CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN ANIMALS: EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS AND CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Climate change poses critical threats to biodiversity, demanding rapid adaptive responses beyond the pace of traditional evolutionary processes. Epigenetics—heritable modifications in gene expression without changes to DNA sequence—has emerged as a key mechanism enabling short-term phenotypic plasticity and resilience. This review synthesizes evidence on epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation, that facilitate animal responses to climate stressors such as temperature extremes, habitat loss, and ocean acidification. Case studies highlight heat-tolerant lizards exhibiting methylation-driven heat-shock protein expression and marine fish showing transgenerational inheritance of salinity-resilient traits. These findings underscore the role of epigenetics in bridging immediate environmental stress and long-term adaptation. The conservation relevance of epigenetic plasticity is also explored. Epigenetic diversity may act as an underrecognized reservoir of adaptive potential, particularly in small or isolated populations. However, uncertainties remain regarding the stability of epigenetic changes across generations, their interaction with genetic variation, and the ecological implications of epigenetic drift. Advances such as CRISPR-based epigenome editing and high-resolution sequencing offer new opportunities to clarify these dynamics. Integrating epigenetics into conservation strategies will require interdisciplinary collaboration and careful consideration of ethical challenges. Prioritizing long-term studies and comparative approaches can help unlock the potential of epigenetics to enhance biodiversity resilience in the face of rapid climate change.