Posted on 05/25/2018 6:27:11 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
... A new study published in Nature Scientific Reports suggests that there is a strong relationship between the quantity and duration of snow in a forest in Poland during the winter and the number of weasels wearing white the following winter. Clearly this is not a fashion decision on the part of the local weasel population.
The scientists behind the study looked at two subspecies of the rather charmingly named “least weasel”, Mustela nivalis nivalis, which does change its colour in the winter, and Mustela nivalis vulgaris, which does not.
When there is deep snow, weasels of both colours tend to hunt underneath it, which, after all, is where the small rodents are, so the predation rates for both species are reduced. In periods of winter without snow, however, white weasels are much more conspicuous than brown ones. In recent years, because of climate change, there have been more days without snow, and the date when snow disappears in the spring has become progressively earlier.
The conclusion of the study is that the proportion of white weasels in the population is influenced by predation rates due to lack of camouflage during the previous winter.
The issue of having the wrong coat for the weather is not confined to weasels. At least 22 species change their coat colour in winter including snowshoe hares, mountain hares and Arctic foxes. The various hare species face similar problems to weasels and arctic foxes, in so far as they are more vulnerable to predation when they are not camouflaged.
The potential loss of this beautiful and unique subspecies of the least weasel because of anthropogenic climate change will be one more crime to be laid at the door of humanity.
(Excerpt) Read more at theconversation.com ...
I dunno. I can still spot Rod Rosenstein at 50 paces.
So now it’s weasel fur. Evidently everything everywhere is due to Global Warming.
Got some rust on that old car of yours? That was caused by Global Warming. You misplaced your house keys? That was caused by Global Warming. Your kid couldn’t get into an Ivy league school? That was caused by Global Warming.
One of the weasels is called Al Gore.
This sounds eerily like the Peppered Moth hoax and Lysenkoism.
Plug the volcanoes!
Yes, climate change. Winter changed to summer.
How about that Canadian snowy owl that made it all the way to southern Kentucky by my house a few weeks ago? The’ve not been this far south before. Hmmmmm.
"Eagles may soar,
but weasels never get sucked into jet engines".
Where'd I hear that.... I think it might be the Clinton Family Motto?
Well, they are going to have to evolve or die. It’s been that way for a billion years.
its left some weasels with piles of unearned cash.
Yes, but with more CO2 in the atmosphere and warmer temps rainforests will expand, creating new habitats for millions of animals. The extra trees will soak up lots of CO2.
SPORKWEASEL PING
Yep, some people often mistake Mitch McConnell for a conservative.
I have two squirrels here with very light tan tails and gray body fur.
Must be from climate change.
We also have black squirrels.
So that’s why Weasel Comey has been caught out...
Predators preferentially attacking some weasels just because they’re white?
Sounds familiar for some reason....
I always click just to see goebels
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