Everyone panic!

(Telegraph) — Polar bears are shrinking because of the impact of climate change on their natural habitats, along with many other animals and plants, researchers say.

Rising global temperatures and changes in weather patterns have knock-on effects which are already stunting the growth of a wide range of species.

The change could have a major impact on the expanding human population, with major food sources like fish likely to reduce in size and crops expected to grow smaller and less reliably than today. . . .

Species which are unable to adapt quickly enough are at risk of extinction as ecosystems shift dramatically, altering the balance of food and other resources needed for survival.

“Because recent climate change may be faster than past historical changes in climate, many organisms may not respond or adapt quickly enough. This implies that species may go extinct because of climate change.”

One major issue is that not all plants and animals will shrink at the same rate, throwing finely balanced ecosystems out of kilter, the researchers said.

Reduced food supplies are likely to mean that animals at the top of their food chains — including humans — will grow to smaller sizes, have fewer offspring, and be more vulnerable to disease, they added.