Past projects Ecological processes
Past projects - Ecological processes and species distributions
Research area: Ecological processes and species distributions
About the project: Anthropogenic fragmentation have particularly strong effects in freshwater ecosystems. Manmade obstacles in these systems often form absolute barriers for upstream migration, with dramatic effects on fish communities. An important dilemma is that restoration of connectivity may cause spread of invasive species. We have therefore named the project ODYSSEUS in reference to the dilemma faced by Odysseus when navigating between Scylla (a six-headed monster) and Charybdis (a whirlpool) in the narrow strait of Messina.
Contact: Principal Investigator Anders G. Finstad
Funding: The Research Council of Norway
Duration: 2017 – 2019
Cooperation: Umeå University (coordinator); Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Luleå Technical University; Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems Research Unit, National Museum of Natural History, Paris; University of Girona
Brown trout may live the entire life in freshwater (resident trout) or occasionally migrate to sea (sea trout). In theory, individuals should migrate to sea if such behavior increases reproductive success. It has been shown, that migratory differences not only rely to resident or migratory individuals. Within a seaward migrating group of trout, large differences in distance migrated away from the river can often be found. Some stay close, while other migrates far away. In this project, we will aim to map physiologically differences between juvenile trout that become residents or migrate to sea and between short and long distance migratory sea trout. Seaward migration is a behavior that can be expected when the gain for the individual fish is higher than the cost. Consequently, one can expect that this behavior will be changed or disappear if sea conditions are so negative for sea trout that it loses reproductive potential by migrating to sea. By analyzing 30-40 years old sea trout scales from areas with and without establishments of aquaculture and compare the findings with scale materials from the last 1-5 years, it can be investigated if growth rates and the duration of marine residence has decreased after the aquaculture activities were introduced to the area. Sea trout is an important ecosystem service in many areas. The species is important for recreation and in some areas also for tourism. As a part of the project, the value of sea trout as an ecosystem service will be assessed and it will be evaluated if possible negative changes in growth, duration of seaward migration or the marine migratory behavior will decrease that value.
Info about project: Climate and glacier variations since the Last Glacier Maximum in Jan Mayen (KLIMAFORSK)
Contact person: Jan Grimsrud Davidsen
Info about project: Climate smart use of Norwegian organic soils
Contact person: Anders Lyngstad
About the project: Climate change is one of today's biggest environmental challenges. But in many parts of the world, ecosystems are changing because of variation in grazing and browsing by large herbivores. Densities of large herbivores are affected by human management and land-use and are also linked to climate. This is particularly relevant in tundra and boreal parts of the world. Since herbivory and climate can interact to affect ecosystem dynamics, it may be possible to manage large herbivores to counteract the effects of climate change. In this project we will research how climate and herbivory together affect ecological processes in northern ecosystems. We will study these processes at different scales, from individual plants to whole biomes. At the smallest scale, we will investigate how the growth of woody plants in northern ecosystems responds to climate and herbivory. We will undertake these studies at a number of boreal and tundra sites in the North Atlantic region to identify common patterns and to highlight ecosystems that are vulnerable to changes in climate or herbivore density. At a larger scale, we will investigate the impact of herbivores on plant species distributions, as well as how climate affects the interactions between plants and herbivores. This will identify plant species sensitive to changes in herbivore densities and climate. Finally, in order to identify regions that are susceptible to future environmental change due to changes in herbivore species composition, we will map patterns of herbivore diversity and community composition across global arctic and boreal biomes in terms of species richness, evolutionary relatedness and functional diversity. The overall outcomes of the DISENTANGLE project will advance our understanding of how herbivores and climate together interact to control ecological processes in northern ecosystems.
Contact: Associate professor/Researcher James Speed, NTNU University Museum
Partners and collaborators:
PhD Katariina Vuorinen NTNU University Museum, Alison Hester, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen UK, Anders Finstad, NTNU University Museum, Eeva Soininen, University of Tromsø, Gunnar Austrheim, NTNU University Museum, Isabel Barrio, University of Iceland, Jean-Pierre Tremblay, Université Laval, Quebec, John-Arvid Grytnes, University of Bergen, Norway.
Funding: Research Council of Norway scheme Young Research Talents (Independent Projects FRIMEDBIO project 262064)
Duration: 2017-2020
Contact person: Torkild Bakken
About the project: Global climate change and biological invasions, caused by either anthropogenic translocations or native invaders, are among the main factors threatening global biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and associated ecosystem services. In INVAFISH, we will describe the introductions, secondary dispersal and potential impacts of invasive freshwater fishes on native ecosystems. Expected output is cost-effective methods for monitoring and mitigation under both present and anticipated future climate conditions
Contact: Principal Investigator Anders G. Finstad
Funding: The Research Council of Norway
Duration: 2015 – 2018
Cooperation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Helsinki University, Umeå University, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute.
Info om prosjektet: Polychaetes (Anenlida) in Norwegian ports
Contact person: Maria Capa