Researchers at the University of Southampton have forecast a worldwide move towards smaller birds and mammals over the next 100 years. In the future, small, fast-lived, highly-fertile, insect-eating animals, which can thrive in a wide-variety of habitats, will predominate. These ‘winners’ include rodents, such as dwarf gerbil – and songbirds, such as the white-browed sparrow-weaver. Less adaptable, slow-lived species, requiring specialist environmental conditions, will likely fall victim of extinction. These ‘losers’ include the tawny eagle and black rhinoceros. The researchers predict the average (median) body mass of mammals specifically will collectively reduce by 25 per cent over the next century. To view the full article visit the Environmental News Network.
