/News from the department of Ecology and Environmental Scienceen-usTue, 16 Sep 2025 13:05:16 +0200/en/news/millions-of-lakes-reveal-new-patterns-when-viewed-as-one_12128601/By analysing data from millions of lakes, researchers have created global models that treat the world’s lakes as one composite lake. This reveals new relationships and emergent properties, reshaping how researchers view freshwater’s role in climate change.Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:32:52 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cristian Gudasz, researcher at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Scientists have long seen lakes as miniature worlds &ndash; natural laboratories for studying ecosystems. But understanding what they do at a planetary or regional scale is a scientific challenge. Viewing lakes as an integrated whole can capture emergent behaviors that no lake-by-lake analysis can reveal.</p><p class="quote-center">It&rsquo;s like zooming out and suddenly seeing hidden structures and responses take shape.</p><p>Research published in the scientific journal Nature Water now shows that the ensemble of lakes, taken as a composite system, may hold vital clues about how freshwater systems function globally and interact with the planet&rsquo;s response to climate change.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Working with high-performance computing</h2><p>Researchers at Ume&aring; University, together with colleagues internationally, analysed large amounts of data from lakes around the world, integrating information on their depth, shape and climate. Using high-performance computing, they built global models that aggregate lakes&rsquo; physical characteristics and functions into so-called &Uuml;ber-lakes &ndash; composite representations of lakes globally and in different regions or climate zones.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="bd157429-79f3-446f-aae5-64d151d4d6ae" data-contentname="Film lakes">{}</div><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve known for over a century that lakes are powerful ecological testbeds. What we&rsquo;re showing now is that, taken together as a composite, they also reveal emergent patterns that help us understand how freshwater systems contribute to Earth system resilience,&rdquo; says Cristian Gudasz, researcher at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience at Ume&aring; University and first author of the study.</p><p>At the heart of this new approach is lake hypsography, how a lake&rsquo;s area changes with its depth. This determines how it mixes, stores heat, exchanges gases, and cycles nutrients. Hypsography makes it possible to model lake functions and has allowed researchers to uncover new patterns in the composite, such as how lakes in cold, glaciated regions differ structurally and functionally from those in warmer climates.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Lakes mirror land more than oceans</h2><p>The models also reveal a striking insight: the combined structure of the world&rsquo;s lakes more closely mirrors land than oceans. Unlike oceans, which are dominated by depth, most lake area worldwide is shallow &ndash; a feature that strongly influences their ecological and climatic roles.</p><p>&ldquo;This work bridges the gap between the complexity of individual lakes and the patterns that emerge when you analyse millions of them. It&rsquo;s like zooming out and suddenly seeing hidden structures and responses take shape,&rdquo; says Cristian Gudasz.</p><p>The concept of &Uuml;ber-lakes makes it possible to not only understand how the world&rsquo;s lakes reflect environmental change, but also how they can influence it.</p><p>&ldquo;We can average their properties, but what really matters is that composite lakes reveal how lakes interact with the climate system in a way that is more than the sum of individual lakes. Understanding how they function together as a global system gives us a powerful new lens on climate feedback and ecological stability,&rdquo; says Cristian Gudasz.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="59773fc6-412d-4754-9fe7-798e217879ee" data-contentname="About the article">{}</div>/en/news/millions-of-lakes-reveal-new-patterns-when-viewed-as-one_12128601//en/news/umu-researchers-represented-in-uarctics-shared-voices-magazine_12109904/Earlier this year, the University of the Arctic (UArctic) published their annual magazine called “Shared Voices” where they share member research and activities related to the circumpolar North. Out the 16 articles, two of them were co-written by researchers at Umeå University.Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:03:10 +0200<p>UArctic is an organization which gathers universities, colleges, research institutes, and other organisations concerned with education and research in and about the North, with the aim to develop knowledge to address challenges in the Arctic. Ume&aring; University is one of the member institutions. In late 2024, members were asked to share their activities to the next magazine, and among the applications, two were selected from researchers at Ume&aring; University: Ylva Sj&ouml;berg and Danielle Wilde.</p><p>Ylva Sj&ouml;berg is Associate professor at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science. Her research focuses on how a changing climate and cryosphere impact Arctic water resources at local and regional scales. She co-authored an article for the magazine about the launched PermaIntern project, where the aim is to bridge the gap between universities and real-world permafrost work.</p><p>Danielle Wilde is Professor at Ume&aring; Institute of Design, and Arctic Six Chair. Her expertise lies in embodied design, and ways of knowing, being, and doing. Her research uses participatory, sensory, and co-creative methods to explore how direct engagement with what is at stake can inspire new ways of thinking. Her co-authored article describes a workshop where workers and authorities explored differences and challenges between policies and lived experiences.</p><p>Find more about the articles below.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="77ba9010-6c36-4ce0-b226-9c56aeed7163" data-contentname="Ylvas artikel">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="59e31985-22ac-4b5f-8eb4-50da9b3c7219" data-contentname="Danielles artikel">{}</div><p><a href="https://www.uarctic.org/about-us/shared-voices-magazine/shared-voices-2025/">Find the Shared Voices Magazine 2025 here</a></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="84f026ee-ee79-482c-b0ad-5f72aa1f6e89" data-contentname="Kontakt">{}</div>/en/news/umu-researchers-represented-in-uarctics-shared-voices-magazine_12109904//en/news/the-devastating-impact-of-humans-on-biodiversity_12069113/Humans are having a highly detrimental impact on biodiversity worldwide. Not only are the numbers of species declining, but the composition of species communities is also changing. This is shown by a study by Eawag and the University of Zurich, in collaboration with Umeå University, published in the scientific journal Nature.Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:00:05 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Studies from around the world, including from the Ume River, have been compared to map human impacts on plant and animal life.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Biological diversity is under threat. More and more plant and animal species are disappearing worldwide. Humans are responsible for this. Until now, however, there has been no synthesis of the severity of human interventions in nature and whether the effects can be found everywhere in the world and in all groups of organisms.</p><p>In order to close these research gaps, a team lead from the aquatic research institute Eawag and the University of Zurich has now conducted one of the largest syntheses studies ever of the effects of humans on biodiversity. One of the co-authors of the study, which has just been published in the journal &ldquo;Nature&rdquo;, is Eric Capo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Covers all groups of organisms</h2><p>The researchers collaborated to compile data from around 2,100 studies that compared biodiversity at almost 50,000 sites affected by humans with almost 50,000 reference sites that were unaffected. Several of the studies were conducted in Sweden.</p><p>The studies cover terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats around the world, and all groups of organisms, from microbes and fungi to plants and invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals. Among the included studies are, for example, comparisons of habitat changes in the Ume River and the effect of pollution on aquatic life in Swedish lakes.</p><p>&ldquo;This kind of meta-analysis project may soon be replaced by AI tools, but digging into papers &ndash; published across different decades and by different research groups &ndash; still requires scientific expertise and a human eye. For example, to identify which images show samples taken before and after a perturbation, or which represent control versus experimental groups,&rdquo; says Eric Capo.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Striking results</h2><p>The findings of the study are unequivocal and leave no doubt as to the devastating impact humans are having on biodiversity worldwide.</p><p>&ldquo;We have analysed the effect of the five main human impacts on biodiversity: habitat changes, direct exploitation such as hunting or fishing, climate change, pollution and invasive species. Our findings show that all five factors have a strong impact on biodiversity worldwide, in all groups of organisms and all ecosystems,&rdquo; says Fran&ccedil;ois Keck, the lead author of the study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>According to the study, environmental pollution, such as from the spraying of pesticides, and habitat changes have a particularly negative impact on the number of species and the composition of species communities.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Pixabay</span></div></div><p>On average, the number of species at impacted sites was almost twenty percent lower than at unaffected sites. Particularly severe species losses across all biogeographic regions are found in vertebrates such as reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Their populations are usually much smaller than those of the invertebrates; this increases the probability of extinction.</p><p>&ldquo;This study illustrates why the biological monitoring of ecosystems is important, both in non-impacted and human polluted areas. Without data from before human impact, it is more difficult to fully understand how &ndash; and to what extent &ndash; ecosystems and their services are altered by human societies,&rdquo; says Eric Capo.</p><p><em>Text:Sara-Lena Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m (Ume&aring; University) / Simon Koechlin (Eawag)</em></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f225729f-6414-41df-9352-9beb237ceaf7" data-contentname="About the scientific article">{}</div>/en/news/the-devastating-impact-of-humans-on-biodiversity_12069113//en/news/bottniska-viken-pa-vag-mot-overgodning_12066347/The Gulf of Bothnia seems to be heading towards eutrophication. It is not only the increasing blooms of cyanobacteria that indicate this. An analysis of many years of monitoring data shows that phosphorus concentrations are increasing and the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus is decreasing. A research group from the Umeå Marine Sciences Centre at Umeå University has analysed nutrient dynamics and how human activity has affected the situation.Tue, 06 May 2025 08:31:38 +0200<p>The Gulf of Bothnia, with its two sea basins the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay, has long been considered to be spared from eutrophication. At present, for example, the requirements for nitrogen removal only apply to the treatment plants located south of the Gulf of Bothnia. In 2022, a revised wastewater directive was issued in which the rules were tightened and will apply to all of Sweden's coastal areas. This has raised the question of where the situation in the Gulf of Bothnia is heading, and what we really know about it. There has been criticism against that nitrogen removal should also be required in the Gulf of Bothnia, but the results from the recently published study show that it is relevant to re-evaluate the issue of nitrogen removal in the Gulf of Bothnia as well.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/vattenprovtagning_4075__210917_mjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/vattenprovtagning_4075__210917_mjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/vattenprovtagning_4075__210917_mjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/vattenprovtagning_4075__210917_mjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/vattenprovtagning_4075__210917_mjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/vattenprovtagning_4075__210917_mjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Water sampling from the research vessel KBV 181. Sampling is carried out all year round in the Gulf of Bothnia, as part of the national environmental monitoring.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Marlene Johansson</span></div></div><h3>Increasing nitrogen sensitivity</h3><p>The issue of eutrophication is very much about the balance between the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. If the amounts of phosphorus increase, the system will become nitrogen-sensitive, which means that the production of, for example, phytoplankton will increase if more nitrogen is added. In a nitrogen-sensitive system, the risks for problems with eutrophication increase significantly. One effect may be that potentially toxic algal blooms increase, as the imbalance between nitrogen and phosphorus favours nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. The study clearly shows that nitrogen sensitivity is increasing in both the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay, although the situation has not yet reached as far in the Bothnian Bay. In the Bothnian Sea, cyanobacteria blooms have already increased.</p><h3>Phosphorus-rich water from the south</h3><p>Why are we seeing this development in the Gulf of Bothnia? The explanation that may seem obvious is that the wastewater treatment plants' emissions have caused the problems. Therefore, a review of measurement data from water both upstream and downstream treatment plants was made at a large number of premises along the coast. It was not possible to trace the cause of the change in nutrient balance to the treatment plants. Does this show that the emissions from the treatment plants have no significance?</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/ulvon_algblomning2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/ulvon_algblomning2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/ulvon_algblomning2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/ulvon_algblomning2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/ulvon_algblomning2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e91a7555fe26402f8ec008d4e781f539/ulvon_algblomning2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cyanobacteria blooms increase when marine areas become nitrogen-sensitive. The photo is taken in Ulv&ouml;hamn in the Bothnian Sea in summer 2024.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Kristina Viklund</span></div></div><p>"Probably not," says Joakim Ahlgren, environmental analyst at Ume&aring; Marine Research Centre and one of the researchers behind the study. "The measurement programs at the treatment plants are not designed to answer that question. In addition, there is a dilution effect from the large rivers, which further complicates the analysis."</p><p>What can be shown, however, is that some of the problems stem from the Baltic Proper. Through the passage around &Aring;land, phosphorus-rich water flows in from the Baltic Proper, causing the balance between nitrogen and phosphorus to change in the Bothnian Sea. Water also flows northwards in the area between the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay, the northern Quark. The already known problems in the Baltic Proper are thus spreading to the entire Gulf of Bothnia.</p><p>"The question is no longer IF the Gulf of Bothnia will have problems with eutrophication, but rather WHEN. Knowledge about nutrient conditions and ecosystem responses in the Gulf of Bothnia has so far been very limited. By compiling data from both Sweden and Finland, we have gained a clearer picture of how the situation has been, is and how it can be expected to develop," says Joakim.</p><h3>Advice for marine management</h3><p>The report contains a lot of concrete advice for marine management and arouses great interest among the authorities responsible for the marine environment in the Gulf of Bothnia.</p><p>"The report will provide input throughout the chain from mapping the conditions to planning measures linked to eutrophication. The fact that there is now nitrogen limitation in the Bothnian Sea is an important finding they have been able to make, together with the conclusion that the supply of nutrients from the Baltic Proper plays a major role in the nutrient situation in the entire Gulf of Bothnia. We will take this with us when we start the work of planning measures in the autumn. " says Anneli Sedin, environmental officer at the County Administrative Board of V&auml;sterbotten.</p><p>The researchers will now deepen their knowledge further through detailed studies of what is happening in the southern and northern Quark.</p><p>"This is where it all happens. By examining the water flows over these passages, we can get an even clearer picture of the development in these sea areas," says Agneta Andersson, project manager and professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Ume&aring; University.</p><p><a href="https://www.naturvardsverket.se/publikationer/7100/978-91-620-7178-3/">Report Naturv&aring;rdsverket 2025 (in Swedish, summary in English)</a></p><p><a href="https://www.naturvardsverket.se/om-oss/aktuellt/nyheter-och-pressmeddelanden/2025/mars/ny-forskning-visar-att-fosforhalterna-okar-i-bottniska-viken/">Press release Naturv&aring;rdsverket (In Swedish)</a></p>/en/news/bottniska-viken-pa-vag-mot-overgodning_12066347//en/news/kbc-relay-2025---a-new-team-in-town-and-amazing-costumes_12055573/The annual KBC Relay, the race where the sweat drips and the laughter is loud, took place yesterday on the Campus Fields in Umeå. Despite the week's unpredictable weather, a total of 23 teams competed in the relay, along with four quartets who impressively made their way around the 1-kilometer track on their "battleships." Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:40:06 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/250227_stafetten_danieledlerfoto-1102.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/250227_stafetten_danieledlerfoto-1102.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/250227_stafetten_danieledlerfoto-1102.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/250227_stafetten_danieledlerfoto-1102.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/250227_stafetten_danieledlerfoto-1102.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/250227_stafetten_danieledlerfoto-1102.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The team Skirassic Park, with Laura Herzog, Shuang Li, Patricia Morejon-Garcia and Anton Schindel won the best costume of KBC Relay 2025.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Daniel Edler</span></div></div><p><em>See video from the day at the end.</em><br><br>The weather over the past weekend and earlier this week left much to be desired, and the organisers of the KBC Relay nervously watched as the snow quickly melted away in the rain. But where there's a will, there's a way &mdash; there would be a relay!<br><br>On race day, the weather held up, and it was cold enough for the tracks around the Campus Fields to freeze, providing impressively smooth gliding conditions. A total of 23 teams participated &mdash; ranging from enthusiastic recreational skiers to international colleagues who had not had skis since childhood, and of course, the KBC's elite who flew across the tracks.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/20250227_1002063.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/20250227_1002063.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/20250227_1002063.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/20250227_1002063.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/20250227_1002063.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8df563bc3f2745b797005d5b084c9fd4/20250227_1002063.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The "battleships" are a staple of the KBC Relay, where quartets compete on skis with four bindings. Costumes are encouraged!</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Clas Wikstr&ouml;m</span></div></div><p>In the end, a team from SLU took home the victory at impressivly 11 minutes, while the highly favored "Sn&ouml;kanonerna&rdquo; (eng: Snow cannons) from previous years had to settle for third place. A shot at revenge next year, perhaps? <a href="https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=381821">Find all teams' results here</a>.<br><br>Four teams completed the race on "battleships" &mdash; skis with four bindings that test teamwork as they strive to reach the finish line. <a href="~/link/342643bfd44746eeb6472d031c3fbdd5.aspx">Learn more about KBC Relay 2025 here</a>. <br><br>This year's costumes were also something truly special. Check out the video below, and make sure to bring your skis next year!</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="096e3257-c9bc-4252-bb5b-a44eae22ddd2" data-contentname="KBC Relay 2025">{}</div>/en/news/kbc-relay-2025---a-new-team-in-town-and-amazing-costumes_12055573//en/news/icelab-invites-project-project-proposals_12040412/IceLab invites multidisciplinary research teams to propose projects for a shared postdoctoral fellow, funded by Kempestiftelserna. Project proposals can now be submitted, until May 19th. An information pitch will be given February 12th at 12:00 in KBC Glasburen to hear more about the program during the IceLab Lunch Pitch. Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:16:14 +0100<p>Researchers working in teams of two or more are encouraged to submit innovative multidisciplinary project proposals as part of this funding call. The initiative aims to foster projects that leverage collaboration across different fields and research methods. Funding will be awarded to three projects, each receiving support for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship. These shared postdoctoral fellows, guided by multidisciplinary research teams from Ume&aring; University or the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, will help turn innovative ideas into impactful research collaborations.</p><p>The Integrated Science Lab (IceLab) will host the selected fellows, providing an interdisciplinary environment where daily interactions with IceLab researchers fuel collaboration and discovery. IceLab fosters exploration across traditional disciplinary boundaries by integrating theoretical, computational, and empirical approaches. Supervising project teams will become IceLab affiliates and, when relevant, connect to Stress Response Modeling at IceLab, a Swedish Research Council-funded excellence center.</p><h3>Information given during the IceLab Lunch Pitch February 12th</h3><p>IceLab invites you to join an information meeting on the call on February 12th, in KBC Glasburen, during the first IceLab Lunch Pitch of the year (<a href="~/link/4b90cd2071af4935b86dcbeb9d8dd71b.aspx">link to event</a>). Martin Rosvall, Professor at the Department of Physics and director of IceLab, will encourage researchers to submit a project proposal and be available to answer any questions about the call. Register in advance if you are interested in attending.</p><p>The deadline to submit project proposals is May 19th. More information can be found on IceLab's website (<a href="/en/icelab/career-and-education/icelab-multidisciplinary-postdoctoral-programme/">link to information on the call</a>).</p>/en/news/icelab-invites-project-project-proposals_12040412//en/news/permafrost-thaw-threatens-up-to-three-million-people-in-the-arctic_12032685/Permafrost thaw poses multiple risks to local Arctic communities, their livelihoods, infrastructure and environment. A transdisciplinary study led by Umeå University and others has identified key risks across four Arctic regions. This allows communities to adapt and make informed decisions.Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:00:05 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Like in many regions of the Arctic, in Ilulissat, Greenland, roads built on sensitive permafrost terrains are particularly prone to ground surface deformations. Faced with limited budgets and numerous challenges, local stakeholders are concerned about the costs of repeated maintenance, and difficulty of prioritizing and planning on the long-term.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Johanna Scheer</span></div></div><p>Permafrost underlies about 15 percent of the northern hemisphere's land area and is rapidly degrading due to climate change. Thawing permafrost not only poses a global threat through the release of greenhouse gases, but is also expected to have far-reaching implications for about three million Arctic inhabitants who live in areas most susceptible to permafrost degradation.</p><p>&ldquo;In Sweden, permafrost lands are important as soil carbon reservoirs and for traditional land use practices, such as reindeer herding. Like in other regions of the Arctic, permafrost thaw is causing landscape changes and hazards that impact local ecosystems and livelihoods,&rdquo; says Johanna Scheer, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Johanna Scheer, postdoktor vid Institutionen f&ouml;r ekologi, milj&ouml; och geovetenskap</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Johanna Scheer</span></div></div><p>As part of an EU-funded project, a team of scientists, led by Ume&aring; University, University of Vienna and Technical University of Denmark, investigated permafrost thaw risks alongside local stakeholders in four Arctic regions: Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norway), the Avannaata municipality (Greenland), the Beaufort Sea region and the Mackenzie River Delta (Canada), and the Bulunskiy district (Republic of Sakha, Russia).</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Five key hazards</h2><p>The researchers identified five key hazards related to infrastructure, mobility and supply, water quality, food security and health. The findings have been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment.</p><p>&ldquo;The physical processes, hazards and societal consequences associated with permafrost thaw constitute risks that are perceived differently across the Arctic depending on the local context and place-dependent specificities. Understanding the complex nature of these risks is essential to support the resilience and adaptive capacity of Arctic communities,&rdquo; says Johanna Scheer.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Endanger local ecosystems</h2><p>Infrastructure failure and disruptions of mobility and supplies raised concerns across all regions due to their widespread impacts on society and the economy. In Canada, the release of contaminants from failing industrial legacy infrastructure, such as abandoned oil and gas wells, was notably considered a serious threat to both animal and human health. Finally, in regions where traditional land use practices and subsistence are important parts of local populations&rsquo; cultural identity, permafrost thaw&rsquo;s negative effects on food security also represented a major concern.</p><p>Permafrost thaw risks considerably endanger local ecosystem and population health. In the follow-up ILLUQ EU-funded project, researchers at Ume&aring; University are now focusing on the complex relationships between permafrost thaw, vegetation changes, pollution and land use. By combining field-based and remote sensing techniques, their focus will specifically be directed towards mapping and assessing the impacts of legacy oil wells and permafrost thaw on vegetation in the Mackenzie River Delta region, Canada.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a50e7a81-55b5-4b79-9c8b-c3817f3a4345" data-contentname="About permafrost">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="ef90df20-3f03-48a7-a388-5a491a6e4edf" data-contentname="About the scientific article">{}</div>/en/news/permafrost-thaw-threatens-up-to-three-million-people-in-the-arctic_12032685//en/news/research-for-a-living-baltic-sea-receives-funding_12029418/Agneta Andersson and Nicholas Kamenos of Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University, have been each awarded funding from the BalticWaters Foundation. Their research will answer questions to better understand the causes of eutrophication in the Bothnian Bay and where carbon stored in the Baltic's sediments comes from. Both projects aim to improve the conditions for sustainable management of the Baltic Sea.Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:25:41 +0100<p>For the third year in a row, the Baltic Waters Foundation is awarding research funds through the research projects and feasibility studies programme. The aim of the programme is to support the emergence of new knowledge facilitating measures that can lead to reduced eutrophication, functioning ecosystems and better management of our inland sea. This year, the foundation supports four projects that have the potential to contribute to a vibrant Baltic Sea. Two of these projects are led by researchers at Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre, Ume&aring; University.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="0d6a9abb-6ec8-45cb-87f3-ea169e3494fd" data-contentname="Bild nyhet 250109">{}</div><p>&ldquo;This funding provides an exciting opportunity to better understand the functioning and sustainable management of the northern parts of the Baltic Sea which are challenging to access. We are incredibly happy to be awarded two research grants in the same round providing a strong platform for making holistic advances in our understanding&rdquo; says Nicholas Kamenos, director of Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre and professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><p><strong>Baltic eutrophication:</strong>&nbsp; The project led by Prof. Andersson will determine when eutrophication present in the southern Baltic will reach the Bothnian Bay which is in the northern Baltic. The Bothnian Bay has so far been spared from the harmful effects of eutrophication that the rest of the Baltic Sea is grappling with. However, results from the Swedish environmental monitoring campaigns indicate that phosphorus concentrations in the Bothnian Bay are about to increase. The cause is not clear, but a likely explanation is that phosphorous is being carried in water flowing northward into the Bothnian Bay.</p><p><strong>Natural climate solution provision by the Baltic:</strong> The project led by Prof. Kamenos will determine the source of organic carbon stored in the Baltic Sea's sediments. The Baltic Sea naturally plays an important role in the uptake of carbon dioxide and the storage of carbon, which counteracts climate change. Up to 50% of the organic carbon buried in marine sediments may originally come from land, but we know very little about its source and quality. The goal of the project is to investigate the sources of the carbon buried in the Baltic Sea, which can contribute to an important piece of the puzzle for sustainable management of the Baltic Sea.</p><p>In total, the grant to the two projects is SEK 1,900,000. Both projects will run during 2025 and 2026.</p>/en/news/research-for-a-living-baltic-sea-receives-funding_12029418//en/news/new-documentary-on-the-challenges-of-climate-research_12017646/What does a fjord in northern Norway have in common with the climate challenges of the future? More than you might think. In the new documentary Fjords Frontiers: Digging into the Future of Climate Change, researchers Eric Capo and Erik Björn take us on a journey through the fjord. Here, under the ice-covered surface of Rossfjordsvatnet, we explore how toxic compounds are formed in oxygen-free environments and what clues these waters can provide about our future in an increasingly warmer world.Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:54:50 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4577ef6d4e2a437f9ec340a34d4bd7de/fjords_frontiers_documentary3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4577ef6d4e2a437f9ec340a34d4bd7de/fjords_frontiers_documentary3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4577ef6d4e2a437f9ec340a34d4bd7de/fjords_frontiers_documentary3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4577ef6d4e2a437f9ec340a34d4bd7de/fjords_frontiers_documentary3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4577ef6d4e2a437f9ec340a34d4bd7de/fjords_frontiers_documentary3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4577ef6d4e2a437f9ec340a34d4bd7de/fjords_frontiers_documentary3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Photo from the film Fjords Frontiers: Digging into the future of climate change</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Eric Capo</span></div></div><p>A sharp breeze sweeps over Rossfjordsvatnet in northern Norway. On the surface, the fjord is still and seemingly untouched, but beneath its surface hides a history that stretches back tens of thousands of years &ndash; and which may provide clues to what our future will look like. Right here, researchers Eric Capo and Erik Bj&ouml;rn, both at Ume&aring; University, have dug deep into the fjord's sediments and water masses to investigate one of climate research's most burning topics: how toxic compounds such as methylmercury are formed and spread in oxygen-free ecosystems.</p><p>Their work is not only documented in scientific articles but also in films. The documentary Fjords Frontiers: Digging into the Future of Climate Change premiered on December 12 at Curiosum, and the researchers are looking forward to sharing their research with a wider audience.</p><h3>Reading the fjord as an archive</h3><p>At the heart of their research is the question of how oxygen deprivation in aquatic ecosystems, which is exacerbated by climate change and eutrophication, affects the formation of methylmercury. This extremely toxic compound can be produced by microorganisms in oxygen-free environments and accumulate in fish, which can ultimately pose a health risk to humans.</p><p>"We see that oxygen depletion in coastal zones and oceans increases with global warming, and this can lead to an increase in methylmercury production. We want to understand the key processes that govern this, in order to be able to predict which areas are most vulnerable in the future," says Erik Bj&ouml;rn, professor at the Department of Chemistry.</p><p class="quote-left">We wanted to give a picture of what it means to be a researcher and work with climate change. At the same time, we hope to inspire young people to become researchers and get involved in the major environmental challenges</p><p>By analysing the sediment archive in Rossfjordsvatnet and studying the microbial diversity in the fjord, the research team has gained new knowledge about how these processes work. An early finding is that methylmercury levels increase sharply in oxygen-free water &ndash; a result that now forms the basis for further analyses.</p><p>"It was in line with our expectations, but the really important thing is to find out whether this is controlled by the chemical properties of the mercury or by the biology of the microorganisms," says Eric Capo, Associate Senior Lecturer at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences.</p><h3>From lab to film screen</h3><p>Documenting the research in film format was a new approach for Eric and Erik. The idea was born out of a desire to show people how research is done and what issues drive science forward.</p><p>"We wanted to give a picture of what it means to be a researcher and work with climate change. At the same time, we hope to inspire young people to become researchers and get involved in the major environmental challenges," says Eric Capo.</p><p>The documentary gives viewers an insight into everything from on-site sampling to advanced analyses in the laboratory. By combining beautiful nature images with educational explanations, the researchers hope that the film will be both engaging and educational.</p><h3>Premiere nerve and public issues</h3><p>Premiering the film felt both nervous and exciting, according to Eric and Erik. Their hope is that the film will lead to conversation and reflection on climate issues. They look forward to meeting viewers' questions, which often challenge them to think outside the box.</p><p>"Discussions with the public can really enrich research. Questions from people outside academia can provide new perspectives that we ourselves have not thought of," says Erik Bj&ouml;rn.</p><p>Although the film is now finished, the research continues. The project started in September 2023 and will run for at least another 2&ndash;3 years. During that time, the team hopes to add more pieces to the puzzle of how methylmercury is formed and which ecosystems are most vulnerable.</p><p>"Our hope is that the results can be used to protect marine ecosystems and reduce risks to human health," says Eric Capo.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f66b6839-93f5-45d8-8f6e-54c404650ab7" data-contentname="Documentary film">{}</div>/en/news/new-documentary-on-the-challenges-of-climate-research_12017646//en/news/evaluating-new-technologies-for-underwater-habitat-surveys_12015467/New study published by Umeå University researcher Heidi Burdett has evaluated the quality of underwater surveys taken by divers compared to remotely-operated vehicles – important information for innovating the future of marine environmental monitoring.Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:54:19 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/korallalg4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/korallalg4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/korallalg4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/korallalg4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/korallalg4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/korallalg4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>A coralline algae reef (commonly called maerl or rhodolith beds) from the west coast of Scotland. This hugely important habitat is difficult to monitor because of its physical complexity</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Nick Kamenos</span></div></div><p>Over the past decades, climate change and human activities have degraded ocean ecosystems and reduced water quality. Regular monitoring allows us to track how these change over time and to assess the success conservation actions such as reduced pollution discharge or habitat restoration.</p><p>Coastal habitats, such as coralline algae reefs, coral reefs and seaweed forests, are some of the most important ecosystems in our oceans but their future remains uncertain. Monitoring programmes aim to inform us about the health of these ecosystems, but traditional monitoring methods are limited in the information they provide. Photogrammetry, an emerging technology where lots of photos of the seabed are &lsquo;stitched&rsquo; together to create a 3D model of the seabed habitat, could transform monitoring programmes and provide unique insight into the health of the seabed.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/heidi_burdett2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/heidi_burdett2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/heidi_burdett2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/heidi_burdett2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/heidi_burdett2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/862a375e344e457d9fbeae3cb0bc3127/heidi_burdett2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Heidi Burdett, Associate professor at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science and Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre (UMF).</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Heidi Burdett</span></div></div><p>In this new study, Heidi Burdett, Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology &amp; Environmental Science and the Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre at Ume&aring; University, collaborated with Tritonia Scientific Ltd (an underwater survey company based in Scotland) to compare the quality of photogrammetry data acquired when conducted surveys using SCUBA divers or Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). They found that both systems are good for reconstructing seabeds, but the preference will depend on the specific survey priorities. For example, reconstructions from diver surveys had lower modelling errors, but the survey area is restricted by the limited time divers can spend underwater. In contrast, ROV surveys, although associated with slightly higher modelling errors, can do large surveys very quickly.</p><p>&ldquo;We surveyed 11,285 square metres in just 400 minutes of ROV deployment time. We estimate that it would have taken 28 working days to have covered a similar area using divers!&rdquo;</p><p>Until higher quality ROV camera systems are readily available, the researchers recommend using a &lsquo;hybrid&rsquo; approach, where large-scale ROV surveys are conducted for maximum survey area, supplemented by higher quality, but smaller, diver surveys in specific sites of interest.</p><p>Read the full study: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70007">Quantitative Comparison of ROV and Diver-Based Photogrammetry to Reconstruct Maerl Bed Ecosystems</a></p>/en/news/evaluating-new-technologies-for-underwater-habitat-surveys_12015467//en/news/new-stress-response-modeling-research-school-open-and-recruiting-_12020630/IceLab launches the Stress Response Modeling Graduate Research School in 2025, with five multidisciplinary PhD positions now available. The program will focus on complexity science applied to living systems, as well as fostering skills in communication and collaboration. Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:24:47 +0100<p class="quote-center">Universal complexity science principles are vital for understanding large-scale phenomena that shape ecosystems and determine climate change impacts</p><p>Starting in spring of 2025, Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s interdisciplinary research hub, IceLab (Integrated Science Lab), will host the Stress Response Modeling Graduate Research School. The program, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the Swedish Research Council&rsquo;s Centres of Excellence initiative, is currently advertising five PhD positions.&nbsp;</p><h3>A Multidisciplinary Focus on Stress Response Modeling&nbsp;</h3><p>The research school connects to the theme of IceLab&rsquo;s Centre of Excellence: modeling adaptive mechanisms in living systems under stress. Its goal is to prepare the next generation of scientists to tackle significant challenges in environmental and life sciences by combining computational and empirical approaches.&nbsp;</p><p>The five PhD positions span projects at the intersection of computational science, immunology, plant sciences, and ecology. Three projects will be based at the Department of Physics, one at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, and one at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science. All projects are inherently collaborative, with supervisory teams connected to multiple departments.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="ce605b1f-84fe-48ff-bcab-95ea3a81f349" data-contentname="Five PhD Projects">{}</div><p>These positions offer candidates the chance to begin their PhD journeys as part of a cohort, fostering synergy across diverse projects. Students will benefit from a highly supportive and collaborative research environment within IceLab.&nbsp;</p><h3>Complexity science in focus in the research school&nbsp;</h3><p>Students will gain expertise in complexity science and computational biology, applying these disciplines to living systems. This approach is critical for identifying common mechanisms across diverse systems, explains Ludvig Lizana, IceLab associate professor and deputy head of the Physics department, and person responsible for organizing the research school&rsquo;s curriculum.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;For example,&rdquo;, continues Ludvig, &ldquo;uncovering how immune memory gets established or how plants respond to drought requires modeling system-wide emergent behaviors that arise from cellular interactions. Also, universal complexity science principles&mdash;such as nonlinear responses, feedback loops, and tipping points&mdash;are vital for understanding large-scale phenomena that shape ecosystems and determine climate change impacts&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p><p>The program emphasizes tools and frameworks to understand stress responses across scales, from cellular to ecosystem levels, and to model adaptations to environmental change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h3>Course package and research exchange opportunities&nbsp;</h3><p>In addition to the standard course requirements for departmental PhD programs, doctoral researchers in the research school will be expected to complete a customizable curriculum with a minimum of 25 ECTS from a comprehensive course package. Core courses will provide a shared foundation, while elective options allow students to tailor their learning to specific research needs.&nbsp;</p><p>Two courses will be considered core: Modeling Stress Response Mechanisms and IceLab Camp. While IceLab Camp is a well-established and internationally known training program focused on interdisciplinary collaboration and communication for research proposal generation, the Modeling Stress Response Mechanisms course will be developed by the principal investigators of Stress Response Modeling at IceLab. It will provide a common theoretical framework for the research school&rsquo;s students.&nbsp;</p><p>Additional courses will cover topics such as fundamental mathematical models in evolution, ecological dynamics, nonlinear dynamics and chaos, mathematical ecology, among others still to be developed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>Beyond these topics, the program emphasizes the development of transferable skills, such as scientific communication and grant writing. Students will also gain access to IceLab&rsquo;s vibrant community and opportunities for international research exchanges, such as attending complexity science schools abroad.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;This program is a unique opportunity to explore the complex mechanisms of life under stress, bridging disciplines to tackle fundamental challenges in science. We are so excited about the program and look forward to welcoming the PhD students&rdquo;, says Martin Rosvall, IceLab&rsquo;s director and Professor at the Department of Physics.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><h3>Join Now&nbsp;</h3><p>The Stress Response Modeling Graduate Research School offers a singular chance to advance your research career at the intersection of computational and life sciences. As part of this program, you will investigate how living systems respond to stress and adapt to environmental changes while building strong computational and theoretical expertise.</p><p>In addition to the five advertised positions, other PhD students are welcome to express their interest in participating in the research school.</p><p>Applications for the five PhD positions close on 16 February 2025.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/new-stress-response-modeling-research-school-open-and-recruiting-_12020630//en/news/building-bridges-between-the-alps-and-the-arctic_12018640/The Deputy Head of Mission at the Swiss Embassy, Vincent Juillerat, visited Umeå University to discuss collaborations on the effects of climate change in the Arctic and the Alps. The focus was on the role of research in sustainable development, the integration of Indigenous knowledge, and global partnerships. The visit strengthens the ties between Switzerland and Sweden, paving the way for future collaborations in research and policy development.Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:49:31 +0100<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Swiss Embassy Deputy Explores Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s Arctic Research</h2><p>On 9&ndash;10 December, Vincent Juillerat, Deputy Head of Mission at the Swiss Embassy in Stockholm, visited Ume&aring; University to engage with its leading Arctic research units. This visit underscored the shared challenges and opportunities for collaboration between Switzerland and Sweden, particularly in addressing climate change impacts on ecosystems, tourism, and geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic and Alpine regions.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Strengthening Connections Between the Alps and the Arctic</h2><p>Switzerland and Sweden, though geographically distinct, face similar environmental and societal challenges in their Arctic and Alpine regions. These include the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, sustainable tourism, and integrating Indigenous knowledge into policymaking. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dieter M&uuml;ller welcomed Juillerat, emphasising Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s strategic role in Arctic research and its potential to drive collaborative solutions.</p><p>&ldquo;Arctic research requires global partnerships to succeed. Through dialogue with international actors like the Swiss Embassy, we strengthen the connections needed to address the complex challenges facing the Arctic today,&rdquo; said Dieter M&uuml;ller.</p><p class="quote-center">Arctic research requires global partnerships to succeed</p><p>Juillerat&rsquo;s visit provided a comprehensive overview of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s contributions to Arctic research, highlighting its leadership in the <strong>Arctic Six</strong> network and its role as the new host of the <strong>European Polar Board</strong>. These initiatives exemplify the university&rsquo;s commitment to linking research, policy, and sustainable development.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">From Research Insights to Policy Impact</h2><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/8c7037ef684c456cb8ef770714c729e7/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8c7037ef684c456cb8ef770714c729e7/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8c7037ef684c456cb8ef770714c729e7/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/8c7037ef684c456cb8ef770714c729e7/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8c7037ef684c456cb8ef770714c729e7/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8c7037ef684c456cb8ef770714c729e7/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Keith Larson, director of the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>The program featured a keynote discussion by Keith Larson, Director of the <strong>Arctic Centre</strong>, who highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to Arctic challenges. Larson&rsquo;s presentation explored how collaborative research can inform policy and drive solutions in the rapidly changing Arctic environment. This discussion set the stage for a broader exchange of ideas between Ume&aring; University researchers and their Swiss counterparts.</p><p>P&auml;r Bystr&ouml;m, Director of the <strong>Climate Impacts Research Centre</strong>, provided a detailed analysis of climate change effects on Arctic ecosystems. He emphasised the interconnected changes in temperature, precipitation, and vegetation, linking these to Arctic lakes' browning and fish communities' shifts. Bystr&ouml;m also stressed the increasing importance of winter research in understanding these dynamics.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Indigenous Perspectives in Arctic Research</h2><p>A significant focus of the visit was integrating Indigenous knowledge into Arctic research. Kristina Selin MacNeil presented the work of <strong>V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research</strong>, Sweden&rsquo;s only S&aacute;mi research centre. She highlighted the importance of incorporating S&aacute;mi culture, history, and language into studies of the Arctic, particularly in addressing contentious regional issues. Juillerat expressed a strong interest in the challenges of recognising Indigenous perspectives and rights in policymaking.</p><p>&ldquo;The inclusion of Indigenous knowledge is crucial for developing sustainable and equitable Arctic policies,&rdquo; noted Keith Larson, underscoring V&aacute;rdduo&rsquo;s contributions to interdisciplinary approaches and policy-relevant research.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Shared Interests in Tourism and Security</h2><p>Dieter M&uuml;ller drew parallels between the Arctic and Swiss Alps' tourism sectors, emphasising the need for sustainable strategies in these environmentally sensitive regions. Additionally, Paul Schmidt addressed the Arctic&rsquo;s growing geopolitical significance, highlighting the importance of fostering stability and international cooperation.</p><p>Linda Lundmark showcased the <strong>Arctic Graduate School</strong>, an initiative preparing early-career researchers to tackle the Arctic's complexities through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">A Pathway to Future Collaboration</h2><p>The visit concluded by reaffirming the shared interests and mutual goals between Switzerland and Sweden. Both countries recognise the critical role of research in addressing global environmental and societal challenges. The dialogue reinforced Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s position as a hub for Arctic research and a key player in fostering international partnerships.</p><p>Looking ahead, the Swiss Embassy and Ume&aring; University aim to explore joint activities to strengthen our shared research agendas.</p>/en/news/building-bridges-between-the-alps-and-the-arctic_12018640//en/news/applying-network-science-to-networking-at-icelab-days_12008009/The annual IceLab Days meeting, organized by the Integrated Science Lab (IceLab), took place on November 13–14 at Skeppsvik Herrgård. The event fostered collaboration among IceLab members and affiliated researchers while strengthening the social and interdisciplinary work culture. This year, IceLab members turned their tools inward, applying network science to visualize current and potential research overlaps. Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:55:25 +0100<p class="quote-center">Our goal was to understand the overlap in current projects within IceLab and to get a better sense of the skills and interests of our members, helping to spark ideas for future collaborations</p><h3>Bridging Disciplines and Building Connections&nbsp;</h3><p>IceLab&rsquo;s mission is to connect researchers across disciplines for the love of launching and landing new ideas. Through initiatives like the IceLab Lunch Pitches, the lab has built a reputation for facilitating spontaneous collaborations.</p><p>However, what about researchers who aren&rsquo;t actively seeking collaborations? Rub&eacute;n Bernardo Madrid, a postdoctoral fellow at IceLab and one of the event organizers, tackled this challenge head-on while designing the program for IceLab Days.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Many of us are already working on multiple interdisciplinary projects with people outside of IceLab, but there is not as much collaboration within IceLab itself. Our goal was to understand the overlap in current projects within IceLab and to get a better sense of the skills and interests of our members, helping to spark ideas for future collaborations," Rub&eacute;n explained.&nbsp;</p><p>Another priority for the organizers was maintaining IceLab&rsquo;s unique collaborative culture and flat hierarchy, particularly as IceLab expands through initiatives like Stress Response Modeling at IceLab, a Swedish Research Council-funded excellence center.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>IceLab members at a social interaction session during IceLab Days. During the session, members had a couple of minutes to talk to the person across from them, answering questions designed to help learn something new about each other. For example - what new skill would you most want to learn instantaneously? Or - what three things do you need in the morning to feel ready for the day?</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>GABRIELLE BEANS</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Social interaction is one of the most amazing aspects of IceLab. Now that we are growing, we are going to face new challenges, like how we can maintain this same level of connection. Events like this are essential for nurturing those bonds," Rub&eacute;n added.&nbsp;</p><h3>Experimenting with Network Science</h3><p>The centerpiece of the event was an experiment in applying network analysis&mdash;a tool many IceLab researchers use in their work&mdash;to the researchers themselves. Participants mapped their interests and skills to create a "network of collaboration."</p><p>Rub&eacute;n described the process:&nbsp;"We identified topics we&rsquo;re currently working on and potential areas of interest. Then, we used network analysis tools to visualize existing and possible collaborations in real time."</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="4373c573-c656-45ea-8103-9d498ccaeadb" data-contentname="Network Block">{}</div><p>The results were illuminating. While the exercise successfully identified current research groups, it revealed something unexpected about potential collaborations:</p><p>"When we explored new topics, we couldn&rsquo;t form clear groups&mdash;everyone seemed interested in everything! This shows incredible potential for collaboration but also highlights the need to refine our approach to identify more targeted partnerships," Rub&eacute;n observed.&nbsp;</p><h3>Planning for IceLab&rsquo;s Future&nbsp;</h3><p>The event wasn&rsquo;t only about these professional and personal connections&mdash;it also focused on improving IceLab and what activities to hold in 2025. Participants developed an action plan that will be tackled during monthly meetings.</p><p>Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn, a postdoctoral researcher and co-organizer, highlighted some outcomes:</p><p>"Some of the suggestions we intend to realise are weekly informal exchanges of tools, ideas and challenges; a seminar series featuring the IceLab affiliates; and a series on the science of science with international speakers. The key will be to approach all of these with curiosity and an open mind."</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>IceLab members work together during IceLab Days in Skeppsvik</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>GABRIELLE BEANS</span></div></div><p>Another priority is strengthening ties with IceLab&rsquo;s affiliated researchers who don&rsquo;t work on-site. Plans include maintaining drop-in desks for visiting affiliates and creating opportunities for affiliates and on-site members to share their research with each other.&nbsp;</p><p class="quote-center">Our affiliates bring diverse perspectives, new research questions, and innovative ideas from a variety of fields. We are excited to welcome more affiliates to IceLab.</p><h3>Expanding IceLab&rsquo;s Network</h3><p>Martin Rosvall, IceLab&rsquo;s director, emphasized the value of interdisciplinary collaboration:</p><p>"Our affiliates bring diverse perspectives, new research questions, and innovative ideas from a variety of fields. We are excited to welcome more affiliates to IceLab."</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/239179e6c34b4d52be16877c1172697b/20241114_researcher_icelabday_4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jan Karlsson and Martin Rosvall discuss development ideas for IceLab.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>GABRIELLE BEANS</span></div></div><p>Many affiliates first connected to IceLab through the IceLab Multidisciplinary Postdoctoral Program, funded by Kempestiftelserna. Jan Karlsson is one of these affiliates and shared his experience of the IceLab Days:</p><p>"I first became involved through Dominic Vachon, a postdoc from the program&rsquo;s initial round. His work inspired further collaboration with Martin Rosvall. The IceLab Days meeting was very good!  I really appreciated the relaxed atmosphere with open minded people, which inspired interesting discussions about current and potential new collaborative projects as well as development of IceLab."</p><h3>A Culture of Collaboration&nbsp;</h3><p>IceLab Days showcased IceLab&rsquo;s dedication to building a thriving, interdisciplinary research community. By integrating innovative tools, candid discussions, and a commitment to social connection, IceLab aims to keep evolving as a space for meaningful and collaborative science.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/applying-network-science-to-networking-at-icelab-days_12008009//en/news/david-wardle-on-the-list-of-the-worlds-most-cited-researchers_12007724/David Wardle, Professor of Ecology at Umeå University, is one of the most cited researchers on Clarivate's list 2024. The researchers on the list are in the top one percent and have an exceptional influence in their respective fields.Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:31:30 +0100<p>The &ldquo;Highly Cited Researchers&rdquo; list is compiled by Clarivate, an analytics company which owns the Web of Science publication database, and lists the researchers whose work has been cited most frequently (top 1 percent) over the past decade.</p><p>One of them is David Wardle. He researches how environmental change affects ecosystems both above and below ground. He has conducted field studies in many parts of the world, including south-east Asia, New Zealand and northern Sweden. In 2023, he was appointed professor at the Department of Ecology and Environment Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The list of most cited researchers also includes a visiting professor at Ume&aring; University: Linda Hollebeek at the Ume&aring; School of Business, Economics and Statistics. Her home university is Sunway University in Malaysia.</p><p>In total, the list consists of 6,886 world-leading researchers, 60 of whom are from Swedish higher education institutions.</p><p><a href="https://clarivate.com/highly-cited-researchers/">To the list "Highly Cited Researchers" (Clarivate.com)</a></p>/en/news/david-wardle-on-the-list-of-the-worlds-most-cited-researchers_12007724//en/news/mixed-forests-reduce-the-risk-of-forest-damage-in-a-warmer-climate_12003407/Forests with few tree species pose considerably higher risk of being damaged and especially vulnerable is the introduced lodgepole pine. This is shown in a new study by researchers from Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Science in Uppsala. The results can be useful for preventing forest damages and financial losses related to the forest industry.Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:49:27 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4eb378a3bb6d42708a4ecbaf7f7bf295/blandskog2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4eb378a3bb6d42708a4ecbaf7f7bf295/blandskog2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4eb378a3bb6d42708a4ecbaf7f7bf295/blandskog2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4eb378a3bb6d42708a4ecbaf7f7bf295/blandskog2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4eb378a3bb6d42708a4ecbaf7f7bf295/blandskog2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4eb378a3bb6d42708a4ecbaf7f7bf295/blandskog2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>A mixed forest leads to less damage to trees, according to extensive data analysed by researchers.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Jan Bengtsson</span></div></div><p>Fungi, insects, fires and cervids, such as moose, are examples of natural factors behind tree damages in Swedish forests. Sometimes, the damages become so extensive that they impact the function of forest ecosystems, not least the ability of forests to provide wood and other tree products.</p><p>&ldquo;In a warmer climate with more extreme weather and new pest organisms, and with a more intense forestry, forest damages are expected to become more common and more severe. It is therefore important to understand causes of forest damages and whether it can be prevented,&rdquo; says researcher Micael Jonsson at Ume&aring; University, who led the study.</p><p class="quote-center">Our results show that there is a potential to reduce the risk of forest damages via a changed forest management.</p><p>The Swedish national forest inventory has collected extensive data from Swedish forests. Since 2003, data on forest damages have also been collected.</p><p>In the current study, the research group has analyzed 15 years of these data from all over Sweden, to investigate which damages are most common and which factors determine the risk of a tree becoming damaged. The study is more extensive both in time and geographically than previous studies.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Wind and snow cause most damages</h2><p>The results show that wind and snow are the most common causes of tree damage, followed by forestry and then fungi. Damages from cervids &ndash; mostly moose &ndash; are on fifth place. 94 percent of all trees showed some kind of damage. Coniferous trees and young stands showed the highest risk of damage, and in warmer parts of Sweden, stands with few tree species showed a considerably higher risk of being damaged compared to stands with a higher number of tree species.</p><p>&ldquo;Our results show that there is a potential to reduce the risk of forest damages via a changed forest management. Especially, a higher proportion of broadleaf trees in the otherwise so coniferous-dominated production forest would result in fewer damages. We can for example see that the lodgepole pine, introduced by the forestry industry, has the highest risk of damage. Its introduction therefore counteracts a profitable forestry,&rdquo; says Micael Jonsson.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Weaknesses in data material</h2><p>The results also indicate that a higher number of tree species in a stand act as an insurance against extensive forest damages in a warmer climate.</p><p>&ldquo;We must adapt Swedish forests and forest management methods to a future warmer climate. Including more tree species in production forests seems to be an adaptation that could work!&rdquo; says co-author Jan Bengtsson at the Swedish University of Agricultural Science.</p><p>However, the study also shows that the data material has some weaknesses. For example, it has not been possible to establish the cause behind a large proportion of the damages.</p><p>&ldquo;The national forest inventory collects important data for our understanding of the forest, but when it comes to the damage inventory, the data quality needs to improve to be fully usable in forestry practices,&rdquo; says Jon Moen, co-author at Ume&aring; University.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="cce2b626-7767-4834-ba80-7ad9e003b0ae" data-contentname="About the scientific article">{}</div>/en/news/mixed-forests-reduce-the-risk-of-forest-damage-in-a-warmer-climate_12003407//en/news/kbc-days-strengthens-interdisciplinary-collaboration_12005601/A UK river restoration project, involving researchers from Umeå University, has shown excellent results after one year, with flourishing animal and plant life. This type of intervention may now become a model for river restoration in northern Sweden.Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:47:36 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4cc76dcb5488433b9bc3c593d23ebc85/pxl_20240726_1337534572.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4cc76dcb5488433b9bc3c593d23ebc85/pxl_20240726_1337534572.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4cc76dcb5488433b9bc3c593d23ebc85/pxl_20240726_1337534572.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4cc76dcb5488433b9bc3c593d23ebc85/pxl_20240726_1337534572.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4cc76dcb5488433b9bc3c593d23ebc85/pxl_20240726_1337534572.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4cc76dcb5488433b9bc3c593d23ebc85/pxl_20240726_1337534572.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Restoration on this section of the Varg&aring;n river resulted in a dramatic increase in habitat diversity.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Richard Mason</span></div></div><p>The restoration of the River Aller in the UK has gained international attention as one of the first attempts in Europe to reset a river and fully reconnect its waters with the surrounding floodplain. After one year, the results have exceeded the researchers' expectations.</p><p>By filling in a 1.2-kilometer managed, straightened, and deepened section of the river, they have dramatically transformed the area, creating seven hectares of waterscapes and wetlands (equivalent to more than ten football pitches), an increase of 1800 percent.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">&ldquo;A real surprise&rdquo;</h2><p>&ldquo;The speed with which the site developed into a diverse patchwork of habitats has been a real surprise.&nbsp; After only a few months the river was already adjusting, creating deep pools, fast riffles, and a mosaic of wetlands. The system has moved from a very tidy area with little for wildlife to a messy complex jumble of waterscapes and diverse habitats that is full to the brim with a huge variety of plants and animals, including migratory fish,&rdquo; says Richard Mason from Ume&aring; University.</p><p>He is one of the team of researchers from different countries who are monitoring water flow, water quality and changes to habitat.</p><p>Restoration to &ldquo;stage zero&rdquo; &ndash; a complete restart, or a &ldquo;Ctrl+Alt+Delete&rdquo; &ndash; is gaining momentum internationally due to its potential to increase river resilience and provide critical habitats for many plants and animals, including migratory fish.</p><p>Similar river and wetland restorations to the one in UK are currently being undertaken by L&auml;nsstyrelsen V&auml;sterbotten through the Ecostreams for LIFE project. For example, parts of Varg&aring;n, a tributary of the &Ouml;re&auml;lven in V&auml;sterbotten, have been restored with inspiration from &ldquo;stage zero&rdquo;. Other watercourses included in the restoration project are Ammer&aring;n, R&ouml;rstr&ouml;ms&auml;lven and &Aring;re&auml;lven (J&auml;mtland) and Mo&auml;lven and Hemlings&aring;n (V&auml;sternorrland).</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Ume&aring; researchers collect data</h2><p>Richard Mason and Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg from Ume&aring; University will collaborate with L&auml;nsstyrelsen to collect data from these novel restoration projects and compare to the River Aller, to gain a global picture of how restoration to Stage Zero can help build resilient rivers for people and wildlife.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an exciting time for river restoration and this novel technique has real potential to transform our riverscapes, helping animal and plant life and increasing resilience to climate change. What we learn from our detailed monitoring of the River Aller will help river restoration techniques globally. I&rsquo;m excited to see how the site continues to develop&rdquo;, says Richard Mason.</p>/en/news/recreated-uk-river-inspires-in-sweden_11999235//en/news/inland-waters-crucial-for-accurate-climate-assessments_11989368/Inland waters release substantial amounts of greenhouse gases, but this is rarely included in climate assessments. New research from Umeå University shows that not accounting for carbon fluxes between land and water systems leads to incorrect assessments of climate impact and feedback on the carbon cycle.Mon, 30 Sep 2024 08:20:35 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/29509d7a70d14fad9d9780d9ecf2bbd9/rautasjaure13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/29509d7a70d14fad9d9780d9ecf2bbd9/rautasjaure13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/29509d7a70d14fad9d9780d9ecf2bbd9/rautasjaure13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/29509d7a70d14fad9d9780d9ecf2bbd9/rautasjaure13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/29509d7a70d14fad9d9780d9ecf2bbd9/rautasjaure13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/29509d7a70d14fad9d9780d9ecf2bbd9/rautasjaure13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Streams, rivers and lakes in cold regions contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Annika Hollsten</span></div></div><p>Cold regions in the north and at high elevation are experiencing rapid warming &ndash; up to four times faster than the global average. This phenomenon not only threatens the status of these ecosystems but also leads to the release of vast amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. However, assessments of how the carbon cycle responds to and feeds back on climate change generally focus on the exchange of greenhouse gases on land, neglecting the large carbon export from land to the abundant inland waters (streams, rivers, and lakes) in these regions.</p><p>&ldquo;Current data and approaches are likely inadequate to capture contemporary and future carbon flows across land and water systems,&rdquo; says Jan Karlsson, Professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Emissions from 3,000 lakes</h2><p>One example of a large-scale integrated assessment is new research led by Chunlin Song from Sichuan University in China and Jan Karlsson from Ume&aring; University, published in the scientific journal Science Advances. Based on a comprehensive analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from over 3,000 lakes and rivers across the Northern Hemisphere, they show that lakes and rivers in cold regions contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions than previously understood and that these emissions could offset a major part of the carbon uptake by land ecosystems in the north.</p><p class="quote-center">This finding is particularly alarming, as it suggests that thawing of permafrost releases significant amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere.</p><p>The study also reveals regional differences in greenhouse gas emissions between rivers and lakes, with particularly high significance of rivers and of systems in regions with extensive coverage of permafrost.</p><p>&ldquo;This finding is particularly alarming, as it suggests that thawing of permafrost releases significant amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere, further exacerbating climate change.&rdquo;</p><p>The implications of this research are profound, according to Jan Karlsson.</p><p>&ldquo;As global temperatures continue to rise, the role of cold regions in greenhouse gas emissions may become increasingly significant,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Specific conditions</h2><p>In another paper published in the scientific journal Nature Water, Jan Karlsson emphasizes that the climate impact on the coupled land-water carbon cycle varies largely depending on specific climate conditions and landscape characteristics. According to him, there are significant challenges in studying land and water systems at a relevant scale and detail to make accurate assessments.</p><p>&ldquo;In order to advance the field, we need collaborative studies across scientific disciplines and approaches. Optimally, research infrastructures, funding, and educational programs should be designed to facilitate the integrated collaborative approaches needed,&rdquo; says Jan Karlsson.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="fa7df0fe-e7e7-4d6f-a9b2-a4abf4462ffb" data-contentname="About the scientific articles">{}</div>/en/news/inland-waters-crucial-for-accurate-climate-assessments_11989368//en/news/joint-field-work-furthers-research-on-chemicals-in-arctic-waters_11986305/In 2022, Arctic Centre at Umeå University helped finance a collaborative activity within a research project in Nordic marine ecosystems, led by Professor Emeritus Terry Frank Bidleman. With the funding, the research group hosted a researcher from USA to conduct field work in Abisko and Lake Torneträsk.Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:27:45 +0200<p>Terry Bidleman is a Professor Emeritus at the Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University, and Head of the project "<a href="~/link/545a3a28676041c8a1caf40d273c0c8a.aspx">Halogenated natural products (HNPs) in Nordic marine ecosystems</a>&rdquo;. Within the research project, he initiated a project collaboration with Professor Penny Vlahos and her PhD student Emma Shipley from the Department of Marine Sciences at University of Connecticut, USA.</p><p>&ndash; The objective of the collaboration was to investigate sources and transport pathways of selected Halogenated Natural Products (HNPs) in Lake Tornetr&auml;sk on the border of Abisko National Park in Sweden. The HNPs studied were bromine-containing compounds produced in oceans and seas by algae and bacteria, and chlorinated compounds produced by terrestrial fungi.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="2f436826-6496-48d7-86e8-8b3174f4e8a0" data-contentname="PIC Emma Shipley">{}</div><p>Funding from the Arctic Centre and <a href="~/link/bf3327b585564ca3ba5312a2d5e6e81f.aspx">EcoChange</a> supported PhD student Emma Shipley to travel and stay at the Abisko field station and made it possible for her to collect water samples from lake Tornetr&auml;sk and adjoining streams. Parallel samples were also obtained by the Ume&aring; team of Bidleman, Kathleen Agosta and Mats Tysklind.</p><p class="quote-center">The research results from Lake Tornetr&auml;sk were compared to similar measurements in the rivers and estuaries V&auml;sterbotten County and have furthered our investigations of HNPs in Northern Sweden.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0"><strong>Rewarding collaboration and interesting research results</strong></h2><p>Bidleman says that the collaborative field work was very beneficial in several respects.</p><p>&ndash; We established collaboration with Professor Vlahos at University of Connecticut, which we intend to continue. The research results from Lake Tornetr&auml;sk were compared to similar measurements in the rivers and estuaries of V&auml;sterbotten County and have furthered our investigations of HNPs in Northern Sweden. The outcome so far has been one <a href="https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&amp;c=22&amp;af=%5B%5D&amp;searchType=LIST_LATEST&amp;sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&amp;query=&amp;language=sv&amp;pid=diva2%3A1887251&amp;aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&amp;sf=all&amp;aqe=%5B%5D&amp;sortOrder=author_sort_asc&amp;onlyFullText=false&amp;noOfRows=50&amp;dswid=9508">publication</a> and several presentations.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1"><strong>Studies of HNPs help us understand the Arctic land, sea and air interactions</strong></h2><p>Bidleman explains how HNPs can help us understand exchanges between land, sea and air in the river system that dominates the Bothnia Bay.</p><p>&ndash; Bothnia Bay has a food web that is shifting from phytoplankton to heterotrophic bacteria that feed on the organic material transported along the rivers. The overall picture of HNPs&rsquo; transport and exchange can be summarized by &ldquo;What goes around, comes around&rdquo;, because they volatilize from sea and land, disperse through the atmosphere, and return via precipitation and rivers. HNPs enable us therefore to follow exchanges between land, rivers, sea and air, and we see this clearly in the results that distinguish land- and sea-derived compounds along the Bothnia Bay coast and at Lake Tornetr&auml;sk.</p><p>Bidleman also mentions how the results could be useful for future work.</p><p>&ndash; Although the studied HNPs are not pollutants, they have been found in fish. Extensions of this work would be to use HNPs to follow differences in bioaccumulation from the rivers to the coastal zone, examine relationships between HNPs and the organic matter that feeds bacteria, and monitor how HNP levels respond to changing climate.</p>/en/news/joint-field-work-furthers-research-on-chemicals-in-arctic-waters_11986305//en/news/two-young-researchers-receive-erc-starting-grant_11981097/An extensive study led by scientists from Umeå University and Lund University demonstrates the critical impact of herbivorous insects on nutrient cycles within forests worldwide. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study highlights the importance of understanding these insects for accurate environmental models and conservations efforts.Wed, 07 Aug 2024 12:44:44 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/48c3fa864a704a89ad8931cd787f02ba/rcospind3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/48c3fa864a704a89ad8931cd787f02ba/rcospind3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/48c3fa864a704a89ad8931cd787f02ba/rcospind3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/48c3fa864a704a89ad8931cd787f02ba/rcospind3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/48c3fa864a704a89ad8931cd787f02ba/rcospind3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/48c3fa864a704a89ad8931cd787f02ba/rcospind3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>A collaborator in Russia rigs a line over a tree branch with a crossbow to collect green leaves.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Vladimir Oskolkov</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Together with myriad local collaborators, we established a global network of 74 plots in diverse forest ecosystems. Our findings show that herbivorous insects have a profound impact on carbon and nutrient cycling,&rdquo; says Dr. Bernice Hwang, lead researcher and co-author of the study.&nbsp;</p><p>The study focused on 40 mature, undisturbed broadleaved forests spanning tropical, temperate, and boreal zones. By analyzing nutrient, productivity, and herbivory data collected from these forest sites, the researchers revealed that insect herbivory can exceed natural inputs of nutrients, such as atmospheric deposition, in some locations.</p><p class="quote-left">Put together, temperature shifts and insect herbivory can have a profound effect on nutrient-limited forests.</p><p>&ldquo;We also found that concentrations of carbon and nutrients deposited by herbivorous insects significantly increased with rising mean annual temperature globally. Put together, temperature shifts and insect herbivory can have a profound effect on nutrient-limited forests,&rdquo; says Dr. Hwang.</p><p>Professor Daniel Metcalfe at Ume&aring; University has led the project funded by the European Research Council.</p><p>&ldquo;Understanding the complex interplay between plants, herbivores, and climate is crucial for managing and conserving forest ecosystems in the face of ongoing environmental changes,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>The study underscores the need for further investigation into how herbivorous insects affects different forest types and global nutrient cycles. The findings provide a foundation for future research to better understand the intricate relationship between insects and forest ecosystems.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="4af03b81-8fde-418f-babf-00c0688cfd67" data-contentname="About the scientific study">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="4a986b6c-b786-4d5d-bde0-277373b6c38d" data-contentname="Contact">{}</div>/en/news/herbivorous-insects-have-major-impact-on-forests_11970876//en/news/36000-tea-bags-explain-global-decomposition-pattern-on-new-web_11962389/Co-developed by Umeå university, a method to measure the decay of plant material with the help of simple tea bags has quickly become the standard in scientific research as well as a favourite teaching activity throughout the world. Researcher Judith Sarneel at Umeå University, Sweden, has now collected data from over 36’000 individual tea bags worldwide and has revealed global patterns of decomposition in the journal Ecology Letters and on a newly established website.Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:00:08 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>In the project 36 000 tea bags have been buried worldwide to measure decomposition.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Tomas Utsi</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;It is uncredible how a crazy idea during a tea break managed to engage thousands of people all over the world. Together we have achieved what was impossible on our own&rdquo; she says.</p><p>Burying tea bags to study soil activity makes life for a researcher easy. You simply buy your highly standardized plant material in the grocery store. Because the study uses bags that are made of nylon, the mass loss of the bag after being in the soil for a while equals decomposition of plant material, mainly driven by microbes. In a united effort citizen scientists and researchers buried the same two types of tea for approximately three months all across the world.</p><p class="quote-left">It is uncredible how a crazy idea during a tea break managed to engage thousands of people all over the world</p><p>The stories of participants to this project are now gathered on the new website <a title="https://teabagindex.org/" href="https://teabagindex.org/">https://teabagindex.org/</a> that wants to inform future tea-scientists and highlight the diversity of people active in understanding soil processes.</p><p>From the mass losses of both the very leafy green tea and the harder to decompose, woody rooibos tea, it became possible to compare both the speed by which the tea leaf material was lost as well as the degree to which it was lost. One can compare that with how fast a sandwich is eaten and how much of the crust of the sandwich is left.&nbsp;</p><p>This study not only confirmed the general understanding of decomposition, the researchers also found some intriguing new patterns, particularly in cold regions and in soils with agricultural use.</p><p>Surprisingly, especially in cold regions, they often observed the combination of a relatively fast&nbsp;initial breakdown with considerable parts of the material left. Agriculture in turn, appeared to affect the decomposition rate but not the degree to which certain litter fractions were decomposed.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Ecologist Judith Sarneel burying tea bags in a bog outside Abisko.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Tomas Utsi</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;We are excited that we finally can pinpoint some of the more complex interactions that drive decomposition across such large spatial scales&rdquo; says Judith Sarneel.</p><p>Thus the study strongly implies that ignoring the transformation of dead plant material to more recalcitrant substances during early-stage decomposition, and the differential&nbsp;environmental control on both initial decomposition rate and stabilisation, could overestimate carbon losses during early decomposition in carbon cycle models.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>In 2015 Swedish school children helped the scientists by burying tea bags to measure decomposition. Drawing from a participating school class.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Tea Bag Index</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Engaging so many researchers and citizen scientists in understanding soil processes is a great win, and the non-scientific impact of the project may be even more substantial than its scientific impact&rdquo; says Joost Keuskamp, Utrecht University, Netherlands, last author of the scientific article.</p><p><strong>About the study<br></strong><em>Judith M. Sarneel, Mariet M. Hefting, Taru Sand&eacute;n, Johan van den Hoogen, Devin Routh, Bhupendra S. Adhikari, Juha M. Alatalo, Alla Aleksanyan, Inge H.J. Althuizen, Jonas Lembrechts et al. Reading tea leaves worldwide: Decoupled drivers of initial litter decomposition massloss rate and stabilization, Ecology Letters, 7 May 2024, https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14415</em></p><p><a title="Read the article" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ele.14415">Read the article</a><br><a title="The Tea Bag Index website" href="https://teabagindex.org/">The Tea bag index website</a> <br><br></p>/en/news/36000-tea-bags-explain-global-decomposition-pattern-on-new-web_11962389//en/news/icelab-kickoff-conference-propels-stress-response-research_11958443/The kickoff conference for IceLab’s VR-funded Center of Excellence with support from KAW and Kempestiftelserna, held on June 10th and 11th at Umeå University, marked a promising start for the new center. Presentations highlighted common ground in diverse, complex systems and proposed new research directions for understanding stress responses in living systemsTue, 18 Jun 2024 22:37:38 +0200<p>About a year after receiving the news that the Integrated Science Lab (IceLab) was awarded funding to establish one of fifteen Swedish Research Council-funded excellence centers, Stress Response Modeling at IceLab held its official kick-off conference, with over seventy participants and three international invited keynote speakers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p class="quote-center">I think it was an amazing opening. It&rsquo;s really good to see the grant being put to good use.&nbsp;</p><p>Mattias Marklund, Secretary General for Natural and Engineering Sciences at the Swedish Research Council, was present at the kick-off. He opened the event by describing the motivation behind the funding call and its highly competitive nature &ndash; over a hundred applications were received and only fifteen centers were granted.</p><p>Mattias was delighted with what he experienced at the conference: &ldquo;I think it was an amazing opening. It&rsquo;s really good to see the grant being put to good use, inspiring people to work across disciplines and focusing on a specific topic &ndash; stress responses in living systems. I thought it was especially interesting to hear about the development of the IceLab environment, and the new science they plan to do. It was really nice to see this focus on the future, not just what they&rsquo;ve done up to now.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-110.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-110.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-110.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-110.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-110.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-110.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Mattias Marklund of the Swedish Research Council talks at IceLab Stress Response Modeling Kick-off Conference June 10th, 2024</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>GABRIELLE BEANS</span></div></div><h3><br>Resistance, resilience and tipping points&nbsp;</h3><p>What do bacterial antibiotic resistance, algal blooms in the Baltic Sea and the effect of drought on plants have in common? According to the principal investigators in the center, quite a lot. Despite their different organizational scales, as complex systems, they exhibit similar characteristics such that adaptive mechanisms uncovered in one system could help understand those in others.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>How do bacterial populations recover from harmful external influences, such as antibiotics? Which attributes of a lake and its resident community make it recover from extreme events such as nutrient pulses or heat waves? What components are involved in resetting energy usage back toward growth after drought stress in plants?&nbsp; In their shared presentation about uncovering universal stress response mechanisms, they suggested asking questions about how different systems respond to stress reveals similarities that reflect universal behavior.&nbsp;</p><p>Resistance, resilience, and tipping points were frequently cited as core principles in many conference presentations, ranging from broad overviews of complex systems science to specific examples within plant, bacterial and ecosystem stress responses.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><h3>Towards the future&nbsp;</h3><p>The conference pivoted to looking towards the future, with presentations and discussions about potential collaborative projects in stress response research.&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;The main goal for the conference was to establish working groups and project &lsquo;seedlings&rsquo; that we can nurture in the future in the Center&rdquo; explained Gabrielle Beans, IceLab Coordinator.&nbsp;</p><p class="quote-center">The main goal for the conference was to establish working groups and project &lsquo;seedlings&rsquo; that we can nurture in the future in the Center</p><p>One project that emerged from the conference was challenges in understanding how the genome of a plant, inside its nucleus, and the genome of the plant&rsquo;s chloroplast can influence each other despite being physically disconnected.</p><p>&Aring;sa Strand, Professor at the Department of Plant Physiology, Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre, and a principal investigator of the center, explains: &ldquo;Based on my experimental observations, I think the chloroplast &ndash; the organelle that controls photosynthesis &ndash; provides a positive signal required to fully activate gene expression in the nucleus. But I am not sure how that happens &ndash; so I want to model the system and get specific ideas I can explore experimentally.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-005.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-005.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-005.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-005.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-005.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d77f659a810745a688097dd84ad853fc/stressresponsekickoff-005.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Professor &Aring;sa Strand discusses a new project idea in plant stress response modeling with other researchers, including Seong-Gyu Yang, postdoctoral fellow at IceLab and Department of Physics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>GABRIELLE BEANS</span></div></div><p>By the end of the second day of the conference, &Aring;sa had connected with two IceLab postdoctoral fellows, Juhee Lee and Seong-Gyu Yang, who had sketched out a potential computational model to explore this question. They have made plans to follow up after the conference.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>What are the next steps for Stress Response Modeling at IceLab? Martin Rosvall, director of the center and Professor in Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s Department of Physics and IceLab, sums up: "We will take these project ideas forward &ndash; in hackathon-style retreats to develop them, with our Kempestiftelserna-funded postdoc program and our Wallenberg-funded upcoming PhD call linked to the doctoral research school program we are developing.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>Martin also encouraged interested researchers to propose their own activity ideas and recommend international researchers for visits through the IceLab excellence network initiative.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>One such international researcher, an invited keynote speaker at the conference and a member of the advisory board for the center, was Marta Sales Pardo, Professor at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain. Her presentation on creating a &lsquo;machine scientist&rsquo; was very well received, and she greatly enjoyed her time in Ume&aring;: &ldquo;The kickoff was very well organized. I had the opportunity to talk with many young researchers and other principal investigators and I really enjoyed my time in Ume&aring; visiting IceLab. I am looking forward to seeing how the center progresses moving forward.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/icelab-kickoff-conference-propels-stress-response-research_11958443//en/news/umea-universitys-arctic-five-chairs-announced_11958405/The Arctic Centre is proud to present Umeå University's new Arctic Five Chairs for 2024–2026. Through the Chairs program, five distinguished researchers will have the opportunity to develop transnational collaborations and new research projects that will benefit both the university and its partners.Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:47:24 +0200<p>These five researchers represent a diversity of disciplines and research areas, from political science and design to ecology and food science. Once again, having chairs from several different faculties reinforces the idea that the Arctic is an issue that affects all parts of society.</p><p>Their work will promote new research, strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations, and contribute solutions to the Arctic's critical challenges. Through the Arctic Five Chairs initiative, Ume&aring; University continues to lead the way in building bridges between research and society for a sustainable future in the Arctic region.</p><h3>Researchers and Projects</h3><p><strong>Niklas Eklund, Professor</strong> at the Department of Political Science, will focus on the civil-military relationship in the Arctic and analyse intersections between defence, trade, and climate-related security issues. His research aims to increase policy relevance and build interdisciplinary collaborations within the Arctic Five network.<br>&nbsp;<br><strong>Danielle Wilde, Professor</strong> at the Ume&aring; Institute of Design, will lead a project on Arctic food citizenship. Her work emphasises environmental food citizenship and the integration of Indigenous ontologies to address climate change and sustainable food practices in the Arctic.<br>&nbsp;<br><strong>Bj&ouml;rn Norlin, Associate Professor</strong> at the Department of Education, strives to strengthen the inclusion of Sami knowledge in teacher education in northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland. His project will develop a research network to support teacher education on Indigenous themes.<br>&nbsp;<br><strong>Armando Perez-Cueto, Professor</strong> at the Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science, will conduct research on sustainable food transitions in the Arctic. His work focuses on promoting resilient food systems and dietary shifts with lower carbon footprints while respecting traditional Arctic food sources.<br>&nbsp;<br><strong>Daniel Metcalfe, Professor</strong> at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, will investigate ways to improve the monitoring of carbon storage in northern forests. His research will address the effects of climate change on carbon storage and cycling in northern forests, aiming to improve global climate change models.<br>&nbsp;<br>The Arctic Five Chairs program, a core activity of the Arctic Centre, is a vital enabler of international collaboration. By supporting these researchers, the program strengthens Ume&aring; University's role in addressing critical Arctic issues, promoting innovation, and increasing interdisciplinary research efforts across the Arctic Five universities.</p>/en/news/umea-universitys-arctic-five-chairs-announced_11958405//en/news/science-and-creativity-explored-on-arctic-doctoral-field-trip_11945206/Between 22 and 26 of April 2024, Doctoral students at the Arctic Graduate School went to a combined doctoral course and field trip to Rovaniemi, Finland. The course, called “Communication and Transdisciplinary Methods in Arctic Research”, and the field trip were both parts of the program at the Arctic Graduate School.Fri, 24 May 2024 09:45:47 +0200<p>On Monday, 22 April, the train left Ume&aring; with destination Haparanda-Tornio. On the train were seven Doctoral students from the Arctic Graduate School, as well as the Head and Coordinator of the school. Together, they went for their first stop on their week-long field trip to Rovaniemi, Finland. In Haparanda-Tornio, they all got to meet with Hanna-Leena Ainonen, Cross-border Development Specialist at Tornio Town Hall, for a presentation about the history, culture, and politics in the twin cities.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="99f27ef5-a32d-4518-8b30-5398e0e09188" data-contentname="PIC Rovaniemi field trip_Haparanda-Tornio">{}</div><p>Doctoral student Alina Bavykina was most amazed by the usage of differences between two cities and countries for entrepreneurial opportunities.</p><p>&ndash; For instance, Hanna-Leena mentioned the double New Year celebration on each side of the Tornio River, giving an opportunity for inhabitants and visitors to enjoy the fireworks twice. For me as a visitor, it felt like Haparanda-Tornio is one big town intertwined with the Swedish-Finnish culture and their unique traditions, culture, and language, Bavykina says.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">&nbsp;</h2><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Scientific methods meet creativity</h2><p>The next day was scheduled with creative workshops and presentations in Rovaniemi. Among the activities was a workshop with Postdoctoral fellow Pamela Bachmann-Vargas on transformative methods in research. She described &ldquo;transformative methods&rdquo; as student centered learning methods that enables imagination and thinking outside the box. The Doctoral students did a few exercises and practical activities as part of the workshop, such as making poetic reflections and convert them into haiku by listing three key concepts that describe their research.</p><p>&ndash; I enjoyed the workshop very much and found it useful to conceive of my research from different angles, comments Doctoral student Marcus Aronsson.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Exhibitions and talks at the University of Lapland</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="5b857155-18ba-4e85-a650-35b12ef0b262" data-contentname="PIC Rovaniemi field trip_Arktikum">{}</div><p>Both Wednesday and Thursday were spent at the University of Lapland, where Wednesday had an exhibition at Arktikum Science Centre on the agenda, and Thursday was filled with talks and presentations. Wednesday began with a brief introduction to the Arktikum and the Arctic Centre, followed by a presentation on just green transition in the Finnish Arctic by Docent Tanja Joona. Thereafter, the students went on a guided tour through an exhibition about the history of Lapland and Rovaniemi.</p><p>&ndash; Wednesday was personally my favorite and perhaps the most insightful day of the week. Most impressive was the guided tour through the exhibition. As I am not from Sweden or the high north, there is a host of knowledge that I am completely lacking. It was really good to have this engaged guide explaining the culture and history of the Arctic region, Doctoral student Paul Schmidt explains.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="164b3bc7-f892-482c-9ee0-8f3fb50a8cad" data-contentname="PIC Rovaniemi field trip_Walking with">{}</div><p>On Thursday, the Doctoral students got to listen to talks which were all revolving around communication and scientific methods. Among them was a talk on &ldquo;Researching with Proximity&rdquo;, by Professor Outi Rantala and Researcher Neal Cahoon, where they presented the idea that human and other than human social life is mutually dependent. The students got to experiment with what was called &ldquo;walking with&rdquo; as a methodological experiment that explores and enhances a curing and caring orientation towards beings and thoughts.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">A fun and interesting trip</h2><p>Upon the train ride home, the Doctoral students express that the field trip has been fun and interesting. Doctoral student Hilde Weiser sums up the week with themes like justice, land use rights, local conflicts, and other challenges in the geographical space of northern Finland/Sapm&iacute;. Doctoral student Marcus Aronsson expresses he has gained a much greater appreciation and understanding of how lived the northern part of our two countries are.</p><p>&ndash; To wrap up, this trip has made me feel more energized, confident, focused, and competent. 10/10 would do again, Aronsson concludes.</p>/en/news/science-and-creativity-explored-on-arctic-doctoral-field-trip_11945206//en/news/skogsungdomarna-learn-about-the-history-of-the-northern-forest_11941938/On 27 April 2024, Forest Program Västerbotten's Youth Council, or Skogsungdomarna as they call themselves, organised a forest history excursion in Kulbäcksliden for their members. The activity was organised together with Professor Lars Östlund at SLU and Jenny Viklund, Director of Svartberget Experimental Forest.Thu, 16 May 2024 16:03:18 +0200<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">New experiences in the snowshoe tracks of the forest and the Sami</h2><p>From a rainy Ume&aring;, 10 young forest enthusiasts and Professor Lars &Ouml;stlund went to snowy Kulb&auml;cksliden for a day of forest history. The day began with coffee in the grill hut, where they met with park manager Jenny Viklund. She described the type of activity that is carried out in Kulb&auml;cksliden and which actors are involved. Then everyone had to put snowshoes on their feet to walk on a trail into the natural forest and stop at a tree with a fire scar. There, Professor Lars &Ouml;stlund talked about forest fires and what characterizes a natural forest, among other things.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="baf9c283-5243-4f18-8f12-0c19b50ea425" data-contentname="PIC Skogsungdomarna kaffeost">{}</div><p>At lunchtime, everyone helped make charcoal buns. Lars &Ouml;stlund also showed how Sami fireballs are made, which everyone also got to try with different results. Discussions and thoughts about the forest followed, including about food and how shack farming has created special environments. Towards the end of the lunch, Lars &Ouml;stlund offered coffee with coffee cheese that comes from the Sami culture. Then, when everyone was full, they set off again into the forest, somewhat more comfortable walking with their snowshoes than before lunch, to find the "King" and "Queen", which are two enormous old pines. They also got to see a huge aspen, which was of jaw-dropping size!</p><p>The members of Skogsungdomarna express that the day was enriching and educational with both fresh air, laughter and new knowledge.</p><p>&ndash; I thought I knew a lot about the forest, but now I realize that there is so much I don't know. For instance, I didn't know why pines have such high crowns. It's to avoid fire! says a new member.</p><p>Professor Lars &Ouml;stlund agrees that the day was very successful.</p><p>&ndash; I only had time to say a fraction of what I had planned, but there were such good discussions that it didn't matter, he says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Wants to highlight and spread knowledge about the forest and its history</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="192f9acf-5860-4e37-91f7-d55439436afa" data-contentname="PIC Skogsungdomarna träd">{}</div><p>According to Skogsungdomarna, the aim of the forest history excursion was to highlight the forest as a place full of memories, impressions, and stories. They argue that the forest may seem static and unchanging to most people, but it is in fact a dynamic environment that has been used by humans for thousands of years. They also hope to be able to spread knowledge about forest history as a subject and what you can look for and think about if you want to understand the forest around you.</p><p>In addition to new knowledge about the forest, Skogsungdomarna express how nice and developing it was to meet each other, tie closer connections with everyone and exchange experiences and thoughts about the forest. Finally, they thank everyone who participated for their great commitment and good questions, as well as Lars &Ouml;stlund for stepping in and making it such a good day.</p>/en/news/skogsungdomarna-learn-about-the-history-of-the-northern-forest_11941938//en/news/finalist-for-prestigious-climate-research-prize_11929940/For the second consecutive year, a researcher at Umeå University stands as a finalist for the international Frontiers Planet Prize. The Swedish nomination goes to researcher Gerard Rocher-Ros, who has mapped emissions of methane from streams and rivers on a global scale.Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:50:33 +0200<p>&ldquo;Recognizing Gerard's research at the Climate Impact Research Centre is a delightful development. Remarkably, Sweden has selected a researcher whose work is highly relevant to the Arctic as its representative. This is evidence of the exceptional research conducted by Ume&aring; University's Arctic researchers,&rdquo; comments Keith Larson, director of the Arctic Centre, the nomination.</p><p>This is the second consecutive year that the Frontiers Foundation nominates national finalists for the Frontiers Planet Prize. The announcement is on April 22, on "Earth Day," for a reason. The newly instituted prize is intended to stimulate high-level research that can contribute to concrete solutions for the challenges threatening the Earth's ecosystems. Out of the 23 finalists from various countries, three final winners will receive one million Swiss francs each (approximately 12 million SEK) for their ongoing research.</p><p class="quote-center">He is a uniquely talented scientist, with an ability to combine his deep understanding of freshwater ecosystems with exceptional computational skills.&nbsp; For this paper, he was able to combine and analyze multiple global datasets to address an important question at a spatial scale that I would not have thought possible 20 years ago.</p><p>&ldquo;I am really happy that Gerard is being recognized for this prestigious award. He is a uniquely talented scientist, with an ability to combine his deep understanding of freshwater ecosystems with exceptional computational skills.&nbsp; For this paper, he was able to combine and analyze multiple global datasets to address an important question at a spatial scale that I would not have thought possible 20 years ago,&rdquo; says Ryan Sponseller, Associate Professor at the department of Ecology and Environmental Science and main advisor for Gerard's postdoc.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="ea30c98d-aadf-448f-bcfd-7f8b188e5564" data-contentname="">{}</div><p>In collaboration with researchers in the USA, the researchers at the Swedish University of Agriculture and Ume&aring; University have mapped how the Earth's running water contributes to methane emissions in a study published in Nature in 2023. Freshwater systems account for half of the global emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane, but it has long been unknown how significant the role of rivers and streams is in this cycle. With the help of thousands of observations, the researchers could show that rivers and streams emit methane at a similar rate to lakes globally. Particularly clear results were seen in the northern regions.</p><p>&ldquo;We expected to find the highest emissions at the tropics, where it is warm, because the biological production of methane is highly sensitive to temperature. Instead, we found that emissions are also elevated in boreal and tundra biomes, despite low temperatures, likely because northern streams and rivers are often connected to peatlands and wetlands that are powerful methane sources,&rdquo; explained Gerard Rocher-Ros when the study was published.</p><p>Where human activity is particularly significant, such as in canals, ditched streams, and rivers downstream of wastewater treatment plants, emissions tend to be higher. This insight motivates the many ongoing efforts in river restoration for the sake of biodiversity to continue since these measures may also have positive effects on emissions.</p><p>&ldquo;In addition to improving freshwater quality and protecting the sensitive biosphere, restoration can also reduce the climate impact by lowering methane emissions," says Gerard Rocher-Ros.<br>&nbsp;<br>The three final winners will be crowned at the Villars Symposium in Switzerland on June 26.</p>/en/news/finalist-for-prestigious-climate-research-prize_11929940//en/news/unique-field-study-on-fire-impacted-forests_11928495/During the unusually dry year of 2018, Sweden was hit by numerous forest fires. A research team from Umeå University and Lund University in Sweden has investigated how climate change affects recently burnt boreal forests and their ability to absorb carbon dioxide.Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:39:24 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The team during field work in northern Sweden.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Geerte F&auml;lthammar-de Jong</span></div></div><p>The boreal forests form a single biome that spans the entire Northern Hemisphere. These forests play a key role in the global climate system by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Increasing forest fires, in the wake of climate change, threaten to undermine this ecosystem service.</p><p>In the aftermath of the summer 2018 forest fires in Sweden, a team of researchers began the most extensive field campaign ever performed in boreal forests to study how the fires affected 50 forests spread across the country.</p><p>&ldquo;Many studies on wildfires have focused on just one fire, often an unusually severe one. So the approach taken potentially gives a better overview of the natural range in fire impacts in boreal forests,&rdquo; says Professor Daniel Metcalfe, Ume&aring; University, who supervised the doctoral project.</p><p>The researchers found that climate change may reduce the ability of burnt forests to absorb carbon after a fire.</p><p>&ldquo;Many of the old trees remain, but some of their important functions appear to be weakened,&rdquo; explains Johan Eckdahl, a physical geographer at Lund University.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/54f0dad77d6746619d4ad39f0bd46321/picture_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>After a forest fire, root systems are weakened, and trees risk falling.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Julia Iwan</span></div></div><p>The study shows that regrowth after a fire is influenced by the climate-sensitive partnership between plants and soil microbes. As the climate changes, the carbon storing function of this interaction is weakened because of a mismatch between the adaptive capacities of plants and microbes. Namely, the current northward migration of fast-growing, warmth-adapted plant species might not pace increasing rates of microbial decomposition under escalating growing season temperatures.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;During global warming, plant species migration is a necessary process to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services. If it does not keep pace with climate change, the ability of Sweden&rsquo;s boreal forests to function as effective carbon sinks will be compromised,&rdquo; says Johan Eckdahl.</p><p>The boreal region, also known as the taiga, serves as an immense global carbon reservoir. Research shows that the boreal region may experience greatly reduced carbon storage capacity in the coming century due to climate change and increased wildfire activity, reducing its traditional role as an absorber of greenhouse gases. A better understanding of the response of boreal forests to external influences is essential in predicting their resilience to climate change and the increased frequency of forest fires.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="21f2301c-4703-4cfe-b7b1-92c8266f2b19" data-contentname="About the scientific article">{}</div>/en/news/unique-field-study-on-fire-impacted-forests_11928495//en/news/understanding-climate-warming-impacts-on-carbon-release-from-the-tundra_11926966/The warming climate shifts the dynamics of tundra environments and makes them release trapped carbon, according to a new study published in Nature. These changes could transform tundras from carbon sinks into a carbon source, exacerbating the effects of climate change.Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:15:06 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Open-top chambers (OTCs) in Latnjajaure, Sweden provide a controlled environment to study simulated warming of the tundra ecosystem.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sybryn Maes</span></div></div><p>A team of over 70 scientists from different countries used so called open-top chambers (OTCs) to experimentally simulate the effects of warming on 28 tundra sites around the world. OTCs basically serve as mini-greenhouses, blocking wind and trapping heat to create local warming.</p><p class="quote-center">We found a remarkable increase &ndash; nearly four times greater than previously estimated</p><p>The warming experiments led to a 1.4 degrees Celsius increase in air temperature and a 0.4 degrees increase in soil temperature, along with a 1.6 percent drop in soil moisture. These changes boosted ecosystem respiration by 30 percent during the growing season, causing more carbon to be released because of increased metabolic activity in soil and plants. The changes persisted for at least 25 years after the start of the experimental warming &ndash; which earlier studies hadn&rsquo;t revealed.</p><p>&ldquo;We knew from earlier studies that we were likely to find an increase in respiration with warming, but we found a remarkable increase &ndash; nearly four times greater than previously estimated, though it varied with time and location,&rdquo; says Sybryn Maes of Ume&aring; University, the study&rsquo;s lead author.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Creating better climate models</h2><p>The increase in ecosystem respiration also varied with local soil conditions, such as nitrogen and pH levels. This means that differences in soil conditions and other factors lead to geographic differences in the response &ndash; some regions will see more carbon release than others. Understanding the links between soil conditions and respiration in response to warming is important for creating better climate models.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>An OTC in Kilpisj&auml;rvi, Finland, used in warming experiments to understand how tundras will respond to our changing climate.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anne Tolvanen</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Our work represents the first assessment of ecosystem respiration response to experimental warming across such a broad environmental gradient in the tundra, incorporating a comprehensive set of environmental drivers,&rdquo; says Associate Professor Ellen Dorrepaal of Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Some areas more sensitive to warming</h2><p>The study also offers a broader perspective on Arctic and alpine regions by predicting increases in respiration across the whole tundra area together with more detailed information about variation in the sensitivity of the response.</p><p>&ldquo;We see that some areas, particularly parts of Siberia and Canada, exhibit greater sensitivity to warming,&rdquo; says Professor Matti Kummu of Aalto University. &ldquo;We anticipate an increase in respiration across the whole Arctic and alpine tundra, but more in situ data, particularly on the local soil conditions, is key to addressing the outstanding uncertainties and refining our predictions.&rdquo;</p><p>Understanding how ecosystems shift in response to climate change and how these changes feed back into the climate is vital to get an accurate picture of how our world will change. These findings serve as an important baseline for improved climate models, but the researchers plan to refine them further by analyzing how the experimental sites change over time and expand the experiment&rsquo;s scope to include new sites.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f81a0d08-e9b7-47f5-80f6-8da92d8cb395" data-contentname="">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="04f180c1-105d-43a8-80cb-7286e43528a5" data-contentname="">{}</div>/en/news/understanding-climate-warming-impacts-on-carbon-release-from-the-tundra_11926966//en/news/keith-larson-awarded-the-iwan-bolin-prize_11927033/The Stockholm Workers' Educational Association's Iwan Bolin Prize for 2024 is awarded to Keith Larson, PhD in evolutionary ecology and director of the Arctic Center at Umeå University, for his long-term work communicating how climate change impacts the Arctic and its communities.Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:53:58 +0200<p>Keith Larson is an experienced science communicator who expertly conveys knowledge, both his own and that of others, to a broad audience ranging from curious high school students to seasoned global leaders. With a passion for nature in general and the Arctic in particular, Keith contributes not only to educating but also to raising awareness of how global climate changes shape our world and humanity's future at both structural and individual levels.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/96c5b2d87eec40f28f6948f371aab6e9/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/96c5b2d87eec40f28f6948f371aab6e9/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/96c5b2d87eec40f28f6948f371aab6e9/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/96c5b2d87eec40f28f6948f371aab6e9/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/96c5b2d87eec40f28f6948f371aab6e9/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/96c5b2d87eec40f28f6948f371aab6e9/larsson_keith_8437_180110_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre, Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;For someone who believes in communication as a tool to understand, change, and improve the world, it is a great recognition to be honoured with the Iwan Bolin Prize. And to be placed in a context with recognised skilled communicators both within and outside academia, all of whom have focused on knowledge, is something I am humbled by&rdquo;, comments Keith Larson on the award.</p><p>Keith Larson is recognised for his innovative work with the nature of Arctic regions and their connection to climate change. His efforts have not only promoted scientific understanding but also improved science communication, having a significant impact both within and beyond Sweden's borders. Among his projects, the development of a research-based educational program for high school students visiting the Climate Impact Research Centre (CIRC) and the research station in Abisko stands out as a key contribution.</p><p>Internationally, Larson's influence is far-reaching. Numerous lectures, many of them recurring, and significant involvement in designing programs about Arctic climate changes at art and design schools worldwide underline his commitment to education and outreach. For example, he wrote a chapter in Greta Thunberg's The Climate Book and in BBC Earth's Frozen Planet II, led by Sir David Attenborough, where his research on plant phenology and the role of bumblebees as pollinators was highlighted.</p><p>For over a decade, Keith Larson has been a visionary leader within the Abisko scientific community. Among other things, he is the architect behind the groundbreaking citizen science project "Abisko Fingerprints of Change" that builds on public engagement to document changing biodiversity patterns. The project uses the iNaturalist app to track blooming plants and their pollinators and has so far gathered over 10,500 observations.</p>/en/news/keith-larson-awarded-the-iwan-bolin-prize_11927033//en/news/icelab-opens-project-call-for-shared-postdoctoral-fellows_11923125/IceLab invites multidisciplinary research teams to propose projects for a shared postdoctoral fellow, funded by Kempestiftelserna. Project proposals can now be submitted, until May 27th. An information session is available on April 29th at 14.15 in KBC Glasburen to hear more about the program and meet potential collaborators. Wed, 10 Apr 2024 14:52:13 +0200<p>Teams of two or more researchers are invited to submit novel multidisciplinary project proposals in this funding call, to help launch projects that benefit from collaboration across disciplines and methodologies. Three projects will access funding for a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship. These shared postdoctoral fellows, supervised by multidisciplinary teams of researchers spanning departments at Ume&aring; University or the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, enable new collaborations to grow from an idea into tangible new research.</p><p>The Integrated Science Lab (IceLab) supports the successful project teams along their multidisciplinary journey by hosting the selected postdoctoral fellows in IceLab's interdisciplinary research hub, participating in all activities and connecting with IceLab researchers daily. IceLab members explore the uncharted territory between traditional disciplines, and regularly integrate theoretical, computational and empirical work. In addition, the supervising project team of an IceLab multidisciplinary postdoctoral fellow become IceLab affiliates in turn and, where relevant, become connected to Stress Response Modeling at IceLab, a Swedish research council funded excellence center.&nbsp;</p><h3>Information Meeting and Pitch Event</h3><p>IceLab invites you to join an information meeting on the call on&nbsp;April 29th, in KBC Glasburen or through Zoom. During this meeting the project selection process will be explained, and researchers interested in finding a partner to submit a project proposal with will be offered the opportunity to pitch their idea. Register in advance if you are interested in attending or pitching.</p><p>The deadline to submit project proposals is May 27th.</p><p>More information on the project call, registration for the information meeting and link to the <a href="https://icelab.se/opportunities/icelab-multidisciplinary-postdoctoral-fellowship-project-call/">application portal here</a>.</p><p class="foldable">Three stage selection process</p><p>Multidisciplinary projects and postdoctoral candidates are selected in a multi-phase process.&nbsp;</p><p>In the first stage researcher teams submit their proposed postdoctoral projects. An external review committee will evaluate the project proposals and recommend up to six projects to proceed to the next stage.&nbsp;</p><p>In&nbsp;the second stage a joint call for postdoctoral candidates that includes all six projects will be published, in June. The goal is&nbsp;to identify top postdoctoral candidates who match the required expertise of each project. Researchers involved in the top-ranked projects select the best candidate for their project.&nbsp;</p><p>In&nbsp;the final stage,&nbsp;the shortlisted project teams submit their top candidates to an internal review&nbsp;committee of IceLab members and affiliates. The internal review committee will rank the project and postdoctoral fellowship candidate pairings and offer fellowships to the top three.</p><p class="foldable">The 2023 multidisciplinary postdoctoral projects</p><p>These were the projects and postdoctoral fellows selected in 2023. The three fellows have joined IceLab and work has begun on the projects.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><em>Deciphering infection-related epigenetic dynamics to explain the variability of human susceptibility to infections with respiratory pathogens.</em>&nbsp;Guilherme Barros, with Martin Rosvall, Department of Physics, Johan Normark, Department of Clinical Microbiology, and Anna-Smed S&ouml;rensen, Department of Medicine Solna (Karolinska Institute)</li><li><em>Resolving microbial genomes in complex communities at the single-cell level.</em> Jyoti Verma, with Laura Carroll, Department of Clinical Microbiology, MIMS, Johan Henriksson, Department of Molecular Biology, MIMS and Nicklas Strömberg, Department of Odontology.</li><li><em>Modelling ecological sustainability and economic viability of multitrophic farming for Nordic latitudes</em>. Yun-Ting Jang with Olivier Keech, Department of Plant Physiology, UPSC, Sebastian Diehl, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, and Jonas Westin, Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><div class="foldableEnd">&nbsp;</div>/en/news/icelab-opens-project-call-for-shared-postdoctoral-fellows_11923125//en/news/par-bystrom-new-director-of-climate-impacts-research-centre_11922554/Since February this year, fish researcher Pär Byström has been at the helm of one of the world's leading centres for research on climate impacts in the Arctic. “A crucial role for us researchers, besides conducting high-quality research, is to inform about the future consequences of climate change,” he says.Wed, 10 Apr 2024 10:55:54 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/77c566583b434911aff7f42edaa22211/bystrom_par_1_240405_slb3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/77c566583b434911aff7f42edaa22211/bystrom_par_1_240405_slb3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/77c566583b434911aff7f42edaa22211/bystrom_par_1_240405_slb3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/77c566583b434911aff7f42edaa22211/bystrom_par_1_240405_slb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/77c566583b434911aff7f42edaa22211/bystrom_par_1_240405_slb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/77c566583b434911aff7f42edaa22211/bystrom_par_1_240405_slb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>P&auml;r Bystr&ouml;m, Associate professor at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science and new Director of CIRC.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sara-Lena Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m</span></div></div><p>Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC) is based at the Abisko Scientific Research Station, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The centre&rsquo;s main focus is the impacts of climate changes on terrestrial and aquatic life. It is run by Ume&aring; University and has around 40 affiliated researchers.</p><p>P&auml;r Bystr&ouml;m's own research focuses on how climate factors, such as temperature and light conditions, along with depth conditions in the lake and access to spawning streams, affect fish populations in the mountains.</p><p>&ldquo;Personally, I think the aquatic ecological research aspect is somewhat lacking at CIRC. I would like to develop that area. The fish species that can be studied there are extremely sensitive to climate change and important for ecosystem function in these aquatic environments. And if you want to engage people in research issues, especially locally, it's clear that fishing is very interesting to those living there,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Involved from the beginning</h2><p>P&auml;r Bystr&ouml;m, originally from Kiruna, has been part of CIRC, as a researcher, since the early 2000s when the center was brand new. When former director Jan Karlsson recently moved on to become Assistant Head of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Bystr&ouml;m was asked to take on the 25 percent role &ndash; a mission he looks forward to.</p><p>Initially, he will be on site in Abisko at least two to three days a month to get to know the station and build relationships with those working there. A large part of the assignment is administrative, but there is also room to influence the direction of the centre.</p><p>&ldquo;I want to manage while also developing and improving the centre, and hope that more researchers see the possibilities of CIRC and are motivated to research there. It's important that logistics work and that infrastructures are available to attract researchers,&rdquo; says P&auml;r Bystr&ouml;m.</p><p>The climate effects in the Arctic are more apparent than in many other parts of the world, which makes the unique research at CIRC globally valuable.</p><h3>What role does CIRC play in global climate research?</h3><p>&ldquo;Climate research today is a lot about the estimation of carbon dioxide and methane emissions from various ecosystems, and this is something that those working at CIRC excel at. They have a lot of knowledge about how different ecosystems contribute to climate impact, now and in the future."</p><p>The research at CIRC is also crucial for understanding how habitats in northern Sweden change.</p><p>&ldquo;Our results will become increasingly important for municipalities in northern systems if they are to grow in a sustainable way. When you grow, it impacts the surrounding environment and adds another stress factor on top of climate changes,&rdquo; says P&auml;r Bystr&ouml;m.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">The effect of shorter winters</h2><p>A relatively new research area at CIRC is what happens to plants in winter, under the snow cover. The changes in winter conditions is an area that P&auml;r Bystr&ouml;m would like to expand and complement with studies in aquatic environments. Especially how the processes are affected by shorter winters and longer summers.</p><p>&ldquo;Abisko is a fantastic place for this kind of study this since there is a great variation in the snow cover within a limited geographical area. However, we can try to stimulate certain directions, but in the end, it's the individual researchers and the external grants they receive that largely determine which Arctic research is conducted and supported by CIRC's resources,&rdquo; says P&auml;r Bystr&ouml;m.</p><p><a href="https://www.arcticcirc.net/">Read more on CIRC's webpage</a></p>/en/news/par-bystrom-new-director-of-climate-impacts-research-centre_11922554//en/news/hitchhikers-on-plastic-particles_11920235/Do you want to learn more about how human activity has changed the Earth and what it means for the future? Then Global Change Science, a new Master's level course at Umeå University, is for you. The course, which starts in autumn 2024, is led by David Wardle, one of the world's leading researchers in plant ecology and ecosystem processes.Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:00:09 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The course is coordinated by professor David Wardle, internationally renowned ecologist.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>A, Alexandra Granath</span></div></div><p>Every day, up to 96 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, 24 square kilometres of Amazon rainforest are cut down, and at least seven species become extinct - all due to human impact. In recent decades, human activity has transformed our planet and many scientists believe that the Earth has entered a new era called the Anthropocene, the age of h[DW1]&nbsp;uman impact on the globe.</p><p>The Global Change Science course is completely new and gives you a broad and deep knowledge of the various ways in which humans are affecting the Earth. The course covers key concepts and theories that underpin the science of global change in the Earth system.</p><p>"Of all the human causes of global change, climate change has received the most attention so far, but there are other major causes as well, such as intensification of land use, the spread of invasive species and the loss of species that maintain ecosystem function" says Professor David Wardle, lead instructor of the course.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="461dfa10-9eea-4985-a66c-2fbe3bc13b3e" data-contentname="Film with David Wardle">{}</div><p>During the course you will learn how human emissions of greenhouse gases, deforestation of rainforests, the spread of invasive species and loss of biodiversity have changed the climate, atmosphere, land and water. You will also discuss what these changes mean for human well-being.</p><p>The course consists of lectures and discussions. It also includes a project work where you will write a literature review and make an oral presentation on a current fast-moving topic in the field of global change.</p><p>The course coordinator is Professor David Wardle, rated as one of the world's most successful ecologists with expertise in plant ecology and ecosystem processes. Other lecturers on the course are Ylva Sj&ouml;berg, who researches hydrology in cold regions, and Heidi Burdett, whose research focuses on coastal marine ecosystems.</p><p>The course is open to all students with a Bachelor's degree in biology, earth sciences, environmental sciences or equivalent. The course is 15 credits and is taught in English. Registration for the course is open until 15 April 2024.</p><p><a title="Read more about the course in the course syllabus" href="~/link/1fa75b9664c54e32974002844e39602d.aspx">Read more about the course in the course syllabus</a><br><br>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/new-course-on-humanitys-impact-on-the-planet_11905306//en/news/new-faculty-for-stress-response-modeling-excellence-center-_11906950/Two faculty positions are now open for application within the excellence center “Stress Response Modeling at IceLab”. IceLab seeks candidates who combine quantitative and computational literacy with domain-specific knowledge in plant physiology or ecology and environmental sciences. Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:49:31 +0100<p>The interdisciplinary research environment IceLab (Integrated Science Lab) was successful in the recent Swedish Research Council's excellence initiative and is now establishing a new Center for Modeling Adaptive Mechanisms in Living Systems under Stress. The center, which also uses the short name Stress Response Modeling at IceLab, is headed by Martin Rosvall together with &Aring;ke Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m, Sebastian Diehl, Maria F&auml;llman, &Aring;sa Strand, Eric Libby, Ludvig Lizana and Kemal Avican. These new faculty recruitments will join the new excellence center and have a key role in carrying forward research under the center's theme, as well as participating in the establishment of a graduate research school and other activities connected to modeling stress responses in living systems.&nbsp;</p><p>Martin Rosvall outlines the research gaps the current recruitment addresses by asking,"How do plants exposed to drought or other stressors handle it? When an ecological system faces anthropogenic pressures such as climate change, habitat degradation or pollution, how does it respond? We seek to strengthen the competencies within IceLab to help uncover common mechanisms underlying these responses, with new faculty who look beyond plant biology or ecology and can integrate their expertise within IceLab, where experiments, network models and process-based dynamic models all feed the research." &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br>The two faculty positions are at different career stages and connected to other departments and research centers at the university, in addition to IceLab. The first position is a tenure-track assistant professorship within the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences that broadly seeks researchers with experience of conducting ecological research including computational methods. The candidate will contribute to teaching in topics such as statistics, dynamical modeling or network approaches at the department.&nbsp;</p><p class="quote-left">The center offers a platform for the integration of empirical knowledge with system-oriented modeling.</p><p><br>Sebastian Diehl expands on the nature of this recruitment: &ldquo;Many ecosystems are under stress from human-induced environmental changes. Addressing the consequences of these changes requires a dynamical systems perspective, because complex feedback processes make it impossible to predict ecosystem responses based on reasoning along simple, linear cause-effect chains. The center offers a platform for the integration of empirical knowledge with system-oriented modeling. The new position will strengthen that expertise at our department and increase interactions with the stimulating environment at IceLab.&rdquo; &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>The second faculty position is for an associate professor at the Department of Plant Physiology and Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre (UPSC). &nbsp;This new associate professor will lead a research group in modeling plant stress responses and will generate synergies between IceLab and UPSC, in addition to furthering the research and activities of the new IceLab excellence center.</p><p class="quote-right">We see great opportunities here for novel and innovative systems biology projects where we can combine our expertise in plant biology at UPSC with mathematical modeling.&nbsp;</p><p>&Aring;sa Strand further expands on the benefits of this recruitment: "We see great opportunities here for novel and innovative systems biology projects where we can combine our expertise in plant biology at UPSC with mathematical modeling to describe plant development and growth as dynamic processes responding to the environment. Biophysical and dynamical modeling has a natural connection to the UPSC research environment, and we envision modeling activities both related to bioinformatics as well as more direct modeling of dynamical processes in cellular environments. These recruitments and the Center of Excellence in general will generate an important addition in competence and constitute a new and essential infrastructure for UPSC together with IceLab."&nbsp;</p><p class="quote-left">We hope that researchers from different disciplines will inspire each other to identify commonalities (and differences!) in the regulation of stress responses in different types of biological systems.</p><p><br>What sets these recruitments apart from other faculty recruitments? According to Sebastian Diehl, &ldquo;One of the innovative strengths of the new center is that it connects scientists working across multiple levels of organization &ndash; from cells to ecosystems. We hope that researchers from different disciplines will inspire each other to identify commonalities (and differences!) in the regulation of stress responses in different types of biological systems.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p><p>&Aring;sa Strand highlights an additional benefit to Ume&aring; University more generally by adding, "We anticipate that this approach to research, but also the resources and knowledge base developed within this Center of Excellence will provide positive stimulus to many different research environments at Ume&aring; University."&nbsp;</p><p>Both faculty positions offer start-up packages and interesting opportunities to join excellent and collaborative research environments within Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/new-faculty-for-stress-response-modeling-excellence-center-_11906950//en/news/cemal-erdem-and-elin-chorell-seek-collaborators-at-a-lunch-pitch_11903357/At the February 28th IceLab Lunch Pitch, Cemal Erdem introduced his use of machine learning and mechanistic modeling in cancer and disease research, while Elin Chorell sought collaborators to help with the next stages of her research on sphingolipids and their effect on metabolic diseases.Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:41:21 +0100<h3>Make computational models great again</h3><p><em>Pitch by Cemal Erdem, Assistant professor, Department of Medical Biosciences</em><br>&nbsp;<br>Development of a single cancer drug, on average, costs more than half a billion US dollars and takes years to go into the market. However, as Cemal explained in his pitch, large-scale computational models can help prioritize lead candidates and stratify potentially responsive patients, and these are currently underutilized. Computational models are also critical to re-purpose available drugs, reveal new mechanisms to target, and design better clinical regimens. For these models to become useful and predictive, they need to be trained on experimental and clinical data. One thing that the famous ChatGPT has shown is that machine learning models can become quite successful if they are trained with enough data. in Cemal&rsquo;s pitch, he showed snippets of computational models that can be built on in his lab.<br>&nbsp;<br>Cemal ended his pitch with a request for any and all datasets the audience has or knows about. He hopes that, working with others, machine learning and mechanistic models with patient data can be combined to create clinically predictive computational models for cancer and other diseases.<br><br></p><h3><br>The sphinx of our metabolism&nbsp;</h3><p><em>Pitch by Elin Chorell, Assistant professor, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine</em></p><p><br>The global rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes poses a significant health risk, accompanied by comorbidities like cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Recent findings challenge the notion of type 2 diabetes as a lifelong condition, revealing that a reduction of organ fat can induce disease remission meaning that lipid mechanisms are of key importance to both disease progression and remission. While diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication, the underlying mechanism remains unclear, hindering efficient risk prediction and treatment.</p><p>Elin Chorell&rsquo;s expertise lies in mass spectrometry-based lipidomics screening, focusing on insulin signaling tissues, disease progression, and remission. Her research group explores obesity-related states, studying the impact of exercise and diet through human studies, mouse models, and cell experiments. Their focus is on sphingolipids, a complex class of lipids involved in a range of cellular processes. Her research indicates that sphingolipid metabolism, specifically in pancreatic islets and skeletal muscle, are detrimental for the insulin signaling machinery. Sphingolipid metabolism, says Elin, like its namesake &lsquo;the Sphinx&rsquo;, remains an enigma due to their diverse chemical composition and therefore a challenge to measure. Elin is focused on unraveling the chemical composition of the bioactive lipids of the sphingolipid metabolism in her quest to understand obesity-associated disease. She is currently seeking to connect altered tissue metabolism with circulating markers. Identifying important markers could help uncover therapeutic targets for risk assessment and monitoring.</p><p>In order to achieve this goal she is seeking collaborators experienced in sorting cell populations or tissue or single cell bioimaging to further unravel the spatial orientation of the bioactive sphingolipid derivatives her group has identified in their model systems.</p>/en/news/cemal-erdem-and-elin-chorell-seek-collaborators-at-a-lunch-pitch_11903357//en/news/picturesque-but-not-pristine-mining-impacted-lakes-in-northern-sweden_11896433/As an important part of her research project, Doctoral student Camila Urrea went on scouting trips to several Northern lakes to both examine their accessibility and take samples of how nearby mining has impacted the lakes. The fieldwork was made possible by funding from Arctic Centre at Umeå University.Wed, 03 Apr 2024 13:46:42 +0200<div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="0b6dae57-55b7-41e7-96c8-593a51559f2a" data-contentname="PIC_Ruttjejaure">{}</div><p>Camila Urrea is a Doctoral student at both the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science and the Arctic Graduate School. With approved funding from Arctic Centre, she was able to head out on several field trips which were important for her research.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Tell us more about the field trips</h2><p>Urrea explains that during the year 2023, she has travelled to several lake sites in the inland of V&auml;sterbotten to scout them and take samples.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="694d1b7d-8719-4f4b-984c-d5b855f06dce" data-contentname="PIC_Boots">{}</div><p>&ndash;&nbsp;Since my PhD project aims to untangle different facets of how metal mining impacts Northern Swedish lakes, fieldwork is critical! I spent weeks on identifying relevant closed, abandoned, active, and in-development mine sites that are hydrologically connected to vulnerable lakes. From this, I made a long list of lakes in Northern Sweden that I may want to sample. With this list, two of my supervisors, &Aring;sa Berglund and Christian Bigler, and I set off to scout the lakes, Urrea shares.</p><p>She continues to explain how difficult these kinds of field trips can be when it comes to accessibility:</p><p>&ndash;&nbsp;Even with aerial imaging and digital maps, it is difficult to gauge how accessible these sites would be. For example, roads might be snowed in or closed off by the mining industry. So, a big part of the field trips was to also scout the accessibility of these lake sites. After two road trips, a few kilometers skied in the winter, and some boat trips in the autumn, we were able to successfully sample multiple lakes, and visually assess the accessibility of other sites that we may decide to return to next year, Urrea says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">What happens now, after the field trips?</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f7dff037-fd00-40e7-88b4-0bdef2931d5d" data-contentname="PIC_Adak Mine">{}</div><p>&ndash; The following steps include running analyses on the collected samples to determine which sites are metal-contaminated and to what degree they are contaminated. Early preliminary results have shown that the lake Ruttjejaure in Adak, Sweden, has been severely impacted by the Adak mine of 1932&ndash;1977. The lake sediment is exceedingly high in arsenic, copper and zinc.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">What did these field trips mean for you as a researcher?</h2><p>&ndash;&nbsp;Apart from the opportunity to collect samples critical in materializing the initial stages of my research, this experience gave me a sense of pride for the importance of my research. After driving past and visiting mine sites of different scales that are both active and abandoned, I gained a deeper understanding of how the innerworkings of these sites truly impact not only the local environment, but the people in the area as well. During our sampling, we ran into a few locals and it was clear that they were worried about high metal (e.g., arsenic) and nutrient content in their nearby lakes, Urrea explains.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">What significance did the field trips have for the Arctic?</h2><p>Urrea deems that it is critical to understand how these lakes are being impacted by the mining industry.</p><p>&ndash;&nbsp;As society moves towards the green transition and a post-carbon society, the green industry has seen a rapid increase in demand for minerals. The northern Swedish bedrock is particularly rich in the minerals needed to fuel this energy. This coupled with climate change and the increased availability of mineable land for a longer period, the Swedish Arctic and subarctic are particularly vulnerable to metal mining exploitation and parallel environmental consequences. Currently, there are hundreds of active, closed, and abandoned mines around Northern Sweden, and these vulnerable ecosystems recover more slowly from disturbances, she develops.</p><p>She concludes with what she hopes to contribute with:</p><p>&ndash; Hopefully, our overall findings will contribute to the development of reliable and tailored environmental guidelines that promote sustainable mining.</p>/en/news/picturesque-but-not-pristine-mining-impacted-lakes-in-northern-sweden_11896433//en/news/clues-from-the-ice-age-can-help-us-restore-swedish-streams_11888119/Human intervention has destroyed critical habitats for salmon and trout in Swedish streams. Researchers at Umeå University have discovered crucial clues to help restore the streams to their natural state. "To understand the processes that shape them, we need to think more about how glaciers function, rather than streams,” says Lina Polvi Sjöberg. Tue, 06 Feb 2024 08:15:00 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Aerial view of an unmodified boulder-bed stream showing the density of boulders and the diverse habitats these create.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Richard Mason and Jens Andersson</span></div></div><p>Swedish streams are home to a wide range of animals, including salmon, trout and the threatened freshwater pearl mussel. For over a century, Swedish streams also provided a convenient way to transport logs from inland forests to coastal sawmills. To facilitate transport, streams were straightened and boulders dynamited, which destroyed critical habitat for salmon and trout.</p><p>Restoring these streams has been difficult because we know little about how they looked and functioned before human modification. Researchers at Ume&aring; University have now found that glacial processes during the ice age and deglaciation 10,000 years ago control how these streams look and function today.</p><p>&ldquo;These results change how we think about stream restoration in large parts of the Nordic region, since now we need to think more how about glaciers function rather than streams,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg, Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0"><strong>Different from other streams</strong></h2><p>For months the researchers toured northern Sweden searching for natural so-called boulder-bed streams. The study indicates that they function very differently to most rivers worldwide.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>A boulder jam forms a large pool which is important habitat for fish.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Richard Mason</span></div></div><p>Most streams can change their width, depth, slope and roughness in response to water flow. This happens in predictable patterns, which underpin the science of stream restoration. However, the researchers found that Sweden's boulder-bed streams don&rsquo;t show most of these patterns. In fact, they have remained relatively unchanged since the end of glaciation.</p><p>&ldquo;The Swedish landscape is different due to the relatively recent influence of glaciers. This means that the ways in which streams are managed in other parts of the world, don&rsquo;t always apply here,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Requires detective work</h2><p>The findings demonstrate that we need to change how we restore these streams, to mimic glacial legacies. This involves adding high densities of large boulders, scattered across the stream and removing bank stabilisation to allow streams to widen. Richard Mason, the postdoctoral researcher who led the field research explains:</p><p>&ldquo;Since every stream is different, we need to become detectives to determine what each one would have looked like before human modification. For example, we found that by measuring boulders on land next to these streams, we could estimate the number of boulders that would have existed in the streams.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Direct impact on fish populations</h2><p>Restoring streams back to their natural condition will help fish populations directly, by providing better habitat and food sources and helping fish to adapt to climate change.</p><p>&ldquo;In places where we can restore natural processes, the streams themselves can often take over management for us and will be better able to look after themselves in an uncertain future,&rdquo; says Richard Mason.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Boulders affect the flow of water and sediment leading to more diverse habitats.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Richard Mason and Jens Andersson</span></div></div>/en/news/clues-from-the-ice-age-can-help-us-restore-swedish-streams_11888119//en/news/fun-career-and-rights--for-postdocs-by-postdocs_11868239/As many as 220 postdocs at Umeå University and SLU are connected to Umeå Postdoc Society, UPS. President Maximiliano Estravis Barcala and vice-president Madhusree Mitra are halfway through their “tenure” and have the important task to further improve the postdoc experience in Umeå.Thu, 21 Dec 2023 09:25:08 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2020_231003_mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2020_231003_mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2020_231003_mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2020_231003_mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2020_231003_mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2020_231003_mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Vice-president Madhusree Mitra and president Maximiliano Estravis Barcala of Ume&aring; Postdoc Society</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Being president carries significant responsibility, but it is truly rewarding when postdocs express gratitude, spread positive word of mouth, and attract new members after events. I personally struggle with delegating and trying to have everything under control at the same time. Fortunately, I am surrounded by excellent colleagues who are helpful and understanding,&rdquo; says Maxi, postdoc at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU.</p><p>Ume&aring; Postdoc Society, UPS, is a network of postdocs in Ume&aring;. Its purpose is to create an open and inclusive network environment, regardless of the postdoc&rsquo;s length of stay or employment situation (contract or stipend holder). It aims to bring about more collaborating opportunities, provide a platform for raising awareness of postdoc rights, career development opportunities, and a forum for voicing disquiet. Furthermore, it is a checkpoint to meet new friends and feel welcome in Ume&aring;.</p><p>&ldquo;I feel both privileged and stressed in the UPS leadership, receiving appreciation in feedback is always a relief. But it is not all on us. As the motto of UPS implies &lsquo;for postdocs, by postdocs&rsquo;, indeed this is a big responsibility for <em>all</em> UPS members to improve the overall postdoc experience here in Ume&aring;,&rdquo; says Madhusree, postdoc at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Started during the pandemic</h2><p>UPS was created in 2020 as a way for postdocs to connect and support each other in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first postdoc association of Northern Sweden.</p><p>&ldquo;When UPS started, several months were spent in bureaucratic tasks writing the bylaws, constituting an advisory board, and setting up a website and mailing list. Also, the first active members were recruited. Thanks to the hard work of that 'first generation', we can now focus on organizing events for an established and solid community of postdocs,&rdquo; says Maxi.</p><p>He describes that the organization of career development events, particularly the big events, works very well. This year UPS has organised a Postdoc Day in February, a Postdoc Retreat in September, and most recently a Young Investigators Symposium (co-organized with UCMR). Each of these events had between 50 and 100 participants.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2087_231003_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2087_231003_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2087_231003_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2087_231003_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2087_231003_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/upsc_2087_231003_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Young Investigator Symposium arranged by UPS in October was a success</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Aims to widen the community</h2><p>The previous leadership strived to gain a campus wide presence in Ume&aring;. It is a task that now continues and has high priority. The society is well-known in centres like KBC, UCMR and departments at the Faculty of medicine and the Faculty of science and technology, but very few postdocs represent the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences.</p><p>&ldquo;We want to change this and work to extend our communication so that more postdocs from all fields know about our events and to recruit active members in as many departments at Ume&aring; University and SLU as possible,&rdquo; says Maxi.</p><p>Another development area is to try to improve the awareness in the society about postdoc rights, working conditions and mental health related issues.</p><p>&ldquo;We aim to become more aware of what is going on, what actions are needed and more importantly have a voice in these matters. I know that in our short tenure of one year most probably we cannot achieve all we plan, but we will take a sincere approach to make these attainable in the future,&rdquo; says Madhusree.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/discussions_on_postdoc_problems_retreat_september_2023_photo_madhu2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/discussions_on_postdoc_problems_retreat_september_2023_photo_madhu2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/discussions_on_postdoc_problems_retreat_september_2023_photo_madhu2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/discussions_on_postdoc_problems_retreat_september_2023_photo_madhu2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/discussions_on_postdoc_problems_retreat_september_2023_photo_madhu2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/discussions_on_postdoc_problems_retreat_september_2023_photo_madhu2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Discussion on postdoc problems at the Retreat in September</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span> Madhusree Mitra</span></div></div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Step into the unknown</h2><p>Being a postdoctoral researcher is a transient phase between the PhD degree and a permanent career path, therefore embarking on a postdoc journey can be both exciting and challenging. Most postdocs who arrive in Ume&aring; are from foreign countries, and many come on their own, without any support network of colleagues, family, or friends. The situation can be full of struggle, both personal and work-related.</p><p>&ldquo;For them, UPS can work both as a source of information on what to do before and after arriving in Sweden, and as a way to meet like-minded people and socializing,&rdquo; says Maxi.</p><p>Maxi and Madhusree emphasize that UPS is a place where postdocs are having lots of fun.</p><p>&ldquo;We organize many social events, like board game nights, pub nights, and hikes out in nature. It really feels like a friends&rsquo; gathering, which is valuable when you are new in Ume&aring; and not knowing anyone,&rdquo; says Maxi.</p><p>&ldquo;Far away from home in a place where it is dark and cold most of the time, UPS has also helped me to meet new people and friends, explore Swedish nature, and learn new things. I am enjoying every bit of it and hope that our members do too,&rdquo; says Madhusree.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/board_game_night_at_kbc_atrium_-_january_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/board_game_night_at_kbc_atrium_-_january_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/board_game_night_at_kbc_atrium_-_january_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/board_game_night_at_kbc_atrium_-_january_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/board_game_night_at_kbc_atrium_-_january_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/board_game_night_at_kbc_atrium_-_january_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Board Game Night at KBC atrium</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Maximiliano Estravis Barcala</span></div></div><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/barbecue_at_hamptjarnsberget_after_winter_hiking_-_march_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/barbecue_at_hamptjarnsberget_after_winter_hiking_-_march_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/barbecue_at_hamptjarnsberget_after_winter_hiking_-_march_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/barbecue_at_hamptjarnsberget_after_winter_hiking_-_march_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/barbecue_at_hamptjarnsberget_after_winter_hiking_-_march_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/barbecue_at_hamptjarnsberget_after_winter_hiking_-_march_2023_-_photo_maximiliano_estravis_barcala3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Barbeque at Hamptj&auml;rnsberget in Ume&aring; after hiking</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Maximiliano Estravis Barcala</span></div></div><h2 data-magellan-target="info3">Wanted: passionate members</h2><p>&ldquo;In my opinion, what works less well in UPS is recruiting and maintaining a constant base of active members. We are working hard on that,&rdquo; says Maxi.</p><p>Even though the mailing list reaches around 220 postdocs in Ume&aring;, only around 15 are active members, which forms the important core of the society.</p><p>&ldquo;Therefore, we have started departmental fika crawls and are attending departmental meetings to introduce the roles and responsibilities you can take within UPS. In all our major events, we emphasize the importance of active members, encouraging them to contribute a small amount of time from their busy research lives for a significant impact. We have recently attracted more interest and recruited eight new active members,&rdquo; says Madhusree.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Make a difference</h2><p>Joining UPS enables postdocs to make a difference by contributing ideas for events and enhancing the experience of fellow and future postdocs, fostering a strong sense of team spirit and commitment.</p><p>&ldquo;Also, demonstrating event organization and coordination skills is advantageous for a CV, highly valued by recruiters especially outside academia,&rdquo; says Maxi.</p><p>Madhusree adds: &ldquo;People are always vocal about what should change in a researcher&rsquo;s condition like how to improve work-life balance, the lack of collaboration and information, and so on. By joining UPS one can enact those changes instead of worrying about things.&rdquo;</p><p>Before leaving their posts, Maxi and Madhusree would like to develop a code of conduct &ndash; that is, to establish the ethical standards that the organization expects postdocs and people in leadership positions to follow &ndash; to make sure that all postdocs feel welcome and safe in the context of UPS.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/group_pic_hamtjarnsberget_march_2023_photo_maxi2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/group_pic_hamtjarnsberget_march_2023_photo_maxi2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/group_pic_hamtjarnsberget_march_2023_photo_maxi2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/group_pic_hamtjarnsberget_march_2023_photo_maxi2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/group_pic_hamtjarnsberget_march_2023_photo_maxi2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ca1a9581fd454cd5bcee62d09191dc4f/group_pic_hamtjarnsberget_march_2023_photo_maxi2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Feeling good doing fun stuff together, here at an excursion with Postdoc Society to Hamptj&auml;rnsberget.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Maximiliano Estravis Barcala</span></div></div>/en/news/fun-career-and-rights--for-postdocs-by-postdocs_11868239//en/news/environmental-monitoring-of-bacteria-strengthens-community-preparedness-against-diseases_11859218/The biodiversity of rainforests is threatened by climate change. Researcher Daniel Metcalfe conducts large-scale experiments to predict the consequences – but was ready to shut down when the funds ran out. Now, he has been awarded a major government grant from Formas to continue and expand the work.Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:44:46 +0200<p>&ldquo;I was very happy and surprised,&rdquo; says Daniel Metcalfe about the news that his research project received SEK 14 million from Formas.</p><p>That same morning, he had informed the research coordinator in Peru that they might need to shut down due to financial constraints. Thanks to the grant, they can now build up a world-leading center for tropical research.</p><p>&ldquo;It's important to try to understand and predict the impacts of climate change on a biodiversity hotspot like tropical cloud forests,&rdquo; says Daniel Metcalfe.</p><p><strong>Home to thousands of species</strong></p><p>Daniel Metcalfe is a professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University. One of his research areas is cloud forests in mountainous regions of rainforests, which are home to thousands of animal and plant species specially adapted to the unusual climate there and found nowhere else. The consequences of climate change, combined with deforestation, could be severe, but the speed and precise nature of any impacts have never been directly tested.</p><p>&ldquo;I designed an experiment to try to get an early view of what might happen. I put up a big curtain, about 30 meters high and 40 meters wide. The idea is that the water particles in the low-lying cloud so typical of the region are partly intercepted by the mesh, making the forest behind a bit drier. Then we compare it to a nearby forest that is unmodified.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>Creating a research platform</strong></p><p>The idea for the project started in 2013, and the facility in Peru has been operating for five years. The first results will soon be published. The grant from Formas allows the experiment to continue and also grow with new measurements. Daniel Metcalfe also plans to expand the experiment to other areas in the region with different natural levels of cloud abundance to simulate future scenarios.</p><p>The aim is to create an interdisciplinary research platform where scientists, local communities, and policymakers can share data and infrastructure.</p><p>&ldquo;We work, for example, with a local tree planting conservation agency to assess how sensitive species are to climate change. We plan to use the results from our work to determine which of the native species are particularly threatened, and so should be prioritized for conservation efforts,&rdquo; says Daniel Metcalfe.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f72845b4-df99-431c-8253-90f38becf0f7" data-contentname="About cloud forests">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6990b670-e2e3-4de5-a6be-c4c1605c5456" data-contentname="About Formas">{}</div>/en/news/major-grant-will-put-umea-at-the-forefront-of-tropical-climate-research_11845091//en/news/young-investigator-symposium-achieves-remarkable-success_11841271/A vibrant symposium, organized by and for young investigators at Umeå University on 3 October, drew over 100 enthusiastic participants. The great interest highlights the strong need for meeting platforms focusing specifically on postdocs and PhDs at the university.Wed, 11 Oct 2023 16:08:07 +0200<p>&ldquo;We were all positively surprised by the enormous interest in the symposium! Our goal with the event was to provide a platform for postdocs and doctoral students of different disciplines and at varying stages of their career to showcase their excellent work and to network and discuss with their peers," says Laura Herzog, postdoc in the Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University, active member in the Ume&aring; Postdoc Society and project leader.</p><p>"I believe that specifically focusing on this group also contributed to the inclusive, warm and inspirational atmosphere during the event.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Idea from UCMR</h2><p>The idea of a Young Investigator Symposium was originally pitched by Professor Yaowen Wu, director of UCMR, as a collaborative project between Ume&aring; Postdoc Society and the UCMR Excellence by Choice Postdoctoral Programme in Life Science.</p><p>&ldquo;We agreed that this would not only be a great type of event to bring together the postdoc community in Ume&aring; but also a chance for postdocs to gain valuable project management skills by getting firsthand experience in organizing a large event. Of course, such a big task can be somewhat frightening initially, but we quickly found nine dedicated postdocs to bring this vision to life&rdquo;, says Laura Herzog.</p><p>Ume&aring; Postdoc Society has previously organized social events, such as hiking and board game nights, but also postdoc retreats, a postdoc day as well as dedicated postdoc sessions during the yearly conference KBC Days.</p><p>&ldquo;However, this was the first time we organized a full-day scientific conference of this size. For me personally, it was an absolutely fantastic experience being involved in every aspect of planning and arranging a conference from beginning to end. It was hard work and I think we have all learned a lot in the process,&rdquo; says Laura Herzog.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Alumni share experiences</h2><p>As keynote speakers at the symposium, two Ume&aring; University alumni brought their compelling stories to the forefront, shedding light on the multitude of pathways to research leadership. Karim Rafie has recently embarked on a new chapter in his academic career at Groningen University in the Netherlands, where he has taken the helm of his own research group studying the role of mitochondria during viral infection.</p><p>&ldquo;It is a truly remarkable feeling to become an independent researcher, but it can also be quite demanding in the beginning. There is so much to consider and setting up a lab is quite a big undertaking. At the moment I am still alone in my group, but I am surrounded by amazing colleagues who are helping me along the way and the support I am receiving from my faculty and institute is outstanding, so I am certain that everything will be up and running soon.&rdquo;</p><p>The invitation as a keynote speaker was a significant moment for Karim Rafie, providing an opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and friends. And sharing his career journey with the audience was an experience filled with humbleness and introspection.</p><p>&ldquo;It really reminds me of all the amazing colleagues, friends, opportunities, and research I encountered, but also all the struggles and difficulties PhD students and postdocs have to overcome. I always hope that by sharing the good and the bad moments of my career, younger fellows feel inspired as they are very likely facing similar scenarios. I hope everyone could take some insights from my experiences and that these can help them in their future career, no matter what they choose to do,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Competed for best presentation and best poster</h2><p>One of the objectives of the symposium was to give all young researchers that signed up for the event an opportunity to present their work - representing a wide variety of subjects from forest ecology to infection biology and electrochemistry.</p><p>Although everyone had a chance to showcase their research project with posters during the mingle, time constraints required the planning group to choose some abstracts for oral 10-minute presentations or even shorter poster teasers.</p><p>&ldquo;Incorporating poster teasers added another, fun&nbsp;possibility for some of the young researchers to highlight their work in a punchy and intriguing way. Alternating between sessions with longer oral presentations and sessions with poster teasers was also a way of keeping the audience focused and interested throughout the day,&rdquo; says Laura Herzog.</p><p>The best oral presentation was won by Josephine Solowiej Wedderburn with the title &rdquo;How does the environment shape bacteria infections? Josephine is a multidisciplinary postdoc at the Department of mathematics and mathematical Statistics and Integrated science centre, Ice Lab, supervised by UCMR PIs Eric Libby, Peter Lind, Bj&ouml;rn Schr&ouml;der, and Ludvig Lizana.</p><p>The overall best poster was won by Luz Mar&iacute;a Gonz&aacute;lez-Castrill&oacute;n, research assistant at the Department of integrative medical biology in Sara Wilson&rsquo;s group. Her poster had the title &rdquo;Neurodevelopmental programs abnormally activated in cancers with a high incidence of perineural invasion&rdquo;.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Biotech incubator sponsors</h2><p>The prizes were sponsored by Ume&aring; Biotech Incubator, UBI, in collaboration with the Innovation Office and Uminova Innovation.&nbsp;Not only applied research is important to bring innovations to market.</p><p>"Excellent basic research is essential for fostering future innovations. That is why we are interested to sponsor this initiative", says business coach Pia Keyser, UBI representative throughout the day.</p><p>Reflecting, Laura Herzog thinks the symposium went better than she had imagined being overwhelmed by fantastic feedback both from participants as well as senior researchers that passed by and were impressed by the vibrant atmosphere.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Will we be seeing another Young Investigators Symposium next year?</h2><p>&ldquo;I hope so! The great interest in the event and the fact that many participants stayed until the end combined with some new postdocs interested in becoming active member in the Postdoc Society and the positive feedback, we have received show us that this type of event is something young researchers are looking for. Ume&aring;&nbsp;Postdoc Society would be more than happy to arrange a day like this&nbsp;on a regular basis.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>The Young Investigators Symposium was sponsored by Ume&aring; Centre for microbial Research, UCMR.</p>/en/news/young-investigator-symposium-achieves-remarkable-success_11841271//en/news/exotic-tree-species-in-the-forest-mean-loss-of-grazing-land-for-reindeer_11830328/Semi-domesticated reindeer avoid winter habitats with exotic lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), introduced from Northern America. Reduced food supply and dense stands probably contribute to the reindeers’ avoidance behavior of areas with tall P. contorta-trees. This is reported by researchers from Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agriculture, SLU.Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:10:05 +0200<p>P. contorta [TH1]&nbsp;has been planted mainly in northern Sweden since the 1960s, as it is expected to grow faster than the native pine (P. sylvestris). However, it has been reported that both plants and animals can be negatively affected in stands with P. contorta. Reindeer herders have also reported that reindeer do not find enough forage in these stands, and that these stands can be an obstacle for their movements. Based on the reindeer herders' observations, the research group analyzed the reindeer's habitat selection in detail. &nbsp;</p><p>"Using GPS data from reindeer collected by reindeer herders in the herding district Vilhelmina norra, we analyzed how the reindeer moved in the landscape during three different winters. We investigated which areas the reindeer preferred to stay in and which they avoided. We were interested in investigating whether we could find the same behavioral pattern observed by reindeer herders," says Tim Horstkotte, research engineer at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science (EMG) at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Using data on the reindeer's movement patterns over three winters, the research group investigated the reindeer's behavior on the herding district&rsquo;s winter pastures. They also investigated whether the amount of terricolous lichen differs in different forest types, as well as on which soil types the box pine grows.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Results consistent with observations</h2><p>The study shows that tree height was an important factor in how much more reindeer avoid stands with P. contorta compared to stands with our native pine.</p><p>"If the P. contorta trees were higher than 3 meters, our results show that the reindeer avoided these areas relative to other forest types. Where the P. contorta trees were lower, the reindeer&rsquo;s choice of forest type was not affected - regardless of whether there was P. contorta in the stand or not," says Tim Horstkotte.</p><p>"It is also important to highlight that we also saw that there was less terricolous lichens in the P. contorta stands, even though P. contorta is often planted on dry land that is actually favorable for these lichens. This may indicate that planting P. contorta affects lichen occurrence negatively, even if the soil conditions should be favorable."</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">P. contorta is a challenge for many</h2><p>J&ouml;rgen Sj&ouml;gren, researcher at SLU in Ume&aring; and who also participated in the study, emphasizes the importance of this type of investigations:</p><p>"Today, P. contorta in Sweden is planted on an area that covers just over 600,000 hectares. For having such a huge area with a tree species that does not originate on this side of the Atlantic, we know surprisingly little about the ecological consequences. This study contributes significantly to the state of knowledge."</p><p>The researchers point out that planting P. contorta on land that is suitable for terricolous lichens contributes to a reduction in winter grazing for the reindeer. Within the entire reindeer husbandry area in Sweden, access to winter pastures with a high presence of terricolous lichens is a bottleneck. This, in combination with other external pressures on reindeer herding, including climate change, makes the conditions for reindeer herding more difficult.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="4a22fa31-c5b3-4047-a14f-52526455472d" data-contentname="About the article">{}</div>/en/news/exotic-tree-species-in-the-forest-mean-loss-of-grazing-land-for-reindeer_11830328//en/news/sparkling-celebration-day-for-scilifelab-site-umea_11829724/Last week, on the 11th of September, a whole-day event was dedicated to celebrating the official opening of the most northern SciLifelab’s national site – in Umeå. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:45:10 +0200<p class="quote-center">The support we can offer, from sample preparation to data analysis, makes Ume&aring; Site unique</p><p>&ldquo;SciLifeLab Ume&aring; can offer local and national users access to the state-of-the-art infrastructure in the areas of Genomics, Metabolomics, Imaging and Molecular Structure, Chemical Biology, Diagnostics, and Bioinformatics. Dedicated research infrastructure staff support students and researchers to learn and use new methods. The support we can offer, from sample preparation to data analysis, makes Ume&aring; Site unique,&rdquo; commented Linda Sandblad, Director of SciLifeLab Site Ume&aring; and Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microscopy.</p><p>The SciLifeLab Day Ume&aring; opened an introduction to the Life Science landscape and infrastructures in Ume&aring; by Katrine Riklund, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Ume&aring; University. Then, SciLifeLab Ume&aring; infrastructures presented their platforms and, more specifically, the diversity of services they can offer to support opportunities for conducting world-class life science research in Ume&aring;. The session ended with guided tours to different facilities.</p><p>Over lunch, the three SciLifeLab capabilities, Planetary Biology, Pandemic Laboratory Preparedness, and Precision Medicine, held their sessions with talks, panel or group discussions, fostering the exchange of knowledge and finding inspiration for new collaborations.</p><p>The afternoon started with handing over the SciLifeLab sign from Director Olli Kallioniemi to Ume&aring; Site director Linda Sandblad, a symbolic gesture of Ume&aring; officially becoming one of the SciLifeLab national sites. The rest of the session was dedicated to the inspiring presentation of the different research programmes of SciLifeLab, DDLS and WCMM and research highlights from their fellows.</p><p>The celebration programme continued with a poster session, allowing networking and direct interaction with the different national and local facilities. During this part of the Day&rsquo;s programme, the celebrative ambience was supported by cakes in the colours of SciLifeLab logotype, sparkling drinks, and inspiring discussions between participants.</p><p>Later in the afternoon, in the break between the research presentations, a magical performance by Nordcirkus sparkled. The Nordcirkus based in S&ouml;dra &Aring;refj&auml;llen is interested in environmental, knowledge and health issues and, through their art, explores the human capabilities of making the world, globally and locally, a better world.</p><p>The SciLifeLab Day Ume&aring; provided a fantastic opportunity to bring together researchers and infrastructure experts from Ume&aring; and other national sites, meet each other in person, talk and get new ideas on how to implement the SciLifeLab&rsquo;s technologies and expertise in the research.</p><p>Among the enthusiastic participants was Kate Bennett, manager of the Computational Analytics Support Platform (CASP) at Ume&aring; University, who appreciated the great choice of topics and speakers.</p><p>"SciLifeLab Day Ume&aring; was an exciting, fun-filled event, packed with stimulating presentations and discussions displaying both world-class research and cutting-edge technologies available at Ume&aring; University and within the SciLifeLab community,&rdquo; says Kate Bennett.</p><p>She continues:</p><p>&ldquo;Being part of a local infrastructure, it was fantastic to meet and learn from SciLifeLab infrastructures, which have succeeded in becoming leading centers offering state-of-the-art services to the life science community in Sweden and beyond."</p><p>SciLifeLab Day Ume&aring; followed the first of four site opening celebrations in Gothenburg in April and gave the tone for this autumn before handing over the baton to Lund and Link&ouml;ping on the 28th of September and 10th of October, respectively.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0"><strong>More information:</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/">SciLifeLab main website</a></p><p><a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/news/scilifelab-day-on-the-national-sites/">SciLifeLab Day on the national sites</a></p><p><a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/news/scilifelab-day-umea-a-day-of-knowledge-exchange-and-community-celebration/">SciLifeLab Day Ume&aring;: A day of knowledge exchange and community celebration (SciLifeLab website)</a></p><p><a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/event/scilifelab-day-lund/">SciLifeLab Day Lund</a></p><p><a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/event/scilifelab-day-linkoping/">SciLIfeLab Day Link&ouml;ping</a></p>/en/news/sparkling-celebration-day-for-scilifelab-site-umea_11829724//en/news/worlds-longest-lichen-declines-in-a-national-park_11817652/A unique long-term study performed by researchers at Umeå University shows that the pendent lichen Usnea longissima decreases with 42 percent over 37 years in Skuleskogen National Park, located in High Coast UNESCO World Heritage site. The study has been published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management.Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:00:10 +0200<p>&ldquo;It is well known that that pendent lichens decrease in managed forests. This study suggests that the long-term survival of red-listed lichens may be threatened also in forests that have a strong protection&rdquo; says Per-Anders Esseen, professor emeritus at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University.</p><p><em>Usnea longissima</em> (Methuselah&rsquo;s beard lichen) was probably the original for &lsquo;tinsel&rsquo; on Christmas trees and may reach a length of several meters. It grows in old and humid spruce forests and is an important indicator of biodiversity in forests. It is red-listed as vulnerable and protected by law in Sweden. Sweden and Norway host the largest occurrences in Europe and therefore have particular responsibility to protect the lichen.</p><h3>Detailed inventory</h3><p>&ldquo;Long-term data on spatial dynamics of populations of red-listed species are fundamental for understanding and predicting how these species respond to global change drivers. Such knowledge is also needed to develop effective conservation measures&rdquo; according to Per-Anders Esseen.</p><p class="quote-left">This study suggests that the long-term survival of red-listed lichens may be threatened also in forests that have a strong protection</p><p>The researchers performed a detailed inventory of <em>U. longissima</em> in Skuleskogen in 1984. A total of 355 trees hosting the lichen was tagged with an aluminium plate buried in the ground. The inventory was repeated in 2021 and a metal detector was used to search for the plates. The researchers found that the lichen was extinct on 81 percent of the tagged trees. The extinction was higher on trees that were still standing (stochastic extinction) than extinction caused by treefalls (deterministic extinction). A total of 207 newly colonized trees was also detected, reflecting substantial turnover of host trees within local populations.</p><h3>Limited dispersal</h3><p>The study also provides key findings about the spatial dynamics of <em>U. longissima</em> in forest landscapes and shows that the lichen is strongly dispersal-limited. The lichen mainly disperses with larger fragments, which only dispersed a few meters over 37 years. The poor dispersal explains the lichen&rsquo;s strong dependence of long continuity of forest cover and preference for sites not subjected to fire. This also explains why the distribution of the lichen in the National Park was stable over the study period.</p><p>Lichens are complex partnerships between fungi, photobionts (an alga, or a cyanobacterium) and other bacteria. They lack roots and passively takes up water. Thin pendulous lichens, for example, <em>Usnea longissima</em>, are particularly sensitive to environmental hazards such as air pollution, forestry, and climate change, yet are vital components of forest canopies worldwide. Pendent lichens contribute to nutrient cycling in forests and provide habitat for insects and spiders. They also constitute important fodder for reindeer during winter when ground-lichens are inaccessible.</p><h3>Air pollution and climate change</h3><p>Data on composition and age of the forests indicate extensive harvesting 1860-1900 in Skuleskogen, but the researchers found no evidence of large-scale disturbances during the last 80 years. Instead, the decline of <em>U. longissima</em> was probably driven by a combination of air pollution, mainly deposition of nitrogen, climate change with milder and more snow-rich winters and heatwaves in summers, as well as denser forests. The lichen is also threatened by storms and fires, says Per-Anders Esseen.</p><p>The study highlights the necessity to develop a comprehensive action plan for securing the long-term survival of this unique lichen in Sweden, says Per-Anders Esseen. It is also very urgent to start a national program for monitoring of red-listed lichens in both protected and managed forests.</p><p>The study was performed by Per-Anders Esseen, Ume&aring; University, together with Bengt Gunnar Jonsson and Anita Atrena, Mid Sweden University, and Johan Rytterstam, County Administrative Board of V&auml;sternorrland.</p><p><strong>Original paper<br></strong><em>Esseen, P.-A., Rytterstam, J., Atrena, A., Jonsson, B. G. 2023. Long-term dynamics of the iconic old-forest lichen Usnea longissima in a protected landscape. Forest Ecology and Management, vol 546, 121369.</em></p><p><a title="Read the original article" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121369">Read the original article</a></p><p><a title="Press photos" href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/9daa26e2928262c7cb14fd54c9abd8c5">Press photos</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/worlds-longest-lichen-declines-in-a-national-park_11817652//en/news/high-methane-emissions-from-northern-rivers-and-streams_11809247/Freshwaters account for half of global emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. But among freshwaters, the role of rivers and streams in the methane cycle has been largely undocumented,, but now researchers at SLU and Umeå University, Sweden, together with collaborators in the US, have published a study in Nature that provides new insights in global rates, patterns and drivers of methane emissions from running waters.Mon, 04 Sep 2023 10:15:52 +0200<p>&ldquo;We expected to find the highest emissions at the tropics, where it is warm, because the biological production of methane is highly sensitive to temperature,&rdquo; says Gerard Rocher Ros, SLU. &ldquo;Instead, we found that emissions are also elevated in boreal and tundra biomes, despite low temperatures, likely because northern streams and rivers are often connected to peatlands and wetlands that are powerful methane sources.&rdquo;</p><p>Because streams and rivers are highly dynamic ecosystems, predicting their methane emissions at global scales first required a massive investment into data compilation.</p><h3>Global observations</h3><p>&ldquo;Prior to this study, we spent a few years compiling all observations of methane in rivers that we could find and placing these in a public database. By applying machine learning tools to these many thousands of observations across the globe we could finally model methane emissions from rivers at large spatial scales&rdquo; says Gerard Rocher Ros.</p><p class="quote-left">While for lakes and wetlands increases in temperature may be the most important driver, for rivers, it may be more important to understand how environmental changes increase or decrease methane inputs from the surrounding landscape.</p><p>This effort showed that, collectively, the emission of methane from Earth&rsquo;s streams and rivers is indeed an important flux to atmosphere, similar to rates documented for lakes. The global pattern also revealed that high rates of riverine emissions are often associated with landscape properties that promote methane production through enhanced organic matter supply and low oxygen conditions in aquatic sediments, but particularly in hydrologically-connected soils and wetlands.</p><h3>Rivers function differently</h3><p>Interestingly, temperature did not emerge as a particularly good predictor of riverine emissions across the globe or even within the majority of individual rivers over time. Thus, while methane emissions from lakes and wetlands are often regulated by temperature, rivers do not appear to function in the same way.</p><p>&ldquo;This means that other processes can affect riverine methane emissions, such as changes in discharge or in the hydrological connections to soils and wetlands&rdquo; says Ryan Sponseller, Ume&aring; University. This is important when we project future methane emissions: while for lakes and wetlands increases in temperature may be the most important driver, for rivers, it may be more important to understand how environmental changes increase or decrease methane inputs from the surrounding landscape, but this remains uncertain.</p><p>As methane production is very dependent on organic matter and low oxygen, the authors also leveraged this new database to explore how humans may directly affect river methane emissions. They find that environments highly modified by humans &ndash; such as ditched streams, canals, rivers below wastewater treatment plants &ndash; also tend to have elevated emissions.</p><h3>Restoration can reduce emission</h3><p>&ldquo;Humans are actively modifying river networks worldwide, and in general these changes seem to favour methane emissions. One implication of this finding is that a side effect of stream or watershed restoration efforts could be a reduction in methane emissions from running waters&rdquo; says Ryan Sponseller.</p><p>Finally, as the researchers could produce monthly global maps of methane emissions from rivers, this data product is also useful to better understand the global methane cycle, and is currently being incorporated in the latest version of the global methane budget.</p><p>&ldquo;This is important because understanding the magnitude and spatial patterns of all sources of methane to the atmosphere can really help improve Earth System Models. Those are large scale models used to predict the future state of climate, which we need to prepare society&rdquo;, says Gerard Rocher-Ros.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="9b640725-6a74-4d50-963a-cc5ad2555058" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div><p><strong>For more information, please contact:</strong></p><p>Ryan Sponseller, associate professor, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University<br>Phone: +46 90&nbsp;786 65 50<br>Email: ryan.sponseller@ͯ����Ƶ</p><p>Gerard Rocher-Ros, postdoctor at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences<br>Phone: +46&nbsp;733 69 77 16</p><p>Email: gerard.rocher.ros@slu.se</p><p><br>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/high-methane-emissions-from-northern-rivers-and-streams_11809247//en/news/worrying-heat-wave-in-the-northern-baltic-sea_11811036/The heat wave in the northern Baltic Sea in recent weeks is the longest ever recorded. "The unusually high water temperatures are very worrying and can have major consequences for the marine ecosystem in the area," says Nicholas Kamenos, director of Umeå Marine Sciences Centre.Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:01:49 +0200<p>Since mid-July, temperatures in the surface waters of the northern Baltic Sea, have been above normal, making it the longest heat wave ever recorded in the area.</p><p>This concerns the researchers at Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre based at Ume&aring; University. After a short period of elevated water temperatures, marine ecosystems often recover. However, a prolonged heat wave that spans weeks, or even months, can have devastating consequences.</p><p>"This can be very serious. Persistent warm periods create completely new conditions that the species in the northern Baltic Sea are not adapted to," says Nicholas Kamenos.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>For over 20 years, Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre has performed regular temperature measurements on surface and bottom water in the region. It has been noted that heat waves have become more frequent and that the persistent periods of heat increasingly seem to affect marine life. For example, the heat makes particular bacteria more active which in turn can change the entire bacterial balance in the area. <br>"For example, during heat waves, increases in bacterial infections in other organisms can be seen" says Nicholas Kamenos.</p><p>For the entire Baltic Sea region, sea temperatures have increased by between of 1-1.5 degrees since the 1990s, although it varies somewhat between different areas. The biggest difference can be seen in surface water, but in the southern parts of the Baltic Sea the same trend can also be seen in the bottom water.</p><p>One consequence of higher sea temperatures is that marine ecosystem&rsquo;s ability to store carbon dioxide is impaired. "The oceans have helped to store the carbon dioxide that we emit, thus helping to slow down global warming. If rising sea temperatures instead lead to carbon dioxide being released from the oceans, this could have an impact on the rate of climate change," says Nicholas Kamenos.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Media coverage:</strong><br><a href="https://www.dn.se/sverige/rekordlang-varmebolja-i-norra-ostersjon-chockerande/">Dagens nyheter</a><br><a href="https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/hoga-temperaturer-i-bottniska-viken-ar-orovackande">Sveriges radio P4 V&auml;sterbotten</a><br><a href="https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-10039755">Yle</a><br><a href="https://www.havet.nu/orovackande-varmebolja-i-norra-ostersjon">Havet.nu</a><br><a href="https://www.msn.com/sv-se/nyheter/inrikes/v%C3%A4rmeb%C3%B6lja-i-norra-%C3%B6stersj%C3%B6n-orov%C3%A4ckande/ar-AA1fdGsu">Omni</a><br><a href="https://www.hamnen.se/243-grader-orovackande-rekordvarme-i-ostersjon/">Hamnen</a><br><a href="https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vasterbotten/forskare-oroade-nar-ostersjon-blivit-varmare">SVT</a><br><a href="https://www.svd.se/a/dw8vXX/har-lyser-ostersjon-rott-orovackande">Svenska dagbladet/TT</a><br><a href="https://www.havet.nu/orovackande-varmebolja-i-norra-ostersjon">Havet.nu</a><br><a href="https://www.arctictoday.com/heat-wave-in-the-baltic-sea-worries-can-have-devastating-consequences/">Arctic Today</a><br><a href="https://www.tv4play.se/video/4b7e7ce392fe3d86c2bc/s%C3%B6ndag-3-september-2200">TV4 (starts at 5:10)</a><br><a href="file:///C:/Users/mano0288/Downloads/2023-08-northern-baltic-sea-longest.pdf">Phys.org</a><br><a href="https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/58110/20230825/longest-heatwaves-northern-baltic-sea-marine-ecosystems-damaged-ecosystems.htm">Nature World News</a><br><a href="https://headtopics.com/us/heat-wave-in-the-northern-baltic-sea-now-the-longest-ever-recorded-42796702">Head Topics</a><br><a href="https://climateandeconomy.com/category/climate/">Climate and Economy</a><br><a href="https://article.wn.com/view/2023/08/24/Heat_wave_in_the_northern_Baltic_Sea_now_the_longest_ever_re/">Wn.com</a></p>/en/news/worrying-heat-wave-in-the-northern-baltic-sea_11811036//en/news/icelab-receives-large-grant-for-interdisciplinary-research_11791921/In fierce competition, Umeå University's IceLab has been awarded SEK 30 million in the Swedish Research Council's new initiative to support excellent research environments. The grant will be used for research into what happens when living systems are exposed to stress, such as how plants deal with drought or bacteria adapt to new environments.Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:28:02 +0200<p>The Swedish Research Council received 124 applications from all scientific disciplines. 15 were granted &ndash; including one from Ume&aring; University.</p><p>&ldquo;The panel, which consists of experts on this type of centre formations, was very impressed by the quality of the project proposals. A high proportion of the applications was of exceptionally high quality&rdquo;, says Mattias Marklund of the Swedish Research Council who led the design of the grant.</p><p>The five-year grant is a major step forward for Integrated Science Lab, IceLab for short, which aims to create bridges between traditionally separate research areas, such as mathematics, physics, ecology, plant physiology and molecular biology.</p><p>&ldquo;When we read about the call, we felt this was for us. We try to bring researchers together across disciplines and see great benefit in collaboration,&rdquo; says Martin Rosvall, Professor of Physics and Director of IceLab.</p><p class="quote-center">Now we can elevate the projects to the next level.</p><p>While writing the application, the researchers at IceLab wanted to find and define what is common to their research. The answer was that they all model what happens to living systems under stress.</p><p>&ldquo;For example, plants exposed to drought or bacteria in a new environment; how do they cope? Or an ecological system brought out of equilibrium, what is the response? Normally, plant biologists look at plants, molecular biologists look at bacteria and ecologists look at their systems. These are parallel worlds, but many mechanisms are common and we often use similar methods. IceLab is one of the few environments that integrates expertise in experiments, network models and process-based dynamic models, which we believe is a key to understanding complex systems,&rdquo; says Martin Rosvall.</p><p>Today, IceLab is a physical environment where bachelor and master students, doctoral students, postdocs and assistant professors conduct research together. It also organises IceLab camps for young researchers, IceLab lunch pitches and hackathons to bring researchers together. After ten years of building up IceLab, Martin Rosvall and his colleagues are very happy to have the opportunity to realise their visions.</p><p>&ldquo;We have many ideas. Some we have been able to try with funds we have received in the past, but now we can elevate the projects to the next level,&rdquo; he says.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="2dc34a5a-5df6-4997-95f2-72cc7e436fce" data-contentname="About the initiative">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6ef3f883-737c-42c8-90e3-1b182662d86e" data-contentname="About the project">{}</div>/en/news/icelab-receives-large-grant-for-interdisciplinary-research_11791921//en/news/microbial-communities-tell-us-about-changes_11774596/The microorganisms in coastal waters are so small that they are usually not visible to the naked eye. It can therefore be difficult to understand their extremely important role for the entire marine ecosystem. Li Zhao has chosen to study these organisms, to find out how they react to climate change in the ocean. She has used advanced DNA technology to show the potential of the microorganisms as descriptors of changes in the marine environment.Mon, 29 May 2023 15:35:54 +0200<p>Li Zhao has studied both phytoplankton and bacteria and has been able to describe them in detail both in terms of taxonomy and function. She has done comparative studies between DNA analyses and the more traditional microscope analyses, and her findings have demonstrated that DNA methods can serve as a valuable complement to traditional microscope analysis.</p><h3>The basis of the food web</h3><p>Phytoplankton and bacteria may be invisible to the naked eye, but they form the very basis of the marine ecosystem. Phytoplankton are primary producers and react quickly to changes in the environment. They are therefore considered good indicators of the status of the marine environment and are studied in environmental monitoring worldwide. Heterotrophic bacteria also play an important role in the ecosystem, as they transform dissolved organic matter into living matter and nutrient re-cycling. The heterotrophic bacteria have come to play a major role in northern coastal areas, as dissolved organic matter increases in these areas as an effect of climate change.</p><h3>Method with potential</h3><p>Li Zhao has made DNA analyses of both phytoplankton and bacteria and has thus been able to get a detailed picture of both taxonomy and functions in the base of the ocean's food web. When it comes to phytoplankton, she has compared DNA analysis with traditional microscope analysis, and concluded that DNA sequencing of phytoplankton can work well as a complement to traditional microscope analysis in, for example, environmental monitoring.</p><h3>Bacteria in a changing environment</h3><p>She has asked herself how heterotrophic bacteria adapt to the environment in which they live and how they react to the environmental changes that a warmer climate leads to. To get answers, she has compared bacteria from river water and coastal water, and seen that bacteria in the river water are adapted to use terrestrial organic material, i.e. organic material originating from land. The coastal bacteria, on the other hand, are more adapted to utilize organic compounds derived from other marine organisms such as phytoplankton. Climate change leads to increased amounts of terrestrial organic matter in coastal waters, and knowledge of bacterial communities and their function is therefore very important when assessing the status of the marine environment.</p><h3>Describes the species diversity</h3><p>The results of Li Zhao's thesis are based on the advanced DNA analyses she has carried out on both phytoplankton and bacteria. She concludes that there is great potential in using DNA analyses in both research and environmental monitoring. The method has also developed tremendously in recent years. Previously, individual species were isolated to be analyzed. Today, entire communities can be analyzed both in terms of taxonomy and function. It also provides knowledge about the enormous diversity that exists in the marine ecosystems. During Li Zhao's thesis work, for example, she recovered over 1100 different microorganisms in the northern coastal areas of the Baltic Sea, a large portion of which had not been previously cultured or thoroughly characterized. Her work provides valuable insights into the previously unexplored microorganisms and their potential roles within the marine ecosystem.</p><p>Li Zhao defended her thesis on 26 May. Her supervisors have been professor Agneta Andersson and professor Xiao-Ru Wang, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University.</p><p>For more information, please contact <a href="~/link/4a0b673d977645eb8723f9e44e70bf21.aspx">Li Zhao</a> or <a href="~/link/ec4900b63b8e42a98efa0470fc957bb8.aspx">Agneta Andersson</a>.</p><p>Thesis: <a href="https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?dswid=-7875&amp;pid=diva2%3A1754099&amp;c=2&amp;searchType=LIST_COMING&amp;language=sv&amp;query=&amp;af=%5B%5D&amp;aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&amp;aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&amp;aqe=%5B%5D&amp;noOfRows=50&amp;sortOrder=author_sort_asc&amp;sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&amp;onlyFullText=false&amp;sf=all">Microbial communities: descriptors of environmental change in marine ecosystems</a></p>/en/news/microbial-communities-tell-us-about-changes_11774596//en/news/sea-water-is-measured-every-minute_11771001/A Ferrybox has been installed on the research vessel KBV 181. Continuous collection of aquatic environmental data will provide a broader picture of the state of the environment and create new opportunities for researchers. "This is an important complement to our regular measurements", says Anna Palmbo Bergman, chemist at Umeå Marine Sciences Centre.Tue, 30 May 2023 16:27:17 +0200<p>In regular expeditions for environmental monitoring, water samples are taken at different depths, from the sea surface all the way down to the bottom. By analyzing these samples, an accurate picture of the environmental status of the marine area is obtained. But the advanced measurement is costly, both in time and money, and it is therefore only done in a few places at each expedition.</p><h3>Continuous sampling</h3><p>As a complement, a Ferrybox has therefore been installed on the research vessel KBV 181. The Ferrybox is an automatic system for measuring surface water, which means that it also collects data during the journey between sampling stations, as well as during the Coast Guard's regular patrols. Sensors measure temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, turbidity, pH and carbon dioxide pressure in the flowing seawater.</p><p>"It is a cost-effective way to obtain more information about the marine environment. We get data from a larger geographical area than the stations we usually visit in the Gulf of Bothnia", says Anna Palmbo Bergman, chemist at Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre, who works with national and regional environmental monitoring of the water mass in the Gulf of Bothnia.</p><h3>Opportunities for researchers</h3><p>Every minute, the Ferrybox's data is compiled with the vessel's own measurements of wind speed, temperature, humidity and photosynthetic light. The merged files are then sent to SMHI's database. <br>The continuous measurements offer great opportunities for researchers. During an ongoing expedition, water samples for other types of analyses can be collected in parallel, which means that researchers can efficiently conduct their own investigations with a large geographical coverage.</p><h3>Almost completely automatic</h3><p>It sounds fantastic that everything goes automatically, but there are of course some challenges and needs for manual work.</p><p>"When everything is working properly, we don't have to do more than check the equipment, clean some parts and stock up on reagents and the like. But during the winter, for example, ice can cause real problems, even if the intake for water is five meters below the waterline."</p><p><br>The ferry box on board the research vessel KBV 181 has been funded by the Faculty of Science and Technology, Ume&aring; University.</p>/en/news/sea-water-is-measured-every-minute_11771001//en/news/discover-nature-with-guided-excursions-on-campus_11760124/May 10 is the premiere of Nature on Campus, an opportunity to explore the flora and fauna around the university and learn more about the nature. “We hope it will be a bit of an aha experience,” says botanist Katarina Stenman. Thu, 27 Apr 2023 10:26:28 +0200<p>The Culture on Campus concept has been around for 20 years &ndash; but now it's time for Nature on Campus.</p><p>During May, September and October, the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences invites you to a total of six outdoor excursions on different themes. The activities are free and open to all. The idea is to offer participants an easy way to learn more about the urban flora and fauna that is easy to miss in everyday life.</p><p class="quote-left">There is a biodiversity that people are not aware of</p><p>&ldquo;This is part of the university's ambition to be a green and sustainable university. The average person probably doesn't know that there are different lichens on the trees or that you can hear 20 different bird species when you walk around campus in the spring. There is a biodiversity that people are not aware of,&rdquo; says Micael Jonsson, project manager and associate professor.</p><p>The first event, on May 10, has the theme of mosses and lichens.</p><p>&ldquo;For example, we will teach the difference between sphagnum moss and reindeer lichen. We will walk around and look, so please bring your own magnifying glass if you have one,&rdquo; says Katarina Stenman, a botanist who works at the university herbarium.</p><p>The excursions always start from the KBC building and last about an hour, usually starting at 12 noon.</p><p>The second occasion, on May 24, is about spring birds and starts at 7 am.</p><p>&ldquo;It will be at a very basic level, learning to recognize a singing chaffinch, for example. Most people have no knowledge at all about birds,&rdquo; says Micael Jonsson, who in addition to researching biodiversity also has a great interest in bird watching.</p><p>Through Nature on Campus, the organizers hope to awaken an interest among students, university employees and other Ume&aring; residents to learn more about and take care of nature.</p><p>&ldquo;Perhaps they will be inspired to continue exploring on their own. We can recommend a good book, what other excursions are available and answer questions,&rdquo; says Katarina Stenman.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="10f06bfb-8c85-4115-8425-838a79460ebf" data-contentname="About Nature on campus">{}</div>/en/news/discover-nature-with-guided-excursions-on-campus_11760124//en/news/digitalisation--a-threat-to-climate-change-or-a-solution_11744580/Digitalisation is often presented as the obvious solution to the climate crisis facing humanity, but we talk less about the challenges and negative consequences that digitalisation brings. During a panel discussion in Humlab, researchers from different subjects and faculties gathered to discuss the climate crisis and the digital – connections, causes and complications. Fri, 24 Mar 2023 15:24:17 +0100<p>&ndash; The idea to organise this symposium was born after a session on transformations in relation to digitalization and environmental challenges during Humlab's 20th anniversary conference in 2021. Since then, a so-called green industrialization in northern Sweden has, among other things, been presented as an innovative solution to the climate crisis. At the same time, other institutions in the world are demanding that society gains more knowledge about the negative consequences of digitalization, says moderator Evelina Liliequist, postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Regional Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><p class="quote-center">A so-called green industrialisation in northern Sweden has been presented as an innovative solution to the climate crisis. At the same time, other institutions in the world demand that society gains more knowledge about the negative consequences of digitalisation.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Scandinavia &ndash; a lifeboat in the North</h2><p>Keith&nbsp;Larson, director of Arcum, research how arctic and alpine species' life-history adaptations have been shaped by the environment; how the timing of life history events is affected by climate and environmental changes.</p><p>&ndash; A fundamental mistake we make in Sweden is that we do not consider that we need this place in the future. Scandinavia is the most developed northern region in the world &ndash; this is where people will live. We must start seeing this as our lifeboat in the north and we must create conditions to which we can adapt. We have always had climate change, but it is the rate of change that matters.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Democratic institutions important for society's understanding of the climate crisis</h2><p>Annika Egan Sj&ouml;lander, professor of media and communication science, is coordinator for Ume&aring; Transformation Research Initiative (UTRI)&nbsp;and leads a research programme on the role of communication in creating more sustainable societies in the Anthropocene.</p><p>&ndash; There is a lack in society today in terms of how divided the understanding is about where we are going and about how digitalisation will solve the challenges we are facing. We need to gather both digital, and climate and sustainability skills to better understand how these interact. Locally as well as globally. We do this by using our experience and looking at history. In addition, democratic institutions play a decisive role here, as does journalism.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Economic systems must promote circularity</h2><p>Christoffer Boman, associate professor at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, research how to develop new knowledge in energy systems that will benefit society and industry in the strive to become more sustainable.</p><p>&ndash; There are both opportunities and challenges with AI, depending on how we look at it. It is clear that digitalisation affects sustainability from all perspectives &ndash; not just linked to the climate. Society has so far worked linearly, but economic systems must promote circularity. From the side of academia, we must become better at communicating science and being visible outside the university.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Society must make demands on the companies &ndash; not on the consumers</h2><p>Toby Miller, professor at Complutense de Madrid, does research in cultural studies and media studies. He has a long-standing commitment to sustainability issues related to media and communication science.</p><p>&ndash; The prevailing notion is that we as consumers must solve the situation, but individual decisions do not change the situation of children in the Global South who work so that we in industrialized countries will have a cell phone, or recycle e-waste at the end of those phones&rsquo; lifecycle. Nor does it address the fact that annual e-waste now weighs more than the Great Wall of China. Society must demand that the companies behind the phone brands be clear about their role and what they are doing to change the current situation.</p>/en/news/digitalisation--a-threat-to-climate-change-or-a-solution_11744580//en/news/a-novel-successful-way-of-organising-a-scientific-meeting-_11725131/Two amazing days of life science in the unorthodox format of "unconference" gave a memorable experience to more than 50 researchers and a good shake-up to a representative sample of the Umeå life science community.Thu, 15 Jun 2023 08:10:30 +0200<p>"A well-known secret of every conference is that the most important scientific exchange happens after the formal sessions are over. Those lucky ones selected for oral presentation by the conference organising committee get the most exposure and benefit the most. With this meeting, we wanted to reduce the usual emphasis on formal talks and give exposure to as many participants as possible," says Yuri Schwartz, associate professor at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University and one of the organisers.</p><p>On 7-8 February 2023, the "CU4 a Life Science Shake-Up" meeting took place in Sollefte&aring; as the first event launched by the new, creative, and enthusiastic steering group of the Coalition Ume&aring; for Life Science (CU4LS).</p><p>CU4LS was launched in 2021 as a platform to help highlight the strength, cutting-edge, and richness of Ume&aring; life science research activities. It is currently represented by over twenty research centres/units and infrastructures that perform life science research at the university campus in Ume&aring;.</p><p>The new steering board, as a first action, decided to invite the Ume&aring; life science community to a "come together" event to discuss science, interact and create innovative and collaborative research constellations. To stimulate scientific exchange, the organisers decided to test a new concept suggested by one of the members, Yuri Schwartz, who, in turn, was inspired by his experience of a European LifeTime initiative meeting held in 2019 in Montpellier, France.</p><p>In this new format, all participants, from professors to first-year PhD students, were offered an opportunity to give a short talk about their scientific hopes and dreams: a problem they wish to solve, a conceptual idea that needs a boost to be implemented, or a paradoxical observation that they struggle to explain. The programme with several parallel sessions was self-organised at the start and during the meeting &ndash; the participants just posted post-It notes with titles on a whiteboard.</p><p>"It was easy and very efficient! We named this concept "unconference" &ndash; like Lewis Carroll's "unbirthday" &ndash; and, following this logic, referred to ourselves as a "disorganising committee," says Yuri Schwartz.</p><p>In addition to the spontaneous post-It programme, two keynote speakers gave inspiring lectures!</p><p>During the "unconference", the participants were exposed to many interactive and mingling opportunities, starting with "blind dates" during the three-hour bus drive from Ume&aring; to Sollefte&aring;. A break dedicated to winter sports activities helped keep the participants energised.</p><p>"It was a brilliant and very intense, in a good way, event!" commented Kate Bennett, research coordinator from the Department of Chemistry and one of the organisers.</p><p>With good experiences of the gathering in mind, plans are already in place for a new meeting for the Ume&aring; life science community - next year at a new destination.</p><p>Teresa Frisan, Professor at the Department of Molecular Biology and one of the most energetic members of the disorganising committee, concluded:</p><p>"This was a very inspiring unconference, away from constraints of formalities, enriched by the freedom to share what are your scientific wishes, dreams, problems, in a relax self-organised mode, and great possibility to mingle with a broad cross-disciplinary expertise palette. All the participants built the unconference and contributed to its success! Please stay tuned for the next unevent &hellip;.. coming sooooooon!!!"</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0"><strong>More information:</strong></h2><p><a href="~/link/9331415f64db4eda81808a4ef1ff43a8.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coalition Ume&aring; for Life Science (CU4LS)&nbsp;</a></p>/en/news/a-novel-successful-way-of-organising-a-scientific-meeting-_11725131//en/news/caroline-blomquist-receives-pedagogical-award_11720018/Caroline Blomquist, associate professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, is awarded the Faculty of Science and Technology's Pedagogical Prize 2023. The prize is SEK 30 000.Tue, 07 Feb 2023 09:00:13 +0100<p>&rdquo;I am very happy to receive the Faculty of Science and Technology's pedagogical prize and I would like to thank my fantastic colleagues who have contributed to the development at both course and programme level at the department. It is great that the faculty recognises the educational work of the department, which I am proud to be a part of&rdquo; says Caroline Blomquist.</p><p>Caroline Blomquist has been a teacher at Ume&aring; University since 1991 and has taught biology and chemistry in a number of different programmes, for example in the foundation year and the Bachelor's programme in environmental health. Her areas of expertise are physiology and metabolism.</p><p class="quote-left">The driving force behind the developmental work is to get active students through interactive lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions, study visits and presentations</p><p>Over the years, she has also worked actively with colleagues and students to develop and improve the quality of courses and programmes. This has included integrating gender perspectives into the teaching of the Bachelor's programme in environmental health, as well as developing students' writing skills in another project. Another example is that she has worked with the Swedish Food Administration and a number of municipalities to develop the Food Safety course from campus-based teaching to distance learning.</p><p>&rdquo;The driving force behind the developmental work is to get active students through interactive lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions, study visits and presentations&rdquo; she says. &rdquo;We have also sought to design forms of examination that are conducive to learning, such as oral examinations where feedback can be given both directly and individually.&rdquo;</p><p>Caroline Blomquist is also a member of the programme councils for the environmental health programme, the foundation year and the nutritional science programme. Since 1 July 2021, she is the Director of Studies at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science.</p><p>The Faculty Board at the Faculty of Science and Technology decided at its last meeting that the 2023 Pedagogical Prize will be awarded to Caroline Blomquist. The motivation for the prize reads:</p><p>"Caroline Blomquist receives the prize for her highly regarded contributions as a teacher, her dedicated and strong pedagogical leadership, and her great commitment to developing courses and programmes in, for example, sustainable development, equality integration and student-centred learning."</p><p>The Faculty's Pedagogical Prize is awarded annually. The aim is to make visible and encourage teachers' commitment and efforts in higher education pedagogical development. The prize money is SEK 30,000.</p>/en/news/caroline-blomquist-receives-pedagogical-award_11720018//en/news/ucmr-day-gathers-infection-researchers-in-umea_11710011/UCMR Day 19 January is an excellent opportunity for networking and initiation of new collaborations within molecular and translational infection research in Umeå. This year the conference attracts nearly 150 participants and is held in Aula Nordica at Umeå University.Tue, 17 Jan 2023 16:30:30 +0100<p>&ldquo;This year marks the first on-site conference after the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to more interactions and exchange of ideas in person. This is important to build up a vibrant workplace,&rdquo; says Yaowen Wu, professor at the Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University and Director of UCMR.</p><p>To embrace this return to &ldquo;in real life science&rdquo;, the UCMR Day&rsquo;s organising committee has opted for a different meeting style, with two outstanding keynote speakers and where all the poster presenters (50) have the possibility to showcase their project in the form of elevator talks.</p><p>&ldquo;We are confident that this model will fulfil our wishes to see a lot of good science, learn a lot, and develop novel ideas and collaborations. This set up is the very essence of the bottom up UCMR approach,&rdquo; says Teresa Frisan, professor at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University and Deputy Director of UCMR.</p><p>The programme also includes plenty of time for chatting and networking, as well as a group discussion in the afternoon about future directions of UCMR.</p><p>To date, UCMR comprises over 60 research groups from ten departments at the Faulty of Medicine and the Faculty of Science and Technology.</p><p><strong>How can UCMR keep such a heterogenic organisation together?</strong></p><p>&ldquo;UCMR originates from a bottom-up initiative. Researchers with different expertise work together to solve important questions in microbial infection. UCMR Day is an important annual event for the exchange of new ideas and initiation of new multidisciplinary collaborations,&rdquo; says Yaowen Wu.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Keynote lectures</h2><p>The two keynote lectures in Aula Nordica are open to everyone to come and listen to.</p><p>11:15 - 12:00: Stress signaling promotes antibiotic resistance and tolerance in Gram-negative pathogens<br>Dr. Tobias D&ouml;rr, Cornell University, USA</p><p>17:00 - 17:45: Host cell remodeling by herpes virus encoded deconjugases<br>Professor Maria Grazia Masucci, Karolinska Institutet</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Programme 19 January</h2><p><a href="~/link/baf5228b3adf4156976fb16383334602.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the UCMR Day programme here</a></p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">About UCMR</h2><p>UCMR was founded in 2004. The vision of UCMR is to develop a world-leading science environment promoting cutting-edge molecular and translational infection research. To date UCMR comprises over 60 research groups from ten departments at the Faulty of medicine and the Faculty of Science and Technology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The research fields include microbial pathogenesis, molecular and cell biology, chemistry, clinical microbiology, structural biology, immunology, epidemiology, microbial ecology, physics, mathematics, and data-driven science.</p><p><a href="~/link/7f617cd74139422c87f1189bac26333f.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UCMR website</a></p>/en/news/ucmr-day-gathers-infection-researchers-in-umea_11710011//en/news/expert-lectures-on-antibiotic-resistance-in-aquatic-environments_11689909/Through a project within the South Africa - Sweden University Forum, SASUF, a collaboration between professor Carlos Bezuidenhout and Umeå researcher Natuschka Lee started. Now the South African researcher is visiting Umeå and will lecture on 7 December about antimicrobial resistance in our environment – in watercourses, land and plants.Mon, 05 Dec 2022 09:26:50 +0100<p>South Africa - Sweden University Forum, SASUF 2030, is a collaboration between universities, organizations and authorities in Sweden and South Africa. Through the forum, Carlos Bezuidenhout participates in a SASUF project on "Microbial biotechnology" and "Diversity and health of pollinating insects and plants" together with researcher Natuschka Lee at the Department of Ecology, and&nbsp; Environmental Sciences and Anita Sellstedt at the Department of Plant Physiology at Ume&aring; University. Natuschka Lee has invited and is hosting Carlos Bezuidenhout's visit to Ume&aring;.</p><p>The team's research results have shown how valuable it is to focus not only on disease-causing microbes in humans, but how important it is to also research the microbes in different environments and how they can affect our environment and our society.</p><p>"Our collaboration has worked perfectly! It has been very interesting to study how our two countries react to ongoing environmental and climate change, as both of our countries are closer to the poles. Here, people have noticed more obvious symptoms of current environmental and climate changes compared to countries that are closer to the equator. We plan to seek research funds in continued collaborations - partly specifically around antimicrobial resistance, partly a continuation around insect microbiology and insect health," says Natuschka Lee.</p><p>During his visit to Ume&aring; University, Carlos Bezuidenhout will also meet representatives of the Ume&aring; Center for Microbial Research, UCMR, and discuss possible future collaborations with infection researchers.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">About the lecture:</h2><p><strong>Title:</strong> Antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments: examples and associated risks<br><strong>Target group:</strong> Open lecture. No registration needed<br><strong>Time:</strong> 7 December at 14:30-15:30<br><strong>Venue:</strong> Stora h&ouml;rsalen KBC (Carl Cempe salen)</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">About Carlos Bezuidenhout:</h2><p>Professor Carlos Bezuidenhout is the principal investigator on several projects funded by the National Research Foundation and Water Research Commission of South Africa on antibiotic resistance in the aquatic environment. Bezuidenhout is currently the Director for the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University.</p><p>His research interests lie in aquatic microbiology, water, sanitation, health, and energy. For more than two decades he has diligently worked on tracking potential pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses in water resources. He has gained national and international recognition as a leading authority on anti-microbial resistance in freshwater resources. The work he does focuses on surface water, groundwater quality and water treatment in aquatic environments and highlights areas of concern. More importantly, it underscores how human health depends on water quality.</p><p>His research was at the forefront to raise awareness of the potential dangers of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms in water supplies in South Africa. This area has since become incorporated into research agendas in South Africa and globally.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://natural-sciences.nwu.ac.za/unit-environmental-sciences-and-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More information</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">About South Africa-Sweden University Forum:</h2><p>South Africa - Sweden University Form, SASUF, is a collaborative STINT project between universities, organisations and authorities in Sweden and South Africa.</p><p>Coordinator at Ume&aring; University is Jessica Bergstr&ouml;m Grahn.</p><p><a href="https://www.aurora.ͯ����Ƶ/en/education-and-research/internationalisation/cooperations-networks-exchange-programmes/south-africa-sweden-university-forum/">More information</a></p>/en/news/expert-lectures-on-antibiotic-resistance-in-aquatic-environments_11689909//en/news/exchange-of-knowledge-and-mingling-when-kbc-celebrated-15-years_11684470/Last week, the year 2022-version of an annual interdisciplinary conference, KBC DAYS, was a successful event with a record number of participants! It was attended by over 350 participants from different departments of Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:29:58 +0100<p>Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund, professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics and scientific coordinator of KBC, believes that the KBC DAYS were an excellent opportunity, especially for younger and newly employed researchers, to get to know colleagues from outside of their own departments and to learn about the infrastructure available in the KBC environment.</p><p>- More established researchers from the KBC environment hopefully also appreciated this year's theme, "Big Data", and the opportunity to meet their colleagues "live" again after two years of corona restrictions when we were forced to arrange the KBC DAYS in digital format, says Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund.</p><p><strong>Big data as a common science language</strong></p><p>Spanning over two days on 8-9 November, KBC DAYS 2022 offered an intensive program with a diversity of scientific talks, many of which touched on different aspects of the central theme of this year's conference, "Big Data".</p><p>Analysing, interpreting and handling extremely large and complex scientific data open powerful opportunities but also create challenges in different research fields. &ldquo;Big Data&rdquo; was an important aspect of many research projects that were presented at the conference, from the one aimed at developing tools for the early detection of hazardous chemicals in the environment, to studies of biobank samples and health data for risk predictions and early detection of diseases, or analyses of data collected during the Arctic Oceanic expedition.</p><p>- Processing large amounts of data is an issue many researchers in our interdisciplinary centre face today. Therefore, the presentations focused on &ldquo;Big Data&rdquo; were relevant for many of us in the KBC research community, says Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund.</p><p><strong>Staying dynamic in the future</strong></p><p>In the frame of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of KBC, Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund, Scientific coordinator of KBC and Selma Dahmane, representative of the Ume&aring; Postdoc Society, interviewed people who contributed to the establishment and development of the centre.</p><p>The panellists gave a historical overview of how KBC started and their vision for strengthening research collaboration at KBC in the future. The panel members agreed on the importance for the KBC as a research centre to stay up-to-date and dynamic in the future, thus avoiding stagnation.</p><p><strong>PhD students received their awards</strong></p><p>The celebration continued with the Gala Dinner on the evening of the first day of the conference. During the dinner, an award ceremony took place. Four young scientists were announced as the winners in different categories of the Best PhD Students Presentation Award and cheered by the participants. Two students, Palwasha Baryalai, Department of Molecular Biology, and Eduardo Rodriguez Soldado, Department of Plant Physiology, UPSC, shared the Agrisera Award - a travel voucher supported by Agisera.</p><p>Their presentations received the highest and equal scores from the expert committee, which evaluated the structure of the presentation, clearness and adaptation of the message to a target audience and other criteria of effective science communication.</p><p>The participants of the KBC DAYS actively voted for the "Best PhD presentation by the public choice". One of the winners in this category was Karsten Meier, PhD student from the Department of Molecular Biology, for his outstanding elevator pitch "Secreting proteins, snatching nutrients, blocking the immune defense - Everyday life for Chlamydia". The second awardee, Elena van Zalen from the Department of Plant Physiology, UPSC, won public hearts with her impressive and professional visual abstract "How do spruce and pine trees experience stress?"</p><p><strong>Effective ways to present a research project</strong></p><p>In total, eleven PhD students presented their research projects as sharp two-minute-long elevator pitches and discussed projects with the conference participants during the interaction session in front of their visual abstracts.</p><p>Before the KBC DAYS, several of the presenting PhD students took the course in science communication that was offered by KBC and given by Gabrielle Beans Picon, a research communicator at Curiosum and IceLab at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>- The novel focus of this year's course was on how to convey a summary of key research findings in a graphical format. The purpose of a visual presentation is to effectively disseminate the main message in a more popular science way to a broad audience, says Gabrielle Beans Picon.</p><p>Daria Chrobok, scientific illustrator and founder of DC SciArt, was invited as an expert and a guest instructor for the course. DC SciArt also sponsored awards, science communication books, for the best elevator pitch and visual abstract.</p><p>As an additional element of the KBC anniversary celebration, the photo contest with the theme "KBC is&hellip;" was organised during the conference. Conference participants chose their favourite image among more than twenty impressive artistic contributions. Souvik Sarkar from the Department of Chemistry became the finalist of the photo contest with his photo "Inverted nature through KBC lab window".</p><p><strong>Suggest the theme for the next year's KBC DAYS</strong></p><p>What new challenges the year 2023 will bring to us, and which scientific themes would be interesting and relevant to discuss within the interdisciplinary KBC research community?</p><p>- Everyone affiliated with KBC is welcome to propose a theme for the KBC DAYS 2023! We in the organising committee will consider all suggestions! says Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund.</p>/en/news/exchange-of-knowledge-and-mingling-when-kbc-celebrated-15-years_11684470//en/news/scientists-uncover-widespread-clearcutting-of-old-swedish-forests_11681032/Almost one fourth of Sweden’s last unprotected old-growth forest was logged between 2003 and 2019. At this rate, all of these ecologically unique and valuable forests will be lost in about 50 years. These findings add to the growing body of evidence for widespread cryptic forest degradation across the global north.Mon, 14 Nov 2022 08:40:03 +0100<p>A small fraction of Sweden&rsquo;s forests consists of older forests which have never previously been clear-cut. These rare ecosystems have a rich biodiversity and give us a valuable glimpse into the functioning of natural northern landscapes before widespread human interventions.</p><p>A new study published in the journal Earth&rsquo;s Future has uncovered evidence that almost a quarter of the few remaining forests of this type were lost between 2003 and 2019, equivalent to a loss of 1.4 percent per year.</p><p>&ldquo;This land use change is not well documented across all northern countries. Its thanks to a uniquely rich dataset we could investigate this issue for Sweden and get such clear results, says Anders Ahlstr&ouml;m, Associate Professor at Lund University, Sweden.</p><p>In the study, the research team paired Swedish national forest inventory data on forest age from more than 90 000 forest inventory plots with a government database documenting almost a million individual clear-cuts since 2003.</p><p class="quote-left">This loss of old natural forest will define our landscapes for centuries</p><p>They found that 19 percent of all clear-cuts had occurred in forests that are old enough to predate the onset of large scale clear-cutting, and therefore had most likely never been clear-cut with subsequent planting or seeding. This has occurred despite the fact that the majority of productive Swedish forest is included within some form of forest product certification that prioritizes conservation of forests with high ecological values.</p><p>&ldquo;At the present rate of logging, the last of these unprotected, old-growth forests will disappear in Sweden in the 2070s. This loss of old natural forest will define our landscapes for centuries, because Swedish and other boreal forests grow so slowly&rdquo;, says Anders Ahlstr&ouml;m.</p><p>The consequences of this loss for biodiversity and Swedish society are difficult to calculate.</p><p>&ldquo;Given that these older forests are a relatively small and rapidly shrinking portion of the wider forest landscape, the opportunity to study these systems to understand what we are losing is rapidly disappearing&rdquo;, says Daniel Metcalfe, Professor at Ume&aring; University, Sweden.</p><p>We cannot afford to lose more of the world&rsquo;s old growth forests to humanitys&rsquo; insatiable appetite for resources. Old growth forests play a key role in biodiversity conservation and planetary stability in the face of rapid climate change&rdquo;, says Pep Canadell, Director for the Global Carbon Project CSIRO in Australia.</p><p>Clearcutting of older, natural forest appears to be widespread across most northern countries, but there has been little monitoring of the distribution and extent of this practice, mainly because there are no official maps of the location and extent of the forests and that natural boreal forest is difficult to distinguish in satellite images. By comparison, most types of land use conversion in the tropics can be accurately detected by satellites, so data about the rate and patterns of tropical deforestation and land conversion have become an effective tool to evaluate environmental progress in those countries.</p><p>&ldquo;Deforestation and loss of pristine forests in the Amazon and other parts of the world has provoked strong criticism, yet equivalent losses of old growth forests are also occurring before our eyes in Sweden and across the global north. We must urgently map these old growth forests across the boreal region and develop strategies to conserve them. Otherwise these unique ecosystems will vanish before we have even been able to assess their climate, biodiversity and cultural values&rdquo;, concludes Anders Ahlstr&ouml;m.</p><p><strong>About the study</strong><br><em>Anders Ahlstr&ouml;m, Josep G. Canadell, Daniel B. Metcalfe, . 2023,. Widespread unquantified conversion of old boreal forests to plantations, Earths Future. DOI 10.1029/2022EF003221</em></p>/en/news/scientists-uncover-widespread-clearcutting-of-old-swedish-forests_11681032//en/news/voices-from-kbc-2022_11680015/The vision of KBC is to promote a positive, creative, and interdisciplinary environment for research combined with an excellent graduate education. Do the employees working at KBC appreciate the research environment, and do they have a “we-feeling”? This article is an overview of the voices of 15 KBC employees.Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:57:57 +0200<p class="quote-center">It is spectacular that under &ldquo;one roof&rdquo; we have such state-of-the-art infrastructure!</p><p>Since the start in 2007, the Chemical Biological Centre, KBC, has grown into a complex centre including 1&nbsp;200 employees from ten departments at Ume&aring; University and SLU. The centre is unique in its collaborative structure and offers an excellent scientific infrastructure for research in life science, natural sciences and medicine.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>The &ldquo;we-feeling&rdquo; is growing stronger at KBC</strong></p><p>Most of the respondents experience a &ldquo;we-feeling&rdquo; at KBC today and it has improved over the 15 years. KBC is a large community so there are in fact several levels of &ldquo;we&rdquo;; the research group, the research infrastructure, the department, and for some also a centre within the KBC. Obviously, it is easier to get a &ldquo;we-feeling&rdquo; as smaller as the community gets. One respondent says, &ldquo;The we-feeling at KBC is not comparable to my own department, and I think it can never be, simply because it is too big.&rdquo;</p><p>What brings almost all people together and create the &ldquo;we-feeling&rdquo; are the common social events and seminars, the KBC Day, and the open research infrastructures. KBC is experienced as a fantastic environment for collaborations with opportunities to work and exchange different expertise and know-how with people. &ldquo;If the KBC environment would not exist, the centre where I work will automatically drop its capacity and potential quite a lot&rdquo;, one respondent concludes.</p><p>Those respondents that express that they do not have a &ldquo;we-feeling&rdquo; have not participated in KBC activities or do not have the office in the KBC building and therefore experiences KBC as a little anonymous.&nbsp; One respondent stresses that even though single units within KBC have strong individual identities, this do not become an obstacle to create collaborations within KBC itself. This person continues: &ldquo;I have never heard anyone saying &ldquo;I work at KBC&rdquo; - people usually indicate the specific department of affiliation.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>Scientific cooperation across departmental borders</strong></p><p>Interdisciplinary research topics can be well performed under the KBC umbrella without any institutional walls. Most of the responders collaborate or have been collaborating with a researcher from another department within KBC. Many of these collaborations were established already 10-15 year ago and some are still ongoing. One respondent states that sharing many facilities is the base of the scientific cooperation within KBC.</p><p>Interdepartmental seminars provide a view on what expertise are available around KBC. The Kempe postdocs that were part of the KBC programme connected many researchers between the departments.&nbsp;As good examples of opportunities of finding new collaborations, the responders mention IceLab pitches, interdepartmental seminars series, and the yearly KBC Days. Nevertheless, KBC employees are today not always aware about all colleagues&rsquo; research.</p><p><strong>KBC research infrastructures are important</strong></p><p>The responders appreciate the research infrastructures at KBC and most of them are well informed about which ones that are available and what service they can give. &ldquo;It is spectacular that under &ldquo;one roof&rdquo; we have such state-of-the-art infrastructure!&rdquo;, says one of the responders. The responders know that information about the infrastructures is given on KBC Days, and on regularly seminars, and they are well described on the website.</p><p>Those who do not have fully control might have no needs to utilize them. However, they know whom to ask to get information, or know where to look for information on the Ume&aring; university website. So, it depends on the researcher him/herself how knowledgeable they are.</p><p><strong>KBC attracts strong research leaders</strong></p><p>A couple of responders do not have an opinion if KBC attracts strong research leaders, but according to most responders the KBC is definitely a strong selling point stressing the importance of collaborations and availability of cutting-edge research infrastructure. The good research going on is of course attractive to attract strong research leaders. One respondent summarizes the excellence: &ldquo;KBC is incredibly important for attracting strong research leaders, providing access to infrastructure, critical mass, and seminars.&rdquo;</p><p>However, one respondent disagrees: &ldquo;I guess not, in my field, since KBC nowadays most concerns life science research.&rdquo; A respondent from Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre, UPSC, being a centre within KBC concludes &ldquo;When we recruit, UPSC is the main brandmark that we sell, but KBC with its infrastructure and so on is a very good supplementary argument.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>Many opportunities for young researchers</strong></p><p>According to the majority of answers, KBC is a good environment or even an excellent environment for young researchers. There are great opportunities to network - the open-door policy helps the PhD students a great deal. KBC is described as quite dynamic with a good research environment and various infrastructures available.</p><p>Some of the responders think that it is good idea to develop the PhD education with generic doctoral courses across departmental boundaries at KBC. Besides the learning process, it is also good for PhD students from various fields to meet each other. To give KBC specific PhD courses one need to consider that the backgrounds of the PhD students are very different, and an organisational problem is to get people to organize them.</p><p>Others points out that there are quite a good number of courses already, i.e. infrastructure courses, science communication, etc. Also, generic PhD courses are already given by the faculties (medfak, teknatfak). Therefore, a couple of respondents argue that there is no need to develop special courses for KBC.</p><p>From a postdoc&rsquo;s perspective there are many opportunities at KBC and different groups offer interesting positions. There are several postdoc-initiatives now within KBC. The communication is easy and relaxed and there is access to many on site facilities: this speeds up experiments and timing is important for both postdocs and PhD students.</p><p>&ldquo;There is also a postdoc community at Ume&aring; University organizing events to which all postdocs from KBC are invited and this is also a nice way to meet new colleagues. I have not experienced anything like this in other places where I worked before.&rdquo;, one respondent says.</p><p><strong>The flow of information at KBC works</strong></p><p>The respondents feel well informed about what is going on at KBC. They think that the flow of information within KBC is good &ndash; mentioning regular weekly emails about upcoming events and announcing on digital screens are the main sources. The KBC&rsquo;s Communication Office is doing a good job.</p><p>One respondent points out that &ldquo;It is important that the information is short and to the point. Less is more! I think people easily just dismiss emails if they contain too much information.&rdquo; One respondent says that the information rarely has relevance to his/her work.</p><p><strong>Social events improve the &ldquo;we-feeling&rdquo;</strong></p><p>Many of the responders take part in social events organised by KBC and agree that social events are important for the &ldquo;we-feeling&rdquo;. They can even be especially important for the non-scientists at KBC who do not have so many other social events here to attend (since they are not attending the KBC Days for example).</p><p>Some respondents do not attend social events for various reasons. The young/new researchers have unfortunately not had the opportunity to attend any KBC social events, mainly due to the pandemic.</p><p>As highlights, the responders mention the Christmas party and the super fun KBC-stafetten. The KBC barbecue is a good idea, but it is really turned to families, so if you do not have children, it is not that interesting. Another respondent thinks &ldquo;the KBC barbeque is the best event when &ldquo;almost&rdquo; everyone is there outside with families and have a good time.&rdquo;</p><p>Ume&aring; Postdoc society is a very good initiative according to one respondent: &ldquo;It is important that they continue to receive support and encouragement to continue with activities such as retreats, game nights, etc.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>Stay open, dynamic and up-to-date in the future</strong></p><p>KBC needs to stay up to date, open, dynamic, and in the research front line. To answer the toughest questions in the fields of life science and other natural sciences, researchers from different topics and different expertise need to join forces. KBC is an excellent platform for exactly this and its research infrastructures are of utmost importance in the future. KBC needs to keep up with good analysis capacity and to create opportunities for the researchers to meet will lead to important research utilizing the existing infrastructures and also create new needs which could turn into upgraded facilities, new facilities.</p><p>KBC can in the future open new challenging fields and recruit motivated young and energetic PIs nationally and worldwide in order to support them significantly. KBC can become better at promoting the excellent environment to the newcomers - PhD students, postdocs, and professors - in a structural way rather than letting them discover the facilities and departments on their own.</p><p>KBC can keep on bringing people from different departments together, especially from those departments that are relatively poor at attending KBC events today.&nbsp;</p><p>KBC can become even better at communicating KBC as a brand. The goal is that Swedish and international life science researchers know of KBC and that many international researchers who have been here and moved on, will act as our ambassadors. To strengthen the brand, also a marketing-oriented approach is needed. Creating a logo could help in giving a specific identity to the KBC, as would a Twitter or Facebook account.</p><p><strong>Ideas of improvements</strong></p><p>There were many suggestions of improvements given by the respondents, and KBC will consider all of them.</p>/en/news/voices-from-kbc-2022_11680015//en/news/sustainable-campus-management-important-for-gender-equality_11679596/Sustainability is about more than environmental issues like recycling and clean water. During the course Transition towards a sustainable society, some of the master’s students in environmental science focused on how gender equality can make Umeå university more sustainable.Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:29:33 +0100<p>&rdquo;I think there is still a lot of indirect discrimination in the academic world&rdquo; says Griet Mortier, student in the Master&rsquo;s programme in Environmental science with focus on sustainable development. &rdquo;For example, if you want to hire a professor international experience is regarded as important. Men are more likely to have that, but it doesn&rsquo;t mean they are more competent than a woman who hasn&rsquo;t gone abroad because of her family. So these are things you can either take away from the hiring procedure or don&rsquo;t value so high.&rdquo;</p><p>Manon Legoff studies environmental engineering in France and first came to Ume&aring; university as an Erasmus exchange student. She liked her studies here and decided to stay another year to complete a master&rsquo;s.</p><h3>UN goal nr 5</h3><p>In the first part of Transitition towards a sustainable society the student&rsquo;s worked on the UN&rsquo;s sustainability goals. Manon felt she wanted to go deeper into equality issues, goal nr 5 among the 17 UN goals.</p><p class="quote-left">If you ask someone about sustainability they will first think of ecology and biodiversity, but societal and cultural aspects are just as important</p><p>&rdquo;I have been studying environmental issues for three years, so for once I wanted to work on societal issues&rdquo; she says. &rdquo;If you ask someone about sustainability they will first think of ecology and biodiversity, but societal and cultural aspects are just as important.&rdquo;</p><p>The students interviewed stakeholders in the university to gain knowledge about gender distribution among students and staff and what is being done to reach a more gender equal university. They learned that the student population in general is 50/50 men and women, but the gender gap widens in traditionally male subjects and when you look at higher positions like professorships.</p><h3>A lot of effort still needed</h3><p>&rdquo;That was an eye opener for me, those we interviewed also said it&rsquo;s going to get worse since most of the female professors are a bit older and nearer retirement and there are not enough young women to follow&rdquo; says Griet Mortier.</p><p>When you read policy&rsquo;s and university documents on gender it looks as if most is already done, but the reality is that a lot of effort still is needed before the university can call itself gender equal, Griet and Manon notes.</p><p>Together with their study mates Agnes Mattsson and Peter Magnusson they have listed actions they think the university needs to take on gender issues. Most important is that management on all levels need to be actively involved in gender equality issues, they think.</p><h3>Female role models important</h3><p>For students, especially in science, technology and mathematics, it is important to make successful female scientists known, so that the students have role models. And one step towards more women in higher positions, could be to offer more part time professorships, they suggest. That could make it easier for women in their 30&rsquo;s to move forward in their careers.</p><p>&rdquo;Of course you must make sure that women are not pushed into part time positions for the rest of their lives, but it can be a start, especially in areas where women are underrepresented&rdquo; says Griet Mortier.</p><p>The group also looked at sexual harassment and bullying and the information for victims on the university&rsquo;s website. There is more to be done, they think.</p><p>&rdquo;The procedure could be improved&rdquo; says Griet Mortier. &rdquo;Its says on the website victims should report to their manager and teacher, but it could be difficult to talk to someone in the same department.&rdquo;</p><p>Instead the university could appoint someone outside the organisation, as a trusted councellor or contact person to take the matter further. That could help people feel more safe, the students think.</p><h3>Green walls and uniform signage</h3><p>They also suggest more education for staff and students, both men and women, for example in civil courage.</p><p>&rdquo;So that people learn to speak out, help or intervene when they see something happening&rdquo; says Griet Mortier. &rdquo;Communication, especially for international staff and students, is also important, because many of them don&rsquo;t have a network of people and are extra vulnerable, so it&rsquo;s important everything is clear and provided in English.&rdquo;</p><p>The students presented their projects on how the university campus can be more sustainable in a poster session in the KBC Building. Other projects suggested green walls with climbing plants, both indoors and outdoors, another more uniform signage about recycling and waste management and a third group worked on how to raise awareness of sustainability among students.</p><p>&rdquo;Sustainability often involves communication as a whole&rdquo; Manon Legoff concludes.</p><p><a title=" Read more about the Master&rsquo;s programme in Environmental Science with focus on sustainable development" href="~/link/b5fd182f0315408b938866f487695e8c.aspx">Read more about the Master&rsquo;s programme in Environmental Science with focus on sustainable development</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/sustainable-campus-management-important-for-gender-equality_11679596//en/news/discovery-of-exciting-bacteria-in-underground-caves-in-africa_11672684/A research team from Umeå University, SLU and Algeria has found bacteria, with a number of interesting properties, in previously unexplored caves at a depth of several hundred meters in Algeria. One of these properties is the breakdown of gluten, which can therefore be of interest to people with gluten allergies. The results are published in Spectrum Microbiology published by the American Society of Microbiology.Tue, 18 Oct 2022 12:37:22 +0200<p>&ldquo;This study is yet another example of the fantastic potential of exciting microbes on our own planet. Despite intensive research, we have so far only managed to map a small part of all microbes found on earth,&rdquo; says Natuschka Lee, researcher at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>When Jules Verne wrote his novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth", many people trivialized the wild fantasies surrounding the existence of life in the underworld. It took several decades before biologists began to seriously explore life underground.</p><p>Today, it is known that at least 30 percent of all microorganisms on earth live deep underground &ndash; under completely different conditions than the life forms on the earth's surface, for example without sunlight and thus without plants. Research into underground life forms can give us interesting information about how life can develop in different ways on Earth and whether there can be life in the underground on other celestial bodies, such as on the planet Mars.</p><p>Caves can act as a natural gateway down to the underworld. Caves are found all over the world, but only a fraction of these have been explored. In the last decade, cave research has received a lot of interest &ndash; even in the context of space research, as some planets, such as Mars, have been found to contain many caves.</p><p class="quote-left">For example, we found strains that can produce antimicrobial substances or that can break down gluten</p><p>In the current study, Natuschka Lee in collaboration with Baraa Rehamnia, until recently visiting PhD student from Constantine University in Algeria (who is doing her dissertation on this research topic during the summer of 2022) and Ramune Kuktaite, researcher at the Department of Plant Breeding at SLU in Alnarp, have looked for interesting characteristics of spore-forming bacteria in up till now unexplored caves at a depth of several hundred meters in Algeria.</p><p>These bacteria are closely related to the Bacillus group, a group of bacteria much studied in astrobiology due to their impressive survival abilities and which on our own planet play a major role in several different contexts, partly as pathogens, partly as beneficial microbes in both ecological and biotechnology contexts.</p><p>&ldquo;For example, we found strains that can produce antimicrobial substances or that can break down gluten, a substance that can cause inflammatory reactions in the intestines of many people. The bacteria were also found to be able to tolerate the extreme conditions found in our digestive system,&rdquo; says Natuschka Lee.</p><p>In the future, the researchers will investigate whether these bacteria can be of use to the biotechnology industry for, for example, gluten allergy.</p><p><strong>About the scientific article:<br></strong><em>Screening of Spore-Forming Bacteria with Probiotic Potential in Pristine Algerian Caves, Baraa Rehamia, Natuschka Lee, Ramune Kuktaite, Noreddine Kacem Chaouche, Microbiology Spectrum, DOI <a title="https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00248-22" href="https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00248-22">https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00248-22</a></em></p><p><strong>More information:</strong></p><p><a title="https://www.usgs.gov/news/caves-mars" href="https://www.usgs.gov/news/caves-mars">USGS Caves on the planet Mars</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/discovery-of-exciting-bacteria-in-underground-caves-in-africa_11672684//en/news/melting-permafrost-increases-greenhouse-gas-from-arctic-lakes_11667362/Groundwaters that circulate through the subsoil as a result of melting permafrost can transport carbon dioxide and methane to arctic lakes and in turn be emitted to the atmosphere. This process of transporting greenhouse gases increases the effects of climate change and is now being quantified for the first time by researchers from the universities in Umeå, Barcelona, and Linköping. The study is published in Nature Communications.Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:00:09 +0200<p>Permafrost is the soil that remains frozen all year round in different parts of the planet, such as the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as in high mountains and high plateaus. The current study focuses on Arctic lakes located in the sporadic permafrost region of northern Sweden. In this area &mdash;a typical tundra ecosystem &mdash; between 10 and 50 percent of the soils are permanently frozen. The top layer of the soil above the permafrost, the active layer, freezes and thaws annually.</p><p>In this region, the average annual temperature has risen considerably in recent years and is now above 0 degrees Celsius. This causes the permafrost &mdash; with its abundant organic matter rich in carbon and greenhouse gases &mdash; to thaw. Through the circulation of the groundwater, the permafrost acts as a spring that supplies the hydrologically connected lakes in the region with greenhouse gases. The gases are finally emitted from the lakes into the atmosphere.</p><p>To date, little has been known in detail about the importance of groundwater on greenhouse gas emissions from Arctic lakes. To answer questions about this process, the Spanish-Swedish researcher team in the current study used radon &mdash;a gas abundant in subsoil currents&mdash; as a tracer of groundwater discharge into the lakes.</p><h3>Many technical difficulties</h3><p>However, the quantification of radon in surface water and groundwater to estimate the transport of greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost to the lakes had both technical and operational difficulties.</p><p>"Radon is a radioactive gas, it disintegrates very quickly, and therefore we had to install measuring equipment at the Abisko scientific station to measure the samples on the same day that they were collected", says Carolina Olid, lecturer at University of Barcelona and former Assistant Professor at Ume&aring; University.</p><p class="quote-left">Accelerated permafrost melting will increase the amount of greenhouse gases that can be transported to the lakes through groundwater</p><p>"The concentrations of radon and methane in the water of the subsoil are highly variable, which means that it was necessary to work with a large number and volume of samples to be able to determine their magnitude with good precision", says Valent&iacute; Rodellas, postdoc researcher at University Autonomous of Barcelona. &ldquo;Also, the soils in these rich, dense regions, have a great capacity to retain water, which made it even more difficult to obtain a sufficient volume of water to carry out the analyses&rdquo;, he adds.</p><h3>More emissions in summer</h3><p>The study revealed that the inflow of methane gas through groundwater into the lakes is more intense in the summer than in autumn due to the greater abundance of water circulating in the subsoil (melting, rain, etc.). The higher temperatures in the summer also favour the production of methane in the subsoil and, therefore, enrich the gas content of the groundwater that goes to the lakes.</p><p>"Climate change and accelerated permafrost melting will increase the amount of greenhouse gases that can be transported to the lakes through groundwater. The increase in precipitation &mdash; up to 40 percent in the Arctic over the next decade&mdash; will also increase the flow of groundwater and, therefore, the discharge of methane into the lakes", says Carolina Olid.</p><p>A greater emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is not the only effect caused by the melting of permafrost.</p><p>"Permafrost water contains high concentrations not only of gases such as carbon dioxide or methane but also of other compounds such as nutrients, mercury, and other pollutants. The presence of these compounds in the lakes may generate harmful impacts on the natural environment and the organisms that live in lake ecosystems, as well as in terrestrial systems&rdquo; says Gerard Rocher-Ros, postdoctoral researcher at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>"These are effects with implications for the entire aquatic trophic chain of both the lake itself and the network of interconnected rivers and streams, which have an impact on the ecosystem services provided by natural resources to society&rdquo;, adds Carolina Olid.</p><h3>Improved climate change prediction</h3><p>It is still difficult to determine those areas of the planet where the process of permafrost melting will be more pronounced or faster. In some areas, lakes will dry up because the water will flow out through the drains or new channels formed by the melting. In other cases, the lakes will expand their margins as the melting progresses &mdash;a process known as thermokarst&mdash; and new lakes will emerge in relief depressions.</p><p>In this scenario of climate uncertainty, the introduction of groundwater discharge into climate models will improve predictions of future methane emissions from lakes.</p><p>"This will allow us to assess the real role of lakes in the carbon cycle and whether they really function as sources or as possible reservoirs of greenhouse gases. This information is a key to being able to develop appropriate conservation policies to mitigate climate change", says Carolina Olid.</p><p><strong>About the original article:<br></strong><em>Olid, C.; Rodellas, V.; Rocher-Ros, G.; Garcia-Orellana, J.; Diego-Feliu, M.; Alorda-Kleinglass, A.; Bastviken, D.; Karlsson, J. &laquo;Groundwater discharge as a driver of methane emissions from Arctic lakes&raquo;. Nature Communications, June 2022. Doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-31219-1</em></p><p><strong>For more information, please contact:</strong></p><p>Carolina Olid, Lecturer Professor, Department of Earth and Ocean Dynamics, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain<br>Phone: +34 93&nbsp;402 13 95<br>Email: carolina.olid@ub.edu</p>/en/news/melting-permafrost-increases-greenhouse-gas-from-arctic-lakes_11667362//en/news/arctic-lakes-act-as-reactors-or-chimneys-for-carbon-dioxide_11652486/Many lakes are found at high-latitudes in arctic areas. As they receive and process terrestrial organic carbon, these lakes link terrestrial and aquatic carbon cycles, while emitting CO2 to the atmosphere. Yet, their remote location and long winter periods make studying these systems difficult. This period of ice-cover and subsequent ice-melt is of significant importance for understanding CO2 emission from arctic clear water systems, Dirk Verheijen shows in his thesis at Umeå University, Sweden.Tue, 27 Sep 2022 08:00:07 +0200<p>Verheijen and his colleagues studied 43 arctic lakes in the Swedish mountain range, from J&auml;mtland to Riksgr&auml;nsen, tracking carbon processing through internal metabolism and CO2 exchange to the atmosphere for the full open water season. In addition, an experimental study was set up in Ume&aring;, where manipulation of organic carbon input and temperature allowed for investigation of lake functioning under future climatic conditions.</p><p>In his thesis, Dirk Verheijen shows that Arctic lakes either decompose organic carbon and produce CO2 in the lake, or directly emit CO2 derived from land, but that these two sources rarely contribute evenly to lake CO2 release. Instead, depending on lake structure and landscape properties, one of the sources will dominate over 75 percent of the annual release. Thus, lakes are either mainly a &lsquo;reactor&rsquo; processing carbon in the landscape, or mainly a &lsquo;chimney&rsquo; releasing landscape CO2 to the atmosphere.</p><p>Especially deeper lakes in forested areas, with high organic carbon inputs, were found to have substantial emissions resulting from carbon processing and are thus more likely to function as reactors.</p><p>By covering a full year, Verheijen and colleagues were moreover able to address the importance of the different seasons in lake emissions. The period of ice-cover and subsequent ice-melt was found to be of significant importance for understanding CO2 emission from arctic clear-water systems.</p><p>On average 55 percent of the total emitted CO2 was lost during ice-melt, with especially clear-water lakes, which are low in organic carbon, having a high proportion (up to 100 percent) of the annually evaded CO2 emitted during ice-melt.</p><p class="quote-left">In a broader perspective, the thesis contributes to our knowledge of how arctic lakes &ndash; one of the most common lake types on earth &ndash; relate to regional carbon cycles</p><p>Furthermore, the thesis suggests that a warmer climate may, contrary to expectations, have a dampening effect on organic carbon processing through increased nutrient competition and changes to species composition. As a result, warmer lakes may in fact show decreasing in-lake production of CO2, and may take up rather than release CO2 to the atmosphere.</p><p>&ldquo;In a broader perspective, the thesis contributes to our knowledge of how arctic lakes &ndash; one of the most common lake types on earth &ndash; relate to regional carbon cycles, and what lake and landscape drivers lead to them acting as &lsquo;chimneys&rsquo; or &lsquo;reactors&rsquo; in the landscape&rdquo; says Dirk Verheijen.</p><p>The results furthermore stress that omission of ice-melt emission may lead to wrongful classification of the lakes as carbon sinks, while they are in fact emitting CO2 on an annual scale.</p><p>Future conditions of increased organic carbon input to lakes will further increase the number of &lsquo;reactors&rsquo; in the landscape, as well as increasing arctic lake CO2 emissions. In a future warmer and wetter climate, higher inputs of organic carbon are thus predicted to increase the number of &lsquo;reactors&rsquo; in the landscape, while decreasing the relative amount of CO2 released at ice-melt. On the other hand, changes in species composition and decreased ice cover can also increase the amount of carbon taken up by the systems, potentially negating effects of DOC inputs on annual CO2 emissions.</p><p><strong>About the dissertation</strong><br><em>On Friday September 30, Hendricus (Dirk) Verheijen, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Ume&aring; University, defends his doctoral thesis titled &lsquo;Factors regulating the origin and magnitude of carbon dioxide emissions from high-latitude lakes&rsquo;. Swedish title: &rsquo;Reglerande faktorer av ursprung och m&auml;ngd av koldioxidutsl&auml;pp i sj&ouml;ar p&aring; h&ouml;ga breddgrader&rsquo;. The dissertation takes place at 09.00 in room S205, Social Sciences Building, Ume&aring; University. Faculty opponent is Dr. Anne Ojala, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, Finland.</em></p><p><a title="Read the whole thesis" href="http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-198962">Read the whole thesis</a></p><p><strong>For more information, please contact:</strong></p><p>Dirk Verheijen, doctoral student, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Ume&aring; University<br>Phone: +46 72 534 77 53<br>Email: hendricus.verheijen@ͯ����Ƶ</p><p><a title="Press photo for download" href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/d16bee02d5bc0fa8d7d3212c635e34d6">Press photo</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br><br></p>/en/news/arctic-lakes-act-as-reactors-or-chimneys-for-carbon-dioxide_11652486//en/news/flera-umeaforskare-deltar-i-nationellt-rymdmote-i-lund_11502045/On March 23-24, 2022, the Swedish Space Scientists' Cooperation Group (SRS) had its annual meeting. Several researchers from various departments at Umeå University was participating in this meeting.Thu, 04 Aug 2022 08:59:40 +0200<p class="quote-center">The meeting is important because space scientists and space organizations from different parts of Sweden meet here to exchange information.</p><p>&ldquo;The meeting is important because space scientists and space organizations from different parts of Sweden meet here to exchange information about research, funding opportunities and international collaborations, says Maria Hamrin, docent in space plasma physics at Ume&aring; University and chairman of the Swedish Space Scientists' Cooperation Group, SRS.</p><p>The annual meeting is divided into different subject areas within space research, such as various special areas within astronomy, space physics to astrobiology and astrochemistry.</p><p>Ume&aring; University contributed with several different presentations, on space weather (Audrey Schillings, Department of Physics), on the geochemistry of the planet Mars (Merve Yesilbas, Department of Chemistry) and on biological experiments with moss and microbes on the ISS space station (Marie Hemon and Natuschka Lee, Department for ecology and environmental sciences), as well as Anita Sellstedt and Markus Schmid (Ume&aring; Plant Science Center).</p><p>In connection with the annual conference, Natuschka Lee also gave an interdisciplinary lecture on biological experiments in space: Humans and other organisms from Earth in space environments: potentials and risks. It took place within the Space Humanities research platform at the Division of History of Ideas and Sciences at Lund University.</p><p>The Swedish National Space Agency is Sweden's space authority.</p><p>Read the program:</p><p>https://www.astro.lu.se/SRS2022</p>/en/news/flera-umeaforskare-deltar-i-nationellt-rymdmote-i-lund_11502045//en/news/miljoarkeologiska-laboratoriet-tar-over-pollenmatningar-i-umea_11577171/Under the direction of the Swedish Museum of Natural History there are 20 measuring stations in various locations in Sweden that measure the pollen content in the air. The Environmental Archaeological Lab at Umeå University is now taking over responsibility for local pollen measurements in Umeå.Wed, 03 Aug 2022 14:52:30 +0200<p class="quote-center">Samples are always taken early in the morning and reported to the Swedish Museum of Natural History at 9 o'clock, after which they can compile a national forecast that is posted on the web portal Pollenrapporten.se.</p><p>With the help of the measurements, national forecasts for the pollen season are made, which is valuable for the roughly three million Swedes who suffer from pollen allergies. The reason why the pollen measurements in Ume&aring; being placed at the Environmental Archeological Lab is that the laboratory conducts commissioned research in environmental archaeology where pollen analysis is one of many important methods used to study vegetation history throughout history.</p><p><strong>Former pollen reporter retired</strong></p><p>&ldquo;There is a connection to the former pollen reporter, Jan-Erik Wallin, who has been associated with us for a very long time and when he is now retiring it was appropriate to transfer the activity to us,&rdquo; says Johan Linderholm, associate professor at the Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Ume&aring; University and the one director of the Environmental Archeological Lab.</p><p>&ldquo;For us, it will be a way to secure long-term competence in palynology both for the laboratory and to be able to maintain pollen forecasts with Norrland as a starting point. When working with climate change issues, the changes we can observe in the present become important to understand what has been and also to be able to predict what will happen, continues Philip Buckland, associate professor at the Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Ume&aring; University and the second director for the Environmental Archeological Lab.</p><p><strong>Designed course for pollen analysis</strong></p><p>Natuschka Lee, researcher at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University is also involved in the project with her expertise in pollination ecology and microbiology. Last autumn, she completed a European allergy and fungus identification course in Belgium at the European Aerobiology Society, the European allergy pollen organization.</p><p>The Swedish Museum of Natural History then offered to put together a special course at Ume&aring; University for all those interested who did not have the opportunity to attend this course. The course leader was Bj&ouml;rn Gedda, curator at the Palynological Laboratory at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm.</p><p>As a transitional solution during the first year, three co-workers with good experience in microscopy of biological samples: Christos Katrantsiotis, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Philippe Simon, master's student in biology, and Natuschka Lee will now form a team that will share the pollen analyses in a rotating schedule.</p><p>&ldquo;It is important to be several people to be able to guarantee a continuous daily analysis. Samples are always taken early in the morning and reported to the Swedish Museum of Natural History at 9 o'clock, after which they can compile a national forecast that is posted on the web portal Pollenrapporten.se. Here you can follow the daily development of pollen throughout Sweden,&rdquo; says Natuschka Lee.</p><p>After careful preparation, a pollen trap is now placed on the roof of the Social Science Building at Ume&aring; University approximately 15 meters above the ground and the measurements on a daily basis have started. Samples from the air are collected on a special type of tape that is attached on a rotating reel on the trap. This tape is used to make special preparations for microscopy &ndash; then just to analyse it with a microscope that works up to 400x magnification.</p><p><strong>Pollen season from March to October</strong></p><p>In Central Europe, pollen measurements start as early as January, while in Sweden they start later. In Ume&aring;, it is advisable to start measuring in the latter part of March. The analyses then continue until late autumn &ndash; depending on when the snow and cold come.</p><p>&ldquo;Last week, Bj&ouml;rn Gedda payed a visit to us again together with colleague Agneta Ekebom to investigate whether the pollen trap has been set up properly and that we have started the measurements in the right way. He seemed pleased that we have finally started!,&rdquo; says Natuschka Lee.</p><p>Pollen measurements are carried out on behalf of the Swedish Museum of Natural History in a number of selected locations around Sweden. Next year, the idea is to expand the forecast to include more locations in Norrland.</p>/en/news/miljoarkeologiska-laboratoriet-tar-over-pollenmatningar-i-umea_11577171//en/news/miljoatgarder-i-reglerade-alvar-med-liten-forlust-i-produktion-_11282770/New research from Umeå University shows that it is possible to implement measures that provide more environmentally friendly flows in regulated rivers with only small losses in hydropower production. The study is published in the scientific journal Water Resources Research.Wed, 03 Aug 2022 08:56:12 +0200<p class="quote-center">Sweden is facing a national review of all hydropower permits where greater demands for environmental considerations must be made.</p><p>Flows and water levels change when constructing hydropower plants and dams, which in turn changes the conditions and living conditions for organisms in the regulated watercourse and also the power plants prevent fish migration. Water flows and water levels change rapidly, so-called short-term regulation, and cause stress and disturbances for the species of the watercourses.</p><p>Through ecological regulation of the flow, some of the ecosystems of the regulated watercourses can be recreated and biological diversity preserved. In the current article, the research team from Ume&aring; University has carried out field studies in the Ume River and presents 28 scenarios with ecological regulation with environmental benefits and impact on electricity production.</p><p>&ldquo;We show that the hydropower plants in the Ume River can be adapted to the environment with relatively small losses of electricity or even without impact on production,&rdquo; says lead author &Aring;sa Wid&eacute;n, who recently completed her doctorate at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>She further explains that it is unusual to have results from environmental measures where both costs and environmental benefits are quantified. As an example, a zero discharge ban (requirement of a minimum constant flow through the power stations) combined with spillage of 1&ndash;12 percent of the average annual flow to dry furrows would result in a loss of 2.1 percent of annual electricity production. If fishways were added, the loss would increase to 3.1 percent per year. The results do not include the impact on balancing and regulating power.</p><p>According to &Aring;sa Wid&eacute;n, the research results are important to be able to preserve biological diversity in regulated waterways and relevant because Sweden is facing a national review of all hydropower permits where greater demands for environmental considerations must be made.</p><p>&Aring;sa Widen has carried out the study together with a team of researchers: Roland Jansson, Birgitta Malm-Ren&ouml;f&auml;lt, Erik Degerman and Dag Wisaeus.</p>/en/news/miljoatgarder-i-reglerade-alvar-med-liten-forlust-i-produktion-_11282770//en/news/monitoring-staff-with-a-license-to-dive_11619489/Now Umeå University can proudly present four employees who have obtained the Swedish professional diving certificate S-30. On behalf of the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, macrovegetation in the Gulf of Bothnia will be monitored within the national environmental monitoring.Thu, 30 Jun 2022 10:35:33 +0200<p>In March, the training for scientific divers began for Jenny Ask, Joakim Ahlgren, Robin Bergman and Martina Jeuthe, all staff at Ume&aring; Marine Research Centre, UMF, at Ume&aring; University. Since then, it has been hard work and many hours of practice beneath the surface.</p><p>"We have been commissioned by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management to monitor macrovegetation in the Gulf of Bothnia. This means, for example, that we will investigate how deep different algae and plants are found on the seabed. Depth range and species composition of vegetation gives an indication of the environmental status, partly because the depth range is affected by eutrophication, says project manager Jenny Ask, researcher and environmental analyst at UMF, Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The Swedish professional diver certificate S-30 aimes at scientific divers, who dive to photograph, collect samples, or otherwise document life below the surface. The number 30 indicates that they are trained to be able to dive down to a depth of 30 meters. This is quite sufficient for the activities that now will be launched at UMF.</p><p><a title="Press photos" href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/c42c93cae4f3baee73589dc321d3f011">Press photos</a></p>/en/news/monitoring-staff-with-a-license-to-dive_11619489//en/news/-globala-forandringar-paverkar-algproduktion-i-nordliga-sjoar_11604201/Globally rising temperatures and the browning of lakes, i.e. changing color due to increased dissolved organic material, can both inhibit and promote algal growth in northern lakes. This is shown by Isolde Callisto Puts in her thesis that she defends on Friday 3 June at Umeå University in Sweden.Wed, 01 Jun 2022 16:07:09 +0200<p class="quote-center">The results in my thesis highlight the power of browning and warming to change aquatic ecosystems.</p><p>&ldquo;The results in my thesis highlight the power of browning and warming to change aquatic ecosystems. Given the large-scale warming of the entire northern hemisphere, these findings are probably relevant on a global scale,&rdquo; says Isolde Callisto Puts, doctoral student at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Global warming, recovery of acidification and changes in land use have caused warming and browning of northern lakes. Increased temperature and browning impact aquatic primary producers (algae) which are a major component of the aquatic food web, and thus changes in primary production affect aquatic ecology in general.</p><p>Isolde Callisto Puts research shows that increased temperatures and nutrient additions through browning increase primary production in clear lakes with low levels of dissolved organic material, while browning of humic lakes with high levels of dissolved organic material inhibits primary production through reduced light transmission.</p><p>Furthermore, Isolde Callisto Puts has investigated how these changes affect benthic algae (which grow on lake bottoms and sediments) and pelagic algae (which grow free-floating in the water column) in terms of habitats and the sum and distribution of biomass produced by benthic and pelagic algae &ndash; &nbsp;which is called autotrophic structuring.</p><p>Isolde Callisto Puts has interpreted measurements from several lakes in Swedish Arctic, subarctic and boreal landscapes which represent a wide range of browning intensities. She also conducted an experimental study in 16 ponds where she assessed the extent to which temperature and browning affect algae that grow on plastic strips where browning and temperature have been manipulated.</p><p>In addition to assessing the direct effects of changes in nutrients and light conditions in connection with browning, Isolde Callisto Puts also investigated the indirect effects of global changes on primary production, for example through intensified warming, carbon dioxide supersaturation, changes in lake acidity (i.e. their pH value), and the role of landscape processes and properties.</p><p>The results confirm that browning is the dominant factor in structuring primary production in northern lakes through light inhibition, nutrient supplementation, indirect warming of surface water and through carbon dioxide fertilization. Warming can increase algal growth, but thermal compensation of algae can also lead to decreased algal growth.</p><p>&ldquo;In addition, the primary production of benthic algae generally exceeds the pelagic primary production and should therefore not be excluded in studies that assess global change effects on primary production, which is often the case today,&rdquo; says Isolde Puts.</p><p>Browning and warming of lakes affect the total primary production, as well as the autotrophic structuring in northern lakes, and probably also the productivity and composition of higher trophic levels.</p>/en/news/-globala-forandringar-paverkar-algproduktion-i-nordliga-sjoar_11604201//en/news/climate-impacts-research-centre-receives-donation-of-sek-2-million_11240274/A private donation of two million kronor has been bequeathed to the Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC) at Umeå University, which conducts field research in Abisko. "You become overjoyed,” says research centre director Jan Karlsson about the gift.Thu, 30 Dec 2021 10:36:58 +0100<p>A private individual has chosen to bequeath two million kronor to Ume&aring; University. The donor has stated that the money should go to climate research, after which the university's vice-chancellor and donation committee have decided to distribute the entire sum to the <a title="Climate Impacts Resarch Centre (CIRC)" href="https://www.arcticcirc.net/">Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC)</a>.</p><p>CIRC conducts interdisciplinary research from detailed process-level studies to comprehensive landscape-level studies in both aquatic and terrestrial Arctic ecosystems. Around 40 researchers are affiliated with the centre, whose activities are mostly conducted at the Abisko Scientific Research Station in northwestern Lapland.</p><p class="quote-center">A great sense humility and gratitude</p><p>&rdquo;It is incredibly gratifying that Ume&aring; University has received such a large donation, and that it has gone to climate research which is one of our priority areas for donations,&rdquo; says <a title="Per Ragnarsson" href="~/link/9dce50bbf4bc4f53a159e67567d5da88.aspx">Per Ragnarsson,</a> Deputy University Director and contact person for gifts and donations.</p><p>CIRC is led by research director <a title="Jan Karlsson" href="~/link/4b3623a0788c4577a45652bd3f18436a.aspx">Jan Karlsson</a>, professor of natural geography who specialises in aquatic biochemistry. He says that the news of the donation made him very surprised and happy &ndash; to be able to receive and manage an endowment from an individual donor is something special:</p><p>&ldquo;You become overjoyed and feel a great sense of humility and gratitude that an individual has paid attention to our research and been willing to donate a large sum of money to the research centre,&rdquo; says Jan Karlsson.</p><h3>A sign of how climate issues affect communities</h3><p>Per Ragnarsson, contact person for gifts and donations, says that it is very common for gifts to Ume&aring; University to be directed to a special area. The most common example is that donations are directed toward research on various diseases.</p><p>As a climate researcher, Jan Karlsson has for many years noticed a growing interest from the public in his research area:</p><p>&ldquo;By and large, I have observed a very large interest. Climate issues, the conditions in northern Sweden and especially in the mountain areas affect many,&rdquo; says Jan Karlsson. &ldquo;Today, no one asks what climate change is due to, but they are mainly interested in what effects it has now and in the future.&rdquo;</p><h3>Contributes to the overall picture of how Arctic environments are affected</h3><p>When Jan Karlsson is asked to describe the uniqueness of CIRC, he emphasises that the centre creates opportunities for research that are required to achieve national environmental quality goals and global sustainability goals, but which cannot be implemented by individual research projects.</p><p>&ldquo;The research conducted here contributes to a holistic understanding of how Arctic environments are affected by climate change,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;What we specifically focus on is cross-border research that integrates new knowledge in ecology, biogeochemistry and other relevant research areas. The research also has a special emphasis on the connection between terrestrial and aquatic environments.&rdquo;</p><h3>Still to be decided how the donation will be used</h3><p>The decision about the bequeathed millions is still completely new for CIRC director Jan Karlsson.</p><p>&ldquo;Quite naturally, people have already started thinking about all the possible investments we could make. But it will take some time to decide what we should invest in in order to make the best use of the funds, says Jan Karlsson.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="81fef4fd-0e1f-464b-bccc-30d97aa7c814" data-contentname="Facts: Private donations">{}</div>/en/news/climate-impacts-research-centre-receives-donation-of-sek-2-million_11240274//en/news/masters-students-suggest-actions-for-a-sustainable-campus_11129938/During the course Transition towards a sustainable society, master’s students in environmental science have challenged Umeå University’s work with sustainability beyond environmental issues like recycling waste and effective use of energy.Tue, 23 Nov 2021 12:34:53 +0100<p>&ldquo;As an institution that is transitioning into a more sustainable university, we have to make sure our efforts in going in that direction are not only inclined towards being economically or environmentally stable. We also have to address the social aspects of sustainability&rdquo; says Vicky Phiri, one of the students in the course.</p><p>The course is included in the first year of the Master&rsquo;s programme in Environmental Science with a focus on sustainable development. Nine students representing nine different nationalities are studying the programme, which makes for different aspects and ways of introducing sustainability, associate professor Tom Korsman notes.</p><p>Among the UN sustainability goals are equity, equality and inclusion. With Ume&aring; university&rsquo;s action plan for sustainability as a base, one of the groups in the course looked into representation of minority groups in decision making processes.</p><p>Language is one barrier, they conclude. In a country like Sweden where the Swedish language is most common, many people transitioning into the society can find themselves left in the periphery. Ume&aring; University could have more information on its website and social media channels in English and maybe one other foreign language, they think. It is also difficult for people who don&rsquo;t speak Swedish to take place in boards, committees and student unions.</p><h3>Minority groups should be better represented</h3><p>The master&rsquo;s students note that Ume&aring; University has come a long way into achieving gender equality in decision making, which shows that when you have a pronounced strategy change will take place.</p><p>&ldquo;Gender equality has taken precedence when it comes to representation and participation, but every discrimination ground is of equal importance&rdquo; emphasizes Vicky Phiri.</p><p>Aspects like race, ethnicity and disabilities needs to be taken into account as well, the students argue. They suggest that the university adopts strategies and monitoring systems to make sure that these minorities are represented in boards and committees.</p><p>&ldquo;The university also has to see to that these groups are supported with the tools and strategies which bring them to the spaces where they need to be&rdquo; says Vicky Phiri.</p><h3>Suggests &ldquo;green office&rdquo;</h3><p>Another group in the course focused on student involvement in sustainability issues on campus. Today there are few, if any, activities for students interested in these issues to engage in, they noted. Initiative often comes from organizations outside the university, like Fridays for future. They suggest that the university creates a &ldquo;green office&rdquo; with staff dedicated to work on sustainable development, where students can participate as volunteers.</p><p>&ldquo;Another thing is the presence of greenery in the environment&rdquo; says Whitney C. Vlahakis. There is a lot of greenery on campus, but not much within the buildings. Research shows that greenery can influence how a person feels in terms of stress levels, so class rooms and office could be greener. Even if it&rsquo;s just a green wall that makes a difference.</p><p class="quote-left">At a green office many activities can be delegated to students. It could also be a place for the community to come in.</p><p>&ldquo;At a green office many activities can be delegated to students&rdquo; Helen Mkandawire adds. &ldquo;It could also be a place for the community to come in and see what is happening and to be involved in sustainability activities, thereby building a culture that is sustainably conscious.&rdquo;</p><p>A third group looked at supply to restaurants at campus and the information you get as a customer about the ingredients used in food. They noted that it is easy to for example buy fair trade coffee, but other items often lack information about what has been used to make them and where it comes from.</p><p>&ldquo;Restaurants on campus are often franchises, so it needs to be very clear in the agreement between them and the university about things like supply and waste management&rdquo; says Helen Mkandawire. &ldquo;It has to be clear what the university wants, like meatless Mondays, so that you are only given a contract if you execute A, B, C etcetera.&rdquo;</p><p><a title="Read more about the Master&rsquo;s programme in environmental science with focus on sustainable development" href="~/link/b5fd182f0315408b938866f487695e8c.aspx">Read more about the Master&rsquo;s programme in environmental science with focus on sustainable development</a></p><p><a title="Read more about the course Transition towards a sustainable society" href="~/link/c54a0a70e1814464842e6f1ad5503db2.aspx">Read more about the course Transition towards a sustainable society</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/masters-students-suggest-actions-for-a-sustainable-campus_11129938//en/news/mims-highlights-world-antimicrobial-awareness-week-2021--_11117273/The World Health Organization WHO celebrates Antimicrobial Awareness Week every year. This year it takes place November 18-24 and the theme is "Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance". Today it starts and MIMS draws attention to the campaign with a series of articles.Tue, 13 Jun 2023 13:48:40 +0200<p>Throughout the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, MIMS, at Ume&aring; University &ndash; the Swedish node of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine &ndash; will highlight the important campaign.</p><p>&ldquo;On our website we will present a number of interviews with some of our successful researchers in this area, including Magnus &Ouml;lander, Irfan Ahmad, Niklas Arnberg, Karsten Meier and Nabil Karah, who carry out research at the field of virology, antibiotic resistance and discovery, and infectious diseases. We hope that you join us on this journey to &ldquo;Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance&rdquo;, says N&oacute;ra Lehotai, project coordinator and responsible for communications at The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, MIMS, at Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;</p><p>Antimicrobials do wonders. We have antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal drugs and vaccines available. They protect against or cure infections which otherwise might prove to be deadly for humans, animals and plants. Penicillins and tetracyclines, some of the most commonly used antibiotics, save millions of lives every year. The discovery of antimicrobials revolutionized not only medicine but our food supply as well. Another important problem is that we only have antiviral drugs against a few of all viruses that cause diseases in humans. We lack antiviral drugs against many hundreds of viruses that cause diseases in humans.</p><p>However, with their use, especially misuse, we awoke the defense machinery of these microbes and they learned how to adapt to these agents. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other type of microbes develop the ability to adapt to antimicrobial drugs, which have been successful to kill these microbes before but not anymore.</p><p>&nbsp;Antimicrobial resistance emerges from all fields of antimicrobial applications. Whether these drugs are applied to treat infections in humans, animals or plants, or as a precaution to stop infections happening, in farming, for example, they contribute to the global problem of rising antimicrobial resistance. The spillover and transmission of resistant genes among bacteria, crossing the species border, cause bacteria to become resistant against our antibiotics while viruses gain resistance against antivirals via mutating when being copied. The consequence is that our drugs stop working and we have nothing left to fight against microbial infections, threatening our lives and food safety.</p><p><a href="http://MIMS webbplats https//www.mims.ͯ����Ƶ/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MIMS website</a></p>/en/news/mims-highlights-world-antimicrobial-awareness-week-2021--_11117273//en/news/millions-to-research-on-the-role-of-forests-in-climate-change-_11058806/Associate professor Per Stenberg at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Umeå University, Sweden, is awarded a grant of almost 16 million SEK from Formas’ announcement The role of the Swedish forest in climate change. A total of nine projects were approved. Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:59:35 +0100<p>"The feeling is hard to describe, I could not believe it was true" says Per Stenberg. "It makes me really happy to see that others also believe in our research and our ideas! It is unusual to receive such a large grant that now give us time to carefully set up and execute this exciting collaborative project together with the co-applicants Xiao-Ru Wang, David Hall and Mats Forsman."</p><p>The research within Formas' major programme is expected to increase knowledge of the different values that the forest covers and provide a basis for decision-making in the forest area.</p><p>"The project will investigate the climate impact on forest biodiversity with the aid of weekly air samples that have been collected over several decades,&nbsp; where we are using DNA sequencing can study the changes in abundance of all types of organisms, from bacteria and fungi to plants and animals" says Per Stenberg. "With this data, in combination with mapping of the genetic variation in the trees, we will also make a focused analysis of how the forest is impacted by the increasing problem of fungal pests."</p><p>"Our results will improve how trees are selected for breeding, both from the perspective of tolerance to climate change and tolerance to fungal infestations. As a step on the way to deal with the impacts of the changing climate, we will also deliver improved decision basis for preservation efforts and damage forecasts" says Per Stenberg.</p><p><a title="Read more about all projects that have received funding on Formas' website" href="https://formas.se/en/start-page/archive/calls/2021-01-22-the-role-of-swedish-forests-in-the-climate-transition.html">Read about all projects that have received funding on Formas' website</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/millions-to-research-on-the-role-of-forests-in-climate-change-_11058806//en/news/insects-in-focus-for-french-students-during-internship-in-umea-_10761588/The corona pandemic was making their journey impossible, but eventually a group of French students were able to gain their first international experience as Erasmus scholars. Throughout the summer, together with supervisor Natuschka Lee at Umeå University, they have explored bees, plants that the insects pollinate and microbes in insects that live on wood. Mon, 09 Aug 2021 14:15:50 +0200<p>&ldquo;It has been really cool, we have not seen so many people on campus, but it has been great anyway&rdquo; says Pauline Audru who studies biology at the <a title="University of Poitiers" href="https://www.univ-poitiers.fr/en/">University of Poitiers</a> in France. "Natuschka explains things so well and we have got a good mix between theory and practice and have learned some new lab techniques.&rdquo;</p><p>In summer, the campus is usually quite desolate - and this summer even more deserted. But, the French students are happy with their stay anyway. Due to covid-19, it was uncertain whether they would be able to complete their three-month Erasmus internship abroad at all.</p><h3>First students three years ago</h3><p>&ldquo;When they came here, they were first quarantined for 14 days&rdquo; says Natuschka Lee, researcher at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University, who supervised the students.</p><p>Three years ago Anita Sellstedt at UPSC and she received the first student from Poitiers and since then the exchange has continued. This year, one student from the historic <a title="Universit&eacute; Paris-Saclay" href="https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en">Universit&eacute; Paris-Saclay</a> and one from the <a title="Toulouse University of Veterinary Medicine" href="https://envt.fr/lenvt/">Toulouse University of Veterinary Medicine</a> also did an internship in Ume&aring; through Erasmus.</p><p>Biology students Marine Gueylard and Pauline Audru have studied bacteria and parasites in the intestinal flora of honeybees. Tomas Momboeuf, who studies computer science and has mostly programmed before, has in Ume&aring; been given new challenges in developing the Pollen database. Honey is one of the foods in the world where there is most cheating with the origin and the purpose of the database is to be able to identify which plants the bees that gave the honey have visited.</p><h3>Field work with insects</h3><p>Damien Arriv&eacute; has also worked with a database, but his project has been about beneficial microbes like rhizobia in nitrogen fixing plants. The aim has been to investigate the global diversity of these useful microbes and compare it with the conditions in V&auml;sterbotten, which has not been done before.</p><p>&ldquo;I have also done some field work, both here and in Lapland, to observe which insects pollinate these important nitrogen fixing plants&rdquo; says Damien.</p><p>Etienne Guillaume's project has not been about bees, but about wood-living insects, or rather the microbes in the insects' intestines that break down the wood. Diving into biology was completely new to him.</p><p>&ldquo;The last time I studied biology was in high school&rdquo;, he says. &ldquo;I study engineering and have mostly read physics, math and computer science.&rdquo;</p><p><em>Why did you want to come to Ume&aring; University?</em></p><p>&ldquo;During my first year as a master's student, I studied environmental science and became increasingly interested in it, but wanted to learn more biology and see what research is about. I think I might want to do my doctorate in the future.</p><p><em>What experiences do you take home with you?</em></p><p>&ldquo;Many great memories and above all I&rsquo;m pleased that the practice has given me what I wanted and that Natuschka has let me test many different kinds of tasks. It will help me decide what kind of environmental science I want to pursue. It has also been wonderful to experience nature here and the sunlight around the clock that we are not used to at all. The countryside here is also much more "wild" than in France.&rdquo;</p><h3>"Something other than my living room"</h3><p>Damien Arriv&eacute; thinks that he, like the others, has learned a lot of new things. Above all, it has been a new experience to do an internship abroad.</p><p>&ldquo;After a complicated year with covid-19, I am also grateful to have been able to travel and see something other than my own living room&rdquo;, he says.</p><p>The whole group has also got a taste for studying abroad. Marine Gueylard hopes to be able to go abroad the last six months of her master's studies. Pauline Audru would like to study in New Zealand, where her father once did his PhD and Etienne Guillaume has already decided to work on a humanitarian project in Burundi during his next year of study.</p><p>&ldquo;I would like to come to Ume&aring; again, but in the winter so that I can see the northern lights and go skiing&rdquo; says Damien Arriv&eacute;.</p>/en/news/insects-in-focus-for-french-students-during-internship-in-umea-_10761588//en/news/umea-universitet-deltar-i-vetenskapsfestivalen-i-goteborg_10344008/On April 12-18, Gothenburg is bursting with popular science activities. I two different digital lectures, one aimed at teachers and one at students, researcher Natuschka Lee and colleagues tell about pollinators in our nature.Mon, 02 Aug 2021 14:09:52 +0200<p>Which insects pollinate which plants? What groundbreaking discoveries have helped us understand how it works? Why are pollinators at all threatened and how can research help improve their survival conditions on earth?</p><p>Researchers do not know everything about which insects pollinate which plants. But, what we do know is that it is of great importance for biodiversity.</p><p>In two different lectures, participants at the Science Festival get a chance to listen to researcher Natuschka Lee, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University. She studies biodiversity, ecology and the principles of life and how it can increase our chances of creating a sustainable and healthy existence on earth.</p><p>Teachers will receive tips for classes where students can go out into the woods and fields. Students also meet educators from the Nobel Prize Museum who talk about how the Nobel Prize has rewarded creative and innovative solutions &ndash;what simply works if we believe in a positive development for a sustainable future and to be able to "level up" which is the theme of the Science Festival.</p><p>The science festival takes place in Gothenburg but is of course digital and is open to everyone in Sweden so hundreds of teachers and students participate in this online.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Facts about the lectures:</h2><p><strong>Time:</strong> Wednesday 14 April at 13.00-15.00<br><strong>Title</strong>: The hunt for pollinators<br><strong>Target group:</strong> Teachers for primary and middle school</p><p><strong>Time:</strong> Thursday 15 April at 13.00-14.00<br><strong>Title:</strong> The hunt for pollinators has begun!<br><strong>Target group:</strong> students in grades 7-9</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">About the Science Festival</h2><p>Gothenburg is the geographical home of the Science Festival. Since 1997, an annual popular science event has been created. The festival communicates science in an easily accessible and creative way and creates meeting places for schools, the general public, the research community and the business community.</p><p><a href="https://vetenskapsfestivalen.se/hem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://vetenskapsfestivalen.se/hem/</a></p>/en/news/umea-universitet-deltar-i-vetenskapsfestivalen-i-goteborg_10344008//en/news/prohibition-of-zero-tapping-in-hydropower-plants-has-benefits_10420884/It is possible to implement measures that provide more environmentally friendly flows in regulated rivers with only small losses in hydropower production. This is shown by new research from Umeå University, Sweden. The study is part of Åsa Widén's doctoral project and is published in Science of the Total Environment. Tue, 29 Jun 2021 11:07:20 +0200<p>In developed rivers, water flows and water levels can change rapidly, which causes stress and disturbance to the watercourse's animal and plant species. But it also means long periods of zero tapping, ie the hydropower plants stand still for weeks and months.</p><p>&ldquo;We show that the hydropower plants in the Ume River are completely still between 9-55 percent of the time in a normal year, which also means that the water is completely still and rapids are drained&rdquo; says &Aring;sa Wid&eacute;n, doctoral student at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Earth Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The biological effects of zero tapping are poorly studied, but include behavioral changes in fish, less food for filtering aquatic insects and oxygen-free bottom conditions during longer periods of zero tapping.</p><p>Therefore, &Aring;sa Wid&eacute;n and her staff chose to study zero tapping per hour, ecological regulation described as minimum discharge through a hydropower turbine, potential environmental benefits in the form of habitats for live species and what effects the minimum discharge is expected to have on hydropower production. The study was carried out in the Ume River catchment area and it included all power plants in the Ume River.</p><p>The researchers' results show that if it were possible to introduce a ban on zero tapping in the river, which means that all power plants have a requirement for minimum tapping, this would entail only a 0,5 percent loss of hydropower production per year. The environmental benefit is calculated at 240 hectares of newly created and existing stream water habitat.</p><p>&Aring;sa Wid&eacute;n explains that research results on zero tapping of power plants and the consequences of environmental measures, where both costs and environmental benefits have been quantified, have never been published before.</p><p>"Our results are important in order to be able to preserve biological diversity in regulated watercourses and are relevant because Sweden is facing a national review of all hydropower permits where greater demands must be made on environmental considerations" she says.</p><p><strong>About the scientific article:<br></strong><em>Wid&eacute;n, &Aring;., Malm-Ren&ouml;f&auml;lt, B., Degerman, E., Wisaeus, D., Jansson, R .: Let it flow: Modeling ecological benefits and hydropower production impacts of banning zero-flow events in a large regulated river system . Science of the Total Environment. Volume 783 (2021).</em> <a title="https://lnkd.in/eGXnddK" href="https://lnkd.in/eGXnddK">https://lnkd.in/eGXnddK</a></p>/en/news/prohibition-of-zero-tapping-in-hydropower-plants-has-benefits_10420884//en/news/the-pollen-hunt-starts-and-a-week-is-dedicated-to-pollinators_10467080/The Pollination week 15 - 23 May is about drawing attention to and disseminating knowledge about our vital pollinators and their role in the ecosystem. The celebration of the national pollination week is an initiative of Pollinera Sverige and is financed by, among others, the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Pollen is also the theme for Research Aid 2021 in collaboration with school children. Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:53:32 +0200<p>&ldquo;We are now taking the opportunity to launch our project Pollen Hunt which has been selected for the Nobel Prize Museum's Research Aid this year. Through Research Aid, school children get the opportunity to try out real research. The Pollen Hunt will be the eleventh edition of Research Aid and this year the students will collect important data about pollinators and pollen together with us researchers&rdquo; says Natuschka Lee, researcher at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University and national project manager.</p><h3>Schoolchildren analyze pollen and honey</h3><p>Bees collect pollen and nectar to get the nutrition they need. In the Pollen Hunt researchers, beekeepers, schools and the Nobel Prize Museum collaborate to map bee colonies' pollination activities around Sweden. Through the collaboration that Natuschka Lee and her research team have with Swedish beekeepers, they get access to pollen from different parts of the country. It is this pollen that the pupils will then work with in school after the summer holidays. The research tasks will also involve outdoor excursion exercises linked to pollinators and plants.</p><p>&ldquo;We will investigate which plants the bees visit in all counties in Sweden, the condition of the plants, for example with regard to environmental toxins and how this can affect the bees, and what risks there may be for competition between honey bees and wild pollinators&rdquo; says Natuschka Lee.</p><p>The Pollen Hunt ends in late autumn with analyzing of honey, where schoolchildren learn what a valuable product honey is, that it is unfortunately the third most counterfeit food product in the world, and how to prove the origin of honey and thus identify possible counterfeit products.</p><h3>Pollination ecology in Campus Big&aring;rden</h3><p>It was a few years ago that Natuschka Lee, a researcher at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University, took courage and started a completely new field of research at Ume&aring; University, namely pollination ecology. The ambition has given several Ume&aring; students new opportunities to delve into this theme. Until now, at least 15 students and foreign Erasmus students have been allowed to carry out project work or degree projects in the area.</p><p>This spring and summer, five different exciting degree projects are underway around pollination networks in V&auml;sterbotten and the effects of fungae in bee communities. Furthermore, Natuschka Lee and her students collaborate with the County Administrative Board of V&auml;sterbotten to explore the plants in V&auml;sterbotten that we lack knowledge about how they are pollinated and by whom.</p><h3>Many activities in progress</h3><p>Last year, Ume&aring; University celebrated the pollination week and the international contribution on 18 May 2020 with the inauguration of Campus Big&aring;rden and the launch of a new profile product: honey that has been produced by 150,000 diligent honey bees.</p><p>&ldquo;It feels good that we have started so many activities in such a short time. This shows that we have succeeded in identifying an important need that has been lacking in both undergraduate education and in our research environment at Ume&aring; University. Furthermore, we have received a very positive response from beekeepers around Sweden who appreciate our research efforts. As soon as the current pandemic situation allows, we will also start our popular bee safaris and pollination ecology excursions in V&auml;sterbotten - here all participants get the opportunity to learn a little about our pollinators and see a bee community in action - and taste our honey.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Read more:</h2><p><a title="Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s staff tripled overnight" href="~/link/4da2aca2b8a44dbeb12dda77cd176d8b.aspx">Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s staff tripled overnight</a></p><p><a title="LONA days draw attention to wild pollinators" href="~/link/5041d8437a9448b08e706ab4b174c01f.aspx">LONA days draw attention to wild pollinators</a></p><p><a title="Pollinate Sweden - acitivities during the pollination week" href="https://pollinerasverige.se/in-english/">Pollinate Sweden - activities during the pollination week</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/the-pollen-hunt-starts-and-a-week-is-dedicated-to-pollinators_10467080//en/news/skogsbruk-har-liten-paverkan-pa-granens-genetiska-diversitet-_10239795/The genetic variation in spruce does not differ significantly between cultivated and old forest from the coast to mountain areas in Västerbotten. But with new forestry methods in the future, risks may arise. Helena Eklöf defended her thesis on Friday 26 March at Umeå University.Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:44:35 +0200<p>Genetic diversity, the variation that exists in the genome of organisms, is necessary in all species in order to preserve the ability to adapt to changing climates and new environments. In Sweden, we conduct large-scale forestry with felling and replanting over large areas, but lack in-depth knowledge of how this has affected the spruce's genetic diversity.</p><p>In her dissertation, Helena Ekl&ouml;f has focused on developing a basic value for the genetic diversity that we find today in old spruce forests that are preserved in nature reserves. She has thereafter compared the basic value with the genetic diversity found in young, replanted spruce forests in V&auml;sterbotten.</p><p>Common parameters used to measure genetic diversity are, for example, gene variants that are only included in a population, how large the proportion of unusual gene variants is, how closely related individuals in the same population are and what the mean value of heterozygosity is in each population.</p><p>Several parameters showed no difference in mean values ​​between old spruce stands and young replanted spruce stands. But despite the fact that average values ​​did not differ, the young spruce stands showed a greater spread, where both the lowest and highest values ​​were found.</p><p>&ldquo;The greater spread we see among the replanted stocks indicates that there are factors that affect how genetic diversity is distributed between the forest stands,&rdquo; says Helena Ekl&ouml;f. &ldquo;It can be anything from seed collection, to planting or thinning that causes the pattern.&rdquo;</p><p>To ensure what this is due to, more in-depth research is required on the variation that exists within a stand and how this is affected by modern forestry methods.</p><p>&ldquo;The fact that we do not see a major difference in genetic variation in spruce today does not mean that there is a risk that forestry can cause long-term effects. We must carefully monitor the development and be aware of the risks that come with, for example, a possible introduction of clone forestry, where identical individuals of the same tree are used instead of sowing seeds or pushing plants up from seeds, says Helena Ekl&ouml;f.</p><p><em>Helena Ekl&ouml;f was born and raised in Ume&aring;. She has a bachelor's and master's degree in biology and ecology from Ume&aring; University.</em></p><p><a href="http://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1532405&amp;dswid=-3858">Read the whole dissertation: Genetic diversity and differentiation in natural and managed stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies)</a></p>/en/news/skogsbruk-har-liten-paverkan-pa-granens-genetiska-diversitet-_10239795//en/news/ny-gastprofessur-med-fokus-pa-hallbart-liv-langs-vindelalven_10520635/In order to stimulate work on sustainable development in the Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka biosphere reserve, the Kempe Foundations, Umeå University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences jointly fund a guest professorship. At the end of August, Professor Julian D. Olden from the University of Washington, USA, will be on site in Umeå, Sweden. Mon, 07 Jun 2021 12:46:48 +0200<p>&ldquo;This is an important stimulus for research in the Vindel&auml;lven area. Thanks to the river being protected from hydropower development, it offers unique opportunities for research in many different subject areas&rdquo; says Christer Nilsson, professor emeritus of landscape ecology at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><h3>Vindel&auml;lven &ndash; a part of the UNESCO biosphere programme</h3><p>Vindel&auml;lven is a free-flowing river that flows through V&auml;sterbotten's mountains, forest land, bogs and cultural landscape. It begins in the Ammarn&auml;s mountains close to the Norwegian border and flows out via Ume&auml;lven to the coast. It is a journey of almost 500 kilometers.</p><p>Vindel&auml;lven-Juhtt&aacute;tahkka (Umesami for migration routes) is a biosphere reserve within the UN agency UNESCO's biosphere programme. It was formed in 2019 and covers the entire Vindel&auml;lven catchment area as well as some smaller, adjacent areas closest to the coast. UNESCO biosphere reserves are model areas for sustainable development, both economically, ecologically and socially. Their goal is to develop, preserve and support good initiatives for everyone who lives and works in the area, now and for future generations.</p><p>To develop sustainable management, collaboration with researchers can provide the necessary basis. In order to stimulate work on sustainable development in the Vindel&auml;lven-Juhtt&aacute;tahkka biosphere reserve, the Kempe Foundations, Ume&aring; University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, therefore jointly fund a guest professorship, which covers 25 percent of full-time over five years. At Ume&aring; University, Arcum, an interdisciplinary centre for Arctic research, and the Faculty of Science and Technology, contribute to funding. At SLU, the Faculty of Forest Science is responsible for funding.</p><h3>Researching sustainable water management</h3><p>Professor Julian D. Olden at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, is the researcher who has been called to the guest professorship. His research is primarily about how to manage wetlands, lakes and watercourses in a sustainable way. He works with fish, amphibians and aquatic insects and how they are affected by changing water flows, dams and climate change.</p><p>Julian D. Olden is Canadian but has worked at the University of Washington since 2006. Over the past 20 years, he has published more than 260 papers that have been cited more than 23,000 times (according to the Web of Science). Olden sees himself as a bridge-builder between basic and applied research and is challenged by finding techniques for analyzing complex ecological data.</p><p>&ldquo;Julian D. Olden will have his base at the Department of Game, Fish and Environment at SLU, but he is open to all collaborations, mainly at our university and SLU in Ume&aring;&rdquo; says Christer Nilsson.</p><p><a title="Watch a film where Julian D. Olden explains his research" href="https://vindelalvenjuhtatdahka.se/nyheter-fran-vindelalven-juhtatdahka/">Watch a film where Julian D. Olden explains his research</a></p>/en/news/ny-gastprofessur-med-fokus-pa-hallbart-liv-langs-vindelalven_10520635//en/news/streams-and-rivers-emit-more-carbon-dioxide-at-night-than-day_10359648/Streams and rivers emit large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but a new study published in Nature Geoscience led by researchers at the universities in Umeå and Lausanne shows that the flux may be greater than previously thought.Fri, 16 Apr 2021 06:45:05 +0200<p>Current estimates of carbon dioxide emissions from running water are based on manual samples, where a person goes to the river, takes a sample and analyses the content of carbon dioxide in the water. But by doing this, we had previously assumed that concentrations are stable over time. In the last decade, there has been a revolution in sensor technology and now we can measure water parameters continuously in the water and know how variable are over time.</p><p>In the current study, an international research team led by Lluis Gomez-Gener at the &Eacute;cole polytechnique f&eacute;d&eacute;rale de Lausanne, Gerard Rocher-Ros and Ryan Sponseller at Ume&aring; University has used the power of sensors to measure carbon dioxide in rivers and streams at a high-resolution. They found that carbon dioxide emissions during the night were greater than during the day.</p><p>These results are of great importance for our understanding of the role of rivers and streams in the global carbon cycle, as previous estimates, based on manual samples during the day, underestimated the actual flux.</p><p>&ldquo;For example, 90 percent of the samples gathered into global databases were taken between eight in the morning and four in the afternoon. In this time window only ten percent of days based on our continuous measurements have high carbon dioxide emissions,&rdquo; says Gerard Rocher-Ros, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Earth Sciences at Ume&aring; university and affiliated with the Climate Impact Research Centre, CIRC.</p><p>The study is based on measurements around the world, from tropical forests to Arctic tundra and in many different types of rivers and streams.</p><p>The observed pattern of carbon dioxide emissions along the day is not so surprising, we know that plants and algae absorb carbon dioxide during the day and reduce concentrations and therefore the emissions are greater at night than during the day.</p><p>&ldquo;But the interesting thing about our study is that we were able to find out where and when this happens. For example, in places with closed forests and dark water, less light is available and this variation effect is lower, while in open rivers and streams, with clearer water or with a lot of nutrients, there is greater growth of algae and a greater difference between day-night concentrations of carbon dioxide,&rdquo; says Gerard Rocher-Ros.</p><p>The study was funded by FORMAS.</p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/8206bcb7397b5e2719daa374602d4513">Press photos</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">About CIRC:</h2><p>At CIRC, research is conducted on climate effects on Arctic ecosystems. The research includes detailed process studies for extensive landscape studies in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The business is located at Abisko Natural Science Station, about ten miles northwest of Kiruna.</p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/8206bcb7397b5e2719daa374602d4513" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.arcticcirc.net/</a></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Scientific article:</h2><p>Gomez-Gener, Rocher-Ros et al: <em>Global carbon dioxide efflux from rivers enhanced by high nocturnal emissions</em>, Nature Geoscience (2021). DOI 10.1038/s41561-021-00722-3</p><p><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00722-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00722-3</a></p>/en/news/streams-and-rivers-emit-more-carbon-dioxide-at-night-than-day_10359648//en/news/metallfororeningar-i-vattenmiljon-paverkar-aven-faglar-pa-land_10121265/The negative impact of metals in polluted lakes on aquatic organisms may also adversely affect insectivorous birds on land. This is the conclusion of a dissertation from the Industrial Doctoral School for Research and Innovation at Umeå University. Ecologist Johan Lidman will be defending his results on 19 February at Umeå University.Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:21:55 +0200<p>Knowledge of how hazardous substances spread in and affect the environment is fundamental to developing safe environmental standards, thereby limiting the environmental damage done by pollutants. The impact of metal contamination on land and in water have traditionally been dealt with separately, often ignoring the fact that contamination can spread from water to land.</p><p>Johan Lidman&rsquo;s studies, which have focused on the impact of lead and zinc contamination from a decommissioned mine in northern Sweden, show that aquatic insects can transport significant amounts of metals stored during their larval stage from water to land, thereby exposing terrestrial animals that eat the insects &ndash; birds, for example &ndash; to metals from aquatic environments.</p><p>Until now, this transport via organisms has seldom been considered in risk assessments for terrestrial organisms and, according to Johan Lidman, earlier assessments of areas contaminated with metals may have underestimated the real risk.</p><p>&ldquo;We can see that chicks and fledgelings living near polluted lakes ingest a significant amount of lead from aquatic insects. Were solely land exposure to be included, then incorrect conclusions regarding exposure sources for birds would have been drawn,&rdquo; says Johan Lidman of the Industrial Doctoral School for Research and Innovation and Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>As well as the risk of aquatic insects exposing terrestrial birds to metals from water, Johan Lidman&rsquo;s dissertation demonstrates that metal contamination of lakes can also affect the food supply of insectivorous birds. According to Johan, the larval stage for insects becomes longer and fewer aquatic insects hatch from more polluted lakes, which can create an imbalance between food supply and demand that leads to food shortages and a negative impact on birds.</p><p>&ldquo;Even if the birds have access to other prey, my results show that to some extent the health of chicks and fledglings is affected by access to high-quality food, where nonbiting midges, mayflies and caddisflies are preferable to, for example, spiders and ants.&rdquo;</p><p>The studies also show that the effects of metal contamination on aquatic insects after the larval stage, during the metamorphosis to flying insects. Researchers usually only study the effects during the larval stage of aquatic insects, which is to ignore the impact during metamorphosis and ultimately underestimate the likely consequences.</p><p>&ldquo;This may mean that environmental quality standards, which are usually based on studies focused on the larval stage, may be set too high and therefore fail to protect aquatic organisms.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>Johan Lidman&rsquo;s external partner in the doctoral project is Boliden AB. He is now planning to continue working with environmental issues.</p><p>Johan Lidman was born and raised just outside Skellefte&aring;. He holds a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in biology and a master&rsquo;s degree in ecology from Ume&aring; University.</p><p><a href="http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-179117">Read the dissertation&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/2016f1e8278f16afe4f8496255bea078">Press photos</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">About the Industrial Doctoral School for Research and Innovation, IDS:</h2><p>IDS is an inter-faculty research school that is based on collaboration between Ume&aring; University and an organisation or a company. IDS aims to promote collaboration in order to strengthen research and development, increase the doctoral students&rsquo; employability, independence and innovative capacity, and increase knowledge and innovation in society.</p><p><a href="~/link/f31ecd8d1e43438482e92d66cdcaba35.aspx">www.ͯ����Ƶ/en/industrialdoctoralschool</a></p>/en/news/metallfororeningar-i-vattenmiljon-paverkar-aven-faglar-pa-land_10121265//en/news/a-better-understanding-of-how-soil-carbon-is-distributed-in-the-arctic_10166306/Two studies bring a better understanding of the spatial variability of soil organic carbon in the Arctic permafrost region. One article published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles led by Umeå researcher Matthias Siewert is describing how permafrost and periglacial landforms cause a unique variability in Arctic soils. The second article in Science Advances provides a new map for the soil organic carbon stored in the circumpolar permafrost region.Thu, 25 Feb 2021 12:19:03 +0100<p>The permafrost region is the part of the Arctic where soils can remain frozen all year round, and this region stores huge amounts of soil organic carbon. The seasonal freezing and thawing of the ground, combined with the effect of permanently frozen ground below is causing the formation of periglacial landforms that only occur in cold environments.</p><p>In an article in Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Matthias Siewert from Ume&aring; University and colleagues from Stockholm University, the Alfred-Wegener-Institute in Germany and the University of Vienna in Austria show how the formation of these landforms generates a unique spatial variability in the soils of the region.</p><p>The researchers looked at a large number of soils and sampled them to quantify how their variability changes at different spatial scales, from the centimeters to landscape level. The field data was collected on Herschel Island, of the Canadian coast in the Arctic Ocean.</p><p>They show that at the fine scale from centimeters to meters, a soil process called cryoturbation causes the formation of small landforms such as hummocks and nonsorted circles. Cryoturbation means that soil material is moving in response to annual freezing and thawing of the soil. This process is slow and it takes decades to move material several centimeters. But over thousands of years, this dramatically mixes and sorts material in the ground.</p><p>At the medium or terrain scale, from meters to tens of meters, variability of these soils is caused by a different landform called ice-wedges. Ice-wedges form during cold winters when the ground freezes and contracts, leaving meters deep cracks in the ground that are filled by snow and water. Over time, this accumulates vertically and forms wedge-shaped ice-bodies that form a polygonal pattern visible from a bird perspective. The formation of these ice-wedges contributes to a further increase in spatial variability of the soil organic carbon and ground ice. Finally, soil also changes over hundreds of meters along slopes, when permafrost thaws over large scale or when valleys form.</p><p>&ldquo;The importance of this study is to point out, that permafrost soils are among the most variable soils on Earth. This needs to be considered when mapping and predicting the potential feedback of permafrost regions in the global carbon cycle,&rdquo; says Matthias Siewert, post doctor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>A second article published in Science Advances represents a large community effort to better understand soil organic carbon variability across the entire permafrost region. The researchers, including Matthias Siewert, combined a large amount of soil profiles from studies over the last years with a spatial modeling approach. This helped to identify key factors controlling the distribution of soil organic carbon.</p><p>The study provides a first truly pixel based estimate of soil organic carbon in this area. The team, lead by Umakant Mishra from the Sandia National Laboratory in USA, estimated that 1 014&nbsp;petagram&nbsp; organic carbon (one petagram is a billion metric tons) is stored in the top three meters of northern hemisphere permafrost-region soils. Although the total amount is slightly lower than earlier estimates, this new assessment suggests more carbon is stored within a meter of the surface and, thus, is more vulnerable to top-down warming.</p><p>The finding will help to improve modeling the response of permafrost-affected soils to climate change.</p><p>&ldquo;Both studies are very complementary. One shows that permafrost soils are tremendously variable looking at centimeter to landscape scale. The second study picks up at the landscape scale and maps the soil organic carbon storage with coarse pixels of 250 meters from satellite data for the entire permafrost region. Together both studies emphasis the variability of soil organic carbon in the region and that it is much more pronounced than in warmer climates,&rdquo; says Matthias Siewert.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">About the Climate Impacts Research Centre, CIRC:</h2><p>CIRC conduct and facilitate research on the effects of climate change on Arctic and other northern ecosystems. The research range from detailed process-level studies to comprehensive landscape-level studies in both aquatic and terrestrial systems. The activity is located at Abisko Scientific Research Station in northern Sweden.</p><p><a href="https://www.arcticcirc.net/">https://www.arcticcirc.net/</a></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Original articles:</h2><p>Siewert, M. B., Lantuit, H., Richter, A., &amp; Hugelius, G. (2021):&nbsp;<em>Permafrost causes unique fine-scale spatial variability across tundra soils.</em> Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 35, e2020GB006659. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GB006659">https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GB006659</a></p><p>Mishra, U., Hugelius, G. Shelev, E., Yang, Y., Strauss, J. Lupachev, A., Harden, J.W., Jastrow, J.D., Ping, C.-P., Riley, W. J., Schuur, E. A. G., Matamala, R., Palmtag, J., Kuhry, P., Treat, C.C., Zubrzycki, S., Hoffmanm, F., Elberling, B., Camill, P., Veremeeva, A., Orr, A. (2021): <em>Spatial heterogeneity and environmental predictors of permafrost region soil organic carbon stocks.</em> Science Advances, 7, eaaz5236. <br><a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz5236">https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz5236</a></p>/en/news/a-better-understanding-of-how-soil-carbon-is-distributed-in-the-arctic_10166306//en/news/high-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-siberian-inland-waters_10094378/Rivers and lakes at high latitudes are considered to be major sources for greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, but these losses are poorly constrained. In a study published in Nature Communications, Umeå University researchers and collaborators quantify carbon emissions from rivers and lakes across Western Siberia, finding that emission are high and exceed carbon export to the Arctic Ocean.Fri, 05 Feb 2021 11:05:59 +0100<p>High latitude regions play a key role in the global carbon cycle and climate system. An important question is the degree of mobilization and atmospheric release of vast soil carbon stocks, partly stored in permafrost, with amplified warming of these regions. A fraction of this carbon is exported to inland waters and emitted to the atmosphere, yet these losses are poorly constrained and seldom accounted for in assessments of high latitude carbon balances. This is particularly relevant for Western Siberia, with its extensive peatland carbon stocks that are expected to be affected by climate warming.</p><p>Now researchers at the Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC), Ume&aring; University, and collaborators from Russia and France have quantified the carbon emission from inland waters of Western Siberia. Due to the remoteness and large area (3.6 million km2 area) of the study region, sampling of lakes and rivers were carried out over several years.</p><p>&ldquo;We collected data of representative lakes and rivers over 2,000 km distance, including the main channel of Arctic&rsquo;s largest watershed the Ob&rsquo; River&rdquo;, explains lead author Jan Karlsson.</p><p>Based on these data and information on the distribution of inland waters of the region the research team show high carbon emission from Western Siberian inland waters and that these systems play an important role in the continental carbon cycle.</p><p>"Our results emphasize the important role of carbon emissions from inland waters in the regional carbon cycle. The carbon emission from the inland waters was almost an order of magnitude higher that carbon export to the Arctic Ocean and reached nearly half of the region&rsquo;s land carbon uptake".</p><p>The high significance of inland waters in the carbon cycle of Western Siberia is likely a result of the overall flat terrain, which lead to relatively high water coverage and long water transit times, and thus favorable conditions for decomposition and outgassing of land derived carbon in inland waters. The authors stress that further studies on the coupled land-water carbon cycle are needed in order to improve the understanding of regional differences in the contemporary carbon cycle and predictions of future conditions in these understudied and climate-sensitive areas.</p><p>"Ignoring carbon outgassing from inland waters will likely largely underestimate the impact of warming on these regions and overlook their weakening capacity to act as terrestrial carbon sinks".</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Original article:</h2><p>Karlsson, J., S. Serikova, S. N. Vorobyev, G. Rocher-Ros, B. Denfeld, O. S. Pokrovsky. 2021. <em>Carbon emission from Western Siberian inland waters.</em> Nature communications 12 (2021), DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21054-1.<br><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21054-1">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21054-1</a></p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/69d7d9e3b145f034f98af84d9f6cafb4">Press photos</a></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">About the Climate Impacts Research Centre, CIRC:</h2><p>CIRC conduct and facilitate research on the effects of climate change on Arctic and other northern ecosystems. The research range from detailed process-level studies to comprehensive landscape-level studies in both aquatic and terrestrial systems. The activity is located at Abisko Scientific Research Station in northern Sweden.</p><p><a href="https://www.arcticcirc.net/">https://www.arcticcirc.net/</a></p>/en/news/high-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-siberian-inland-waters_10094378//en/news/nordic-knowledge-on-challenges-with-supplementary-feeding-of-reindeer-_10086825/Climate, difficult winter weather and declining forage resources due to competition with other land users make it increasingly difficult for reindeer to find their own food, so that reindeer herders can be forced to provide supplementary feeding. A newly published report on supplementary feeding as a collaborative process between reindeer herders from Norway, Sweden and Finland and researchers illustrates the many trade-offs and challenges involved. Wed, 03 Feb 2021 13:27:08 +0100<p>The report originates from a two-day workshop held in Kiruna in 2018, when the research networks CLINF, ReiGN and REXSAC arranged the event together with reindeer herders from Norway, Sweden and Finland. Researchers with different academic backgrounds were present to join in the discussions. The overall aim was to connect multiple knowledge systems &ndash; amongst herders, and between herders and researchers and across borders and languages &ndash; to address supplementary feeding from different perspectives.</p><p>&ldquo;Our aim was to create an opportunity for reindeer herders to share and exchange their knowledge and experiences with supplementary feeding, as different strategies exist between the countries&rdquo;, says Tim Horstkotte, one of the main organizers of the workshop together with Camilla Risvoll, Nordlandsforskning in Norway and &Eacute;lise L&eacute;py, Oulu University in Finland.</p><p>He continues:</p><p>&ldquo;Where different experiences and knowledge can be exchanged and combined, they may help to find solutions and develop a better understanding of how to respond the challenges at present and in the future.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>During the workshop, herders discussed similarities and differences how supplementary feeding is applied in the three countries. They also emphasized how important such an exchange was to learn from each other.</p><p>While supplementary feeding is a response to for example difficult snow conditions, a decrease of grazing resources due to other forms of land use or the presence of carnivores, it is not considered a long-term solution, as it does not solve the underlying problems. Furthermore, increased necessity of supplementary feeding may increase the risk of diseases or change reindeer behavior in yet unknown ways. It may also threaten reindeer husbandry traditions, as well as the intergenerational transfer of experience-based knowledge.</p><p>The report was written in collaboration with the participating reindeer herders, to make sure that their voices are represented correctly in their context.</p><p>&ldquo;Several rounds of exchange and translations into several languages took lots of time. The S&aacute;mi translation was important for us, because it is a central part in the culture for S&aacute;mi reindeer herders to use their own language&rdquo; says Tim Horstkotte.</p><p>The report now is available in Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, English and Northern S&aacute;mi. <a href="https://www.oulu.fi/culturalanthropology/node/209206" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the report</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">More information about the different research networks:</h2><p>CLINF. Climate change effects on the epidemiology of infectious diseases and the impacts on Northern societies<br><a href="http://www.clinf.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.clinf.org</a></p><p>REXSAC. Resource Extraction and Sustainable Arctic Communities REXSAC - A Nordic Centre of Excellence&nbsp;<br><a href="http://www.rexsac.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.rexsac.org</a></p><p>ReiGN. Reindeer husbandry in a Globalizing North<br><a href="http://www.reign.no">www.reign.no&nbsp;</a></p>/en/news/nordic-knowledge-on-challenges-with-supplementary-feeding-of-reindeer-_10086825//en/news/nutrients-affect-arctic-freshwater-responses-to-global-warming_10029472/Arctic freshwaters have naturally low concentrations of nutrients, and the current trend points toward decreasing levels, possibly driven by climate warming. Maria Myrstener shows that this has the potential to decrease primary productivity of these ecosystems. Maria defends her thesis on Friday 22 January at Umeå University.Wed, 20 Jan 2021 08:57:34 +0100<p>Primary productivity, which is growth of algae and plants, in Arctic waters support unique food webs, regulate water quality, and affect carbon dioxide emissions. Yet, we know very little about which physical and chemical parameters control this productivity, especially outside the normal growing season.</p><p>In her thesis, Maria Myrstener has focused on developing knowledge on how these ecosystems function today, to predict in a better way how they are being affected by current climate change. The studies have foremost taken place in Arctic mountain streams in and around Abisko in Norrbotten County.</p><p>The low availability of essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in Arctic streams showed to have large effects on how these ecosystems function, including the seasonality of aquatic primary production. When nutrient concentrations drop during summer, this limits the growth of algae, and carbon dioxide uptake decreases.</p><p>During spring and autumn on the other hand, when nutrient concentrations are higher, the potential for algal growth increases. Maria shows that despite extremely low temperatures, some of her study streams peak in primary productivity during these &lsquo;shoulder&rsquo; months in spring and autumn. As result the patterns in aquatic primary production can be strongly off set from terrestrial growing season patterns, which peak during mid-summer.</p><p>The strong nutrient limitation the researchers see in these waters effect essentially all parts of the ecosystem functions that Maria Myrstener has studied, including carbon dioxide uptake, algal biomass, seasonal patterns, and the capacity for stream nutrient uptake.</p><p>&ldquo;With a continued rapid rise in temperature and declining nutrient concentrations, we unfortunately expect that these mountain streams will be negatively affected,&rdquo; says Maria Myrstener.</p><p><a href="http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-177439">Read the whole thesis</a></p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/7d378e5dcf7d7e42ca25e8e288b4dd42">Press photos. Credit: Maria Myrstener</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">About the dissertation:</h2><p>On Friday 22 January Maria Myrstener, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; university, defends her thesis entitled: The role of nutrients for stream ecosystem function in Arctic landscapes: Drivers of productivity under environmental change.</p><p>The dissertation takes place at 9:00 in room KB.G5.01, KBC building at Ume&aring; University and via Zoom.</p><p>Faculty opponent is professor Tenna Riis, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology, Aarhus Universitet. Supervisor is Ryan Sponseller</p>/en/news/nutrients-affect-arctic-freshwater-responses-to-global-warming_10029472//en/news/prestigefylld-miljoprofessur-till-umea-universitet_9889743/André M de Roos, professor of theoretical ecology at the Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics at the University of Amsterdam, has been appointed holder of H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf’s professorship in Environmental Science 2021–22. The professorship will be hosted by the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Umeå University.Tue, 12 Jan 2021 12:57:02 +0100<p>"This is fantastic news! The fact that we can establish affiliations with such a prominent international researcher shows that the ecological research conducted at Ume&aring; University is of high quality and the interdisciplinary research environment at IceLab is attractive. The visiting professorship creates the necessary conditions for productive research collaborations, inspiring teaching and, in the longer term, deeper contacts between the universities,&rdquo; says Hans Adolfsson, Vice-Chancellor at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Professor Andr&eacute; M de Roos' research area is theoretical ecology where he studies the dynamics of size-structured populations. Since the mid-1990s, he has had close and successful collaboration with ecologists at Ume&aring; University, mainly with Professor Lennart Persson, who has now retired.</p><p>Professor Andr&eacute; M de Roos will be hosted by the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science. The location for de Roos&rsquo; planned work will be the Integrated Science Lab, IceLab, which is an interdisciplinary meeting place for researchers in mathematics, physics, ecology and computer science. He will also collaborate with researchers at SLU's Coastal Laboratory in &Ouml;regrund.</p><p>"Andr&eacute; M De Roos is one of the most inspiring researchers I have met. He is genuinely interested in other people's research and is both sharp and constructive in his critical thinking. Having him here as a visiting professor will lead to many stimulating discussions and several exciting research projects," says Sebastian Diehl, professor of ecology at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The research that Andr&eacute; M de Roos is planning to do as a visiting professor at Ume&aring; University aims to understand how fish populations can be expected to respond to changing climate conditions and effects of fishing and how changes in fish populations in turn affect entire marine ecosystems.</p><p>Most fish species increase their body weight by a factor of 1,000 to 1,000,000 during their development from newly hatched larvae to sexually mature adult. This means they have to change their food strategy and ecological niche as they increase in size and are sensitive to environmental changes, which sometimes only affect one of their life stages.</p><p>Two projects will use mathematical models developed by de Roos to study the effects of increased temperature, the adding of humus-coloured water, and taxation on fish growth, size distribution and population dynamics. Since almost all cold-blooded animal species (e.g. crustaceans and insects) undergo size-dependent niche changes during their lifetime, a third project will study the effects of size-selective mortality on the dynamics of model food weaves where almost all species are size-structured.</p><p>Andr&eacute; de Roos will also offer two modelling courses aimed at doctoral students, postdocs and advanced Master&rsquo;s students.</p><p>Professor Andr&eacute; M de Roos is the twenty-sixth holder of King Carl XVI Gustaf's professorship in environmental science.</p><p><em>King Carl XVI Gustaf's professorship in environmental science was created for Carl XVI Gustaf's 50th birthday in 1996. The visiting professorship is intended to attract prominent foreign researchers to Swedish universities where they will be able to contribute to the renewal of Swedish environmental science.</em></p><p><a href="https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt.4.367010ad11497db6cba800054503.html">Swedish Royal Court</a></p><p><a href="http://Professor Andr&eacute; M de Roos">Read more about Professor Andr&eacute; M de Roos' research&nbsp;</a></p>/en/news/prestigefylld-miljoprofessur-till-umea-universitet_9889743//en/news/the-many-different-values-of-a-forest-increase-with-the-age-of-the-forest_9546692/Forests provide us with many ecosystem services such as timber, berries, mushrooms, game and recreation but the number of services and the scope of each service that the forest provides changes as the forest becomes older. This has been shown by researchers from Umeå University, SLU in Uppsala and the University of Gothenburg in a new study published in “Environmental Research Letters”.Tue, 12 Jan 2021 11:18:42 +0100<p>The research team has investigated the ecosystem services of tree growth, carbon storage in the soil, the diversity of species in soil vegetation, and the presence of blueberries, food for wildlife and dead wood. While tree growth increased up to the age of 70-100 years, which is when forests are normally harvested, the highest levels of most of the other ecosystem services were found in forests older than 120 years. In addition, those forests were able to deliver a greater number of different ecosystem services at the same time than younger forests could do.</p><p>"Our results show that if forests are allowed to grow old, they not only provide more of many different ecosystem services but also, the number of values in that forest increases," says Micael Jonsson, senior lecturer at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University, lead author of the study.</p><p>However, the study shows that the high diversity of ecosystem services in older forests is at the expense of tree growth, which is low in old forests.</p><p>"There is a clear trade-off between tree growth and the existence of other ecosystem services. This trade-off seems inescapable, probably because trees in younger, even-aged, managed forests outcompete the plants that are the basis for other ecosystem services,&rdquo; says co-author Jan Bengtsson, professor at SLU in Uppsala.</p><p>One of the conclusions of the study is that the way the forestry industry limits the age of forests by felling stocks when they are 100 years old leads to forests with fewer and lower levels of many of the forest's values, with the exception of tree growth.</p><p>"Moreover, the forestry industry is discussing lowering the age when trees are felled, and in this study, we have shown that that could have further negative consequences for many ecosystem services," says co-author Tord Sn&auml;ll, professor at SLU in Uppsala.</p><p>The study also shows that the species of tree in the forest has an impact on the way the values change as the forest ages. Although a middle-aged monoculture of spruce showed some of the highest values of tree growth and low values for other ecosystem services, old forests with only spruce, or spruce with elements of birch, had the highest values for several of the services.</p><p>"We could see clearly that the age of the stock is something that needs to be taken into account, because several of the forest values change so dramatically over time, but the mix of species in the stock also plays an important role," says Micael Jonsson.</p><p>The study is based on data from the Swedish National Forest Inventory, and confirms the results of previous studies conducted by the research team, namely, that mixed stocks and stocks that are allowed to become older than 100 years of age are of great importance.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMSTcw3fZn4&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;ab_channel=MicaelJonsson">Short film about the study</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Original article:</h2><p>Micael Jonsson, M. et al:&nbsp;<em>Stand age and climate influence forest ecosystem service delivery and multifunctionality.</em> Environmental Research Letters (2020).</p><p><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abaf1c">https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abaf1c</a></p>/en/news/the-many-different-values-of-a-forest-increase-with-the-age-of-the-forest_9546692//en/news/lona-days-draw-attention-to-wild-pollinators_9525232/On 29-30 August, Umeå University will launch exciting upcoming activities linked to the project “Pollinating Insects in Västerbotten”. Students and researchers involved with the project will also spend those days out in the field, taking stock of pollinators, weather permitting.Mon, 11 Jan 2021 10:49:55 +0100<p>"Because of the corona pandemic, we are launching the activities digitally in the form of four short presentation videos and some documents describing some of our inventory studies of pollinators in the Ume&aring; region," says project leader Natuschka Lee, researcher at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>LONA stands for Local Nature Conservation Initiative and is managed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with municipalities and county administrative boards around Sweden. It is the largest national investment to date in various types of long-term conservation commitments for the benefit of nature conservation, outdoor recreation and public health.</p><p>For three years now, researchers and students at Ume&aring; University have been participating in a LONA project entitled "Pollinating Insects in V&auml;sterbotten" &ndash; often shortened to the slogan "Pollinate Norrland". The project is being carried out in collaboration with many organisations and people in the Ume&aring; region and beyond.</p><p>Originally, the aim of this project was to build up a basic bank of knowledge and then set up different types of insect hotels in various places in Ume&aring;.</p><p>"However, we quickly came to realise that it's not enough just to set up insect hotels and then randomly sprinkle some seeds," says Natuschka Lee. For an optimal long-term nature conservation strategy, it is important to first establish concrete facts about pollinator ecology in high northern latitudes &ndash; not only out in the countryside but also in built-up areas like Ume&aring;, which is after all one of the fastest growing cities in Sweden. How has this rapid expansion affected pollinators and what is Ume&aring; City doing to compensate for the rapid changes taking place in the original environment?</p><p>After that, the project participants realised that the current bank of knowledge is rather limited but at the same time too extensive for amateurs to handle. Although there are quite a number of factual books and databases, many of them focus only on a limited selection of pollinators and their plant requirements, or require complicated search processes to find the practical information needed. Very few people in Sweden have sufficient knowledge on how to identify all pollinators and their plants. There is not even any solid teaching on pollination ecology in the current basic level biology curriculum.</p><p>To address these shortcomings, the project team at Ume&aring; University has broadened its ambitions and is investing in a number of knowledge-building projects. Students, pupils and other interested parties have had the opportunity to participate in the various projects which are:</p><p>1) Increase the number of inventory routes of pollinators and their plants in different locations in Ume&aring;.</p><p>2) Create a solid database, "Pollinator flora", of all pollinators and their different living conditions in Sweden and a large part of the Nordic region. This also includes a pollen database for Norrland.&nbsp;</p><p>3) Organise knowledge-building activities linked to pollination (lectures, workshops, hiking trails) for the general public.</p><p>4) Initiate the research and teaching network Arthropodum at Ume&aring; University and SLU.</p><p>5) Initiate new research projects on the theme of pollination ecology that span an exciting range of fields from plant and insect ecology, microbiology and health issues to landscape ecology and climate issues.</p><p>6) Initiate a photo series of pollinators in Norrland and set up collaborations with artists on these themes.</p><p>In connection with another project with the Swedish Board of Agriculture, an apiary has also been established on Ume&aring; University's campus &ndash; "Campus Apiary" and collaborations are underway with several local beekeepers and an EU project organised by Nordens Ark.</p><p><em>The project &ldquo;Pollinating Insects in V&auml;sterbotten&rdquo; is taking place in close cooperation with Ume&aring; Municipality, The County Administrative Board of V&auml;sterbotten, Akademiska Hus, SLU, Studief&ouml;rbundet Vuxenskolan i Ume&aring;, a selection of schools in Ume&aring;, UmU holding AB, nature societies (Svensk Dagfj&auml;rils&ouml;vervakning, Pollinera Sverige, Naturskyddsf&ouml;reningen R&auml;dda Bina, Norrlands Entomological F&ouml;rening), artists (Bildmuseet and Konsthall Norra Kvarken) and, last but not least, Ume&aring; University's own collaborative project with Ume&aring; City.</em></p>/en/news/lona-days-draw-attention-to-wild-pollinators_9525232//en/news/ny-bok-om-liv-i-extrema-miljoer_9893364/A new book with Umeå researcher Natuschka Lee as editor and author describes researchers' actions on extremophilic organisms and their usefulness in various areas.Mon, 14 Dec 2020 16:25:24 +0100<p>"It feels exciting and I hope that this book can inspire more people to this research area, we actually just started scratching the surface! It is exciting that researchers from Ume&aring; University are contributing with the volume of biotechnological applications as astrobiotics and astrobiology are two special areas that we want to refine in Ume&aring;," says Natuschka Lee, researcher at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The book is part of a new international series about extremophile life on earth and their possibilities, not only on our own planet but also in space. The editor-in-chief of the series is the renowned geo- and astrobiologist Dirk Wagner at the Helmholtz Center at the University of Potsdam in Germany. <br>&nbsp;<br>Extremophilic organisms were first discovered in the late 1960s and became the turning point in broadening our concepts around the definition of life and it also became the basis for today's astrobiology. Extremophiles are also important in molecular biology and biotechnology as many tools and processes could not have been developed without their extreme properties.</p><p class="quote-center">This is truly a fantastic area of the future</p><p>"Without them, life could not have developed during the earth's early history, when the earth was very unwelcoming compared to the world we are used to today. Furthermore, their properties offer unimaginable possibilities in astrobiology, especially in the new exciting field of astrobiotics," says Natuschka Lee.</p><p>The new book <em>Biotechnological applications of extremophilic microorganisms</em> presents fourteen chapters on various aspects of the benefits of extremophilic organisms, from pure basic research in life evolution and molecular biology to applications in a number of different subject areas where new opportunities in bioeconomy, green economics and medical research are introduced.</p><p>The book series provides a good overview of the latest discoveries in basic research in molecular biology, medical applications, food biotechnology, agriculture, environmental biotechnology, and astrobiotics and is aimed at everyone interested, from the general public to students and researchers.</p><p>"We have already received several positive comments, including from the Friends' Association to Christer Fuglesang's Space Center who have started a new space education at high school level in Stockholm, and who are currently considering if they want to implement astrobiotics in the program. This is truly a fantastic area of the future!"</p>/en/news/ny-bok-om-liv-i-extrema-miljoer_9893364//en/news/exotic-microbes-stimulate-carbon-emissions-from-permafrost-soil_9854195/Estimations of carbon emissions from thawing permafrost largely rely on studies using native permafrost microbes. However, this may have led to large underestimations. A new study shows that topsoil microbes can cause much larger emissions when they colonise the permafrost. Behind the study are researchers from SLU, Umeå University and INRAE.Mon, 30 Nov 2020 17:24:44 +0100<p>The international research team has been led by Sylvain Monteux from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, and Ume&aring; University, and Frida Keuper from the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment, INRAE. Their study has been published in Nature Geoscience.</p><p>&nbsp;&ldquo;After adding exotic microbes into permafrost soil, we observed the onset of nitrate production and a nearly 40 per cent increase in carbon dioxide emissions. This is a surprise we had not anticipated,&rdquo; says Sylvain Monteux, postdoctoral fellow at the&nbsp;Department of Soil and Environment at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, and former doctoral student at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Carbon emission from thawing permafrost poses a threat to remaining carbon budgets to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. A key uncertainty in global climate projections is the response of soil microbial communities to permafrost thaw.</p><p>&ldquo;It is often thought that in the world of microbes &lsquo;everything is everywhere&rsquo; in terms of functioning, but for microbial communities in permafrost soils, this is apparently not the case,&rdquo; says Frida Keuper, research fellow at the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment, INRAE, ​​and former post doctor at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Due to the cold conditions at high latitudes, some parts of the ground are continuously frozen: the permafrost. And to microbes, permafrost soil is a hostile environment. Although microbial communities perceive this as stressful, they can still be frozen for thousands of years and somehow survive. At a community level, the frozen soil conditions seem to cause a strong natural selection.</p><p>Permafrost soils, much like a freezer, have preserved plant and soil material from decomposition over a very long time, and therefore now store as much carbon as is found in all plants on Earth and in the atmosphere together. Climate warming causes permafrost soils to thaw, which allows microbes to degrade the carbon. In doing so, the soils release carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide &ndash; three greenhouse gases that further boost global warming.</p><p>The mechanism is referred to as the permafrost carbon-climate feedback and has been estimated to induce the emission of about 100 billion tons of carbon by 2100.</p><p>A large part of the data used to estimate permafrost carbon emissions relies on laboratory measurements of greenhouse gas emission from soil microbial respiration. The potential carbon release from permafrost is typically deduced by incubating permafrost in isolation from seasonally thawing topsoil.</p><p>In nature, however, microbes can migrate from the topsoil into the freshly thawed permafrost. Because of that, the research team explored whether adding diverse topsoil microbes to the incubations would affect the functioning of the permafrost soil. And adding exotic microbes allowed the microbial community to turn ammonium into nitrate, which the native permafrost microbes alone were incapable of. Furthermore, these exotic microbes increased the community&rsquo;s carbon emissions by nearly 40 percent, which suggests that current estimates of future carbon losses from permafrost soil, based on soil with only native microbes, might underestimate the permafrost carbon feedback.</p><p>&ldquo;Climate warming mitigation requires that we quantify natural climate change feedbacks. We need to know what our target is if our aim is to reach it. Understanding the mechanisms behind soil microbial responses to permafrost thaw is an important step toward this quantification,&rdquo; says Sylvain Monteux.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Original article:</h2><p>Sylvain Monteux, Frida Keuper, S&eacute;bastien Fontaine, Konstantin Gavazov, Sara Hallin, Jaanis Juhanson, Eveline J. Krab, Sandrine Revaillot, Erik Verbruggen, Josefine Walz, James T. Weedon, Ellen Dorrepaal: <em>Carbon and nitrogen cycling in Yedoma permafrost controlled by microbial functional limitations.</em> Nature Geoscience (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-020-00662-4.</p><p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-020-00662-4">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-020-00662-4</a></p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/fea7b02f8313b91cd094fc47d8be2070">Press photos</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">For more information, please contact:</h2><p>Sylvain Monteux, Postdoctoral fellow</p><p>Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Uppsala, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University, Sweden.<br>Phone: +46&nbsp;76-849 82 48<br>Email:<a href="mailto:sylvain.monteux@slu.se"> sylvain.monteux@slu.se</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Frida Keuper, Research fellow</p><p>BioEcoAgro Joint Research Unit, INRAE, France, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University, Sweden.<br>Phone: +33 6 52 18 89 19<br>Email: <a href="mailto:frida.keuper@inrae.fr">frida.keuper@inrae.fr</a></p>/en/news/exotic-microbes-stimulate-carbon-emissions-from-permafrost-soil_9854195//en/news/new-knowledge-on-how-climate-affects-pendulous-lichens-in-northern-forests_9808327/Growth of pale pendulous lichens increased strongly with amount and frequency of precipitation, while rain had a small effect on growth of dark lichens. Research from Umeå University explains how traits in pale lichens allow them to thrive in wet climates. The study is published in Journal of Ecology.Tue, 17 Nov 2020 07:20:15 +0100<p>&ldquo;Understanding how environmental factors and the functional traits of species regulate growth is fundamental to being able to predict how lichens and other organisms react to climate change. Our results indicate that pale pendulous lichens will benefit from a future warmer and wetter climate&rdquo;, says Per-Anders Esseen, professor emeritus at the Department of Ecology, Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The unique study was carried out by Per-Anders Esseen and Kristin Palmqvist at Ume&aring; University, together with Nathan Phinney and Yngvar Gauslaa from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in &Aring;s. The research team has studied lichens together for more than 15 years.</p><p>The researchers transplanted lichens to nine spruce forests across a large-scale climate gradient, spanning from the driest to the wettest areas in Scandinavia. The study addresses the relative contribution of both climatic factors and lichen functional traits to growth of the pale, pendulous canopy lichens, <em>Alectoria sarmentosa</em> and <em>Usnea dasopoga</em>, and the dark <em>Bryoria fuscescens</em>. &nbsp;</p><p>Lichens are complex partnerships between fungi and photobionts (an alga, or a cyanobacterium), which passively take up water. Hair lichens &ndash; with fine, often pendulous, branches &ndash; are particularly sensitive to environmental hazards such as pollution, forestry and climate change, yet are vital components of forest canopies worldwide.</p><p>The researchers found that growth of pale hair lichens increases significantly with amount and duration of rain, whereas the dark lichen was marginally affected. The algae in pale lichens receive more light and have higher photosynthesis during rainy and cloudy weather than algae in dark lichens, where melanin pigments screen light. Results show that the relationships between growth and rainfall in these lichens depend on colour of the lichens, water storage traits, size, and chlorophyll content.</p><p>Their findings help to explain global, regional, and local distribution patterns of hair lichens.</p><p>&nbsp;&ldquo;The knowledge is crucial for predicting how climate change will affect these ecologically important canopy organisms&rdquo;, says Per-Anders Esseen.</p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/d66328dd2e8b7f5b1b8a660d973901f0">Press photos. Credit: Per-Anders Esseen</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Original article:</h2><p>Phinney, N.H., Gauslaa, Y., Palmqvist, K. &amp; Esseen, P.-A.&nbsp;2021. Macroclimate drives growth of hair lichens in boreal forest canopies. Journal of Ecology vol <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2745.13522">https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2745.13522</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/new-knowledge-on-how-climate-affects-pendulous-lichens-in-northern-forests_9808327//en/news/exchange-of-knowledge-during-the-internship-at-boliden-minerals_9464616/The time at the Industrial Doctoral School for Research and Innovation includes a three-month internship. Johan Lidman is doing his internship with his external partner Boliden Minerals AB at their department of closed mines. Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:00:26 +0200<p>&ldquo;During the internship I have felt both involved and appreciated. My internship supervisor at Boldien, Marie Lindgren, has maintained ongoing contact with me, both on distance and with physical meetings before I started the internship. I think that has helped a lot,&rdquo; reports Johan Lidman.</p><p>When, where and how the internship is conducted is determined by the doctoral student in consultation with the external partner and their academic supervisor at the University. In Johan&rsquo;s case, he has spread the internship out over several years and planned it during periods where he has had less research-related tasks on his schedule.</p><p>Johan Lidman finds the internship very useful and informative. Not only has he gained a good insight into what Boliden&rsquo;s business operations looks like, but also has been able to contribute with the knowledge that he has. The internship has also meant that his own doctoral student project has been put aside to rest for a period of time, which can allow one to have a healthy break.</p><p>&ldquo;Then when I continue with the research, I can suddenly come in with new thoughts and angles of approach&rdquo;.</p><p>&ldquo;My work tasks have been almost entirely independent from my doctoral project and have been connected more to the activities at the department where I have done my internship. I do field studies on insects and birds in areas where Boliden has had mining operations, however when we have visited these it has been for other purposes. I can contribute there with observations that I made during my field work in the areas, which has been much appreciated.&rdquo;</p><p>The department that Johan has his internship in is responsible for the remediation of closed mines, and he thinks it has been extremely interesting and rewarding to see how the remediation process, meetings with regulators and supervisory authorities, and the planning of environmental improvement measures, looks like.</p><p>&ldquo;Later, my internship supervisor at the company, Marie, has wanted to use the experience I gained via my doctoral studies, such as in information gathering and data analysis. It has given me a sense of satisfaction to teach the staff at the department in the use of methods that I have knowledge of and which they are interested in using themselves.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>He thinks that in this way the internship provides a very clear picture of how expertise and knowledge gained during his PhD studies can be used outside academia and what knowledge that exists and is needed within the business community. This provides inspiration to continue with my research work and facilitate the development of new ideas that are more applicable outside the academic community.&rdquo;</p><p>Most likely Johan Lidman will do the last part of the internship in January 2021. At the present time, the company is not allowed to bring in outside personnel, due to the situation with the corona pandemic.</p><p><em><strong>What lessons do you take from the internship?</strong></em></p><p>&ldquo;Partly that I have gained insight into these business operations about how the work is done in such activities, plus also what needs exist that can lead to future research projects.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><a href="~/link/104267bfc0a54a89812826954a287212.aspx">Read more about Johan Lidman&acute;s project</a></p>/en/news/exchange-of-knowledge-during-the-internship-at-boliden-minerals_9464616//en/news/evolutionary-legacy-of-a-keystone-tibetan-conifer-tree-_9623483/The leading plant journal New Phytologist has selected a study led by Umeå University researcher Xiao-Ru Wang as its cover story in the October issue. The paper is about effects of landscapes and range expansion on population structure and local adaptation. Thu, 24 Sep 2020 15:47:13 +0200<p>&ldquo;Understanding the origin and distribution of genetic diversity across landscapes is critical for predicting the future of organisms in changing climates&rdquo;, says Xiao-Ru Wang, professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental sciences at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The study addresses a fundamental question in landscape genetics: the relative roles of population history, geography and natural selection in shaping genetic diversity in wild populations.</p><p>In the study, Xiao-Ru and a Chinese research group analyzed diversity and population structure in the pine tree Pinus densata, a keystone species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. They mapped the genetic variation to geographical and climate variables across the distribution range to establish the contribution of geo- and eco-factors to the observed spatial genetic pattern. Based on this information, the study further simulated how its genetic legacy may limit the persistence of P. densata in future climates.</p><p>The results illustrate that significant adaptation to extreme environment, when coupled with reduced diversity as a result of past demographic history, constrains potential evolutionary response to climate change.</p><p>As the dominant forest-forming species in the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the resilience of P. densata underlies regional ecosystem function. Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is the largest plateau on earth and also the most vulnerable ecosystem. While the deep valleys and high mountain ridges of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau have helped to create a global biodiversity hotspot, these same features can constrain adaptive responses to climate change. This is a particular concern for organisms with limited dispersal ability.</p><p>&ldquo;The strong signal of genomic vulnerability in P. densata may be representative for other plateau endemics. As we accumulate further examples, it will become possible to gain a more general understanding of how demography and landscape factors constrain or promote adaptation to novel and changing environments,&rdquo; Prof. Xiao-Ru Wang explains.</p><p><em>The study was performed in close collaboration with Beijing Forestry University; the joint team has been working together on this study system for more than 20 years.</em></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Original article:</h2><p>Zhao, W., et al: <em>Effects of landscapes and range expansion on population structure and local adaptation.</em> New Phytologist Volume228, Issue1 October 2020. Pages 330-3432020.&nbsp; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16619">https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16619</a></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">For the press:</h2><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/1ffd80d6ea1d9c6b6f8772be751a5cc3">Press photos</a></p><p><a href="~/link/b1b432ee5d834d3281dfefa26cf70bf4.aspx">More facts about the research field evolutionary biology</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div id="fonstretmailtopopupMail" style="z-index: 1; display: none;"><div id="fonstretmailtomailContentPopupModal"><div id="fonstretmailtomodalMailPopupClose">&nbsp;</div><div id="fonstretmailtomailQuestionPopup">What do you want to do ?</div><a id="fonstretmailtoappCreateEmailOpen"></a>New mail<button id="fonstretmailtoemailButtonCopy">Copy</button><textarea id="fonstretmailtoclipboardText"></textarea></div></div><div></div>/en/news/evolutionary-legacy-of-a-keystone-tibetan-conifer-tree-_9623483//en/news/anxiolytics-in-lakes-gives-calming-news_9535700/A new thesis from Umeå University shows that pharmaceuticals are more persistent in the environment than previously believed. However, a unique study of a drugged lake gives calming news to those who feared that fish will adopt risky behaviour due to anxiolytic pharmaceuticals.Mon, 31 Aug 2020 09:55:34 +0200<p>Traces of pharmaceuticals in waterways is a well-known environmental issue. An increased use of pharmaceuticals as a result of an aging and growing population leads to increased discharge of pharmaceuticals into lakes and waterways via sewage treatment plants. Antibiotics in waters are believed to increase the risk of microbial resistance to antibiotics, and certain pharmaceuticals such as antihistamines and anxiolytics have shown to alter the behaviour of aquatic organisms.</p><p>Johan Fahlman&rsquo;s thesis shows that pharmaceuticals can be surprisingly persistent in northern environments.</p><p>&ldquo;Antibiotics, antihistamines and anxiolytics believed to dissipate quickly in the environment can stay in their active form for months and even years in cold and ice-covered waters&rdquo;, says Johan Fahlman.</p><p>His studies show that the tests used to assess how long pharmaceuticals can affect animal life in waterways misses important processes that causes the dissipation of pharmaceuticals to slow down in natural ecosystems compared to the laboratory environments normally used by scientists.</p><p>&ldquo;There are complex processes controlling the dissipation of pharmaceuticals in the environment that we are yet to recreate in laboratory environments&rdquo;, says Johan Fahlman.</p><p>Earlier studies have shown that low concentrations of anxiolytic pharmaceuticals make perch bolder in laboratory environments and willing to take life-threatening risks, something which have had scientists worried that perch would become easier prey for predatory fish. However, this thesis provides calming news.</p><p>Johan Fahlman performed a unique study in collaboration with other researchers where perch in an entire lake were exposed to anxiolytics, the expected behavioural effects remained absent. As the researchers were able to follow the behavioural of every fish in a lake simultaneously, they were able to observe that perch as a collective were not affected in the same way as individual fish studied in laboratory environments.</p><p>Social distancing between perch is a more influential factor on perch behaviour than low levels of anxiolytic pharmaceuticals.</p><p>&ldquo;We believe that the presence of the shoal makes the fish as calm and brave as possible, which causes the effects of the anxiolytic pharmaceutical to weaken if the fish are living in groups&rdquo;, says Johan Fahlman.</p><p><a href="http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-174090">Read the whole thesis</a></p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/58b9ee7b3d92b501e98802f12bbee997">Press photos</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">About the dissertation:</h2><p>On Friday the 11 September Johan Fahlman, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Ume&aring; university, defends his thesis entitled: <em>The fate and effect of pharmaceuticals in boreal surface waters.</em></p><p>The dissertation takes place digitally at 10.00<br>Faculty opponent is Fredrik Jutfelt, Norges teknisk-naturvetenskapliga universitet, Trondheim<br>Supervisor is Jonatan Klaminder</p>/en/news/anxiolytics-in-lakes-gives-calming-news_9535700//en/news/affiliateds-research-in-the-guardian_9518031/On Tuesday 25 August, The Guardian, had a feature about how earthworms change the Arctic and the research of our Arcum affiliated Professor Jonatan Klaminder.Wed, 26 Aug 2020 10:48:57 +0200<p>The article describes how humble earthworms, the gardener's best friend who fights for productive soil, can be a threat to Arctic nature as earthworms make the Arctic soil too fertile.<br>&nbsp;<br>Earthworms move around up tp 10 meters in a year, but with human help, they have spread to remote areas in the Arctic. Usually the top layer of soil has a surface of poorly decomposed material, but the article describes that this layer has disappeared in some Arctic areas and it is believed that this is due to people bringing earthworms to their settlements. The earthworm is now found in the Arctic soil in areas in North America, the Nordic countries and Russia.<br>&nbsp;<br>The article describes experiments that Jonathan and his colleagues carried out at the Abisko research station and earthworms, and also tells about the investigations that the researchers did in northern Sweden at Sami gathering location for reindeers.<br>&nbsp;<br><a title="The Guardian" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/25/the-aliens-to-watch-how-the-humble-earthworm-is-altering-the-arctic-aoe">Original article in The Guardian</a><br><a title="Springer 2017" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10530-017-1642-7">Research article on the introduction of earthworms in the Arctic (2017)</a><br><a title="Nature 2020" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-15568-3">Research article on the impact of earthworms in the Arctic (2020)</a><br>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/affiliateds-research-in-the-guardian_9518031//en/news/seismic-signals-allow-researchers-to-see-under-river-ice_9489370/River scientists from Sweden, Finland and Germany report detailed measurements of sediment movement and water level in an ice-covered river using a novel technique — seismic signals. The results are published in the Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface.Tue, 18 Aug 2020 10:29:58 +0200<p>&ldquo;We were also able to determine whether the ice break-up was caused by slow melting or by movement of ice blocks, by detecting seismic signals of ice-cracking and determining when they occur relative to the ice break-up&rdquo;, says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg, associate professor at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Sediment transport in rivers affect habitats for aquatic organisms and biogeochemical cycling. Until now, measurement of sediment transport in ice-covered rivers has been nearly impossible to make with common techniques since we cannot see below the ice.</p><p>&ldquo;Normally, we can measure water velocities and sediment transport by wading in the river or using a boat, but making these crucial measurements on an ice-covered river are logistically challenging and can be extremely dangerous if the ice is too thin to walk on or when the ice is breaking up,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><p>Faced with these logistical challenges, the research team used a method most commonly used to study earthquakes: seismic signals. This technique has been used in a handful of studies in the past five years to study river processes, but this is the first time it has been used to study an ice-covered river.</p><p>According to Eliisa Lotsari, senior lecturer at the University of Eastern Finland and one of the co-authors, this new application of seismology opens up doors to answer questions about how ice-covered rivers form and change that were previously a black box.</p><p>&ldquo;Because the timing and length of ice cover on northern rivers will change with a warming climate, it is particularly important to measure and understand how river dynamics differ under ice-covered versus ice-free conditions and during different types of ice break-up&rdquo;, she says.</p><p>Continuous sediment transport observations are needed throughout the ice-covered flow, break-up and ice-free periods, in order to better validate the forecasts of future changes in northern rivers. Since ice break-up can be the most dynamic time period for northern rivers, causing rapid river channel erosion and flooding hazards, it&rsquo;s also important to be able to determine whether ice break-up occurs via calmer melting or dynamic ice-cracking.</p><p>The research team conducted their study on the S&auml;var River, about 60 kilometers northwest of Ume&aring; in northern Sweden, during the winter of 2018. Three geophones, fist-sized seismometers, were buried in the ground 10-40 meters away from the river channel and recorded any small ground vibrations. By analyzing the frequency, intensity, and patterns of the signals, the researchers could interpret what causes the signals, including water turbulence, movement of sand and gravel on the river bed, and ice-cracking.</p><p>The timing of ice-cracking enabled them to interpret whether the ice break-up is thermal and caused by slow melting or mechanical that is caused by ice blocks that break. Ice-cracking occurs during the whole ice-covered winter, but if the number of ice-cracks suddenly increases right before the ice disappears then the break-up is mechanical and if the rate stays the same right up until the break-up then it is thermal. During the study period in 2018 on the S&auml;var River, the ice break-up was thermal until the last day of break-up when there was a spike in the number of ice-cracks and the researchers observed broken-off ice blocks.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;This minimally invasive technique allows us to have second-by-second coverage of all processes in and around the river, so once you learn to interpret the different signals it&rsquo;s like having someone sitting at the site recording even more than we can see with our eyes,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/89db3a6dc0fa48ee1f2ad76c5b226079">Press photos</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Original article</h2><p>Polvi, L.E., Dietze, M. Lotsari, E., Turowski, J.M., Lind, L. 2020. <em>Seismic monitoring of a subarctic river: seasonal variations in hydraulics, sediment transport, and ice dynamics.</em> Journal of Geophysical Research- Earth Surface, 125, e2019JF005333. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JF005333</p><p><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019JF005333">https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019JF005333</a></p>/en/news/seismic-signals-allow-researchers-to-see-under-river-ice_9489370//en/news/peatland-carbon-and-nitrogen-stocks-vulnerable-to-permafrost-thaw_9329912/Northern peatlands hold large stocks of carbon and nitrogen and thus play a key role in global climate dynamics. However, their vulnerability to climate warming is uncertain, due in part to a lack of spatially explicit, observation-based peatland maps. This is shown in a study published in PNAS of among others researchers at Umeå University.Mon, 10 Aug 2020 22:00:05 +0200<p>The study examines the potential effects of global warming on carbon and nitrogen stocks in northern peatlands. The researchers generated maps of Northern Hemisphere peatland depth and carbon and nitrogen stocks using data compiled from more than 7,000 field observations. Based on these maps, the authors estimated that northern peatlands cover approximately 3.7 million square kilometres and store approximately 415 petagrams of carbon and 10 petagrams of nitrogen.</p><p>&rdquo;Using machine learning to map peatland depth at a hemispheric scale is an important advancement to better understand the role of northern peatlands in the global carbon cycle&rdquo; says Matthias Siewert, post doc at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;</p><p>A substantial portion of these carbon and nitrogen stocks are in peatlands affected by permafrost. The reseachers estimated that at present, northern peatlands are a net sink of atmospheric carbon. However, under future global warming scenarios, the authors projected losses of half to nearly all of peatland permafrost. This permafrost thaw would convert these peatlands to a net source of atmospheric carbon, primarily due to increased methane emissions.</p><p>According to the researchers, the results suggest that while northern peatlands are currently a source of global cooling, permafrost thaw due to anthropogenic climate warming may convert peatlands into a net source of warming.</p><p><strong><em>About the study:</em></strong><br><em>Hugelius, G.,Loisel, J., Chadburn, S., Jackson, R.B., Jones, M.C., MacDonald, G.M., Marushchak, M.E., Olefeldt, D., Packalen, M., Siewert, M.B., Treat, C.C., Turetsky, M.R., Voigt, C., Yu, Z., Large stocks of peatland carbon and nitrogen are vulnerable to permafrost thaw, PNAS,<strong> (OBS! L&auml;gg in issue, DOI-number).</strong></em></p>/en/news/peatland-carbon-and-nitrogen-stocks-vulnerable-to-permafrost-thaw_9329912//en/news/plant-roots-increase-carbon-emission-from-permafrost-soils_9315844/A key uncertainty in climate projections is the amount of carbon emitted by thawing permafrost in the Arctic. Plant roots in soil stimulate microbial decomposition, a mechanism called the priming effect. An international research team co-lead by Frida Keuper from INRAE and Umeå University and Birgit Wild from Stockholm University shows that the priming effect alone can cause emission of 40 billion tonnes carbon from permafrost by 2100. The study was published today in Nature Geoscience.Mon, 20 Jul 2020 17:00:05 +0200<p>Permafrost is permanently frozen ground which stores as much carbon as there is in all plants on Earth and in the atmosphere together. The surface of the permafrost thaws in summer, allowing plant and soil life to thrive. When microorganisms breathe, they emit greenhouse gases. Scientists have previously anticipated that rapidly rising temperatures will drive the emission of 50-100 billion ton permafrost carbon by 2100. On top of that, plant roots feed sugar to the microorganisms in the soil, which the microbes can use to break down more soil organic matter &ndash; the priming effect &ndash; resulting in even higher greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;We have known about the priming effect since the 1950&rsquo;s, but we did not know whether or not this small-scale ecological interaction had a significant impact on the global carbon cycle&rdquo;, says Research Scientist Frida Keuper, affiliated with the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, INRAE, and with Ume&aring; University, Sweden.</p><p>The team of researchers combined maps of plant activity and data on soil carbon content from the Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database with an extensive literature survey on priming and plant root properties, to estimate the priming effect in permafrost ecosystems and its influence on greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p>They show that the priming effect increases soil microbial respiration by 12 percent, which causes the additional loss of 40 billion ton carbon by 2100 compared to current predictions for permafrost. This equals almost a quarter of the remaining &lsquo;carbon budget&rsquo; for human activities to limit global warming to max 1.5&deg;C.</p><p>"These new findings demonstrate how important it is to consider small-scale ecological interactions, such as the priming effect, in global greenhouse gas emission modelling", says Birgit Wild, Assistant Professor at Stockholm University.</p><p><strong><em>Publication:</em></strong><br><em>Frida Keuper, Birgit Wild, Matti Kummu, Christian Beer, Gesche Blume-Werry, S&eacute;bastien Fontaine, Konstantin Gavazov, Norman Gentsch, Georg Guggenberger, Gustaf Hugelius, Mika Jalava, Charles Koven, Eveline J. Krab, Peter Kuhry, Sylvain Monteux, Andreas Richter, Tanvir Shahzad, James T. Weedon, Ellen Dorrepaal (2020) Carbon loss from northern circumpolar permafrost soils amplified by rhizosphere priming, Nature Geoscience, 10.1038/s41561-020-0607-0</em></p><p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-020-0607-0">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-020-0607-0</a></p><p><strong>For further information, please contact:</strong></p><p>Frida Keuper, Research Scientist, BioEcoAgro Joint Research Unit, INRAE, France and Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University, Sweden<br>Phone: +33 6 52 18 89 19<br>Email: frida.keuper@inrae.fr</p><p>Birgit Wild, Assistant professor, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden<br>Phone: +46 76&nbsp;561 00 02<br>Email: birgit.wild@aces.su.se</p><p><a title="High resolution press photos" href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/9388fdcb9e5893328f82d22d5b0a1b90">High resolution press photos</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/plant-roots-increase-carbon-emission-from-permafrost-soils_9315844//en/news/the-landscape-determines-how-streams-should-be-restored_9201080/The UN has declared the coming decade as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, making it particularly urgent to plan for successful restoration. Most restoration occurs in streams, and usually in short segments. Researchers at Umeå University show that projects planned at the landscape scale leads to the best results. Wed, 27 May 2020 12:57:12 +0200<p>Within catchments, various factors act at different scales and it is important to understand how they affect each other.</p><p>&ldquo;Even if researchers have known about these connections earlier, we show that they interact by overlapping in different ways and that these patterns vary between different streams and catchments,&rdquo; Associate Professor Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg says.</p><p>Ecological communities in streams are a product of four facets of a stream: hydrology, geomorphology, ecology and biogeochemistry. Since the interactions of these four facets vary between streams, there&rsquo;s no one-size-fits-all method for restoration. By using case studies in northern Sweden and southern Brazil, the researchers show how these four facets interact at different spatial scales.</p><p>&nbsp;&ldquo;We wanted to show how these ideas can be used practically by using northern Sweden and southern Brazil as examples. In northern Sweden, the ecology is primarily affected by the geomorphology and hydrology, whereas in southern Brazil, the ecology drives the hydrology because there are plantations with water-intensive trees that steer the hydrology in that semi-arid catchment&rdquo; Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg explains.</p><p>The presented model can even be used to understand how climate change will affect the balance between the four facets and how these impacts can be taken into account during restoration.</p><p>The researchers finding build on several decades&rsquo; work of how streams are impacted by processes at different spatial scales. One of the pioneers of these ideas is Dr Chris Frissell at Salish Kootenai College in Montana, USA.</p><p>&ldquo;The Ume&aring; researchers have done a very&nbsp;nice job of illustrating the importance of thinking the problem [of stream restoration] through and has taken the work a step further by identifying the kinds of policy and governance structures needed&nbsp;to accomplish the work,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>The Ume&aring; researchers point out that planning and execution of restoration within a whole catchment should be reserved for agencies that have a large-scale overview. In those cases where, for example, organisms are only controlled by the local habitat, smaller and more local agencies/organizations can also plan and carry out restoration.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Original article</h2><p>Polvi, L.E., Lind, L., Persson, H., Miranda-Melo, A., Pilotto, F., Su, X., &amp; Nilsson, C. 2020: <em>Facets and scales in river restoration: Nestedness and interdependence of hydrological, geomorphic, ecological, and biogeochemical processes.</em> Journal of Environmental Management, 265, 110288. <br><br><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110288">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110288</a></p><p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479720302231">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479720302231</a></p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/c7b4bd28d17ef85462949d6aa3cd2893">Press photo and figure</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/the-landscape-determines-how-streams-should-be-restored_9201080//en/news/pike-cause-speciation-in-nothern-lakes_9193851/Can the fear of dangerous pike cause the whitefish in our large lakes to start dividing into different species? A new study by researchers at Umeå University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, suggests this. The findings are published in Evolution Letters.Fri, 26 Jun 2020 09:02:29 +0200<p>&ldquo;By studying whitefish in a large number of lakes and gathering knowledge from local fishermen, we have been able to map the environmental factors that lead to the whitefish dividing into different "sibling species" in the same lake&rdquo; says G&ouml;ran Englund, professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>It has long been known that species such as whitefish and trout can divide into local forms that have different lifestyles and eat different types of food, even though they live in the same lake. Since these forms often end up having common offspring, the phenomenon is usually seen as a fascinating example of how the formation of new species can be initiated.<br>The phenomenon has been studied intensively for several decades, but it has proved difficult to answer the question of how the siblings occur.</p><p>&ldquo;One problem has been that there were too few lakes where it is known whether the whitefish is divided or not, which has made it difficult to easily compare these groups of lakes to understand what environmental factors are behind. Another thing is that they have mainly studied lakes where the division has been going on for quite some time. This has made it difficult to calculate which characteristics of the sibling species were important for the division and which emerged only after the populations became isolated from each other&rdquo; says Gunnar &Ouml;hlund, researcher at SLU in Ume&aring;.</p><p>To try to solve the problems, researchers have focused on lakes in the inland of Norrland, where Swedish researchers have already documented many lakes with divided whitefish during the mid-20th century. By inventing an additional large number of lakes with both young and old whitefish populations, the researchers behind the study believe that they have now found the solution of the puzzle.</p><p>&ldquo;Our data shows that it is the pike that drives the species formation process and the key seems to be that it increases the size variation in the fish population. When there are pike, many whitefish will stay away and grow quite poorly in those parts of the lakes where there are few pike. Other individuals can succeed in reaching a safe size in the food-rich parts of the lake where there are many pike, and once they have done so, they can continue to grow properly. In this way, the pike gives rise to "dwarves" and "giants" in the whitefish population, and it then seems to initiate the ongoing species formation process&rdquo; says Gunnar &Ouml;hlund.</p><p>The study, funded by FORMAS, the Swedish Research Council and the G&ouml;ran Gustafsson Foundation for Nature and Environment in Lapland, is published in the scientific journal Evolution Letters.</p><p><strong>Original article:</strong><br><em>&Ouml;hlund, G., Bodin, M., Nilsson., K., &Ouml;hlund., S-O., Mobley K., Hudson. AG, Peedu, M., Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m, &Aring;., Bartels, P., Pr&aelig;bel, K., Hein, C.L., Johansson, P. and Englund, G. 2020. Ecological speciation in European whitefish is driven by a large-gap predator. Evolution Letters, https://doi.org/10.1002/evl3.167</em></p><p><strong>For more information, please contact:</strong></p><p>Gunnar &Ouml;hlund, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environment, SLU in Ume&aring;<br>Phone: +46 70 213 10 06<br>Email: gunnar.ohlund@slu.se</p><p>G&ouml;ran Englund, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Ume&aring; University<br>Phone: +46 70 245 10 38<br>Email: goran.englund@ͯ����Ƶ</p><p><a title="Press photo" href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/b8263ed855a85a4702ba8f722aabc7bc">Press photo</a><br><em>Caption: Great whitefish and dwarf whitefish from Rissj&ouml;n, &Aring;sele. The whitefish was introduced in 1925 and the division into two types was observed in the 1960s. Photo: G&ouml;ran Englund</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/pike-cause-speciation-in-nothern-lakes_9193851/