Arctic Ecosystem Adaptability Studied in $15 Million Project

A six-year, $15 million scientific project is examining whether entire Arctic ecosystems can evolve collectively to survive climate breakdown. The US National Science Foundation-funded initiative, called the Evolving Meta-Ecosystems Institute (Evome), focuses on five interconnected species in Alaska's tundra and streams.

Led by senior scientist Linda Deegan from the Woodwell Climate Research Center, the project involves 50 researchers from U.S. Institutions. They are working along a nearly 190-mile stretch of the Dalton Highway, from south of the Brooks Range toward Sagwon Creek. The Arctic was chosen because it is warming faster than any other region and hosts relatively simple ecosystems.

The Study Species and Their Connections

Scientists are closely assessing five species and their ecological relationships. The exact mayfly and ground beetle species are yet to be determined.

Ian Shuman, a doctoral student at Columbia University, is among those collecting samples from white-crowned sparrows to see what they eat. The birds have only a few weeks each Arctic summer to establish territories and raise chicks. The research aims to discover if they rely on stream insects like stoneflies and mayflies, whose life cycles may be disrupted by spreading willow shrubs.

A Landscape of Change and Research

The tundra landscape is transforming rapidly. Snow melts earlier in spring, causing torrents, while late summer often brings parched creek beds. This can strand Arctic grayling in isolated pools. Across 15 field sites, dozens of experiments monitor these changes. Sticky traps collect bugs, recording boxes listen for bird calls, temperature sensors sit in streams, and mesh bags gather willow leaves.

Andie Norton, a Woodwell research assistant, studies how encroaching willows impact nutrient flows in streams. More willows mean shadier streams, which could reduce algae that feed mayflies. However, more willow leaf litter might benefit shredding insects like stoneflies. The key question is whether fish and birds can adapt to these shifts in insect availability and timing.

The Mechanisms of Adaptation

Evolutionary biologist Mark Urban from the University of Connecticut explains that species can adapt in three ways: behavioral adjustment, physiological acclimatization, or genetic evolution. "Across hundreds of experiments, we have seen this happening," Urban says, referring to "evolutionary rescue," where populations rebound through rapid genetic adaptation. The project aims to see if such adaptation in one species can help maintain entire ecosystem functions, like stream productivity.

Scientists are mapping the genetic diversity of each study species to assess their adaptive potential. Urban notes that most traits are determined by many genes, not a single "holy grail" gene. The goal is to understand if genetic variation allows these species to change in ways that support each other.

The Key Arctic Grayling

The Arctic grayling is a central focus. These migrating fish, noted for their iridescent bodies and large dorsal fins, connect watersheds by moving nutrients between streams and lakes. They are highly vulnerable. They need cold water to mature, feed on stoneflies and mayflies, and face migration blockages from erratic stream flows.

Environmental ecologist Chris Neill of Woodwell is studying stream flows, water chemistry, and plant communities. He points out that cues telling grayling when to migrate may or may not be programmed into their genome. As the climate changes, these cues may become unreliable.

Deegan expresses cautious optimism that the connections within these ecosystems will help species prosper. "We think those connections will help them prosper in climate change. Things won't completely fall apart," she says. The findings from this Arctic laboratory could inform how ecosystems worldwide, from tropics to alpine regions, might withstand the climate crisis.