Hans Ellegren appointed Vice President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
2017-06-26
Professor Hans Ellegren at the Department of Ecology and Genetics has been appointed Vice President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA).

In addition to being part of the Presidium and board of the Academy, Ellegren will be chairing KVA’s committee for research politics. The Academy serves as a key consulting body to many questions with bearing on research politics and is, among other things, also engaged in questions concerning the role of science in the society.
Nyheter från institutionen för ekologi och genetik
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New evolutionary insights into the early development of songbirds
2019-11-29
Zebrafinches. Photo: Wolfgang Forstmeier An international team led by Alexander Suh at Uppsala University has sequenced a chromosome in zebra finches called the germline-restricted chromosome (GRC). This chromosome is only found in germline cells, the cells that hold genetic information which is passed on to the next generation. The researchers found that the GRC is tens of millions of years old and plays a key role in songbird biology, having collected genes used for embryonic development.
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A genetic tug-of-war between the sexes begets variation
2019-11-19
In species with sexual reproduction, no two individuals are alike and scientists have long struggled to understand why there is so much genetic variation. In a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, a team of researchers from the University of Uppsala in Sweden now show that a genetic tug-of-war between the sexes acts to maintain variation.
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Three PhD student positions and one post-doctoral position in biogeochemistry/microbial ecology
2019-10-25
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This year's von Hofsten lecture
2019-10-18
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Lyssna på forskarpodden med Per Alström
2019-10-17
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Kartläggning av Amazonas palmer är klar
2019-08-05
Palmer i Amazonas, från en 20-årigt arbete med kartläggning av palmer och växtplatser. Foto/bild: Henrik Balslev Under tjugo års tid har forskare vid bland annat Uppsala universitet undersökt palmer i Amazonas. Palmplantor på nästan 550 olika platser har undersökts. Det här är en viktig kartläggning för att förstå hur den biologiska mångfalden utvecklats i tropiska ekosystem, och vad som krävs för att bevara den. Arbetet presenteras i en ny studie som publiceras i tidskriften Ecology.
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Dagvattendammar kan gynna biologisk mångfald
2019-08-05
Tidig mosaiktrollslända (Brachytron pratense) som trivs vid anlagda dagvattendammar. Foto/bild: Frank Johansson Anlagda dagvattendammar i Uppsala stad har en oväntat hög biologisk mångfald. En studie som nu presenteras visar att hela 61 procent av alla trollsländearter som finns i Uppland, varav flera är relativt sällsynta i Sverige, också finns i dammarna. Det visar en undersökning utförd av forskare vid Uppsala universitet.
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Intervju med Hans Ellegren
2019-05-09
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”Våra växter och djur är ganska robusta”
2019-04-12
Jon Ågren har i sin egen forskning bland annat studerat majvivor på Alvaret, Öland. Foto/bild: Linda Koffmar Man kan inte vara bäst på allt. En växt kan synas och dofta mycket för att bli pollinerad, eller hålla en lägre profil för att slippa bli uppäten av växtätare. En ny forskningsstudie publicerad i Science bekräftar att växter är mästare på att anpassa sig. Snabbt kan det gå också.
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Paddor i lantliga områden drabbas oftare av sjukdomsalstrande parasitsvamp
2019-04-12
Studien utfördes kring Stockholm och Uppsala, där det finns många dammar med paddor i både urbana och lantliga områden. Foto: Simon Kärvemo Paddor i lantliga miljöer drabbas oftare av parasitsvampen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis än paddor i mer urbana miljöer. Det visar en ny studie som forskare vid Uppsala universitet och SLU publicerat i den vetenskapliga tidskriften Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. Forskarna visar också att paddor som delar damm med åkergrodor löper ökad risk att drabbas av svampinfektion.
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Origin of Scandinavian wolves clarified
2019-03-29
There are no signs that hybrids of dog and wolf have contributed to the Scandinavian wolf population – a matter that has been discussed, especially in Norway. These wolves appear to have originated from the Nordic region or adjacent parts of Northern Europe, new genetic research from Uppsala University shows.
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Lars Tranvik chosen to be Wallenberg Scholar
2019-03-25
Professor Lars Tranvik is one of 22 chosen scientists to be a 2019 Wallenberg Scholar. It entails a five-year grant of 18 million crowns to conduct free research.
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Meet IEG at Scifest!
2019-03-07
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Kartläggning av järvens arvsmassa visar på låg genetisk variation
2019-02-14
DNA från 11 svenska och norska järvar analyserades och forskarna kunde se att variationen i DNA hos järvarna var mycket låg. Genetiska analyser har länge varit en viktig del av övervakningen av skandinaviska rovdjur. Forskare vid institutionen för ekologi och genetik har kartlagt hela arvsmassan hos järv och visat att den skandinaviska stammen har låg grad av genetisk variation. Variationen var på liknande låga nivå som vissa kraftigt hotade arter. Forskarna kunde också visa att storleken på populationen haft en nedåtgående trend under mycket lång tid.
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Postdoctoral researcher position in Plant Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics
2019-02-05
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Global uppvärmning kan göra tusentals svenska sjöar isfria om vintern
2019-01-31
Foto/bild: Gesa Weyhenmeyer Ny forskning visar att ungefär 35 300 sjöar på norra halvklotet skulle bli isfria hela året om den globala medeltemperaturen ökar med 2 grader. I Sverige blir tusentals sjöar helt isfria om uppvärmningen når över 3 grader. Forskare från bland annat Uppsala universitet har arbetat med studien, som nu presenteras i tidskriften Nature Climate Change.
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Decreasing snow cover causes increasing methane production in frozen lakes
2019-01-24
New, unexpected consequences of climate change keep presenting themselves. A new study from Uppsala University and SLU shows that a decreased snow cover on frozen lakes in boreal forests may inhibit the activity of methane degrading bacteria beneath the ice, thereby causing an increased net production of methane, a powerful greenhouse greenhouse gas.
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Conference: "Unifying Concepts Pertaining to Organic Matter Reactivity Across Soil, Freshwater and Marine Systems"
2019-01-14
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EOS article highlight research on organic particles
2019-01-10
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Historical genomes reveal recent changes in genetic health of eastern gorillas
2019-01-07
A comparison of historical and modern Grauer’s gorilla genomes show that the decline in population has led to increased inbreeding and a loss of genetic variation. Photo: Amy Porter, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International The critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla has recently lost genetic diversity and has experienced an increase in harmful mutations. These conclusions were reached by an international team of researchers who sequenced eleven genomes from eastern gorilla specimens collected up to 100 years ago, and compared these with genomes from present-day individuals. The results are now published in Current Biology.
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How many species of Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler are there?
2018-12-13
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Hundreds of babblers’ DNA analysed
2018-11-29
Using DNA sequences for 402 of the 452 species of the world’s “babblers”, an international team from China, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and the USA have analysed the evolutionary relationships among these species. Many of these species have not previously been studied using genetic methods, and this is by far the most comprehensive analysis of this group of birds to date.
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Blå kortvinge är inte bara en fågelart
2018-11-29
Fågeln blå kortvinge (Brachypteryx montana) har hittills betraktats som en art. Nu har en internationell forskargrupp, ledd från Uppsala universitet, studerat de kontinentala och taiwanesiska populationerna och upptäckt att de tre underarter som finns i de områdena, i själva verket är tre helt olika arter.
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Art och miljö påverkar vilka grodor som drabbas av parasitsvamp
2018-10-30
Parasitsvampen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis orsakar en livshotande infektion hos groddjur.
På bilden syns en grönfläckig padda. Foto: Simon KärvemoEn vattenlevande parasitsvamp orsakar livshotande infektioner hos groddjur och anses vara en av anledningarna till att antalet grodor minskar globalt. I en ny studie visar forskare från Uppsala universitet att antalet infektioner varierar stort mellan olika arter och att den omkringliggande miljön påverkar.
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Anna Qvarnström new vice dean of research
2018-09-20
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Tenure Track Position as Associate Senior Lecturer in Plant Evolutionary Genomics
2018-09-10
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Professor Lars Tranvik awarded prize for research in freshwater ecology
2018-09-07
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Gravida kantnålshanar överger äggen om de hittar en snyggare hona
2018-09-06
Hos kantnålsfiskar blir hanarna gravida, förser ungarna med näring och syre och avslutar det hela med en levandefödsel. Men de är knappast några mönsterpappor. I en ny studie visar svenska och portugisiska forskare att om hanen träffar en hona han gillar bättre än den han är gravid med gör han sig av med äggen eller förkortar graviditeten för att snabbare kunna para sig med den nya.
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Professor Lars Tranvik awarded medal for outstanding scientific contributions to limnology
2018-05-25
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Genomanalys visar att amfibiedödande parasitsvamp spreds från Asien
2018-05-15
Parasitsvampen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis orsakar en livshotande infektion hos amfibier och anses vara en av orsakerna till att antalet amfibier minskar globalt. I en ny studie publicerad i Science har forskare från hela världen, bland annat från Uppsala universitet, samarbetat för att hitta källan till parasiten. En stam från Koreahalvön har identifierats som en ursprungsstam för parasiten, som började spridas i början på 1900-talet när den globala handeln med amfibier startade.
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Molecular controls on organic matter decomposition in lakes: new insights
2018-03-29
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Hans Ellegren’s podcast on Radioscience about evolution and academic leadership
2017-11-10
Hear Hans Ellegren’s podcast on Radioscience about evolution and academic leadership. Link here
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Hans Ellegrens podd på Radioscience om evolution och akademiskt ledarskap
2017-11-10
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Hans Ellegren appointed Vice President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
2017-06-26
Professor Hans Ellegren at the Department of Ecology and Genetics has been appointed Vice President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA).
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Uppsala university ranked top 7 for Evolutionary Biology
2017-04-26
Strong ranking for Evolutionary Biology at Uppsala University. Only two subjects at Uppsala University within top 10 Universities in the ranking of research and education. Read more about the ranking at http://cwur.org/2017/subjects.php#Evolutionary%20Biology
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Organic matter composition found to be critical factor in mercury methylation
2017-02-16
The biological formation of neurotoxic methyl mercury is an enigmatic process underpinning mercury-related health and environmental hazards. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms and the factors controlling the process are still not well understood.
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Climate change affects evolution of collared flycatcher
2017-01-26
In a new study, researchers at Uppsala University have found evidence of that climate change upends selection of face characteristics in the collared flycatcher. During the study the annual fitness selection on forehead patch size switched from positive to negative, a reversal that is accounted for by rising spring temperatures at the breeding site. -
Hans Ellegren is awarded the Linnaeus medal
2016-12-05
We congratulate Hans Ellegren to being awarded a gold medal for his research. The award citation is: Hans Ellegren is awarded for his studies of evolutionary processes which govern the development of life. How do new species arise? What is the genetic background to the barriers that stop some closely related species from reproducing with each other? Ellegren has among other things mapped the whole genome of two different species of flycatchers to answer these questions. His findings have had a large international impact and they are published in the most prestigious scientific journals.
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More vegetarian food for warm tadpoles
2016-12-02
Of the many ecological questions unfolded by climate change, the potential influence of temperature on the feeding preferences of organisms is currently gathering a great deal of attention in the scientific community. In a new study, published in the journal Ecology, researchers show that three species of tadpoles generally increased herbivory under simulated heat wave scenarios.
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Eat, escape, love: the price of looking sexy
2016-10-14
In the animal kingdom colourful traits can be both a blessing and a curse. A new study from a group of researchers at Uppsala University has studied the conspicuous wing colouration of two species of damselflies. Their results imply that males, but not females, pay a high cost when using colour to communicate with other damselflies, both in terms of predation risk and visibility to prey.
Read more
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Brunt vatten i media
2016-09-21
Projektet "Brunt vatten" är ett limnologiprojekt där skolor i Sverige har erbjudits möjligheten att hjälpa till med undersökningar om hur färgen på våra sjöar förändras. Gensvaret från skolorna var positivt och platserna fylldes mycket snabbt. Läs mediarapportering från projektet.
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This is how climate change affect the decomposition of organic material
2016-05-25
Some of the organic material that is transported from the land ecosystems to the oceans is decomposed by microorganisms. To know the rate of this decomposition is crucial for our understanding of how the degradation of organic carbon is affected by environmental changes. A new study by researchers from Limnology at Uppsala University and SLU shows how the decomposition is affected by the water balance.
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Why animals court their own sex
2016-05-19
Same-sex sexual behavior is common in animals but puzzles evolutionary biologists since it doesn’t carry the same obvious benefits as heterosexual courtship behavior that leads to mating and production of offspring. A study from Uppsala University sheds new light on the pervasiveness of same-sex sexual behavior in the animal kingdom.
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Coral death stops fish from learning to avoid predators
2016-05-12
Coral reefs are extremely rich ecosystems, providing homes to hundreds of thousands of animals. There are many stresses on coral reefs globally and places that used to be beautiful coral gardens are now instead littered with dead coral skeletons covered in algae. These habitat changes influence how animals that live there interact. Researchers from Uppsala University (Department of Ecology and genetics, Limnology) and James Cook University have found that coral death and degradation affects how fish responds to the tell-tale chemicals that indicate the presence of hungry predators.
Read a popular science article
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New director for the Erken Laboratory
2016-05-04
On April 1, Silke Langenheder was appointed new Director of the Erken laboratory, the field station at the lake Erken, 70 km north-East of Stockholm. The Erken laboratory is part of the Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC) of Uppsala University and since 2013 a member of the Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science, SITES.
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Swedish pool frogs grows more rapidly
2016-04-14
German Orizaola and Anssi Laurila (Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics) have compared how fast pool frog tadpoles grow compared to those from Poland and Latvia. They found that the Swedish frogs have adapted to the cooler climate in Sweden by growing faster than tadpoles from the other two countries when the temperature is warm. When it is colder they all grow at the same rate.
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Small birds' vision: Not so sharp but superfast
2016-03-31
One may expect a creature that darts around its habitat to be capable of perceiving rapid changes as well. Yet birds are famed more for their good visual acuity. Joint research by Uppsala University, Stockholm University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) now shows that, in small passerines (perching birds) in the wild, vision is considerably faster than in any other vertebrates - and more than twice as fast as ours.
- Read more in Terra Daily
- The new research findings by Jannika Boström and co-workers at IEG and SLU are published in PLOS ONE. -
Bacteria reveal what mosquitos have been up to
2016-03-16
The bacteria found in and on malaria mosquitos can tell a lot about the mosquito's background, such as where the mom came from, where the larval stage took place and where it has found its nectar. Investigation of mosquito movements using this method might become a valuable tool in the fight against malaria.
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Northern lakes act as carbon dioxide chimneys in a warming world
2015-11-05
Many of the world’s approximately 117 million lakes act as wet chimneys releasing large amounts of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, CO2, into the atmosphere. The most recent estimates show that CO2 emissions from the world’s lakes, water courses and reservoirs are equivalent to almost a quarter of all the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels.
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Fishes in distress signal for help
2015-10-28
In a pioneering study, researchers from Uppsala University, Sweden and James Cook University in Australia and have found that small prey fish caught by predators release chemical cues that acts as a ‘distress call’, dramatically boosting their chances for survival.