapid shrinkage... At the end of the show they joked in a hundred years a chihuahua might be chasing pygmy sheep on the island.

My illustrious Oklahoma Senators Coburn and Inhofe still claim they believe climate change is a business conspiracy...

KaySea · 5 months ago

The title truly made me wonder if the study accurately leads to that conclusion. I am confident that there is at least one far more critically relevant factor than climate change that may be causing the sheep to get smaller.

My initial impressions were "Was the climate/temperature readings reliably taken each day?" And "Did those temperatures change in proportion to sheep weight?" But upon questioning these things a far more likely relevant factor hit me, "Wasn't evolutions 'survival of the fittest' the main reason that anything changed?" A far more relevant factor couldn't accurately ignore "For example, in 1989, the population fell by two-thirds within 12 weeks." where the carrying capacity of the island was exceeded. I can only wonder if the sheep population had ever stabilized since the island was evacuated of humans, or if any island of such small size can really ever number stabilize a large mammal population. I'd like to know how sheep weight and size changed after 1989 for a few years, when the island had opportunity for vegetation regrowth to feed much less sheep. I'll bet size and weight increased, regardless of any tangible climate change.

I look forward to any opportunity to challenge the authors of this consensus to determine its accuracy on climate change being a relevant factor for the analysis one way or the other.

Thanks,
KaySea

kaysea · 5 months ago

What a joke. I suppose next that North Korean's have gotten smaller because of climate change!

I am confident that there is at least one far more critically relevant factor than climate change that may be causing the sheep to get smaller.
My initial impressions were "Was the climate/temperature readings reliably taken each day?" And "Did those temperatures change in proportion to sheep weight?" But upon questioning these things a far more likely relevant factor hit me, "Wasn't evolutions 'survival of the fittest' the main reason that anything changed?" A far more relevant factor couldn't accurately ignore "For example, in 1989, the population fell by two-thirds within 12 weeks." where the 'carrying capacity' of the island was exceeded. I can only wonder if the sheep population ever stabilized since the island was evacuated of human predators, or if any island of such size can really ever number stabilize a large-mammal population. I'd like to know how sheep weight and size changed after 1989 for a few years, when the island had opportunity for vegetation regrowth to feed much less sheep. I'll bet size and weight increased, regardless of any tangible climate change.

I look forward to any opportunity to challenge the authors to determine its accuracy on climate change being a relevant factor for the analysis one way or the other.

Thanks,
KaySea