Can Species Evolve Together to Beat Climate Change?

Scientists in Alaska are undertaking a groundbreaking $15 million, six-year project to explore how species might adapt to climate change by evolving together. This initiative, known as the Evolving Meta-Ecosystems Institute (Evome), focuses on five interconnected species in the rapidly warming Arctic tundra and stream ecosystems. Researchers are examining how the white-crowned sparrow, feltleaf willow, Arctic grayling, a mayfly, and a ground beetle interact and potentially adapt collectively.

The Arctic is experiencing warming at an unprecedented rate, leading to significant environmental shifts. Earlier snowmelt and drier late summers impact species like the Arctic grayling, which depend on specific stream conditions and food sources like mayflies. The study hypothesizes that species' existing relationships within the ecosystem could facilitate their adaptation to climate breakdown.

This research is being conducted across 15 field sites along the Dalton Highway. Scientists are collecting data through various methods, including mist-netting birds, sampling insects, and monitoring stream conditions. The goal is to understand the genetic basis of adaptation and how evolved traits can maintain ecosystem functions, like nutrient and energy flows.

Early findings suggest that while individual species can adapt through behavioral changes, physiological acclimatization, or rapid genetic adaptation, their interconnectedness might offer a crucial buffer. The project aims to forecast the resilience of these fragile ecosystems and inform conservation efforts globally.