Study blames global warming for shrinking species

WASHINGTON - A study that finds many of the world's species are shrinking in size is prompting scientific debate over why.

The authors think it's probably due to global warming but other scientists are saying not so fast.

The new research was published online Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

It's based on a review of other studies and found that 38 of 85 animal and plant species showed a documented reduction in size over decades.

The shrinking victims, according to the study, include cotton, corn, strawberries, bay scallops, shrimp, crayfish, carp, Atlantic salmon and many others, including polar bears.

Some scientists say changes in size of species are a natural phenomenon in response to living conditions.

Stanford biologist Terry Root, an expert in climate change, said the study's conclusions "seem kind of far-fetched."

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