A population of red deer on a Scottish island are providing scientists with the first evidence of wild animals evolving differently due to man-made climate change.<\/p>\n
A new study into the deer living on the small Hebridean island of Rum reveals genetic changes believed to be related to a warming climate mean the animals are giving birth slightly earlier each year.<\/p>\n
Using data from previous research going back to the 1970s, the team, which includes scientists from the University of Edinburgh, found average birth dates were getting earlier at a rate of about three days per decade, partly due to the effects of warmer temperatures on the deers behaviour and physiology.<\/p>\n
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines<\/p>\n
Now, scientists have revealed that genetic changes caused by natural selection the theory of evolution developed by Charles Darwin are also involved.<\/p>\n
Female red deer called hinds give birth to a single calf each year, and those that reproduce earlier in the year have more offspring over their lifetime, researchers say.<\/p>\n
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Yongqing Bao\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Night glow by Cruz Erdmann, New Zealand<\/p>\n
Cruz Erdmann\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Tapestry of life by Zorica Kovacevic, Serbia\/USA<\/p>\n
Zorica Kovacevic\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
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Audun Rikardsen\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
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Max Waugh\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
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Ingo Arndt\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Creation by Luis Vilario Lopez, Spain<\/p>\n
Luis Vilario Lopez\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
The huddle by Stefan Christmann, Germany<\/p>\n
Stefan Christmann\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Humming surprise by Thomas Easterbrook, UK<\/p>\n
Thomas Easterbrook\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Another barred migrant by Alejandro Prieto, Mexico<\/p>\n
Alejandro Prieto\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Frozen moment by Jrmie Villet, France<\/p>\n
Jrmie Villet\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Early riser by Riccardo Marchgiani, Italy<\/p>\n
Riccardo Marchegiani\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Pondworld by Manuel Plaickner, Italy<\/p>\n
Manuel Plaickner\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Face of deception by Ripan Biswas, India<\/p>\n
Ripan Biswas\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
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Shangzhen Fan\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/p>\n
Their findings show that this is partly because of an association between the genes that make hinds give birth earlier and higher overall reproductive success. As a result, genes for breeding earlier have become more common in the Rum deer population over time.<\/p>\n
A red deer calf on the Isle of Rum, Scotland (J Pemberton\/University of Edinburgh) <\/p>\n
Dr Timothee Bonnet, of the Australian National University, who led the study, said: This is one of the few cases where we have documented evolution in action, showing that it may help populations adapt to climate warming.<\/p>\n
Professor Josephine Pemberton, of the University of Edinburghs School of Biological Sciences, who was also involved in the study, said: Long-term studies of individual lifetimes are one of the few ways to understand how populations respond to environmental change and how to manage its effects.<\/p>\n
Sally Thomas, Scottish Natural Heritages director of people and nature, said: These findings are a fascinating example of the impact climate change may be having on wildlife. More and more research is demonstrating climate change is influencing species across the UK and the world.<\/p>\n
The research is published in the journal PLOSBiology.<\/p>\n
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Red deer show first evidence of animal evolution in response to climate change, study reveals - The Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A population of red deer on a Scottish island are providing scientists with the first evidence of wild animals evolving differently due to man-made climate change. A new study into the deer living on the small Hebridean island of Rum reveals genetic changes believed to be related to a warming climate mean the animals are giving birth slightly earlier each year. Continue reading