Scientists are starting a big research project in Alaska. This project costs $15 million. The project is called the Evolving Meta-Ecosystems Institute, or Evome. It is on the North Slope in Alaska. The US National Science Foundation is helping with this study. Scientists want to see if different animals and plants can change together to survive. They want to know if species can adapt as a group because the climate is changing fast.
The Arctic is the fastest-warming place on Earth. Because of this, it is a very important place to study. Scientists are not just looking at one animal at a time. Instead, they look at how many species live together. If one species changes, it can cause other species to change too. This creates a chain reaction in nature.
The Evome project covers a very large area. Researchers work along a 190-mile road on the North Slope. They study how the land, the water, and the animals all connect. One big change is called "shrubification." This is when willow shrubs grow more because the weather is warmer. These shrubs change the home for many creatures. For example, more shrubs might change the life of insects like stoneflies and mayflies. These insects are very important for food.
Birds like the white-crowned sparrow also need these insects to eat. If the insects change, the birds might struggle to find food. Scientists use special tools, like mist nets, to study these birds near Galbraith Creek. They want to see if all these living things can adapt together to survive the climate crisis.