In the period 1880 to 2020, intraspecific body-size variation increased in many mammal and bird species in North America, along with declines in average body size. These results suggest potential buffering effects against species downsizing and species capacity to cope with environmental change, but warn of an increasing possibility of maladaptation.
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This is a summary of: Zheng, S., Hu, J., Ma, Z., Lindenmayer, D. & Liu, J. Increases in intraspecific body size variation are common amongst North American mammals and birds between 1880 and 2020. Nat. Ecol. Evol., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01967-w (2023).
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Increasing body-size variation in many downsizing North American mammals and birds. Nat Ecol Evol 7, 318–319 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01969-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01969-8
