Arctic peatlands store more than one sixth of the soil organic carbon (SOC) on Earth. Microorganisms decompose SOC, leading to the production of the greenhouse gases methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Large temperature increases are predicted in the Arctic towards the end of the century (1–6 °C in summer and 2–11 °C in winter). How the microorganisms in Arctic peatlands will respond to this ...

Studying the spatial patterns of microbial diversity is crucial in order to assess the relationship between community structure and ecosystem function. However, due to methodological limitations in the past, relatively little has been known about the biogeography of microbial communities. The introduction of next generation sequencing technologies from 2005 was a game changer, as DNA sequencing ...

<p>Microbial eukaryotes, including protists and fungi, play diverse functions in virtually all ecosystems. In the High Arctic, their high biomass and diversity reflects crucial ecological importance and the performance of key ecological processes. Protists are the main primary producers in arctic seas, whereas fungi are an important group of decomposers and symbiotic partners of plants in terrestrial ...

Identifying drivers of population trends in migratory species is difficult, as they can face many stressors while moving through different areas and environments during the annual cycle. Their population response to environmental change may in addition be affected by consistent differences in individual behaviour, which are widespread in free-living populations. An understanding of the structure of ...

This study first discusses and tests the strength and possible different forms of the relationships between satisfaction and loyalty. Secondly, it focuses on if, and how, satisfaction strength properties (e.g. involvement, ambivalence, knowledge, and certainty) moderate the satisfaction–loyalty relationship. It also extends to discuss and test the role of perceived risk in the satisfaction–loyalty ...

In this thesis I have used a variety of study methods at different spatial and temporal scales to explore population processes and management of 2 bird species of conservation concern, common eider and Slavonian grebe, focusing particularly on the role of nest predation in declining populations. I have demonstrated the role of proximate and ultimate causes of nest loss in eider at 2 declining colonies ...

Here we studied at relevant spatial and temporal scales, how the evergreen dwarf shrub Empetrum nigrum, through its niche constructor ability, affects tundra plant communities along climatic gradients. Empetrum is a common dwarf shrub which is particularly abundant in many tundra ecosystems. As a niche constructor is has strong influence on many ecosystem processes and its direct effects can last ...

The aim of this thesis is to analyze what drives Arctic oil and gas activity, and the political effects of the oil and gas industry in the high north. Based on existing political economy theories, four different articles explore these questions by using different methodological approaches. The main findings are that while the potential for a large increase in Arctic oil and gas output is significant, ...

This thesis presents a rich introduction to the evolution, life history and physiology of Atlantic salmon, with a special emphasis on the developmental transitions (termed smolting) juvenile salmon pass through has they prepare to migrate from their native freshwater habitat to the sea. The introduction provides a comprehensive background on chronobiology and osmoregulation in fishes and links this ...

The endosymbiosis-derived organelles within a plant cell, plastids and mitochondria, have to be equipped with a certain set of proteins to be fully functional. This set of proteins is encoded by different genomes: the organellar genomes and the nuclear genomes. This setup poses some interesting challenges for the regulation of gene expression and protein transport. On the one hand, the targeting ...