Environment & Climate
Scientists launch multimillion-dollar study on Arctic species adaptation to climate breakdown
A National Science Foundation-funded project is tracking whether Alaskan wildlife can evolve together, The Guardian reports.
The short version
- A team of 50 scientists is launching a six-year, $15 million project named Evome to evaluate whether Arctic species can adapt jointly to climate breakdown.[The Guardian]
- Researchers along Alaska's Dalton Highway are focusing on five interconnected species: the white-crowned sparrow, feltleaf willow, Arctic grayling, an aquatic mayfly, and a ground beetle.[The Guardian]
- While researcher Mark Urban noted adaptive evolution's buffering capacity, scientist Linda Deegan emphasized that functioning ecosystem survival remains only a best guess.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- The Evolving Meta-Ecosystems Institute is a six-year, $15 million project funded by the US National Science Foundation involving 50 scientists.[The Guardian]
- The research focuses on five species: the Arctic grayling, feltleaf willow, white-crowned sparrow, an aquatic mayfly, and a ground beetle.[The Guardian]
- During a pilot experiment, more than half of collected Arctic grayling eggs died during transit along the Dalton Highway.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Whether Alaska's stream and tundra ecosystems will successfully adapt and continue to function remains an unconfirmed best guess, according to researcher Linda Deegan.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Can an entire Arctic ecosystem evolve to adapt to the climate crisis?The Guardian - Environment