Adaptive Circadian Strategies of Arctic Mammals Under Extreme Photoperiods

Abstract

Arctic mammals experience month of continuous daylight in summer and continuous darkness in winter, challenging conventional circadian regulation. While photoperiod is traditionally considered as the dominant zeitgeber, evidence shows that many Arctis species have evolved adaptations beyond reliance on light signals. The experiment show that polar bears show flexibility, adjusting their circadian clock depending on both prey availability and environmental constraints. Similarly, the experiment show Arctic ground squirrels and other resident mammals depend on non-photic cues such as temperature fluctuations, food availability and internal hormone cycles, ensuring that reproduction and survival act even when light is an unreliable zeitgeber. However rapid climate change is decreasing sea-ice and snow cover, animal population and damage cyclic dynamics of rodents and their predators, disturbing adaptive mechanisms. Understanding circadian adaptions under extreme environmnets is essential for predicting the resilience of Arctic animals under climate change. These insights highlight the urgency of integrating chronobiological perspectives into Arctic conservation strategies to mitigate biodiversity loss in a rapidly changing climate.