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This SUSCARE project addresses the call for proposals on global health by proposing an international partnership between Norwegian and Colombian Universities, Research Institutes, and International Diabetes Federation, Colombia. The primary objective of SUSCARE is to establish a long-term partnership on advancing “SDG 3-Good Health and Well-being” by fostering the Norwegian government`s “Better Health, Better Lives” goal. The main purpose of this pre-project is to build a consortium and lay the theoretical and practical foundations for applying for Collaborative and Knowledge-building Projects (KSP) in Global Health in 2025 aimed to implement and evaluate a sustainable and equitable Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) Based Patient-centred framework for self-management of type 2 diabetic (T2D). Overall, this pre-project will help to get a better overview of the research challenges, perform necessary assessments of user requirements and research needs to improve self-management of T2D, identify, and engage potential stakeholders, and make concrete development goals and research direction for the KSP application to be submitted in March 2025.

A Sustainable AIoT Based Nutritional Recommender for Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes among Adult Population

The partners of the present pre-project want to enhance knowledge and build capacity in youth health across all three partner institutions. This will be done by a) disseminating of updated knowledge on adolescent's physical, mental, and social health through 2 PhD projects based on data collected in the population-based Lusaka Fit Futures Study in Zambia in 2024, b) facilitating research through 2 PhD projects and promote high-quality services in response to injuries through a Spinal Cord Injury Registry at KCMC, which is a referral hospital with a specialized unit for traumatic spinal cord injuries in Tanzania c) establishment of MSc programs in physiotherapy at the south partner universities in Zambia and in Tanzania. The north partner's research group “Public Health and Rehabilitation” (FFR) holds expertise in population-based studies, patient’s registries and training of physiotherapists at MSc level and will support the research activities and supervision of the project’s PhD students. 
Lusaka Fit Futures Study and the Spinal Cord Injury Registry represent classical epidemiological research. To enhance the main projects' ability to provide new knowledge directly to stakeholders, bridging epidemiology with implementation, public involvement through strong end-user groups are needed. Relevant partners are formal representatives from the four participating governmental secondary schools in the Lusaka Fit Futures Study where the general adolescent population attend. In conjunction to the Spinal Cord Registry, NGOs such as the Atlas Alliance or other associations supporting young disabled people offer opportunities for important end-user groups. Funding for this pre-project will be used to identify and establish local partnerships outside the research sector in Lusaka in Zambia and in the Kilimanjaro and Arusha Regions of Tanzania, including involvement of the respective physiotherapy associations.

An international collaboration on adolescent's health situation in Zambia, Tanzania and Norway.

Mental disorders are among the leading public health challenges, with widespread impacts on individuals, families, and communities, especially in low-resource settings. Vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons, returnee migrants, individuals living in poverty, and disadvantaged communities, are at an increased risk of mental disorders. Despite the high burden, only a small fraction of affected individuals receive adequate care in low—and middle-income countries. This project addresses significant gaps in access to treatment and the need for locally relevant solutions to reduce stigma, support recovery, and empower communities.
This project aims to establish a strong, collaborative partnership to create sustainable, community-based interventions for mental disorders in Ethiopia and South Africa. Through building partnerships among research institutions, NGOs, and health authorities, we will develop scalable, culturally adapted interventions that align with SDG 3, "Good Health and Well-Being."
The primary goal is to lay the foundation for a comprehensive project proposal by developing evidence-based interventions and enhancing local research capacity. Key activities include workshops, research stays, and strategic meetings to define user needs and research qu and develop a grant proposal. The focus is on equitable partnerships, ensuring shared leadership and resource distribution.
This partnership will improve health outcomes by addressing mental health treatment gaps with digital solutions and peer support networks. The project will strengthen healthcare capacity, reduce stigma, and promote sustainable, community-driven recovery models. In the long term, it aims to create scalable, locally adapted treatment models and contribute data to guide policy, aligning with SDG 3.

Building Sustainable Partnerships for Community-based Mental Health Interventions in Ethiopia and South Africa

Worldwide, nearly 2 million children are living with HIV, with 160,000 new infections annually. Untreated, HIV progresses to AIDS, which kills 100,000 children annually, mainly in African countries (UNAIDS 2022). These deaths are now largely preventable due to the widespread availability of free antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART is a highly effective treatment, allowing HIV patients of all ages to live near-normal lives. ART also prevents HIV transmission during childbirth and breastfeeding. Yet, lapses in treatment, for both mothers and children, lead to many unnecessary new infections and deaths. 

There is an urgent need to understand the needs of HIV-affected children and their families, and to identify practical approaches to prevent paediatric infection, promote adherence to treatment, and empower families with the knowledge that HIV-positive children can lead long, healthy and productive lives, if they get the right care.

In order to address these knowledge needs, we must build a strong and equal partnership that can effectively identify the distinct barriers to HIV care for children, and co-design effective interventions. This collaboration must include an interdisciplinary team of health researchers with local and contextual knowledge, as well as public sector healthcare providers and local health organizations.

We will use the pre-project to travel to Malawi and meet with potential partners. The purpose of these meetings will be to better understand the needs of children affected by HIV, strategic considerations of policy actors, and the scope for the establishment of an equal and effective partnership across a network of collaborators. This will allow us to develop theories and potential interventions that effectively address research and policy needs.

Investments, Goals and Outcomes for Children Living with HIV (IGOHI)

The Philippines is frequently facing many extreme weather events that seriously affect mental health. The Mind4Climate pre-project aims to address the growing mental health crisis in the country associated with climate change. This project seeks to establish a partnership among researchers, healthcare providers, NGOs, and government agencies from Norway and the Philippines. We plan to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment, followed by designing community-based interventions and workshops that build local capacity to collaborate effectively. We, therefore, plan to design a culturally relevant, scalable project involving diverse experts from health economics, mental health, and global health ethics expertise. Depending on the foundation of this pre-project, we seek to effectively address climate-induced mental health challenges and build a research proposal for the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities in the Philippines.

Climate Change Impact on Mental Health: The Philippines Case

The AfroAccessAbility project addresses critical health disparities experienced by disabled persons in Ghana and Tanzania, with the overarching goal of improving health outcomes for disabled persons in the Global South. Despite some advancements, disabled persons face significant barriers to healthcare access that include communication challenges, discriminatory attitudes and practices, which disproportionately impact women with disabilities. The project aligns with SDG 3 ("Good health for all") and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), focusing on bridging the health gap between disabled and non-disabled persons.

The pre-project phase focuses on building a strong consortium through co-creation with African partners. This ensures the project design integrates the lived experiences of disabled persons with rigorous academic insights, creating a robust foundation for the main project. Additionally, the pre-project aims to strengthen research collaboration networks among Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), academic institutions, policymakers, and practitioners, fostering interdisciplinary partnerships and long-term impact.

Key challenges include addressing the lack of comprehensive data on health disparities between disabled and non-disabled persons, exploring variations within disability groups, and developing practical, culturally appropriate strategies to overcome barriers. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding relevant aspects, such as discriminatory practices, insufficient provider training, and inadequate communication strategies. These challenges will be addressed using innovative frameworks, such as positive deviance approaches, tailored to the local contexts of Ghana and Tanzania.

By bridging community insights and academic knowledge, AfroAccessAbility aims to advance inclusive health systems, reduce health inequities, and promote better health outcomes for disabled persons in the Global South, with scalable relevance for other regions.

Equality in Health Access for Disabled Persons

Lead exposure is a critical global health issue impacting about one-third of children globally, with Southeast Asia with Southeast Asia facing the greatest burden. Despite this, research in many low- and middle-income countries, including Vietnam, is sparse. In May 2024, UNICEF and the US Agency for International Development urged actions to eradicate childhood lead exposure, a goal supported by the Vietnamese government. However, existing research in Vietnam is mostly confined to small-scale studies near lead-recycling facilities or mines, showing elevated blood lead levels in children. Crucially, there is a lack of comprehensive data on lead exposure among the general population, particularly in children and pregnant women, which leaves major exposure sources and hotspots unidentified. 

For the past decade, UiT The Arctic University of Norway has developed equitable partnerships with Georgian institutions, focusing on maternal and child health and lead poisoning prevention. Fifteen years ago, UiT also collaborated with Vietnamese institutions on environmental health and epidemiology. Given the ongoing lead exposure challenges in Southeast Asia, Vietnam's renewed commitment to address this issue, and the interest from past partners to re-engage, the upcoming Research Council of Norway call in March 2025 is a perfect opportunity to enhance and extend our collaborations, including also non-research entities. Developing strong, equitable partnerships and a competitive proposal requires time and both virtual and in-person interactions. This pre-project aims to secure resources for these activities, planning online meetings to renew and expand partnerships, a 5-day workshop to refine research questions, engage stakeholders, and distribute responsibilities fairly. This will be followed by biweekly online meetings to collaboratively draft the research proposal for submission, ensuring all partners have significant input and joint ownership of the project.

Establishing sustainable partnerships for preventing childhood lead poisoning in Viet Nam

This pre-project aims to create a sustainable alliance of partners, both inside and outside academia, to focus on primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease in adolescents in Nepal. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of disability and death globally. In 2019, 32% of all global deaths were caused by CVDs, with more than three quarters of these in low- and middle-income countries. Most CVDs can be prevented by addressing risk factors connected to behaviour and the environment which also necessitates a life course approach as well as multisectoral collaboration. To intervene as early as possible is therefore crucial. Primordial prevention is particularly promising in resource-limited settings such as in a low-income country like Nepal where around 98% of the population have at least one risk factor for CVD.

To be able to create and establish a sustainable alliance of partners from Norway, Sweden, and Nepal, we require time and active engagement from partners in various sectors. Our ongoing research has provided a network of partners in Nepal within academia, such as Kathmandu Medical College and Patan Academy of Health Sciences. The network will now be expanded with several partners in Nepal that represent a broader geographic area and demographic profile than only the Kathmandu Valley as well as new partners outside academia such as the Nepal Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance. We will also engage additional partners as required from Norway and Sweden with the aim to establish the optimal consortium to tackle the identified health challenge.

The pre-project has activities planned for 3.5 months. Throughout this time, regular meetings will be held online as needed. Both UiT and our main partner institutions in Nepal will be involved in identifying partners. In addition, UiT will lead the engagement of stakeholders while Nepali partners will be responsible for local coordination on site.

Creating a sustainable partnership to effectively address primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease in adolescents in Nepal

Summary
One Health is a collaborative approach that addresses health challenges affecting humans, animals, and the environment. Zambia's reliance on agriculture and natural resources, coupled with poverty and limited healthcare infrastructure, makes it particularly vulnerable to health threats. One Health challenges in Zambia include malaria, cholera, HIV/AIDS, and zoonotic diseases, which have significant economic implications. However, policy formulation and strengthening is hampered due in part to the lack of integration of economics principles. This is mainly due to lack of data, methodological challenges, and institutional barriers. 

This pre-proposal project will lay the foundation for the development of a comprehensive project seeking to integrate economic principles into One Health governance in Zambia, by collecting key information of the local context, and what works in similar settings to address kye challenges in One Health strategies. The project will be led by the University of Oslo in collaboration with Zambian partners, including the University of Zambia, CIDRZ, PsycHealth Zambia, the Women's Life Wellness Foundation.

The project activities include:
1 - a rapid review of the local context
2 - the project partners will conduct a stakeholder identification, to establish the key players who will be invited to 
 a workshop to discuss the issues in One Health in Zambia.
3 - The project partners will draft a full project proposal based on information gathered in activities 1 and 2, to be submitted for funding in 2025.
4 - The learnings and output from the pre-project will be disseminated to key stakeholders through social media, targeted email lists, partner organizations.

Integrating Economics into One Health Governance in Zambia

Despite the growing need for heat adaptation solutions to limit adverse health impacts, implementation in LLMICs remains limited and research fragmented. Increased implementation requires knowledge of effective, relevant, mature, and feasible measures, and of possible local barriers and solutions to ensure successful implementation. Local ownership and policy translation are essential to ensure broader and sustainable implementation. The HEATADAPT pre-project aims to establish equitable partnerships with relevant organizations and institutions in a low or lower middle-income country (LLMIC) drawing upon the CHANCE-network (Climate Health Africa Network for Collaboration and Engagement). CICERO will partner with researchers, an implementing organisation, relevant NGOs and policymakers on climate and health to develop a proposal to test and implement heat adaptation solutions to mitigate negative health impacts from heat stress on vulnerable populations. The pre-project will be critical in building a solid foundation and identifying possibilities and key requirements for a high-impact user-oriented C&K-project. Pre-project will identify realistic, locally appropriate solutions and activities for the main project, focusing on technical and behavioural solutions that complement existing health response options to improve vulnerable populations’ heat adaptation. Potential interventions include cool roofs, water-harvesting and early warning systems. While there is increased research on the technical implementation of for instance cool roofs, less is known about possible barriers to broader implementation and how changes in behaviour may affect the net impact on health. By co-producing and aligning research with local needs, this pre-project seeks to ensure that implementation research is impactful and scalable. The pre-project will involve multiple disciplines, including health, development and natural resource economics, environmental chemistry and atmospheric sciences.

Strengthening Climate-Health Alliances: Equitable Partnerships for Heat Adaptation Interventions in Africa

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Advanced Treatment of Water Intended for Human Consumption

Brood parasites and their hosts represent particularly suitable systems for studying the process of coevolution. A number of adaptations and counter-adaptations in hosts and parasites have previously been revealed, but few studies have considered dynamics  between and within several host-parasite systems that are sympatric in time and space. Within the frame of this project we want to study in more detail host-brood parasite interactions in an area where the parasite at the species level utilize several ho st species, but individual female parasites apparently have specialized on particular host species. More specifically, we will focus on: 1) level of differentiation of local cuckoo gentes in terms of egg morph distinctiveness, genetic composition and evol ution; and 2) possible factors explaining the pattern of current host selection by the common cuckoo in the region

Interactions between brood parasites and their hosts in a heterogeneous landscape

As immunity has been proven to be costly in energetic terms, these investments are likely to conflict with other, important and energy-demanding fitness traits. Several studies have addressed trade-offs between the immune-system and other factors, like gr owth, development or reproductive investment and success.  Here, we will test the hypothesis that the high costs associated with immune-responses will lead to a trade-off between immunity and neural development.  A proper cognitive development is essentia l for the long time survival for an organism, but priority to specific immune responses is among the most important for short time survival.  Thus, in sensitive periods with enhanced neural development, we expect that immune challenges will set limits for  how much the organism can invest in brain development.  
Thus, our hypothesis is that during an infection, the immediate reduction of short-term mortality should be prioritized over investments that may reduce mortality on the longer term like neural dev elopment. 
To test this general hypothesis, we will with experiments on zebrafish address the following more specific hypotheses:
a.    Behavioural and concomitant neural development
       has an energetic cost. 
b.    An immune response during a window of  cognitive development reduces:
       b1.  behavioural performance, and
       b2.  neural development of the brain.
This will be accomplished by a combination of behavioural experiments and immuno-histogical methods.  
Following up data gained from o ur experiments, we will further investigate how immune and neural investments may differ between the sexes, and thereby discuss these traits as important traits in sexual selection.
Thus, by investigating a trade-off between immunity and brain development , we will contribute to better understanding the link between immunity and other main fitness traits.

The life history trade-off between immune function and brain development

In this proposed project we will study processes during the early phase of adaptive divergence. Lesjaskogsvatnet was colonized by grayling Thymallus thymallus in 1880 and during 120 years more than 20 demes have been established. Owing to profound tempera ture differences among tributaries, we expect to find significant genetic and phenotypic differentiation between grayling spawning in different tributaries despite the short divergence time and lack of obvious isolation barriers. The main objectives of th is project are to study the level of reproductive isolation and local adaptation and to explore the genetics of these two processes. This will be done using common garden experiments, and molecular- and quantitative genetic methods. Preliminary results in dicate that significant genetic and phenotypic divergence have developed during the short time span at hand, and this project will thus bring new and much-needed information about the mechanics of important evolutionary processes.

The early stages of adaptive divergence: the speed of evolution

Determining the causes and consequences of reproductive decisions is central to the understanding of evolutionary processes such as sexual selection and speciation. This research project represents an ambitious plan towards achieving a comprehensive under standing of the factors influencing the reproductive decisions faced by females when searching for appropriate mates. Using the bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) as a study model, the project investigates cues used by females in mate choice under three fundam entally different choice situations. The bluethroat is a socially monogamous bird with an extensive extra-pair mating system. It consists of several phenotypically distinct subspecies, some of which are in reproductive contact resulting in occasional hybr idization. The first part of this project deals with mate choice in situations of potential hybridisation between two subspecies, the chestnut-spotted svecica and the white-spotted cyanecula. By manipulating male spot colour to resemble males from the opp osite subspecies, we will test whether females discriminate against males on the basis of the colour of their throat spot. The second part investigates the choice of social mate within a svecica population. Through manipulation of the blue throat feathers  of males, it seeks to unravel whether females base their choice on male phenotypic appearance or the quality of the territory, and how male heterozygosity feeds into this equation. The final part of the research plan concerns the choice of extra-pair mat es as sires for the offspring. Previous studies have shown that females are fertilized by genetically compatible extra-pair males. We will perform sperm motility experiments to test whether genetically dissimilar sperm are favoured by cryptic female choic e. With its combination of experiments and advanced molecular methods, this research project will make important contributions to research areas that are currently of great interest in evolutionary biology

Sexual selection and diversification: a multilevel analysis of mate choice cues in the bluethroat

There is a serious lack of knowledge concerning the presence, activity and dispersal of airborne microorganisms. Most studies describing the prevalence of airborne microorganisms have only applied traditional microbiological methods and evaluated the occu rrence of culturable bacteria, which is known to make up typically less than 1-10% of all bacteria present. Knowledge about the activity and diversity of the remaining part (>90%), counting 104-105 per m3, as well as about airborne viruses, is important f or understanding their dispersal and significance with respect to microbial ecology, biodiversity and meteorology. This knowledge will also provide a scientific basis for risk assessment of airborne pathogenic microorganisms. In this project we will combi ne the use of the recently developed efficient devices for sampling airborne particles with state of the art methods for quantification and characterization of microorganisms i.e. electron microscopy, flow cytometry and molecular methods. This represents a new approach to the field. Field studies will be conducted to investigate quantitative and qualitative variation in the atmospheric microbial community in time and space. The field work will in part be done in collaboration with our partners in a joint European-US initiative for assessing airborne microorganisms in the northern European atmosphere.

Quantification and Characterization of Microbial Communities in Air.

Many studies of the genetic structuring of annual, selfing Arabidopsis thaliana populations on various geographical scales have been performed in recent years. Some studies conclude that local populations may contain relatively high amounts of genetic var iability both in phenotypic traits and putatively neutral markers. Earlier work has shown that Norwegian populations may often be characterized by less genetic drift than expected based on observed census number of individuals within years. In the presenc e of a viable seed bank, the effective number of individual plants present in a population in a period of several years may be much larger than the number found in each individual year. This implies that genetic drift could be reduced compared to a situat ion with only above-ground individuals present, and more genetic variability may be found within populations than what expected based on census numbers. We have found extensive and highly viable seed banks in the majority of studied Norwegian populations,  and we hypothesize that A. thaliana seed banks play a significant demographic and evolutionary role. The aim of the outlined project is to explore the role of seed banks in Arabidopsis ecology and evolution, with a special emphasis on the role of seed ba nks in relation to genetic structuring. We are interested in determining how seed trait and seed bank characteristics influence the ecology and evolution of Arabidopsis.

The ecological and evolutionary significance of seed banks in Arabidopsis thaliana

When males provide nothing but genes, female choice of mates is expected to favour individuals that can best increase offspring survival. This selection process may not only occur at an individual level, but also on the gamete level. Recent studies have i ndicated that the ova may select sperm on a genetic basis. Potential candidates for such selection are genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) which are controlling disease resistance. This study questions the existence of MHC based disassorta tive sperm choice in ovarian fluid and ova of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). Sperm swimming behaviour have been shown to differ depending on which female`s ovarian fluid they are exposed to. More specifically, sperm velocity of males not sharing MHC a lleles with females is higher compared to males sharing MHC alleles when measured in ovarian fluid. The mechanism to this selective regulation of sperm velocity may be related to the production of specific antibodies towards self MHC molecules in females which attach to MHC molecules on the sperm surface and hinder proper swimming behaviour. With its focus on the mechanisms for selection of disease resistance and offspring survival in external fertilizers, this project has particular implications for huma n management of fish populations.

Does ovarian fluid favour MHC-dissimilar sperm?

Life-history is an organism's pattern of growth, reproduction and mortality, formed by long-term evolutionary processes and by immediate responses to the environment. This project has 3 main objectives: 1) evaluate the patterns of lifetime reproductive su ccess of male and female brown bears; 2) evaluate the differences in life-history patterns among bear populations, among large carnivore species, and between large carnivore and ungulate species; 3) integration of results from life-history research into m anagement and conservation of brown bear/large carnivore populations. The basis of this project is the long-term individual-based data set of the Scandinavian Brown Bear Project and the cooperation with international researchers with similar databases.
Th ere seems to be considerable variation in the lifetime reproductive success of individual bears. Identifying the factors related to this variation and the characteristics of successful individuals would give insight into evolutionary selective pressures. This knowledge will enable managers to better focus management actions.
Ungulates and large carnivores show some fundamental differences in their ecology, which may be reflected in their life history patterns. Comparing life-history patterns among large c arnivores and between large carnivores and ungulates will improve our evolutionary and biological knowledge and may improve the management of those species.
It will become more important to understand how management practices affect a species. It is sugge sted that the loss of certain individuals has little demographic impact, whereas the loss of certain other individuals can have cascading effects impacting reproductive patterns and effective population size. Also, human harvest may not be random, but sel ect for certain life-history traits, which again may influence populations. Understanding these aspects will improve the management of large populations and aid in the conservation of endangered populations.

Life history patterns in large carnivores and their application for management and conservation.

The movement and establishment of invasive species in new habitats is a global economic and ecological problem. The increased trade among countries and continents has increased the chances of introductions of new species. Once alien pest species have beco me established in their new habitats, they may be extremely difficult to eradicate, and the costs of damages and control programmes may be very high. The present project is a contribution to pre-emptive competence building in order to reduce the risk of s pread and establishment of invasive forest pests, using the Norway spruce - bark beetle system as an example. In Norwegian forestry, the extensive timber imports represent a potential introduction pathway for harmful organisms, such as aggressive bark bee tles, that may prove to be a serious setback for forestry. Our preliminary investigations of import timber have shown that alien bark beetle species occur in imported shipments and may hibernate at timber storages. In this project we intend to assess the potential spread and impact of alien bark beetles. Because direct experiments with introduced species are too dangerous, we will use a combination of data analysis and modelling. We have brought together a strong team of researchers with the necessary com plementary expertise in bark beetle ecology, modelling and biological invasions . The budget includes a recruitment fellowship as a part of the competence building on invasive species. The final results will include recommendations for possible changes in  import routines and forest management that may reduce the spread and establishment of damaging and costly forest pests.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of introduced bark beetles: resource competition, invasion risk and management

Ecologists have for a long time been interested in how negative plant-animal interactions, such as herbivory and seed predation affect the population dynamics of plant species, their distribution on small and large spatial scales, and the plant community species composition and diversity. Positive plant animal interactions, such as pollination, has received considerable attention with regards to its effects on plant reproduction, but very little attention with regard to plant population dynamics and absol utely no empirical attention with regard to plant community composition and diversity.

This lack of attention to consequences of plant-pollinator interactions for levels beyond the reproduction of individual plants is surprising. On purely pragmatic grou nds pollinators conceivably play a fundamental role for plant community composition and diversity through their contribution to seed production of animal-pollinated plant species.

The central core of this project is to assess how the species diversity an d abundance of bumblebees within the pollinator assemblage may affect the frequency of pollination-specialised plant species, particularly adapted to bumble bee pollination, within communities. It is conceivable, but hereto completely unknown, that the po pulation densities of bumble bee-specialized plant species, and their frequency within plant communities, varies spatially with the functional composition of the pollinator assemblage.

A central methodology of this project is an experiment that manipulat es the relative frequency of bumblebees visiting flowers of plant species. The project measures the reproductive and demographic responses of several plant species adapted to bumblebee pollination and species with a more generalist pollination to this exp erimentally induced change of the pollinator assemblage.

Cascading Effects of Mutualistic Interactions: From Insect Flower Visitation to Plant Community Dynamics

The prime function of sperm cells is to fertilize eggs. Despite this common purpose, there is a tremendous diversity among animal taxa in sperm phenotypes. Part of the variation can be attributed to phylogenetic relatedness, and sperm are often used as di agnostic traits in taxonomy. But there is also increasing evidence that post-copulatory sexual selection, or sperm competition, is an important evolutionary force shaping sperm morphology in many taxa, including birds. Moreover, recent studies have reveal ed strong maternal genetic effects on particular sperm traits, presumably expressed by mitochondrial genes that are maternally inherited. A fascinating implication of the latter is the possibility that mutations that reduce sperm performance may not be se lected against unless they also have negative effects in females. The main goal of this project is to advance our understanding of the evolutionary processes that shape sperm morphology and diversity, and their function. We will use passerine birds as mod el organisms, as we already know a good deal about their mating systems and general biology. The project has three sub-goals. First, we will investigate the relative roles of phylogeny and sperm competition in the evolution of sperm traits across a number  of passerine families and genera, using testes size as a proxy for the intensity of sperm competition. Second, we will study between-male variation in sperm morphology and its possible associations with mitochondrial and nuclear genotypes, and fertilizat ion success under a regime of intense sperm competition. These analyses will be carried out in well-studied model systems. Finally, we will estimate the occurrence of male infertility in selected species, in which we have prior indication that male infert ility has an evolutionary significance for the mating system. We will particularly seek to examine whether male infertility is related to testicular malfunction or sperm traits encoded by mitochondrial genes.

Sperm morphology and function in passerine birds

There is a large visible biological diversity on the surface of our planet, but it is less known that there are hidden reservoirs of biological diversity underneath the surface. Even if this subsurface biosphere is estimated to have a biomass of similar m agnitude as that of the surface biosphere, the compositions and dynamics of these communities are largely unexplored. Published data on endolithic communities have mainly focused on either the microbial or the fungal diversity in rocks. As nearly all expo sed rock surfaces, at least in northern temperate and arctic Europe, are covered by lichens, the lichen-mineral interface has been especially well investigated. Resent studies indicate that the lichen-rock interface constitutes species from more than just  the fungal kingdom; it is a small ecosystem of bacteria, fungi (lichenized and non-lichenized), and algae. However, little is known about the entire biological diversity in these communities. 

The subsurface distribution of organisms may, in part, be co ntrolled by the mineralogy and by the ability of an organism to take advantage of mineral-bound nutrients. The proposed research project will be the first to assess the extent of the entire biological diversity in exposed terrestrial lichen covered rocks,  and analyse the interaction between this endolithic biosphere and the geosphere. Molecular markers will be used to study these endolithic communities, petrographical and geochemical techniques will be used to characterise the related geosphere, while sta tistical methods will be used to analyse the interaction between the biosphere and the geosphere. 

Knowledge about these communities is important for a better understanding of biogeochemical processes, the mini-ecosystem lichens, the ecology of microbes,  for our global genetic resources, for biotechnology, for our understanding of the origin of life on earth, as well as an important target for the search for life elsewhere in the Solar System.

Hidden reservoirs of biological diversity - geobiology of unexplored endolithic communities associated with lichens

Genetic diversity drives evolution. Processes which erode genetic variation, such as self-fertilization and sibling mating, are therefore expected to reduce the long-term survival of inbred lineages. Paradoxically, we do find ancient, species-rich lineage s in nature which have been inbreeding for millions of years. What sorts of population genetic processes facilitate and maintain sufficient genetic diversity in such lineages? How can closely inbred populations maintain genetic variability sufficient to f oster genetic and ecological divergence that ultimately results in new species? Answers will address a central question of population genetics: how much genetic variation within or between populations is adaptive in coping with new environmental challenge s?
   This project seeks to elucidate patterns of genetic diversity, population subdivision and speciation in nine different widespread bark beetle species (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) that regularly inbreed by within-family mating. The project is novel in  including many species in one comparative study, enabling us to distinguish ecological idiosyncrasies from the genetic processes related to inbreeding. An ancient origin for inbreeding in at least two bark beetle clades strengthens this study further by removing the confusing effects of a recent origin of inbreeding, allowing us to focus instead on the long-term evolutionary effects of inbreeding on lineage survival and proliferation. Reconstructing genealogies using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA allows direct comparison of genetic diversity between ecologically similar inbreeding and outbreeding species. Our results will furthermore shed light on the general problem of identifying cryptic lineages, and how deep divergence between cryptic lineages may co mplicate species identification in a DNA barcoding framework.

Genetic diversity and speciation in ancient inbreeding lineages

This project aims at disentangling ?diploid? lineages in ancient polyploid groups using the genus Viola (Violaceae) as study object. Chromosome numbers, isozymes and our preliminary data on two low-copy nuclear RNA polymerase genes all suggest that the ma jority of temperate groups of Viola have allopolyploid origins, most likely independent of each other. Different group relationships have been suggested based on various and mostly classical approaches, and our preliminary results show potentials for eval uating these hypotheses.
The goals outlined above will be reached by accessing and interpreting DNA variation in low- or single-copy nuclear genes.  Introns of the RNA polymerase genes RPA2, RPB2, RPC2,
RPD2a and RPD2b, and GpiC and AatC whose allozymic v ariation is often studied, have proved useful in other studies and will be used here as well.  In addition, two independent sequence data sets from cpDNA (trnS-trnG) and nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), both in practice uniparentally i nherited in Viola, will be generated. 
For most infrageneric groups material is readily accessible from plants in culture or from contacts abroad. By disentangling the ?diploid? lineages involved in polyploids, the project is expected to yield valuable ne w knowledge of the evolutionary processes at work in polyploids and to reveal interesting biogeographic patterns. Also, the data will be most valuable for constructing a suitable infrageneric taxonomy of the genus Viola, within the frames of the planned w orld-wide Violaceae monograph for the Species Plantarum Initiative.

Allopolyploid evolution in plants: patterns and processes within the genus Viola

The genetic basis of phenotypic change and adaptation is one of the major outstanding problems in evolutionary biology. Until recently it has been difficult to identify the genes involved, particularly in wild populations. The biochemical pathways of mela nin-based fur and plumage pigmentation are evolutionary conserved, thus being a promising model system with several candidate genes available to study the molecular basis of adaptation. One of these genes, the melanocortin-1-receptor gene (MC1R), has rece ntly been shown to be associated with intraspecific melanism in several mammal and bird species. Our recent discovery of the MC1R-based melanism in arctic skuas (Stercorarius parasiticus) has generated an exceptional opportunity to resolve the evolutionar y history of plumage variation to a degree not achieved before in any group of birds. Skuas (Stercorariidae) comprise several species with conspicuous ventral plumage polymorphism and monomorphic congeners. Earlier studies on their evolutionary history ha ve produced surprising, and often contradictory results. 
Based on the MC1R-based melanism in arctic skuas, we wish to continue our study on evolutionary genetics in the entire skua family by employing a combination of multilocus phylogenetic analyses usi ng neutral markers with analyses of the evolutionary history of the pigmentation gene(s) involved in phenotypic change. In case the MC1R is not associated with plumage pigmentation in all species we will test further candidate genes potentially involved i n melanism. Furthermore, the identification of the genetic basis of melanism enables the use of population genetic data to investigate whether there is an adaptive advantage of melanism in polymorphic species, which will be investigated in the arctic skua .
The forthcoming results will be of general importance for understanding the genetic basis of adaptation in both birds and vertebrates, and will advance the ongoing discussion of the skuas' evolutionary history.

Genetic basis and evolution of ventral plumage melanism in skuas (Stercorariidae)

This project aims at extending the Classical life history theory by merging an efficient state-dependent optimization technique that works well with structured populations (dynamic programmring) with evolutionary population dynamics (adaptive dynamics). T he resulting methodology can thus find optimal life history strategies with the following three complications included simultaneously: population structure (individuals in a population differ in e.g. age, size, and quality, and these differences may affec t interactions or vital rates), density dependence (all populations are regulated by density dependence - if they were not, they would simply swamp the earth), and environmental fluctuations (even for populations in a constant physical environment, inters pecies interactions may lead to a continuously changing biotic environment). This project first aims at developing the required methodology by merging dynamic programming and adaptive dynamics. Because the Classical life history theory largely ignores flu ctuating environments and density dependence, it is difficult to say which predictions may change, and how, when these complications are included. Therefore, the fundamental effects of fluctuating environments and density dependence on life history evolut ion will be investigated in an age and size structured energy-allocation life-history model. Finally, these results will guide the application of the methodology on a specific case: the role of density-dependent population regulation on life history evolu tion in guppies. Guppies have become the text-book example of contemporary life history evolution, and density dependence is the missing piece of the puzzle for a fuller understanding of how growth, mortality, reproduction and senescence act together in t he evolution of life history strategies.

Life histories for structured populations in fluctuating environments

This project will investigate how historical contingency and evolutionary mechanisms interact to prime ecological and physiological adaptation, which may ultimately result in speciation in the threespined stickleback. This primarily marine species has fou nded numerous anadromous- and stationary populations in fresh waters, living with- or without piscivorous predators, due to the glaciostatic uplift and its phylogeographic structure. By studying neutral genetic markers at both the regional- (mtDNA) and lo cal scales (micro-satellites), in comparison with datings of lake-isolation, we will assess the evolutionary history of a large number of stickleback populations. This will be achieved through a nested-cladistic analysis and historical demography. Adaptiv e specialisation associated with adoptation of new freshwater niches (studied using stable isotopes and feeding behaviour) will be contrasted with the marine ancestors by scoring a suite of armour and trophic traits, and life-history variables. The geneti c basis for variation in traits exposed to natural selection, will be assessed by markers associated with QTL´s as determined by previous mapping efforts. If physiological adaptations to freshwater niches increases with elapsed time in freshwater, then sa ltwater- and thermal-tolerance should be temporally associated with other traits also being exposed to natural selection. Common-garden experiments using half-sib designs will be conducted to estimate trait heritability, and to evaluate adaptive divergenc e (i.e. a Qst/Fst analysis) in wild populations. Saltwater- and thermal tolerance, and expression of candidate genes, including heat-shock proteins and prolactin genes, will be studied on offspring from experimental crosses. The joint effort to compare ma ny stickleback populations along the coast of both Norway and Canada, using the very same protecol, offers a unique possibility to study divergence rates and speciation in the threespine stickleback complex.

Sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) on the Norwegian coast:
fresh water colonisation, divergence rates and adaptive speciation

Variation in the physiological stress response has been correlated to a number of major axes of variation in behavior, including activity, shyness-boldness, and aggression. Sih and co-workers recently coined the term behavioral syndromes for this phenomen on, and pointed out several important ecological and evolutionary implications. One of the questions to be addressed is how variation in correlated traits is maintained in a population. In the current project we aim to address the occurrence and fitness c onsequences of behavioral syndromes in two salmonid fish model systems: Genetically selected rainbow trout lines expressing correlated differences in behavior and physiology, and wild lake-migratory brown trout from a river system where migratory behavior , density and growth differ between two nearby stream sections. Behavior and performance of fish with these backgrounds will be compared under both laboratory conditions designed to identify individual profiles in salmonid fish, and in semi-natural artifi cial streams. Fish with consistently low cortisol concentrations under stress are characterized by enhanced competitiveness and a strong tendency to become socially dominant, a more rapid recovery of food intake after transfer to a novel environment, and a reduced panic response under acute stress. We aim to verify that these trait associations represent selection for behavioral syndromes that are also present in wild-type salmonid populations. We will also study whether the frequency distribution of diff erent behavioral syndromes differ between brown trout  populations from two nearby localities that appear to incur different selective pressures. Thereafter we will investigate whether different behavioral syndromes are associated with altered fitness in fluctuating vs stable environments.

Behavioral syndromes in salmonid fish: Ecological and evolutionary implications

Glacial survival versus postglacial immigration of the Scandinavian alpine flora has been debated for more than 100 years, and has recently received increased attention with the development of molecular tools. Many vascular plant species occur disjunctly on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean, but are lacking from areas east- and westwards. A subset also absent from the Alps, the so-called ?West-arctic? species, has been considered to provide the strongest evidence for local survival in Scandinavia thr oughout the entire Quaternary, or at least through the last glaciation. Bryophytes have never attained weight in this discussion, even though many of them are exceptionally hardy and therefore more likely as nunatak survivors. In this project, we will car ry out a comparative phylogeographic analysis of about 10 species of amphi-Atlantic vascular plants and bryophytes. We will use and develop various molecular markers (AFLPs, cpDNA SNPs, and low-copy nuclear genes), phylogenetic analyses, genotype assignme nt tests, and coalescent-based simulations to test whether the Scandinavian populations originate from recent (post-glacial) cross-oceanic dispersal from the west, and/or whether they descend from long-term glacial in-situ survivors. Our international res earch team combines taxonomic, molecular, and phylo- and phytogeographic expertise on vascular plants and bryophytes, and will provide an excellent training environment for one Postdoc (in Oslo), one PhD student (in Tromsø), and several Master students.

Did vascular plants and bryophytes survive the last ice age in Scandinavia?

A central challenge in evolutionary biology is to understand what determines the reliability and flexibility of animal signals. We investigate signal evolution and signal discrimination in two contexts, mate choice and mimicry, with focus on how adaptatio n is affected by learning, plasticity, variability, and evolvability. In each project we will use a mixture of theoretical and empirical methods. In one part of the project we ask how females should search for males in a hybrid zone, where different male sexual traits convey conflicting information about species identity and mate quality. The empirical setup on flycatchers allows for very detailed data to be recorded about the mate-search strategy used by each female. In another part of the project, we st udy optimal attack strategies for predators foraging on a Batesian mimic-model complex, using both optimality theory and learning experiments on great tits. Game-theoretical models will be developed to investigate aspects of mimicry and recognition in avi an brood parasitism. In each system, we study how learning affects discrimination and decision-making, as well as the interaction between learned and innate components of discrimination. In the mate-search context, we study how females update their prefer ences during a search. Models will be developed to investigate whether learning and plasticity facilitates or buffers evolution, including whether imprinting facilitates reinforcement of mate preferences in hybrid zones. Finally, we will study the role of  genetic architecture and evolvability (capacity to evolve) in coevolutionary arms races, as exemplified by the coevolution of a Batesian mimic and its unpalatable model species. To this end we will apply a recently developed population-genetical model fr amework to study the evolution of evolvability and the effects of pleiotropy and epistasis on evolvability.

Signal evolution: adaptation and constraint

The availability and quality of field data is one of the most severe limitations to studies of spatio-temporal population processes such as cyclic dynamics and population synchrony. We propose here an approach that will overcome many limitations concernin g data adequacy and which can dramatically improve opportunities for future research and monitoring of population dynamics, and specifically so for Geometrid moths in northern birch-forest ecosystems. We will use recent advances in remote sensing data acq uisition and spatial modelling and confront our results with field data on population dynamic patterns and forest structure. Our research agenda includes: 1) identifying prime moth habitat and outbreak distribution and intensity based on remote sensing da ta, 2) evaluating moth dispersal characteristics using simulation models and observed patterns of outbreak spread, 3) an integrated analysis of the ability of different mechanisms (local trophic interactions, dispersal and environmental heterogeneity) to generate observed large-scale dynamical patterns such as travelling waves using spatially explicit simulation models, and 4) evaluating the consequences of data uncertainty for the spatial dynamical properties of the system and the relative importance of local dynamics, dispersal and environmental heterogeneity. The first two sub-projects deal with field data scarcity and explore the potential for generating large-scale distribution and dynamics information from remote sensing sources. The results would b e of immense value in research and monitoring of forest defoliators. The last two sub-projects aim at understanding the general mechanisms behind the complex spatio-temporal patterns observed in many cyclic species incl. geometrid moths. By focusing on la rge-scale patterns and processes and taking advantage of spatially explicit simulation modelling techniques, we will be able to significantly complement on-going research efforts on local- to meso-scale dynamics

Inferring regional patterns from local dynamics using spatially explicit simulation modelling and remote sensing data

The significance of learning has been relatively overlooked in studies of fundamental behavioural traits such as species recognition, mate choice and social dominance. I propose a project to investigate long term consequences of interspecific cross-foster ing in the wild in terms of such behavioural traits. Since 1995, great tits and blue tits have been reciprocally cross-fostered in the field, providing unique data for investigating  the consequences of interspecific cross-fostering. I will look at the po tential long term fitness costs of being cross-fostered in terms of survival and reproduction. Consequences for parental investment will also be considered. Further, I will investigate the species recognition and dominance of the offspring of cross-foster ed birds, also taking the sex of the cross-fostered parent into account. Three studies relate to song: first, how do cross-fostered males sing; second, how do the sons of cross-fostered males sing, and third, how does the song of cross-fostered males func tion in interactions with heterospecifics and conspecifics. I also propose a review article on early learning. This project may yield fundamentally new insights into the determinants of the development of species recognition and social dominance. Moreover , cross-fostering is used in conservation biology as a method to save endangered bird species, and unveiling its consequences in the field is of relevance to this practice.

Long term consequences of interspecific cross-fostering in the wild

Thin layers of plankton are increasingly in the focus of marine research, since new information on how organisms are distributed in the water column may change the way we perceive and model the dynamics of species interactions. Horizontal aggregations on larger scales are easy to confirm using standard equipment, while fine- and micro-scale layers are difficult to identify. This project will use a Video Plankton Recorder to study the vertical structure of plankton communities in the water column. The inst rument records images, which are subsequently identified to species or genus, and related to hydrographic data and chlorophyll fluorescence recorded within centimeters of the images. We expect to be able to identify thin layers on micro- and fine scales, and describe extent and persistent of layers, species composition, and relationship with physical and biological environmental variables. We hope to relate our findings to hypotheses about predator-regulated habitat choice, and to make assessments regardi ng the significance of thin layers for trophic interactions in aquatic systems.

The significance of thin layers aquatic plankton communities

Mutations in the male germ-line are common and in highly monogamous species males may benefit from selecting against own, mutated sperm. This will, in turn, reduce a male’s chance of fertilizing, but, on the other hand, prevent loss of DNA order down the family line. The importance of sperm selection by the male will be related to the intensity of sperm competition. That is, in species with high levels of sperm competition male selection against own sperm will impose high fitness costs and therefore be se lected against. Consequently, a lowered control of mutated sperm could explain the increased mutations rates - originating from the male germ-line - documented to co-occur with increased sperm competition. Identification of mutated sperm cells are most li kely conducted by the immune system, which also surveys other somatic cells, and antibody coating of sperm cells are commonly observed in male vertebrates. This project will examine the extent of immunoglobulin coating of sperm cells from males in dominan t and subordinate reproductive roles – roles experiencing different intensity of sperm competition.

Male sperm control

Campanula rotundifolia is a widespread plant that exhibits a clinal variation in flower size along altitudinal gradients. Generally, lowland populations exhibits plants with many small flowers and alpine populations exhibits plants with few large flowers.  This variation also seems to covary with the size of the local pollinator fauna. The fact that local pollinators can drive the floral evolution lead us to think that there could have been selection towards large flower size in high altitudes because of l arger body size of pollinators. Differentiation is most likely if gene flow is low and/or selection is strong. With this project we intend to look at many of the mechanism that are important for floral evolution in flowering plants. To find out how much o f the variation in flower size is a response to environmental factors and to selection mediated by pollinators we will perform a series of experiments both in field and greenhouse. We will plant seedlings of high and low altitude origin in different envir onments both in field and greenhouse to se the plastic response of characters. In the field, we will estimate selection on morphological characters mediated by pollinators in reciprocal transplant populations. We will also estimate heritability of charact ers to be able to predict response to phenotypic selection. To investigate floral evolution in C. rotundifolia in a selection – gene flow balance perspective we will study the genetic structure of populations and compare with morphology (Qst-Fst analysis) . Generally, if populations are genetically similar but morphologically different and morphology is not only a plastic response to environmental factors, gene flow has not counteracted the effects of selection.

Evolution of floral size in Campanula rotundifolia  (Campanulaceae) - effects of selection by pollinators and gene flow

For almost a century, mathematical studies of ecosystem dynamics have been based on the Lotka-Volterra differential equation approach. This approach has been able to integrate different actors, such as resources, producers, predators, decomposers and dise ase vectors. The great success has, however, come by strong restrictions on individual variability in all biological aspects, such as genetics, age/stage, state, and behaviour. It is proposed to study ecosystem dynamics by a series of individual-based pop ulation models, where the internal structure of each population changes as result of differential reproductive success within the population. In result, the gene pool of each population will adapt both towards each other and towards the physical environme nt. Hence, the ecosystem interactions will contain both density-dependent ecological interactions (as in the classical Lotka-Volterra) and evolutionary adaptation of the populations. This latter is assumed very important in the microbial food web, where e volutionary forces are strong. We therefore take the marine microbial food web as our case study.

Adaptive food web models

In recent years an international research initiative focusing on the devastating dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans has been established. Previous research suggests that S. lacrymans provides a unique model system to study evolutionary processes and life hi story traits in basidiomycetes, including the mating and vegetative incompatibility regulation systems. The ‘genetic simplicity and transparency’ observed in S. lacrymans makes us believe that the fungus is a very suitable model organism that can be used to accumulate new knowledge in this field. We present four interrelated sub-projects, which all rest on the use of a variety of DNA techniques on a world-wide, representative sample of living culture isolates of the model organism. It has been hypothesize d that both the mating (MAT) and vegetative incompatibility (vic) loci are governed by inverse frequency-dependent selection, favoring rarer alleles or genotypes. This hypothesis will be tested. We will use computer simulations and empirical data from S. lacrymans to get an idea of evolutionary processes and forces that may influence the MAT/vic allelic diversity and persistence time. The molecular evolution of the vic/MAT alleles/idiomorphs in S. lacrymans will be studied using different approaches. We w ill use expressed sequence tags in comparing the transcriptome from different types of mycelia in the search for genes that are involved in the mating and vegetative incompatibility regulation systems. In order to study speciation processes in S. lacryman s and the sister taxon S. himantioides, we will analyse the MAT idiomorph variation and use a ‘genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition’ (GCPSR) concept. Another goal is to use microsatellites and vic/MAT data to analyze the phylogeograph y and population genetics of S. lacrymans.  We seek funding for one PhD position (3 years) and one researcher position (3 years). In addition, four senior researchers and one private company will be involved.

Evolution of mating type and vegetative incompatibility genes in fungi: The dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans as a model species

A crucial task in ecology is to quantify trade offs between competing processes. Due to environmental correlation, large individual variability in expression of traits and small variability in allocation between competing traits, carefully designed exper iments are needed to quantify these relationships. While experimental, individual based studies have been widely used to quantify life history strategies in birds, virtually no experimental studies have been carried out on ungulates. This is despite that a number of individual based studies have been done. Important life history processes are therefore poorly quantified. Consequently, important aspects of the population dynamics of ungulates are not well understood. Here we propose two carefully designed experiments on ungulates. The first is based on historical knowledge concerning the dynamics in semi-domesticated reindeer populations with strikingly different winter habitats and demography. While generally harsh and variable winter

Life history strategies in ungulates: an experimental approach

Coevolutionary dynamics allows revealing ongoing microevolutionary dynamics and adaptations. Interactions between obligate avian brood parasites and their hosts are suitable systems for the study of coevolution. Various adaptations and counter-adaptations  have previously been described in both parasites and hosts. Spatial differentiation of various populations of hosts and parasites into metapopulations may lead to local adaptations in the interacting species. Within such populations, frequency-dependent selection by the parasite on the most common host egg phenotypes can favour more extreme host phenotypes. In this project, the evolution of host and parasite adaptations is studied in specific host populations in time and space, by analysing egg clutches in museum collections and in the field. By identifying and comparing various host and parasite populations we examine if local adaptations in host and parasite egg phenotypes exist in a European brood parasite and a common host. In addition, by applying t he concepts of metapopulation dynamics, we model the expected behaviour of hosts towards parasites in specific populations. Few studies have focused on local adaptations in various subpopulations in a metapopulation scenario. Our approach is thus not only  likely to be important in a coevolutionary context, but also aimed at improving our understanding of evolutionary biology in general, biodiversity and conservation biology.
Modern techniques including photospectrometry and molecular analyses are applied in this project.

Local adaptations in cuckoos and their hosts; a metapopulation approach: tillegg til 151641/V40

The dinoflagellate chloroplasts (plastids) originate from eukaryotic photosynthetic endosymbionts.  Rather than being derived from a single group (being monophyletic) the plastids of dinoflagellates are originate from several organism groups and are thus of polyphyletic origin. Most dinoflagellate plastids have 3 or more surrounding membranes. In the process of endosymbiosis gene have been transferred form the plastid genome (and from the endosymbiont nucleus) to the host nucleus - for example leading to a situation where only 10-11 genes are left on minicircles each with a replication origo and one gene on each. The dinoflagellates may have gone through more than one round with endosymbiosis, and it seems that one group has been particularly popular; nam ely the haptophytes. For each round of endosymbiosis genetic reminiscences from the endosymbiont are likely to be found in the nucleuses this project we aim at addressing some central issues in understanding the process of secondary and tertiary endosymbi osis. We do this by searching for plastid genes in the dinoflagellates nucleus (of the species Heterocapsa triquetra) using a BAC library. Information about the chloroplast genome sequence and EST sequences from H. triquetra are available. Finally we will  investigate possible mechanisms for gene transfer, with particular emphasis on the role of marine dinoflagellate viruses.

PES-EU-Prosjektetablererstøtte EU (bedrift)

Advanced Treatment of Water Intended for Human Consumption

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Summary

Funding scheme:

PES-EU-Prosjektetablererstøtte EU (bedrift)

Funding Sources

Thematic Areas and Topics