The research, published Thursday in the journal Science, found that fruit flies that were exposed to repeated cold snaps over multiple generations evolved genes that allowed them to survive and reproduce even in very cold temperatures.
"This study shows that adaptation to extreme weather is possible, even in a rapidly changing climate," said study lead author Dr. David Kingsolver, a biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "This is good news, because it means that some species may be able to survive even as the climate becomes more extreme."
The study was conducted on fruit flies because they are small, easy to study, and have a short generation time. This allowed the researchers to expose multiple generations of flies to cold snaps over a relatively short period of time.
The flies were exposed to cold snaps that ranged in temperature from -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) to -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit). The cold snaps lasted for 12 hours each and were repeated every five days.
After 10 generations, the flies that had been exposed to cold snaps had evolved genes that allowed them to survive and reproduce in the cold. These genes included changes to proteins that are involved in regulating body temperature, metabolism, and reproduction.
"These results suggest that adaptation to extreme weather is possible, even in a rapidly changing climate," said Kingsolver. "This is good news, because it means that some species may be able to survive even as the climate becomes more extreme."
However, the researchers also caution that not all species will be able to adapt to climate change. Some species may not have the genetic variation necessary to evolve quickly enough, while others may be too specialized to survive in a changing climate.
"Our results provide hope that some species will be able to adapt to climate change," said Kingsolver. "However, it is important to remember that not all species will be able to adapt. We need to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change in order to protect as many species as possible."
