No description available.

<p>Syftet med detta arbete var att ta reda på om det är möjligt att arbeta med ekologiska frågor i förskolan. För att barnen ska få en förståelse för det komplexa begreppet hållbar utveckling, måste vi tidigt integrera barnen i naturens värld på ett begripligt och lustfyllt sätt.</p><p>Jag har utarbetat ett arbetsmaterial om fågelekologi för de äldre barnen 4-5åringar i förskolan. Delar av materialet har testats på två förskolor, där jag har intervjuat barnen samt genomfört en enkätundersökning bland pedagogerna, för att se om intresse finns att arbeta med ekologiska frågor.</p><p>Resultatet blev positivt från alla håll. Barnen tyckte att det var roligt och intressant och pedagogerna var eniga om att ekologi är ett viktigt ämne att arbeta med i förskolan. Jag hoppas att detta arbete ska inspirera och få flera människor att inse att läran om ekologiska samband inte behöver vara så krångligt som det kan låta.</p><p><strong><p> </p></strong></p>

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>The European eel (<em>Anguilla anguilla</em>) migrates to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. Even though the biology of <em>A. anguilla </em>leptocephali in the Sargasso Sea has been studied for several decades, information regarding their diet has remained unknown until now. Previous dietary studies concerning other species of leptocephali in the Pacific Ocean have been limited to the recognition of identifiable prey remains amongst gut contents. Hence, in this study a molecular approach relying on the detection of prey DNA amongst gut contents was used to study dietary profiles of <em>A. anguilla</em> leptocephali in the Sargasso Sea.</p><p> </p><p>Leptocephali were collected during the circumglobal Galathea 3 expedition in spring 2007 to the Sargasso Sea. DNA extracted from gut contents were PCR amplified using universal primers targeting the nuclear 18S rRNA gene. In order to separate eel amplicons from prey amplicons, PCR products were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Furthermore, clone libraries were constructed using universal primers targeting a portion of the 18S rRNA and mitochondrial COI gene, respectively. In total, the gut contents of 78 leptocephali were screened by DGGE.</p><p> </p><p>A diverse array of eukaryotic taxa was identified, hence demonstrating the applicability of a universal PCR- DGGE approach to study gut contents of leptocephali. The results presented here show, for the first time, that young stages of <em>A. anguilla</em> leptocephali feed on a large variety of zooplankton of which many were gelatinous (e.g. Hydrozoa, Thaliacea and Ctenophora). Several of the identified taxa also constitute important parts of the Sargasso Sea zooplankton community and are of size ranges (adult or larval stages) that made them reasonable as leptocephali prey.</p>

<p>According to the exploitation ecosystem hypothesis (EEH), terrestrial ecosystems are characterized by well defined trophic levels and strong trophic interactions with community level tropic cascades. In unproductive terrestrial habitats as tundra heaths, the energy shunt from litter and apparent competition between herbivores and detritivores are expected to be important for the structure and dynamics of the invertebrate community. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis by investigating if plant litter accumulation was affecting the invertebrate community on a nutrient-poor tundra heath. The study was performed during one summer on the highland part of Joatka research area, in the north of Norway.</p><p>The experimental area included 16 plots (100 m² each), of which 12 had been littermanipulated. On four plots the amount of litter was increased by 100 %, on four by 200 % and on four by 400 %. Four plots were untreated and used as control plots. Invertebrates were collected by emergence traps (which cover an area of 1 m²), one trap on each plot and one pitfall trap inside each emergence trap. During the study period, traps were emptied and moved twice, resulting in three sampling periods. The invertebrates collected were counted and their length was measured, than all invertebrates were sorted into taxa and trophic guilds. During the study period, herbivore grazing damage was investigated on all 16 experimental plots, signs of herbivores on leaves of vascular plants in an area covering 3 m2 per plot were noted, for every leaf with signs of herbivory the percentage of leaf area removed was estimated.</p><p>Plant biomass and plant species composition were estimated in all experimental plots by harvesting above-ground plant parts. In each plot, two squares were randomly chosen and all biomass in this square was collected. Plant biomass was sorted in to following groups: dwarf birch, billberry, Salix herbacea, Salix spp, graminoids, herbs, lichens, mosses and dwarf shrub. Before weighing the plant material, it was stored in paper bags at room temperature and then dried for 48 h at 40°C. In order to detect fertilisation effects, all bilberry shoots that had been produced during the actual summer were separately weighted when analyzing the plant biomass.</p><p>The result showed that the invertebrate community in this area is dominated by carnivores while detritivores, parasitoids and herbivores are quite rare, this was in accordance with previous studies made in the area. Litter manipulation did not create any significant variation in the community structure, but there was a slight tendency that carnivore biomass increased and biomass of herbivores decreased when litter was added to the system. In contrary to this,</p><p>gracing activity especially on dwarf willow (Salix herbacea) increased in plots were 100 % and 200 % more litter was added. There is a positive correlation between biomass of herbivores and detritivores but the reason for this seems unclear. No fertilisation effect was detected in litter manipulated plots. The structure and dynamics of the actual community could not be described by the food web theory EEH and energy shunt from litter and apparent competition between herbivores and detritivores. It seems to be several complicating factors to take into consideration when describing this community.</p>

According to the exploitation ecosystem hypothesis (EEH), terrestrial ecosystems are characterized by well defined trophic levels and strong trophic interactions with community level tropic cascades. In unproductive terrestrial habitats as tundra heaths, the energy shunt from litter and apparent competition between herbivores and detritivores are expected to be important for the structure and dynamics of the invertebrate community. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis by investigating if plant litter accumulation was affecting the invertebrate community on a nutrient-poor tundra heath. The study was performed during one summer on the highland part of Joatka research area, in the north of Norway. The experimental area included 16 plots (100 m2 each), of which 12 had been littermanipulated. On four plots the amount of litter was increased by 100 %, on four by 200 % and on four by 400 %. Four plots were untreated and used as control plots. Invertebrates were collected by emergence traps (which cover an area of 1 m2), one trap on each plot and one pitfall trap inside each emergence trap. During the study period, traps were emptied and moved twice, resulting in three sampling periods. The invertebrates collected were counted and their length was measured, than all invertebrates were sorted into taxa and trophic guilds. During the study period, herbivore grazing damage was investigated on all 16 experimental plots, signs of herbivores on leaves of vascular plants in an area covering 3 m2 per plot were noted, for every leaf with signs of herbivory the percentage of leaf area removed was estimated. Plant biomass and plant species composition were estimated in all experimental plots by harvesting above-ground plant parts. In each plot, two squares were randomly chosen and all biomass in this square was collected. Plant biomass was sorted in to following groups: dwarf birch, billberry, Salix herbacea, Salix spp, graminoids, herbs, lichens, mosses and dwarf shrub. Before weighing the plant material, it was stored in paper bags at room temperature and then dried for 48 h at 40°C. In order to detect fertilisation effects, all bilberry shoots that had been produced during the actual summer were separately weighted when analyzing the plant biomass. The result showed that the invertebrate community in this area is dominated by carnivores while detritivores, parasitoids and herbivores are quite rare, this was in accordance with previous studies made in the area. Litter manipulation did not create any significant variation in the community structure, but there was a slight tendency that carnivore biomass increased and biomass of herbivores decreased when litter was added to the system. In contrary to this, gracing activity especially on dwarf willow (Salix herbacea) increased in plots were 100 % and 200 % more litter was added. There is a positive correlation between biomass of herbivores and detritivores but the reason for this seems unclear. No fertilisation effect was detected in litter manipulated plots. The structure and dynamics of the actual community could not be described by the food web theory EEH and energy shunt from litter and apparent competition between herbivores and detritivores. It seems to be several complicating factors to take into consideration when describing this community.

Many lakes around the world have been exposed to increased nutrient input from anthropogenic sources such as sewage discharge and runoff from fertilised agricultural areas. This has led to eutrophication, manifested as intensified algal blooms, murky waters, oxygen depleted lake bottoms, and alterations of considerable parts of the foodweb. However, many of these lakes have also recovered, due to improved nutrient abatement techniques and to an improved quantitative scientific understanding of eutrophication and its causes. General, predictive models have played a crucial role in the latter development, as they have made it possible to quantitatively assess expected ecosystem changes from various planned actions against eutrophication. The present thesis has been aimed at improving the domain of validity and predictive power of a general, dynamic total phosphorus (TP) model (LakeMab) and to provide the basis for constructing a similar model for total nitrogen (TN). Among the findings in the thesis is that dissolved nitrogen gas is probably always available in excess for nitrogen fixation and nitrogen modelling in eutrophication contexts. Two papers have laid the ground for improved nutrient modelling in calcareous lakes, where sedimentation is particularly pronounced. Static models for predicting concentrations of particulate phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic carbon have been presented that may be incorporated into sedimentation algorithms in dynamic nutrient models. Boundary conditions for various flux algorithms have made it possible to greatly expand the domain of LakeMab for TP. The typical uncertainty of TP concentration values is 17% when predicted with LakeMab, whereas the uncertainty in predictions using older, static models is about twice as high. LakeMab may be very useful for resolving practical issues such as predicting climate-induced eutrophication and drawing up operational guidelines for achieving good water quality as prescribed by, e.g., the European Water Framework Directive.

Community assembly is the process deciding inclusion/exclusion of species in a developing community. Spatial ecology integrates spatial habitat factors with local biotic interactions within a given patch. I used standardized tree bolts (0.35-1 m long) to sample saproxylic (wood living) beetles in natural and managed forest types. Density-dependent effects were more intense in old-growth coniferous forest than in burnt forest. The final-state assemblages in these two forest types diverged regarding species composition but converged regarding community structure. The communities also followed forest-type specific assembly trajectories. Order of arrival can influence the species assemblage, I found priority effects when comparing the reproductive success of two cerambycid species. A two-week head start had a positive effect on fitness in both species. Different fitness components were affected in the two species: offspring number in Acanthocinus aedilis and offspring quality in Rhagium inquisitor. In birch-living Coleoptera a large part of variance in species composition could be explained by habitat variables (22.9 %), such as forest type, or spatial variables (15.8 %), such as distance apart. The assemblages in deciduous sites responded to distance apart and showed positive spatial autocorrelation up to a distance of 80 km. For assemblages in deciduous sites a metacommunity perspective is warranted – on a surprisingly large scale. I compared two regions, one more fragmented and one less fragmented, (with 2.2 % more deciduous forest in the landscape). The effects of habitat fragmentation was primarily found in mature coniferous forest. Host-tree patches in this matrix forest were perceived as matrix by the Coleoptera in the more fragmented region but as habitat in the less fragmented region. Some of my study sites consisted of protected old-growth forest. These were embedded in a landscape dominated by forestry. These protected areas were invaded by generalist species, thriving in managed forests.

No description available.

Syftet med detta arbete var att ta reda på om det är möjligt att arbeta med ekologiska frågor i förskolan. För att barnen ska få en förståelse för det komplexa begreppet hållbar utveckling, måste vi tidigt integrera barnen i naturens värld på ett begripligt och lustfyllt sätt. Jag har utarbetat ett arbetsmaterial om fågelekologi för de äldre barnen 4-5åringar i förskolan. Delar av materialet har testats på två förskolor, där jag har intervjuat barnen samt genomfört en enkätundersökning bland pedagogerna, för att se om intresse finns att arbeta med ekologiska frågor. Resultatet blev positivt från alla håll. Barnen tyckte att det var roligt och intressant och pedagogerna var eniga om att ekologi är ett viktigt ämne att arbeta med i förskolan. Jag hoppas att detta arbete ska inspirera och få flera människor att inse att läran om ekologiska samband inte behöver vara så krångligt som det kan låta.

As climate-driven changes in phenology are becoming more apparent, the need to quantify these changes is increasing. An important challenge in detecting phenological changes is that between-year variation in phenology is large. Between-year variation determines the statistical power of comparisons between contemporary and historical observations. For 44 plant species with different distributions across Sweden, geographicand inter-specific differences in between-year variation in different phenophases (budburst, flowering, ripe fruits, and leaf fall) was studied. I also modeled and evaluated theresponse of bud burst, and flowering, to temperature using three different temperature sum models over a latitudinal gradient. The data used was a sub-sample from a dataset collected by a Swedish nation-wide phenology network between 1873-1917. In agreement with previous studies, I show that early spring phases have a higher variability than phases occurring later in the season. However, the relation between onset and variation was not monotonically decreasing. In the geographical analyses, a unimodal relation between between-year variation and latitude was found, that is, the between-year variation decreased along the latitudinal gradient for early- and late season events, while it increased over latitude for summer events. These patterns are, to a great extent, reflections of patterns in air temperatures which is discussed using meteorological data from adjacent climate stations. Models were evaluated using Akaike's Information Criterion, and in 60% of all fits, the Spring warming CF2 model (SWCF2; the model with the least number of parameters) was selected as the best model to describe the data. For Sorbus aucuparia bud burst, in the two parameter model SWCF2, both parameters (threshold temperature andtemperature sum) correlated with latitude. However, future analysis using more locations and a wider span of species will be needed to understand the generality in these findings. In conclusion, future efforts to detect and quantify phenological changes need to consider differences in between-year phenological variability along geographical gradients and among species with different phenology.