Why Some Animals Are Shrinking

• This video provides evidence to show that animals are shrinking in a warmer climate. Evidence includes graphs and pictures with changes in bird size over the past 40 years and references to articles that discuss shrinking amphibians and mammals. 
• The video also describes the consequences of changing animal sizes. Animals may not be able to migrate as far, they may have fewer offspring, and there can be major ecological consequences as interspecific relationships change. 
• While not all animals may shrink, and some may even grow large, the physiology, ecology, and consequences of these changes is examined and explained. The mechanisms of selection pressure and developmental plasticity are explained.

Positives

• The video is concise and provides evidence and great visuals for an interesting consequence of a warming climate to animals.
• The video provides an excellent background for individuals who would like to broadly study climate change consequences to animals.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be familiar with the concepts of climate change, adaptation, and natural selection.

Differentiation

• Extra attention may need to be spent in explaining the difference in developmental plasticity and adaptation via natural selection.
• Consider having students choose an animal that was listed in the video and research any changes they may be experiencing due to climate change.
• Another resource that is related and may be of interest is Arctic Animals' Movement Patterns are Shifting in Different Ways as the Climate Changes.

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