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Tørkeperioder kan gjøre bakken hardere og frastøte seg vann, dette fører til økt fare for flom og jorderosjon hvis det skulle komme styrtregn. Sammenfallende hendelser hvor en tørkeperiode ender i styrtregn kan derfor forårsake større skader på infrastruktur og avlinger enn enkelthendelser med kun tørke eller styrtregn. Global oppvarming har forårsaket at både tørkeperioder og styrtregn intensiveres og skjer oftere, som også kan føre til at sammenfallende hendelser med tørke etterfulgt av styrtregn også kan intensiveres og skje oftere. 
Selv om det er funnet en økning i tørkeperioder og ekstremnedbør med global oppvarming også i klimamodellene, er det også en stor spredning mellom modellene på hvor mye og i hvilke områder som opplever mer tørke og nedbør. Prosjektet vil undersøke faktiske historiske hendelser hvor tørkeperioder endte i styrtregn i værobservasjoner og værmodelldata for å finne passende indekser som kan brukes til å analysere hvordan de forekommer i klimamodellene. Modeller på finere skala gjør en bedre jobb med å modellere nedbør, prosjektet vil derfor bruke finskala høytoppløselige klimamodeller og globale klimamodeller for å se hvordan tørkeperioder avsluttet med styrtregn forekommer i disse. De modellene som gjør det godt opp mot observasjoner vil bli identifisert.  Videre vil prosjektet studere endringene i hyppighet og intensitet av sammenfallende hendelser med tørke og styrtregn med global oppvarming.
En av grunnene man vet til hvorfor det er stor usikkerhet knyttet til hvordan klimamodellene gjenskaper nedbørsmønstre er hvordan fordamping varierer over skog- og andre arealer. I prosjektet vil vi se på effekten av avskoging og økt skogbruk i globale modeller, og gjøre egne beregninger over mindre areal på finskala for å for å se hvordan fordamping blir påvirket. Resultatene av prosjektet er viktig får å unngå eller minimere skadene slike sammenfallende med tørke etterfulgt av styrtregn kan forårsake.

Global warming intensifies drought and extreme precipitation. Compound events with droughts ending in intensified precipitation - DRIP can cause large damages but are extremely understudied. This project aims to estimate the change in frequency and intensity of DRIP events with global warming due to changes in the water-cycle. We will identify actual historical compound DRIP events and find indices that are suitable to identify these events in model data. As global climate models show a large spread in precipitation for both historical and the different future climate projections, there is expected to be a spread in model projections of DRIP events as well. We will constrain this spread by identifying global climate models that do a good statistical representation of historical DRIP events and by analyzing large ensembles to evaluate the natural variability. As higher resolution modelling shows a better representation of the water cycle, the project will analyze regional downscaled global models in identified regions of interest.  We will also perform in-house regional simulations of identified global models down to convection permitting scale to study the change in DRIP events with model resolution. The project will also target a highlighted uncertainty connected to the water-cycle by exploring how evapotranspiration and the occurrence of DRIP events found in climate models respond to land use change. For this analysis we will extend the regional downscaling to include sensitivity studies which contain deforestation and forestation. Results gained from DRIP will make a large contribution to the knowledge needed on future mitigation measures due to the increase in compound events.

DRIP - DRought ending in Intensified Precipitation

The high seas are those marine areas under no State's jurisdiction. So far, all marine renewable energy (RE) activity is being conducted under State's jurisdiction. However, recent advances in technology are raising the prospect of carrying out RE activity on the high seas. Currently, only seabed mining activities in the Area have been regulated. The Area is the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of State's jurisdiction. From the legal viewpoint, the main gap is a lack of an international regulatory framework, informed by participatory mechanisms and supported by scientific evidence, for RE activities on the high seas, especially regarding their environmental and social impacts. 
The primary project objective (O) is to provide the scientific community and policymakers with science-informed and indigenous knowledge-based recommendations in support of the development of  RE regulation on the high seas. 
Two specific Os are set to complement the primary O, namely:
O1 To advance the use of systematic consultation processes that facilitates research at the crossroads of marine sciences and law. 
O2 To advance critical knowledge and understanding of environmental pressing issues comparable to the regulation of RE on the high seas, such as deep-sea mining in the Area.
A multistep innovative methodology will be adopted, by integrating marine scientific knowledge, consultative processes, and advanced critical research in the subject matter. A case study (interdisciplinary and participatory) involving marine scientists, indigenous and coastal communities and policy makers will be conducted onboard the Research Vessel KronPrins Haakon at the beginning of the project. The case study outcomes will be analysed through critical legal analysis to build a knowledge base for policy recommendations. 
The project will advance the PI’s career in an international research environment, allowing her to generate independent, high-quality, and reproducible results.




Renewable energy on the high seas – science-informed and indigenous knowledge-based recommendations for regulatory and governance challenges

Prosjektet går ut på å invitere forskere fra norske eller utenlandske universiteter til å presentere sin forskning om økonomi og klima ved Handelshøyskolen ved Universitetet i Stavanger (HHUiS).

Dette skjer i form av et seminar som vanligvis finner sted en gang i uken. En kjent forsker fra et annet universitet kommer til Stavanger og holder et 60-minutters seminar og har en rekke møter med forskere i Stavanger. Vi prøver å ha minst 6-8 møter per gjest. I tillegg spiser gjesten lunsj og middag med UiS-ansatte.

Disse seminarene er en del av en eksisterende seminarserie som også tar for seg andre klimaspørsmål. En stor del av seminarene er imidlertid fokusert på klimaendringer og økonomi, og det er kun til disse seminarene vi søker midler.

En aktiv seminarrekke er hjertet i et forskningsuniversitet, og svært viktig for at forskerne ved universitetet skal kunne utvikle seg og være en aktiv del av det globale forskningsmiljøet. Dessverre må vi av budsjettmessige årsaker kutte ned på denne aktiviteten i år og fremover, og derfor sender vi denne søknaden for å be om midler til denne aktiviteten.

UiS har et meget energisk forskerteam innen økonomi og klima. For eksempel ble Dora Simons forskning nylig nevnt i The Economist, Anders Åkermans forskning ble denne uken nevnt av Det hvite hus i den amerikanske presidentens årlige økonomiske rapport, og Torfinn Harding skriver jevnlig artikler i Dagens Næringsliv og opptrer på norsk TV. For at denne gruppen skal overleve, er det svært viktig å kunne arrangere seminarer om klimaendringer på høyeste internasjonale nivå.

Seminarer med internasjonale forskere om økonomi og klima ved Universitetet i Stavanger

Improving tropical forest conservation in Africa

The importance of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for better balancing tropical forest conservation and poverty alleviation goals is increasingly recognised. Yet, in Africa, poor understanding of the impact of harvesting on species’ populations and forest carbon stocks, together with little information on the traditional institutions which have informally regulated NTFPs extraction in the past -and could continue to do so in the future-, hamper the use of NTFPs in both forest conservation and development initiatives. 
AFRI-FOR will gather the knowledge needed to determine (1) the key enablers of sustainable harvesting for groups of plant or wild meat species, (2) which types of NTFP harvesting can have synergies with carbon storage, and (3) how traditional institutions can be integrated into formal conservation. To achieve these objectives, AFRI-FOR provide new methods, including (i) a new interdisciplinary approach for investigating NTFPs harvesting impacts, combining traditional ecological knowledge (TEK, from local communities), surveys of plants and wildlife, market surveys and modelling techniques; and (ii) a novel standardised protocol for gathering information about traditional institutions and compliance towards them. AFRI-FOR will gather data and knowledge from 20 socio-ecological forest contexts in five countries (Sierra Leone, Cameroon, DR Congo, Uganda and Kenya), which will allow insights to transcend single sites and provide a much-needed general understanding. This high-risk and high-gain project will provide a step-change in our ability to inform forest conservation in Africa, by identifying synergies between biodiversity conservation, carbon storage and poverty alleviation goals.


Currently, 28.2% of the total EU-28 greenhouse gas emissions come from the power sector, a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, the emphasis of the research in power generation has swung towards assessing highly efficient and greener power cycles. In this reference, the novel supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle (sCO2-BC) is an ideal choice that outstrips other formally well-known power cycles (Brayton & Rankine cycles). In sCO2-BC, the role of the pre-cooler is critical. It serves as a sink to the power cycle and regulates the conditions at the compressor's inlet. The compressor's inlet temperature is intended to be maintained close to the critical temperature of carbon dioxide (CO2) to achieve greater cycle efficiencies. However, exceptionally higher values of the specific heat capacity of CO2 near its critical point (up to 40 times higher than water) require exceedingly high water flow rates on the cold side to achieve the desired exit temperatures of CO2. Consequently, the pre-cooler's pumping power requirements become high enough to deteriorate the cycle's performance. This problem can only be mitigated by exploring new channel geometries with enhanced thermohydraulic characteristics. Therefore, the proposed study plan to characterize the complex thermohydraulic characteristics in the pseudocritical region of CO2 using a multifaceted technique that includes, experimental, numerical, and machine learning techniques. The proposed work will provide a step forward to the success of sCO2-BC technologies that, in turn, will facilitate its integration with the green energy resources (generation-IV nuclear reactors and solar concentrated plants), helping to meet the EU's 2030 climate and energy framework goals of achieving at least 32% share for renewable energy.

Evaluation of thermohydraulic characteristic of printed circuit heat exchangers in pseudocritical region for supercritical CO2 cycle

Potetskrell, et biprodukt fra industriproduksjon av potet (pommes frites, flak, chips mm.) er en råstoff ressurs som kan bli bedre utnyttet til nye formål. Skrellet er nemlig en rik kilde på antioksidanter, stoffer som planter naturlig har i seg for å beskytte mot skadelige UV-stråler og reaktive forbindelser som oksygen radikaler. Antioksidanter behøver vi også å tilsette i matvarer for å beskytte og ta vare på umettet fett så det ikke blir harskt og vondt i kontakt med luft. I dag brukes flere ulike syntetiske stoffer i matvarer for å hindre oksidasjon av fett og oljer. Men det er reist bekymring rundt sikkerheten for bruken av dem. Matvareindustrien, myndigheter og forbruker ønsker derfor å fjerne flere syntetiske antioksidanter og erstatte dem med naturlig alternativer. Det er imidlertid svært få slike produkter som er godkjent og tilgjengelig på markedet. Prosjektet Peel Preserve, som har et klart bærekraft mål, skal vise om et uttrekk av antioksidanter laget på industrielt potetskrell råstoff kan fungere som konserveringsmiddel og erstatte noen av de stoffene som brukes i dag. Tre næringsmiddelbedrifter skal teste potetskrell-ekstraktet i noen av sine produkter og utføre både interne og eksterne analyser på effekten. Men en viktig forutsetning for at potetantioksidant kan tas i bruk som nytt tilsetningsstoff i mat er at det blir godkjent av den Europeiske matsikkerhets myndigheten (EFSA) og gitt et E-nummer. Prosjektet skal igangsette denne lengre flertrinns godkjennings prosessen. Parallelt skal det utvikles en forretningsmodell og nødvendig beskyttelse rundt teknologien. Dersom industrien etter testingen av potetantioksidanten, vurderer denne som er god erstatning til konkurransedyktig pris, og en EFSA-godkjenning kan oppnås på sikt, åpner det for å kommersialisere et naturlig plante-basert produkt til beste for forbruker og for miljøet. Bak prosjektet Peel Preserve står Høgskolen i Innlandet i samarbeid med Nofima og Klosser Innovasjon.

Preserving foods with potato peels: Industry-relevant validation and first regulatory assessment of a new natural antioxidant

RETRACE-prosjektet, som strekker seg over tre år, tar for seg den økende trusselen fra naturkatastrofer, som har rammet over 2,3 milliarder mennesker siden 2000-tallet. RETRACE fokuserer på lokalsamfunn i Arktis og Stillehavsområdet, som marquisene i Fransk Polynesia, samene og kvenene i Norge og ahtnaene i Alaska, og har som mål å styrke motstandskraften mot klimarisiko. Disse lokalsamfunnene, som er dypt sammenvevd med omgivelsene sine, gir uvurderlig innsikt i hvordan man overlever og trives i en krevende miljøsituasjon.

RETRACE tar utgangspunkt i hypotesen om at urfolks- og lokalkunnskapssystemer, særlig fra lokalsamfunn i polar- og stillehavsområdene, er uunnværlige for å utvikle effektive strategier for motstandskraft. Prosjektets metode innebærer å samle inn et rikt datasett som omfatter vitnesbyrd, kulturelle praksiser og levde erfaringer, i tillegg til kvantitative analyser. Målet er å skape et omfattende rammeverk som tar hensyn til lokale kontekster og fremmer tilpasningsdyktige og inkluderende resilienspraksiser.

Et internasjonalt forskerteam fra Frankrike, Norge og USA samler en rekke ulike ferdigheter for å bygge bro mellom vitenskapelig forskning og virkeligheten i lokalsamfunnene. Målet er å utvikle et romlig beslutningsstøttesystem som både bidrar til å visualisere resiliensdata og fungerer som et verktøy for samfunnsbasert beslutningstaking, noe som forbedrer evnen til å håndtere risiko og utnytte tradisjonell kunnskap på en effektiv måte.

Ved å kombinere lokal innsikt med vitenskapelig innovasjon skal RETRACE bane vei for resiliensstrategier som både er bærekraftige og tar hensyn til de unike behovene til sårbare lokalsamfunn. Dette prosjektet setter ikke bare søkelyset på urfolks- og lokalkunnskapens avgjørende rolle når det gjelder å håndtere klimaendringene, men har også som mål å sette lokalsamfunn over hele verden i stand til å håndtere de utfordringene som et klima i endring fører med seg.

The three-year RETRACE project responds to the increasing impact of natural disasters on over 2.3 billion people since the beginning of the millennium. It has a particular focus on Arctic and Pacific communities vulnerable to climate risks, specifically, the Marquesan community in French Polynesia, the Sámi and Kven communities in Norway, and the Ahtna people in Alaska. The project aims to address the resilience(s) of communities, in order to develop more inclusive and equitable approaches to developing and implementing resilience strategies.

Five hypotheses guide the research, based on the assumption that indigenous communities such as the ones living in Polar zones and Pacific islands, developed resilience knowledge and strategies to cope with climate-related events. The project aims to co-develop a spatial decision-support system for producing and visualizing qualitative and quantitative data on the different forms of local, community, intrinsic and traditional resiliences in those communities.

Utilizing a narrative approach, the consortium collects testimonials, cultures, memories, experiences, sensitivities and expertise from both Arctic and Pacific communities on forms of resilience and their visions of climate risks, alongside quantitative open-source data from traditional assessments. This data will be cross-referenced to build an interdisciplinary framework for a nuanced understanding of local needs, suitable to assess resilience in local contexts. 

Comprising researchers from France, Norway and the USA with diverse expertise, the consortium aims to contribute in developing risk management and resilience strategies by integrating local and indigenous knowledge into an adaptable and sustainable spatial decision-making tool. The tool aims to bridge the gap between international scientific research and local community realities, potentially informing strategies in other vulnerable territories in the future.

ResilienceS to climate risks: lessons from Arctic and Pacific communities

Sjøisen i Arktis har minket drastisk de siste tiårene, og Polhavet forventes å være isfritt om sommeren mot slutten av århundret. Denne nedgangen har utsatt store havområder for vind, noe som har resultert i at det oftere dannes store bølger i Polhavet. Disse bølgene kan forplante seg over flere titalls til hundrevis av kilometer i sjøisen, knekke den og akselerere smeltingen. Disse fysiske prosessene – bølger som knekker sjøis og effekten dette har på sjøissmelting og vekst – mangler i modellene vi bruker for å forutsi klimautviklingen. Dette bidrar til store usikkerheter i klimamodeller. Effekten av bølger på sjøisen er heller ikke tatt med i prognoser for havets og sjøisens forhold, som brukes av skip som opererer i islagte farvann. I ForWArd ønsker vi å vurdere bølgenes innvirkning på sjøisens utvikling i det stadig røffere Polhavet. I dette arbeidet brukes en svært avansert modell som inkluderer sjøis, hav, bølger og deres interaksjoner. Vi skal først vurdere hvor godt den representerer forholdene i Polhavet sammenlignet med de få tilgjengelige observasjonene. Vi vil så bruke modellen til å undersøke hvordan bølgehøyden og arealet av ødelagt sjøis har utviklet seg de siste tre tiårene. Deretter vil vi kombinere modellen vår med forholdene i det fremtidige Polhavet gitt av klimafremskrivninger, for å undersøke hvordan betydningen av interaksjoner mellom bølger og is vil utvikle seg ettersom sjøis avtar i det 21. århundre. Vår modells estimering av "bølgepåvirkningen" vil tillate polarvitenskapsmiljøet å vurdere hvor usikre deres klimaspådommer uten bølger er. Til syvende og sist vil våre modellresultater og utviklinger legge grunnlaget for å legge til bølgeeffekter i hav- og sjøisvarsler i Arktis. Dette vil gjøre varslene mer nøyaktige og bidra til sikkerheten for menneskelig aktivitet i denne regionen.

Arctic sea ice decline under climate change has allowed waves to form and grow more easily in the Arctic Ocean. These waves propagate into the sea ice over tens to hundreds of kilometres, fragmenting it into small floes. This area of broken ice, known as the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ), is a highly complex region where many interactions occur between the ocean, sea ice, and atmosphere. The action of waves strongly affects these interactions, with rapid feedbacks on the sea ice. However, climate models do not account for these wave-ice interaction processes, which likely contributes to the strong biases in their estimation of modelled sea ice extent and volume and their inability to capture short-term sea ice extent variability. Given the lack of observations available, numerical models remain the best way to estimate how wave-ice interaction processes can impact Arctic sea ice, but most wave-ice coupled models are still prototypes. In ForWArd, we will use one of the most advanced of these models to assess this impact in the context of climate change. To this aim, we will use the latest observations to calibrate the modelled wave-affected area and produce a 30-year-long hindcast of the MIZ extent evolution to analyse how it responded to larger wave height, delayed refreezing, and thinner ice. Then, we will assess the relative importance of the wave-ice interactions suspected to affect sea ice in the MIZ using well-documented events. Finally, we will estimate how waves will contribute to sea ice extent and volume variability in the coming decades, as large areas of open water will remain open until late in the autumn. The flexibility of our setup will allow us to test the sensitivity of our results to model resolution and assumptions, giving invaluable insights into the biases induced by misrepresenting wave-ice interactions. ForWArd will also pave the way for the integration of wave effects in sea ice forecasts, a requirement for safer operations in ice-infested waters.

Forecasting Wave impact as Arctic sea ice declines

AGREE tar for seg klimaendringers innvirkning på kulturarv gjennom tverrfaglige metoder og samarbeid mellom ulike samfunnsaktører. Prosjektet tar særlig for seg urbane områder som påvirkes av flom. Målet er å forstå det komplekse forholdet mellom forvaltning av kulturarv, klimatilpasning og samfunnets sårbarhet, og å se på tiltak for å minimere risiko for tap og ødeleggelse som følge av klimaendringer. Sentrale delmål inkluderer integrering av strategier for bevaring av kulturarv med strategier for klimatilpasning, spesielt gjennom konseptet Historisk Urban Landskap (HUL). 

AGREE vil utvikle en beslutningsmodell forankret i HUL-konseptet som sammenligner dagens forvaltningspraksis med historiske data for å belyse sårbarhet og klimatilpasning i en urban kontekst. AGREE vil fremme transformative strategier for klimatilpasning ved å evaluere beslutningstakernes forståelse av disse samspillene. 

Prosjektet ledes av University of Leeds (Storbritannia), og har Norsk institutt for kulturminneforskning (NIKU), Politecnico di Torino (Italia) med som partnere. ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), British Council (Storbritannia), UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Storbritannia), Hull City Council (Storbritannia) og Innlandet fylke (Norge) deltar som samarbeidspartnere. Gjennom dette samarbeidet skal prosjektet bidra til å forme politikk og klimastrategier, både lokalt og globalt.  AGREE vil også engasjere publikum for å øke bevisstheten om klimatilpasning og mobilisere til felles handling.  Gjennom bred involvering skal AGREE bidra til å sikre at kulturarven forblir beskyttet og motstandsdyktig i møte med klimaendringer.

Alt i alt vil AGREE utforske klimaendringers påvirkning på kulturarv med en praksisorientert tilnærming, og med fokus på samarbeid, databasert beslutningstaking og samfunnsengasjement for å sikre vår felles kulturarv for fremtidige generasjoner.

AGREE champions transformative sustainability in response, emphasizing interdisciplinary methodologies and societal shifts. It explores the intricate link between cultural heritage governance, climate adaptation, and community resilience, rooted in responses to flooding in urban contexts. AGREE promotes the Historic Urban Landscape concept for integrative decision-making in climate adaptation, considering community resilience amidst environmental changes. An interactive Geographic Information System platform will illuminate this interplay over time. An innovative AGREE's contribution is a decision-making model grounded in the HUL paradigm. This model juxtaposes current national and local policies enabling cultural heritage integration in climate adaptation with historical data sources revealing urban resilience lessons and changes in the built environment over time. AGREE employs transformative governance concepts to evaluate decision-makers comprehension of these synergies and their perspectives. It advances transformative climate adaptation by uncovering potentials and barriers within heritage governance in case studies from the UK, Norway, and Italy. Beyond research, AGREE will shape policies with multi-scalar and cross-sectorial governance, interpreting climate intricacies through cultural heritage. It will strengthen global, national, and local heritage-focused climate strategies through partnerships with the British Council, ICCROM, and the UK's Department for Culture, Media, and Sport and local stakeholders, such as Hull City Council (UK) and Innlandet Region (Norway). AGREE also engages the public, raising climate adaptation awareness and mobilizing collective action, benefiting governmental climate efforts.

Advancing Cultural Heritage Governance for Resilient Climate Adaptation

SASCHA har som mål å utvikle praktiske verktøy og metoder for å vurdere og håndtere kulturminner når klimaendringer utgjør en risikofaktor. Prosjektet ledes av University College London (UCL), og har Norsk institutt for kulturminneforskning (NIKU), Arizona State University (USA), NHAZCA (Italia) og North Carolina State University (USA) med som partnere. ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), English Heritage Trust (Storbritannia) og Ventotene kommune (Italia) deltar i prosjektet som samarbeidspartnere. 

 Hovedmål for prosjektet:  
- Utvikling av indikatorer og målemetoder for måling av klimaendringers virkning på kulturarv. 
- Etablere metoder for å involvere relevante aktører i identifiseringen og målingen av disse virkningene. Metodene skal kunne tilpasses lokale forhold og kulturell kontekst. 
- Utvikle verktøy for å hjelpe beslutningstakere til å vurdere og anvende målinger på ulike nivåer. 
- Utforske utfordringer og muligheter knyttet til bruk av nye metoder for vurdering klimarelaterte risikofaktorer for kulturminner. 

Ved å oppnå disse målene skal SASCHA ruste lokalsamfunn og kulturminneforvaltningen til å bedre forstå og håndtere klimarisiko. I tillegg, gjennom samarbeid med organisasjoner som UNESCO og ICCROM, skal SASCHA bidra til globale diskusjoner om hvordan klimaproblematikken kan integreres i kulturminneforvaltningens praksis. Alt i alt vil SASCHA legge til rette for politikkutvikling og styrke kulturminneforvaltningen ved å tilby verktøy og metoder for å effektivt vurdere, tolke og formidle klimarisiko for kulturarvsteder over hele verden.

SASCHA proposes operationalisation for transferable risk assessment and a value-based decision support tool. Supported by this approach, the overarching aim of SASCHA is therefore to develop innovative methods for understanding risks of climate change for heritage that allow for multiscale analysis and scalable approaches, bridging the gaps between local knowledge and global data, and from local vulnerability to global risks. To this end, SASCHA will: a) develop a set of operationalised indicators/metrics for relevant determinants of climate change; b) develop a locally adaptable protocol for stakeholders' engagement in the identification of relevant determinants of climate impacts that acknowledge and celebrate diversity in cultural contexts; c) develop a climate adaptation decision support tool to evaluate relevance of assessment approaches for different spatial scales; d) explore the challenges and opportunities of an operationalisation approach to climate change--heritage risk. Addressing a complex, wide and research-intensive subject, SASCHA unfolds several organisational, scientific, technical, technological and cultural heritage-oriented elements. SASCHA includes four research partners, together bringing significant experience in climate change and heritage and requisite expertise in physical sciences (UCL), social sciences and humanities (NIKU, NCSU/ASU) and technology (NHAZCA). The consortium can significantly contribute to safeguarding and protecting their region's coastal heritage but also to the global discussion of the integration of climate impacts assessment on cultural heritage through the close collaboration with UNESCO's Advisory body, ICCROM and case study stakeholders. SASCHA will develop methods for assessing, interpreting, and communicating climate change risks for heritage, while also supporting effective policy development and heritage management.

Multiscale approaches and scalability within climate change-heritage risk assessments

Midlene fra PES-INST-Prosjektetablererstøtte EU (FoU) fordelt på år

Midlene fra PES-INST-Prosjektetablererstøtte EU (FoU) fordelt på fylker

Midlene fra PES-INST-Prosjektetablererstøtte EU (FoU) fordelt på fagområde

Research Director

Development of a strategic sodium reduction approach for cooked ham producers in Europe

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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

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

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

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 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

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)

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-INST-Prosjektetablererstøtte EU (FoU)

Development of a strategic sodium reduction approach for cooked ham producers in Europe

Tildelt: kr 89 999

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PES-INST-Prosjektetablererstøtte EU (FoU)

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