A mysterious case of shrinking sheep has apparently been solved. Wild sheep known as Soay have lived on the remote island of Hirta for decades, undisturbed by other strains of the species. Over the past 20 years, researchers have reported a decline in the size of the sheep by up to 5%, representing an average of 81 grams lost every year. The shrinkage has now been linked to climate change, with shorter, milder winters subverting the evolutionary preference for greater size. In the absence of long, harsh winters, smaller sheep that ordinarily would not have survived are able to compete successfully for resources, slowing overall growth rates and introducing smaller sizes into the gene pool.

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