The arctic ground squirrel has developed highly specialized adaptations to extreme environments. This species maintains circadian rhythms throughout the arctic summer, despite the almost ceaseless daylight during this period. The squirrels’ body clocks have evolved to work just fine without the help of the day/night cycle. With support from the National Science Foundation, physiological ecologist Cory Williams of the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and a team of researchers traveled to the Toolik Field Station in northern Alaska to study the arctic ground squirrel on its home turf. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
