Climate Change Causing Shape-shifting Across the Southeast

By: Abby Wagner | June 21, 2022

Climate change is rapidly altering the animal and plant species in the Southeast. Researchers are unsure what the long-term effects of these shifts are.

Animals are experiencing shape-shifting across the Southeast due to increased temperatures caused by climate change. Growth in body mass and appendages is positively correlated to increases in temperature.

Since the 1970s, roughly the beginning of the industrial revolution, climate change has increased annual temperatures in the Southeast by 2 F, and temperatures are estimated to rise 4 – 8 F more during this century, stated the EPA’s report on Climate issues in the Southeast.

According to Sara Ryding’s article in the Cell Press Journal, shape-shifting is the proportional increase of appendage size (tail or ears) or general body mass and temperature. In her article, Ryding stated that, “shape-shifting is an underappreciated response to climatic warming.”

In an interview with Science Daily, Ryding said that, “the increases in appendage size we see so far are quite small — less than 10% — so the changes are unlikely to be immediately noticeable. However, prominent appendages such as ears are predicted to increase — so we might end up with a live-action Dumbo in the not-so-distant future.”

In the Southeast, the North American Dark-eyed Junco, a small songbird common in the fall and winter months, have an increased beak size that matches the increase in average temperature, stated Science Daily’s article. This data represents Allen’s rule, which, according to Ryding’s article in the Cell Press Journal, states that larger appendages balance body heat better for warmer climates. Similarly, researchers have found increases in the Wood mouse’s tail that corresponds to the warming climate in the Southeast.

Not only are animals facing changes due to climate change. Throughout the Southeast, natural vegetation and agriculture are shifting as well. For example, the EPA’s report on Climate Impacts in the Southeast stated that, “production of crops that need chilling periods, such as many fruits, may need to shift northward with warming temperatures.”

Although it might seem like shapeshifting is a positive attribute in the face of climate challenges, Ryding told Science Daily reporters that, “shapeshifting does not mean that animals are coping with climate change and that all is fine. It just means they are evolving to survive it — but we’re not sure what the other ecological consequences of these changes are, or indeed that all species are capable of changing and surviving.”