Climate change impacts male and female arctic ground squirrels differently

As we wrap up one of the warmest May’s where I live on record it’s hard not to think about climate change and its impacts. The challenge is a lot of the natural changes are really difficult to notice without data recorded over a long time period. Getting funding for these types of projects can be challenging.

But, in a super interesting study on arctic ground squirrel hibernation patterns researchers had 25 years of data to look back on. They recorded air and soil temperatures and skin temperature data from arctic ground squirrels. The skin temperature data reveals information about when individuals wake up from hibernation.The data showed that the spring thaw was happening sooner and the female ground squirrels were responding by shortening their hibernation period and getting up earlier. The males on the other hand showed no change.

There is not enough data at this point to track the consequences of this. However, the researchers did identify some possibilities, some good and some bad. By shortening the hibernation period the female ground squirrels experienced lower costs from hibernation. In other words, they lost less body weight. In addition, they had a longer foraging period, which could potentially help them eat more and be healthier when they head to hibernation the next year. But, the difference between the two sexes could reduce the likelihood of the ground squirrels reproducing, which would have consequences for the squirrels and for the predators that feed on them. In addition, the females are subject to predation for longer, which could also impact their numbers.

We don’t know yet what will happen. Hopefully, the good will outweigh the bad. But either way this study shows the importance of not just collecting long term data, but also the importance of studying males and females of a species separately.