A drastic drop in caribou and shorebird populations is a mirrored image of the dire modifications unfolding on the Arctic tundra, based on a new report from the Arctic Council. The terrestrial Arctic spans roughly 2.7m sq miles (7m sq km), marked by excessive chilly, drought, sturdy winds and seasonal darkness. Species residing in this setting have tailored to thrive in the tough circumstances. But the local weather crisis has upended such survival strategies, based on the State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity report, printed by the council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (Caff) working group. Climate change is the overwhelming driver of change in terrestrial Arctic ecosystems, causing diverse, unpredictable and significant impacts that are expected to intensify, the report says.