Trophic ecology and interactions

Trophic ecology and interactions are key subjects for most of the research activities of the group. Basic theory and principles in community and population ecology are addressed, emphasising the importance of ecological interactions and their impact on population dynamics and biodiversity. Predation, competition and parasitism are principal interactions that are explored. Studies include habitat and diet utilization, niche dynamics, feeding strategy, food webs and bioenergetics, with special emphasis on freshwater fish. Dynamic aspects of the interactions are emphasized through long-term studies of the ecological impacts of introductions and invasions of alien species, and of large-scale density manipulations of lacustrine fish populations. There are several ongoing projects within this field of research, addressing objectives like e.g. predator-prey interrelationships, competition and niche dynamics, long-term ecological effects of invasions of non-native fish species, and the role of parasites in food-webs of subarctic lakes.    

Contact person: Per-Arne Amundsen

Projects:

• The role of parasites in food-web topology and dynamics of subarctic lakes 
  Contact person: Per-Arne Amundsen

Subprojects:

• Parasites effects in a lake food-web, and Community effects on parasites     
  Contact person: Anna Siwertsson

• Sticklebacks and their parasites
  Contact person: Jesper A. Kuhn