Climate Resilience in the High Arctic

In the remote reaches of northeast Greenland, muskoxen face a rapidly warming Arctic that is fundamentally reshaping their habitat. This project investigates how these iconic survivors of the Ice Age are adapting — or failing to adapt — to a world that is changing faster than at any point in their evolutionary history.

Using a decade of population data combined with satellite-derived habitat metrics, we are building the first comprehensive model of muskox climate vulnerability across the species' entire range.

To develop a predictive framework for understanding how Arctic ungulate populations respond to climate-driven changes in forage availability, snow cover, and extreme weather events. The goal is to move beyond descriptive ecology toward forecasting — giving managers the tools to anticipate population declines before they become crises.

A peer-reviewed climate vulnerability index for muskox populations across Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, published in collaboration with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources. The model integrates remotely sensed vegetation data, snow depth records, and population surveys to generate range-wide risk assessments under multiple climate scenarios.

Complementary management recommendations delivered to Arctic Council working groups and national wildlife agencies in Denmark, Canada, and Norway.