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Did you know that for 30+ years, UAF has been at the forefront of studying how Arctic ground squirrels endure è����������’s brutal winters?

November 12, 2024

The Institute of Arctic Biology brings a hibernating Ground Squirrel to Party in the Park on the lower Troth Yeddha' Campus, Sep. 3, 2024. (UAF photo by Leif Van Cise)

Did you know that for 30+ years, UAF has been at the forefront of studying how Arctic ground squirrels endure è����������’s brutal winters? Since the late 1980s, UAF researchers have uncovered unique adaptations in the squirrels that could influence advances in human health and even space exploration.

The Discovery Era: Late 1980s
In the late 1980s, scientists at UAF began studying how Arctic ground squirrels survive è����������’s frigid winters. They discovered that these squirrels could lower their body temperatures below freezing without harm—something unheard of in other warm-blooded animals. This breakthrough led to more research into how life can survive in extreme cold.

Expanding Knowledge: 1990s and Early 2000s
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, UAF researchers took a closer look at the squirrels’ unique hibernation process. They found that during hibernation, the squirrels’ heart rates drop to nearly one beat per minute, and their body temperatures fall below freezing. This phase of research taught scientists about “extreme metabolic suppression,” which could be useful in medical settings, like slowing down metabolism in critical care.

(UAF photo)

Nutrient Recycling: 2005–2015
In the mid-2000s, UAF scientists found another unique trait of these squirrels: the ability to recycle nitrogen to make amino acids, which helps preserve muscle and organ function during hibernation. This recycling prevents muscle loss, even when the squirrels go months without food. Researchers noted that these squirrels “synthesize proteins in their muscles” without eating—an ability that could help future studies on muscle health for bedridden patients or astronauts.

Adapting to Climate Change: Late 2010s–Present
With climate change progressing, UAF scientists noticed shifts in the squirrels’ hibernation cycles. By the late 2010s, female ground squirrels were emerging from hibernation about 10 days earlier than they did 25 years ago. This shift, likely due to warmer spring soil, could impact the Arctic ecosystem by affecting food supplies, mating cycles, and predator-prey relationships.

(UAF photo)

Broader Implications for Science
UAF’s work on Arctic ground squirrels goes beyond animal biology. For instance, scientists discovered high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the squirrels’ brown fat, which helps keep them warm during hibernation. This could lead to new methods of treating hypothermia and other metabolic conditions.

A Legacy of Discovery
For more than 30 years, UAF’s work with Arctic ground squirrels has opened up new insights into survival in extreme environments. What they’ve learned applies to fields as diverse as ecology and medicine, underlining UAF’s role in Arctic research and the importance of long-term studies on life in Earth’s harshest places.

Learn More
"Arctic ground squirrels recycle nutrients to endure deep hibernation" – UAF News

"How climate change is shifting hibernation patterns in Arctic ground squirrels" – UAF News

"How studying Arctic ground squirrels can help advance human brain health" – PBS NewsHour

"Warming Arctic could change animal mating schedule" – è���������� Public Media

"How climate change can change hibernation patterns" – SciTech Daily