isabel – Page 3 – The Herbivory Network

January 2, 2024

Small rodent population cycles and plants – after 70 years, where do we go?

Small rodent population cycles characterize northern ecosystems, and the cause of these cycles has been a long-lasting central topic in ecology. While some researchers have rejected plant–herbivore interactions as a cause of rodent cycles, others have continued to research their potential roles.

In their recent article in Biological Reviews, Eeva Soininen and Mage Neby outlined four different pathways on how plants could create population cycles in rodents. They reviewed the existing scientific literature, assessing the support to these pathways.

They found studies from the temperate biome to the tundra, but studies were scattered across different plant-rodent combinations, and only a few specific topics were studied repeatedly. They concluded that the literature is currently insufficient to discard with confidence any of the four potential hypotheses for plant-rodent cycles.

Pathways through which plants can create population cycles in rodents.

Reference: Soininen, E.M. and Neby, M., 2023. Small rodent population cycles and plants–after 70 years, where do we go?. Biological Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.13021

Photo: L. Johnson

January 2, 2024January 2, 2024

Postdoc: Permafrost thaw, vegetation communities and herbivory

Deadline: January 8, 2024

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Umeå University, Sweden, seeks a postdoctoral researcher who will work with impacts of permafrost thaw on Arctic ecosystems. The employment is full-time for two years with a start date on 1st of March 2024 or by agreement.

Project description

Satellite time-series indicate that Arctic vegetation productivity is increasing (greening), but also shows areas affected by productivity decreases (browning). These observations can be associated with vegetation changes, permafrost degradation or herbivory and other factors, but the causal links are often unclear. The aim of this project is to provide new knowledge on the impact of permafrost thaw and degradation on Arctic flora and fauna by assessing vegetation productivity, and to trace cascading effects on herbivores and local stake- and rightsholders, including issues of environmental contaminants. A key method will be the use of remote sensing data including unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) and satellite imagery and vegetation surveys. Fieldwork to collect UAV and ground data on vegetation properties is planned in three Arctic regions (Canada, Greenland and Svalbard).

The postdoctoral fellow will be associated with the EU Horizon project ILLUQ – PERMAFROST – POLLUTION – HEALTH providing a wide network for collaborations. The position will thus include deliverables and predefined tasks for the Postdoc fellow. These include:

To participate in field campaigns to different Arctic regions to collect UAV and vegetation ground data, including traces of herbivory.
To map different ecosystem types and changes in vegetation productivity using remote sensing data.
To link observed vegetation dynamics in satellite time series to drivers of change and to collaborate on modeling efforts to project future impacts of permafrost thaw on flora and fauna.
To participate in joint workshops with local stake- and rights-holders.

The exact set of tasks will be adjusted based on the background of the postdoc and there will be room to develop separate ideas.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will be placed in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, and will be advised by Dr. Matthias Siewert.

Qualifications

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision.

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organisations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms
of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area. Postdoctoral fellows who are to teach or supervise must have taken relevant courses in teaching and learning in higher education.

We seek a creative and motivated person with excellent oral and written communication skills in English. You must be able to work both independently and in collaboration with international partners. Prior experience with Arctic ecosystems and field work, remote sensing, UAV data collection, permafrost science, vegetation surveys, herbivory and biogeochemical analysis, will all be viewed as merits. The project can be adjusted to the expertise and interest of the candidate, as long as essential project deliverables are met. Candidates from a wide range of scientific backgrounds will be considered.

Application

A full application, written in English or Swedish, should include:

A cover letter describing your scientific background, interested in the project and your suitability (max. 2 pages)
A CV, including a list of your publications
Copies of your doctoral thesis and relevant publications (maximum 5)
Copy of doctoral degree certificate and other relevant degree certificates
Contact information for at least two reference persons

More information: http://umu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:686577/

Further Information

The evaluation will be based on the application, referee judgments and interviews. For more information contact: Associate Professor Matthias Siewert, Dept. Ecology and Environmental Science, matthias.siewert@umu.se

November 20, 2023

Contrasting impacts of short- and long-term large herbivore exclusion on understory net CO2 exchange in a boreal forest

Trees are the main carbon (C) stocks in boreal forests, but the understory vegetation can contribute significantly to total C balance. In northern boreal pine forests, understories consist of variable habitats with different roles for C balance: often, the understory is a combination of warmer and drier sunlit patches dominated by lichens and more shaded and moister patches dominated by mosses and dwarf shrubs. These habitats are influenced by herbivores that may control canopy and understory vegetation, soil C cycling and, consequently, forest C balance.

We studied how excluding large herbivores (Rangifer tarandus and Alces alces) for short and longer period affects understory CO₂ fluxes across sunlit and shaded habitats in a boreal forest. We measured understory CO₂ fluxes with manual and automated chamber methods across sunlit and shaded habitats in grazed and ungrazed areas over the growing seasons of 2019 and 2020. We used fences that had excluded large herbivores for one year and for 25 years alongside the adjacent grazed area at Oulanka research station in northeastern Finland.

We found that CO₂ release increased in shaded habitats when large herbivores were excluded for one year. On the other hand, when large herbivores were excluded for over two decades, CO₂ fluxes decreased to some extent, and this was independent of a habitat type. Our findings suggest that impacts of large herbivores on CO₂ fluxes may vary over time and be opposite in short term compared to long term. Considering these temporal variations in grazing impacts may help to forecast C fluxes more accurately, which may be relevant for informed climate solutions.

The article is open access and you can find the full text here.

Reference: Kantola, N., Väisänen, M. Leffler, A.J., Welker, J.M. Contrasting impacts of short- and long-term large herbivore exclusion on understory net CO₂ exchange in a boreal forest. Ecography
https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.06724

Text and photograph: Noora Kantola, University of Oulu

November 15, 2023

Earlier springs increase goose breeding propensity and nesting success at Arctic but not at temperate latitudes

Migration is a key life-history strategy that allows animals to exploit seasonal food peaks while avoiding periods of scarcity. The success of a migratory strategy hinges on the balance between reproductive output and survival. Long-lived species, such as Arctic-breeding geese, can trade off survival and reproductive success by skipping breeding in years when conditions for reproduction are unfavourable. Breeding propensity — the likelihood of mature females breeding in a given year — therefore plays a crucial role in population dynamics.

We studied how spring conditions (onset of spring) affect breeding propensity and nesting success of barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) breeding along a latitudinal gradient. We collated tracking data of barnacle geese breeding from the temperate region in the Netherlands, to Novaya Zemlya in the high Arctic. By using a novel technique to derive breeding attempts from high-resolution tracking data, our study avoids the bias introduced by overlooking non-breeding birds, providing a comprehensive understanding of breeding dynamics across the entire breeding range.

The results revealed that breeding propensity is significantly influenced by spring phenology in Arctic regions. At latitudes >66° N, breeding propensity decreased markedly in late springs compared to early springs. Nesting success, mirrored the pattern of breeding propensity, declining in later springs at Arctic latitudes. However, temperate latitudes exhibit consistently high breeding propensity and nesting success, seemingly unaffected by spring phenology. The relationship between breeding propensity and spring phenology at Arctic latitudes aligns with the idea that local food availability and conditions upon arrival play a crucial role. At temperate latitudes, food and nesting site availability is usually not limited by snow cover, and timing of spring might therefore be less important. Furthermore, agricultural intensification provides a stable and nutrient-rich food supply which could facilitate high breeding propensity regardless of spring phenology.

Earlier Arctic springs, driven by climate warming, have mostly been considered to have negative impacts on reproductive success through phenological mismatches. However, our study suggests that higher breeding propensity and nesting success in early springs may partially offset these negative impacts. This underscores the intricate relationship between spring phenology and reproductive success in Arctic breeding geese and other species. As climate change continues to influence spring timing, understanding these relationships becomes crucial for assessing the broader implications on population viability.

You can find the article here.

Reference: Boom, M. P., Schreven, K. H., Buitendijk, N. H., Moonen, S., Nolet, B. A., Eichhorn, G., van der Jeugd, H.P. & Lameris, T. K. (2023). Earlier springs increase goose breeding propensity and nesting success at Arctic but not at temperate latitudes. Journal of Animal Ecology. Early view

Text and photo credit: Michiel Boom,Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography (NIOO-KNAW)

November 13, 2023November 13, 2023

Postdoctoral position at the Agricultural University of Iceland

Deadline: December 8, 2023

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher to join the project The Nordic Borealization Network (NordBorN) funded by NordForsk’s University Cooperation call.

The Nordic Borealization Network (NordBorN) will create a collaboration platform across the Nordic countries to understand the implications of ongoing shifts in the forest-tundra biome boundary, that is, the borealization in Nordic terrestrial ecosystems. These shifts include the encroachment of woody species (treeline advance and shrub expansion), spread of non-native species, changes in the composition of biotic communities and in the trophic and functional structure of ecosystems, and changes in landscape structure and ecosystem processes. As such, borealization provides the scope for multidisciplinary work and highlights the need of a strong consortium with complementary expertise. NordBorN will bring together six Nordic universities and three associated partners who will jointly develop research funding applications and will create opportunities for mobility and graduate student co-supervision across Nordic universities.

The successful applicant will conduct their own research within the scope of the network while also facilitating collaborative research with a large international research team. Their role will be to identify additional opportunities for funding of joint NordBorN projects, assist in the preparation of grant applications and coordinate efforts across the consortium, and develop their own research interests, as project leaders. They will also build leadership expertise by being part of the management board of a large Nordic cooperation project. The position will provide a unique opportunity to be part of a large, active international team, participate in project meetings in different countries over the course of the project, opportunities for research visits with other partners and for student supervision in a multidisciplinary environment.

The postdoctoral researcher will be based at the Reykjavík campus of the Agricultural University of Iceland, and will work closely together with Isabel C Barrio and other members of the NordBorN consortium. The deadline for applications is December 8, 2023 and the position will start as soon as possible after January 1, 2024. The position has a duration of 28 months. Salaries are according to public sector wage agreements.

Applications are welcome from candidates with a PhD degree in ecology, environmental sciences or related fields. A strong academic background is essential, as the postdoctoral researcher should be able to translate the research needs and priorities of the network into the development of consortium activities, while consolidating themselves as experts in the field. Applicants should ideally have experience in working in an international research environment, successfully securing research funding, communicating scientific outputs to different audiences, and project management and coordination. Strong communication and interpersonal skills also are important because the person in this position will facilitate collaborative research within the network. Applicants should be able to work as part of an international, multidisciplinary team but also independently.

In your application you should include:

Cover letter that explains how your research interests and experience align with the position
CV or resume, including relevant experience
List of two professional references and their contact information

Please do not hesitate to contact Isabel C Barrio (isabel@lbhi.is) if you have any questions.

Applications should be submitted through the online application system.

November 12, 2023

PhD position to study the impacts of foraging by hyperabundant Arctic-nesting geese on vegetation of Arctic and subarctic coastal lowlands

Deadline: open until filled

Herbivores strongly influence plant communities. Changes in abundance of herbivores can cause rapid changes in plant biomass, species composition and ecosystem processes. The mid-continent population of lesser snow geese expanded dramatically in North America during the past 50 years. The increased abundance of geese in combination with their destructive feeding habits has caused the degradation of large tracts of coastal wetlands on their arctic and subarctic breeding range. Long term studies by the Hudson Bay Project have demonstrated processes of habitat degradation and rapid ecological change that adversely impacts species sharing the coastal habitat.

We seek a PhD student to investigate the drivers of recovery or continued degradation of breeding range habitat, and the outcomes to ecosystems. The student will make use of existing historical ground collected data (e.g. plant biomass), remote sensing, and new field studies to address their questions.

The student will have the opportunity to directly support wildlife conservation and management and gain experience on a collaborative project with government agencies and partners (Mississippi Flyway Council, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry). Fieldwork will be based at one or more sites near Churchill, Manitoba (Cape Churchill and La Perouse Bay), Akimiski Island, and the Burntpoint Research Station in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Ontario.

The student will be enrolled in the Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, and under the supervision of Dr. Glen Brown (Trent University) and Dr. Peter Kotanen (University of Toronto).

Start dates are flexible, January or May 2024.

Salary: A minimum stipend consistent with Trent University policies for PhD will be provided (includes a Teaching Assistantship).

Qualifications: Candidates should have an interest in plant-animal interactions and a solid background in ecology and remote sensing, and an aptitude for statistical and spatial analysis (including geographic information systems and imagery processing), as well as the ability to conduct laborious field work in remote areas for extended periods of time. A willingness to become licensed in firearm use is also required due to the presence of polar bears.

Prospective students should send a letter of interest, a CV, unofficial transcripts, and the names of two references to Dr. Glen Brown (glen.brown@ontario.ca) and Dr. Peter Kotanen (peter.kotanen@utoronto.ca).

November 9, 2023January 2, 2024

Postdoctoral researcher position at the University of Oulu

Deadline: December 15, 2023

We seek for a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher to join the lab of Associate Professor Anu Eskelinen to work in the Academy of Finland funded project Global Change Effects on Plant Metacommunities and Ecosystem Functioning. The position is for two years.

Brief description of the project and position
In this project, we investigate how global changes affect plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a naturally fragmented grassland system in the archipelago of southern Finland and what are the roles of dispersal and spatial context mediating community and ecosystem responses to global changes. We combine spatially replicated global change treatments with plant functional traits and information about habitat size and connectivity, and integrate these with measuring plant community diversity and composition, multiple ecosystem functions and microbial diversity.
While being based at the University of Oulu, the successful candidate will work in collaboration with an international researcher team, including collaborators, for example, from University of Tartu, Estonia, University of California Davis, US, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research iDiv, Germany, and University of Helsinki, Finland.

Your tasks

Plan, organize, and conduct field work in a grassland metacommunity system in the archipelago of southern Finland, Åland Islands, including establishing experimental global change manipulations
Use existing plant community and trait data to model species occurrences and plant diversity in a metacommunity, and/or study links between plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a metacommunity
Publish research results in high-ranked scientific journals
Participate BSc and/or MSc level teaching in Plant Biodiversity
Co-supervise MSc and/or doctoral students and field assistants

What we expect from you

Doctoral degree in plant community ecology or equivalent field with background in plant biodiversity research (obtained within the past 10 years) and demonstrated ability to prepare independently high-impact manuscripts for international journals
Excellent written and spoken English
Ability to travel and do field work in an international team
Excellent communication and team skills
Excellent and demonstrated statistical skills using software R
Experience in some of the following: plant biodiversity research, experimental plant community ecology, global change research, ecosystem functioning, trait-based ecology
Good grassland plant identification skills

Assessment of the applicants will be based on, acknowledging the content of the job, 1) overall fit to the above profile, 2) scientific publications, 3) motivation, 4) previous work experience, 5) national and international mobility and networking skills, and 5) other academic activities and merits.

We offer

Inspiring, novel, and ambitious project and study questions/system
Enthusiastic and international researcher team and mentoring
Possibilities for research visits and integration to a larger international community
Possibility for a flexible combination of presence work and remote work (this can be negotiated, depending on the situation of the applicant and project demands)
Full benefits provided by the University of Oulu to university employees, including free time corresponding to holidays and free occupational health care services. The successful candidate will receive also benefits provided by the Finnish government to residents, for example possibility to obtain access to the national healthcare system, tax benefits for employees with children, and high-quality affordable childcare services
Workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and close-ones in settling into Oulu.
Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits.
Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy.

How to apply

Apply online latest on Friday 15.12.2023 at 23:59 (Finnish local time). Only applications sent via the online system will be considered. Please include the following attachments in your application (all in English):
1. Cover letter (describing experience relevant to this position, research interests, motivation, general career goals and why this position is of interest to you)
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. List of publications
4. Copies of all relevant certificates (including doctoral degree certificate)
5. Contact information of two persons available for recommendation

For further information, please contact Anu Eskelinen.

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

PhD fellow in Climate Change Ecology

Deadline: Nov 15, 2023

The Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE) seeks a highly motivated PhD fellow in Ecology, specializing on climate change ecology.

The workplace is UiT in Tromsø. The position is affiliated with the research group Northern Populations and Ecosystems and will be associated with the research project Arctic Forest Futures – An integrative approach to understanding and anticipating ecological transitions in the forest-tundra ecotone, funded by the Research Council of Norway for 2024-2026, as well as with the Climate Ecological Observatory for Arctic Tundra (COAT).

Arctic Forest Futures is a collaborative project between UiT, and strong national (NINA, MET, NORCE, UiO) and international research partners (WSL, UniGe, CSIRO, EPFL). The prospective candidate will work with researchers from this project group and from COAT to deliver cutting-edge tools for the knowledge-based management of northern forest ecosystems in the face of climate change. Supervision will be offered from UiT with co-supervisors from NINA and UiO as relevant.

The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD program is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD program is a prerequisite for employment, and the program period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD candidate shall participate in the faculty’s organized research training, and the PhD project shall be completed during the period of employment. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time and no later than March 1st 2024.

Deadline for application: Nov 15, 2023

September 17, 2023

PhD scholarship on spatial patterns of plant-herbivore feedback in Greenland

Deadline: October 15, 2023

A 3-year PhD fellowship in terrestrial biology is offered by the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, GINR (www.natur.gl).

The PhD-project will build a framework to test different scenarios changing major factors affecting the feedback loop between herbivores’ distribution and their foodscape. This feedback loop would consider how caribou distribution affects the main plant functional groups (structure and productivity) through herbivory (grazing, trampling, fertilizing) and, in turn, how these altered vegetation maps shift caribou distribution. The candidate work will enhance knowledge on how the main drivers – environment (climate, soil properties), land use (hunting, infrastructure), herbivore’s density and competition for resources with other herbivore species – modify these plant-herbivore interactions.

You can find more information here. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Mathilde Le Moullec.

June 28, 2023January 15, 2024

Call for collaboration: Emerging priorities in terrestrial herbivory research in the Arctic

After 10 years of contributing to circumpolar research on plant-herbivore interactions, the Herbivory Network is proposing to use a horizon scan to identify research priorities in Arctic herbivory for the coming decade, as a contribution to the ICARP IV (Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning – 2025) process.

For this exciting aim, we are asking for input that will help identify the most important questions to solve the puzzle of herbivory dynamics in the Arctic, by completing this short online survey.

The survey asks you to name one or more priorities for Arctic research in the next decade. These priorities can range from local- to large-scale issues, well-known topics or under-appreciated ones, urgent concerns as well as more distant ones.

Deadline for submissions has been extended until January 28, 2024.

The survey responses will be compiled and organised into thematic categories by a core working group. Subsequently, an in-person workshop is scheduled for March 12, 2024 in Lund, as part of the NSO 2024 conference, to further refine the emerging themes and determine key action points. We anticipate that this collaborative process will be beneficial to ICARP’s objectives while fostering the generation of new knowledge in the field of Arctic herbivory.

This project has been endorsed by the International Arctic Science Committee as an ICARP IV activity.

Photograph: Cambridge Bay (Cléa Frapin)