Slow worms react quickly to climate change
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 - 12:50
in Earth & Climate
Evolution can react surprisingly quickly to climate change -- at least for an important species of earthworms. For seven years, scientists have exposed the natural habitat of Enchytraeidae to a warmer (+0.5 degrees C) and drier climate by ingenious use of curtains. Twelve percent of the genetic changes found in the worms could be directly attributed to the small changes in the soil temperature and moisture.