Climate change creates wild swings in the behavior of anemones, gnats, and crickets: How to prepare for the unpredictable future of nature

In recent years, anemones, gnats, and crickets have been experiencing fluctuations in their behavior similar to a roller coaster ride. Climate change is causing changes in the environment, but it does not mean that every year will be the same. While spring may be earlier and milder on average, there can still be storms and snow. This variability presents challenges for both plants and animals.

When conditions are warm and snow-free, plants need to sprout early, insects need to take flight, and birds need to lay their eggs. However, in colder winter years, these activities become more difficult and costly. The North and Arctic regions face particularly tough selection situations due to the rapid warming of land areas. Researchers in Northeast Greenland have been monitoring the spring activities of plants, arthropods, and birds for the past 25 years in the study region that includes the North Arctic region, Svalbard, Arctic Ocean islands, and the northernmost coasts of Siberia and Canada.

The study showed that while there is an overall warming trend, the timing of spring events like flowering, insect awakening, and egg-laying varies significantly from year to year. Around 20 species or groups of organisms were monitored in the study including Lapland’s anemones