| 1. |
- Sæther, Bernt-Erik, et al.
(författare)
-
International evaluation of Swedish Wildlife Research 2003–2014 : funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency through the Wildlife Management Fund
- 2019
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This report presents the international evaluation of the Swedish wildlife research during 2003–2014 funded by the Wildlife Management Fund through the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The review and evaluation was commissioned by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and carried out by a scientific, multidisciplinary panel of experts. The report presents their assessments, conclusions and recommendations.Rapporten är skriven på engelska och har svensk sammanfattning. Den redovisar den internationella utvärderingen av viltforskningen 2003–2014 som finansierats av Viltvårdsfonden genom Naturvårdsverket. Utvärderingen organiserades av Naturvårdsverket och utfördes av en mångvetenskaplig expertpanel vars arbete, omdömen och rekommendationer presenteras här.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Haugen, Trine B., et al.
(författare)
-
Differences in serum levels of CB-153 and p,p '-DDE, and reproductive parameters between men living south and north in Norway
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Reproductive Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-1708 .- 0890-6238. ; 32:3, s. 261-267
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Arctic is contaminated with persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs), and exposure to these compounds may differ between south and north in Norway. POPs may have negative impact on male reproductive characteristics. We compared serum levels of the CB-153 and p,p'-DDE in men who were born and had lived most of their lifetime south and north (close to or above the Arctic Circle) in Norway. We found no geographical differences in levels of CB-153 (south: 50 ng/g lipid (mean), north: 59 ng/g lipid; p = 0.27) or sperm parameters. However, the levels of AV-ODE were higher in south than in north (81 ng/g lipid (mean) vs. 66 ng/g lipid; p = 0.02), as were the levels of total and free testosterone. The FSH levels were lowest in south. A strong relationship between the CB-153 and the SHBG levels was observed. The regional differences observed for p,p'-DDE, testosterone and FSH were not reflected in the semen quality. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 5. |
- Holand, Hakon, et al.
(författare)
-
Stabilizing selection and adaptive evolution in a combination of two traits in an arctic ungulate
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Evolution. - : Wiley. - 0014-3820 .- 1558-5646. ; 74:1, s. 103-115
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stabilizing selection is thought to be common in wild populations and act as one of the main evolutionary mechanisms, which constrain phenotypic variation. When multiple traits interact to create a combined phenotype, correlational selection may be an important process driving adaptive evolution. Here, we report on phenotypic selection and evolutionary changes in two natal traits in a semidomestic population of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in northern Finland. The population has been closely monitored since 1969, and detailed data have been collected on individuals since they were born. Over the length of the study period (1969-2015), we found directional and stabilizing selection toward a combination of earlier birth date and heavier birth mass with an intermediate optimum along the major axis of the selection surface. In addition, we demonstrate significant changes in mean traits toward earlier birth date and heavier birth mass, with corresponding genetic changes in breeding values during the study period. Our results demonstrate evolutionary changes in a combination of two traits, which agree closely with estimated patterns of phenotypic selection. Knowledge of the selective surface for combinations of genetically correlated traits are vital to predict how population mean phenotypes and fitness are affected when environments change.
|
|
| 6. |
- Lundregan, Sarah L., et al.
(författare)
-
Inferences of genetic architecture of bill morphology in house sparrow using a high-density SNP array point to a polygenic basis
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Molecular Ecology. - : WILEY. - 0962-1083 .- 1365-294X. ; 27:17, s. 3498-3514
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding the genetic architecture of quantitative traits can provide insights into the mechanisms driving phenotypic evolution. Bill morphology is an ecologically important and phenotypically variable trait, which is highly heritable and closely linked to individual fitness. Thus, bill morphology traits are suitable candidates for gene mapping analyses. Previous studies have revealed several genes that may influence bill morphology, but the similarity of gene and allele effects between species and populations is unknown. Here, we develop a custom 200K SNP array and use it to examine the genetic basis of bill morphology in 1857 house sparrow individuals from a large-scale, island metapopulation off the coast of Northern Norway. We found high genomic heritabilities for bill depth and length, which were comparable with previous pedigree estimates. Candidate gene and genomewide association analyses yielded six significant loci, four of which have previously been associated with craniofacial development. Three of these loci are involved in bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signalling, suggesting a role for BMP genes in regulating bill morphology. However, these loci individually explain a small amount of variance. In combination with results from genome partitioning analyses, this indicates that bill morphology is a polygenic trait. Any studies of eco-evolutionary processes in bill morphology are therefore dependent on methods that can accommodate polygenic inheritance of the phenotype and molecular-scale evolution of genetic architecture.
|
|
| 7. |
- Malm, Gunilla, et al.
(författare)
-
Reproductive function during summer and winter in Norwegian men living north and south of the Arctic circle.
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 1945-7197 .- 0021-972X. ; 89:9, s. 4397-4402
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Seasonal, daylight-dependent variation in human spermatozoa counts, with lowest values during summer, has been suggested. To test this hypothesis, we performed a longitudinal study of semen quality and reproductive hormone levels in Norwegian men living north and south of the Arctic Circle. An ejaculate and a serum specimen were obtained both in summer and in winter from 92 volunteers in Tromsoe (69° north latitude) and 112 in Oslo (60° north latitude). Semen analyses were performed, and serum was assayed for FSH and inhibin B. The median spermatozoa concentration in Tromsoe after adjustment for abstinence period length was 49 × 106/ml in summer and 54 × 106/ml in winter. Corresponding values for Oslo were 59 × 106/ml and 54 × 106/ml. The seasonal differences in spermatozoa concentration were not statistically significant, nor were significant differences observed in median total spermatozoa count, semen volume, percentage progressive motile spermatozoa, or FSH. In Tromsoe, but not Oslo, inhibin B concentration was slightly, but significantly (P = 0.02) higher in winter than summer (229 ng/liter vs. 223 ng/liter).The length of the daylight period may have a slight impact on hormonal markers of spermatogenesis but does not cause substantial changes in spermatozoa numbers and motility.
|
|
| 8. |
- Niskanen, Alina K., et al.
(författare)
-
Consistent scaling of inbreeding depression in space and time in a house sparrow metapopulation
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 117:25, s. 14584-14592
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inbreeding may increase the extinction risk of small populations. Yet, studies using modern genomic tools to investigate inbreeding depression in nature have been limited to single populations, and little is known about the dynamics of inbreeding depression in subdivided populations over time. Natural populations often experience different environmental conditions and differ in demographic history and genetic composition, characteristics that can affect the severity of inbreeding depression. We utilized extensive long-term data on more than 3,100 individuals from eight islands in an insular house sparrow metapopulation to examine the generality of inbreeding effects. Using genomic estimates of realized inbreeding, we discovered that inbred individuals had lower survival probabilities and produced fewer recruiting offspring than noninbred individuals. Inbreeding depression, measured as the decline in fitness-related traits per unit inbreeding, did not vary appreciably among populations or with time. As a consequence, populations with more resident inbreeding (due to their demographic history) paid a higher total fitness cost, evidenced by a larger variance in fitness explained by inbreeding within these populations. Our results are in contrast to the idea that effects of inbreeding generally depend on ecological factors and genetic differences among populations, and expand the understanding of inbreeding depression in natural subdivided populations.
|
|
| 9. |
- Ruhayel, Yasir, et al.
(författare)
-
Seasonal variation in serum concentrations of reproductive hormones and urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in men living north and south of the Arctic Circle: a longitudinal study.
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Clinical Endocrinology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2265 .- 0300-0664. ; 67:1, s. 85-92
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- bjective Seasonal variation in photoperiod or temperature may influence human reproductive biology. The present study evaluated whether seasonal changes occurred in the levels of reproductive hormones and the major melatonin metabolite, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), in populations exposed to extreme variation in photoperiod and temperature. Design Two separate cohorts of Norwegian men were recruited from the general population in either of two locations: Tromso (69.5 degrees N, n = 92) or Oslo (60 degrees N, n = 112), located north and south of the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees N), respectively. Measurements Four blood and 12-h overnight urine samples were obtained on separate occasions over a 12-month period, including during the photoperiod maximum and minimum. Serum concentrations of FSH, LH, testosterone (T), oestradiol (E-2), SHBG and the urinary excretion of aMT6s were assessed. Results Statistical analysis using generalized estimating equations indicated that LH levels were lowest during early winter in both locations (both P = 0.01). In Tromso, free T and E-2 concentrations peaked during early winter (P = 0.02 and 0.003, respectively). In Oslo, free T levels were lowest during early winter (P = 0.06) whereas E-2 levels were lowest during late summer (P < 0.001). Urinary aMT6s concentrations were lowest during early summer in Tromso and Oslo. Concentrations peaked during early winter in Tromso (P < 0.001) and during late winter in Oslo (P < 0.001). Conclusion LH levels exhibited similar changes in both locations, whereas the patterns of changes of the sex steroid concentrations differed, possibly indicating different underlying mechanisms. Excretion of aMT6s was lowest during early summer in both locations, indicating that the long natural photoperiod was sufficient to cause suppression of melatonin secretion. Whether these changes have any biological significance remains uncertain.
|
|
| 10. |
- Rylander, Lars, et al.
(författare)
-
Single semen analysis as a predictor of semen quality: clinical and epidemiological implications.
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Asian Journal of Andrology. - : Medknow. - 1008-682X .- 1745-7262. ; 11, s. 723-730
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is generally thought that a single ejaculate is a bad predictor of semen quality of a subject, because of significant intra-individual variation. Therefore, we investigated the degree to which the results of a first semen analysis differ from that of a second analysis among men from a general population in Norway. In addition, we analysed how the two different semen results mirrored the overall semen quality assessment. A total of 199 volunteers participated in the study and delivered two semen samples with an interval of 6 months. The semen parameters were determined according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 1999 guidelines, which were also used to determine whether semen quality was normal or abnormal. In addition, the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was determined using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay. The two samples from each individual were very similar with regard to standard semen parameters and DFI (r(s:) 0.67-0.72), and there were no significant systematic differences between the two samples. The result of the first sample (normal/abnormal) was highly predictive of the overall conclusion based on the two samples (sperm concentration: in 93% of the cases (95% confidence interval [CI]: 89%-96%); sperm motility: in 85% of the cases (95% CI: 79%-89%); overall semen quality: in 85% of the cases (95% CI: 80%-90%). In epidemiological studies, one ejaculate is a sufficient indicator of semen quality in a group of subjects. In a clinical situation, when the question is whether the semen quality is normal or not, the first ejaculate will, in at least 85% of cases, give a correct overall conclusion.
|
|
