Centres of Excellence:

Biodiversity and Environmental Science | Ecology | Genetics and Physiology |

Research Projects of the Department of Biology

 

Section of Biodiversity and Environmental Science

 

BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH

  • Amazon Research Team
    The multidisciplinary research of the Amazon Research Team of the University of Turku aims at documenting and understanding the characteristics and geological history of Amazonian rain forests. Ongoing research projects are clarifying, for example, how the spatial and temporal variation in environmental properties are reflected in the structure and species composition of plant and animal communities, and how the geological history of the area may be reflected in the evolution and biogeographical distribution of species. In addition to basic research, the team carries out also applied research on questions related to the economical use of forests and land use planning, and develops interactive tools for plant species identification. See also SIAMAZONIA - a network (in Spanish) on biodiversity and environmental information concerning Peruvian Amazonia.
    Hanna Tuomisto (Biology), Risto Kalliola (Geography), Matti Räsänen (Geology).

 

ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Research projects at the Zoological Museum are dealing with the biodiversity of terrestrial arthropods globally.

  • Biodiversity of Holarctic spider fauna
    The project includes e.g. diversity, differences and origin of spider faunas on arctic islands (supported by INTAS), Finnish spider fauna [http://users.utu.fi/sepkopo/checklist_of_spiders_in_Finland.htm] and its distribution and monitoring of threatened spiders in Finland (supp. Ministry of Environment), spider fauna on mires in North Europe, spider fauna of alpine and arctic forest-line areas, some local faunas (Quebec, Madeira, Tenerife, Siberian localities), and taxonomic revisions. The effect of disturbances (air pollution and forest fires) on spider assemblages is also studied in boreal-subarctic areas. The project is done in international co-operation.
    Seppo Koponen
  • Biodiversity of the Oribatid mites
    Finland, the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific region are the areas in which the oribatid mites are studied. In Finland, the study focuses on the composition and distribution of the species. The research on the oribatid fauna of new, previously unstudied habitats is the target in the "PUTTE"-project, which is sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment. Additional aspects of studies in Finland focus on the composition of oribatid species on contaminated soils. Studies in the Eastern Mediterranean region are oriented toward the taxonomy and distribution of the primitive oribatids. Likewise, studies in the Indo-Pacific region also concentrate on the taxonomy and distribution of oribatid mites. The latter work is based on the Zoological Museum´s collection of rich material from the islands in that area.
    Ritva Penttinen
  • The true bugs of Finland (Heteroptera)
    The project for a guidebook of the true bugs of Finland is part of the PUTTE-program financed by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. The objective is to put together the information about distribution, habits of living and keys to a modern illustrated identification guide. The project works in close cooperation with the Finnish Expert Group on Hemiptera.
    Veikko Rinne
  • Taxonomy, systematics and diversity of Ichneumonidae parasitoid wasps
    The project includes e.g. taxonomy, systematics and diversity of Peruvian and Colombian Amazonian Ichneumonidae parasitoid wasps (e.g. the subfamilies Pimplinae and Rhyssinae); zoogeography of Neotropical Ichneumonidae; taxonomy and diversity of Palaearctic Ichneumonidae (e.g. tribe Stilpnina); ecology of parasitoids and the distribution of threatened Ichneumonidae wasps. The project is being conducted in close collaboration with several Finnish and foreign researchers and research institutes.
    Ilari E. Sääksjärvi, Reijo Jussila

 

HERBARIUM

  • Epibryophytic and lichenicolous microfungi
    Our basic goal is to screen the diversity of epibryophytic and lichenicolous fungi in Finland and map their distribution. In addition, we will focus on the evolutionary history of epibryophytic microfungi. We have produced DNA sequences of multiple gene loci and will run major phylogenetic analyses on parallel computing systems. Based on the obtained phylogenetic hypotheses we will study the evolution of various fungal lifestyles, the specificity and balance of the associations. We have found several new species and a new genus to science, and anticipate to find more as the material will be screened further. We have also found numerous new species to the country and this number keeps increasing steadily. This is a joined project with the Finnish Museum of Natural History.
    Seppo Huhtinen
  • Databasing and conservation of the plant collection of Åbo Akademi University
    Based on the mutual agreement from year 2000, the Herbarium takes responsibility of the whole plant collection of TUR-A, ca. 250000 specimens. All specimens will be mounted and databased and finally entered to the main database at Finnish Museum of Natural History awaiting for them to be offered to GBIF. Also all loans are the responsibility of the staff at TUR. Two technical posts were offered by Åbo Akademi from 2000 onwards.
    Jukka Vauras, Veli-Pekka Rautiainen
  • Hansa project
    Macrofossil scientists from seven countries around the Baltic Sea investigate cultivation history and especially the influence of the hanseatic traffic in the distribution of useful plants in those countries. The home (pages, too) of this project is the National Museum of Denmark, Kopenhagen.
    Terttu Lempiäinen

 

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Section of Ecology

Research in the Section of Ecology covers wide disciplines of ecology from theoretical, observational and experimental to more applied ones. Researchers in the section are involved in "Ecological interactions and Ecological Genetics" –research which has been chosen as one of only six existing areas of strength in the multidisciplinary University of Turku. In addition, there are strong teams studying questions in evolutionary, behavioural and environmental ecology. Our researchers work in teams that have close domestic and international research network connections, and our personnel (a total of approx. 50) include many foreign researchers and Ph.D. students. A Nordic Centre of Excellence status (years 2011–2015) has been assigned to the Nordic research group of tundra ecology. This NCoE is led by Prof. Oksanen and its subprojects employ many researchers.

  • Natural Enemies and Food Supply as Regulating Factors in Population Fluctuations of Small Mammals and Small Game
    Cyclic multiannual (3-4-yr) fluctuations of population densities of northern small mammals (voles, mice and shrews) have been described as the main puzzle of population dynamics in major ecological textbooks. Three-to-four-year population cycles of voles are of great importance to northern ecosystems, because in the peak phase of the cycle, voles may induce changes in plant quantity and quality, and high predator densities in turn may reduce densities of other animals, such as small game (hare and grouse). The main question of this project is the role of extrinsic factors (natural enemies and food supply) in population cycles of voles.
    Erkki Korpimäki
  • Invasion of an Alien Predator and Return of a Native Top-Predator: Impacts on Biodiversity in the Baltic Sea
    An invasion of an alien predator, American mink, to the archipelagos of the Baltic Sea is thought to have had vast detrimental effects on biodiversity. We have studied the effects of large-scale experimental removal of feral mink on the number of birds breeding on small islands of the Baltic Sea. Our main objective is to investigate the effects of island characteristics, removal of feral mink and occurrence of white-tailed sea eagles on the biodiversity, including birds, small mammals, amphibians and plants. To do this we will undertake several unique experiments that focus on the consequences of interactions between these two top predators and their prey.
    Erkki Korpimäki
  • Individual-Level approach to Animal Populations: Natural Variation and Responses to Human-Induced Changes in Forest and Agricultural Ecosystems
    In northern areas, many animal populations exhibit extensive natural size variation. Therefore, it is difficult to detect whether the decline in some particular animal population is due to natural factors or to human-induced environmental changes. Although habitat loss by human actions is the largest worldwide hazard to biodiversity, little is known about the effects of habitat loss and change on reproduction and survival at the level of individual animals. We have shown that lifetime reproductive success (LRS) of forest-dwelling Boreal Owls increased with proportion of old forests and decreased with proportion of agricultural land in the territory. Our main study species are the boreal (Tengmalm's) owl, the pygmy owl, the pied flycatcher, red squirrel and bank vole, and in agricultural areas the curlew, the kestrel, some small passerine species, and voles.
    Erkki Korpimäki
  • Cyclic Population Dynamics of the Autumnal Moth: Biology and Importance of Parasitic Wasps
    In northern Fennoscandia, populations of the autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), fluctuate periodically, reaching high densities and even mass outbreaks at 9?10-year intervals. When these serious forest pests are abundant, they may defoliate, or even kill, mountain birches of large areas. Our working hypothesis suggests that delayed density-dependent mortality due to egg, larval and/or pupal parasitism (parasitic wasps of the order Hymenoptera) generates the cyclic population dynamics of the autumnal moth. Thus, we concentrate on the parasitism in detail to obtain understanding of the biology of parasitoid species involved in the system. Their two- and three-trophic-level interactions with autumnal moths and mountain birches are examined by large-scale field samplings and by laboratory and field experiments. Together with taxonomists, we also explore taxonomy of these relative poorly known insects.
    Tero Klemola, Kai Ruohomäki
  • Regional sustainability – ecosystem services and environmental technology (REGSUS)
    The project Regional sustainability – ecosystem services and environmental technology (REGSUS) addresses the use of intelligent technology in the utilization of ecosystem services. The main focus is to study coupled human-environment systems and ponder how they may function in generating regional sustainability for instance in terms of managing the environmental load of agriculture. The three-year project was launched on January 1, 2010. The researcher in charge is Dr., Adjunct Professor Matti Kamppinen at the University of Turku School of History, Cultural Research and Art Studies, Department of Comparative Religion. The project is conducted in cooperation with the MTT Agrifood Research Finland, and it is funded by the Academy of Finland.
    Mia Rönkä
  • Conservation Biology, Ecology and Evolution in Social insects (CBEES)
    Conservation biological, evolutionary ecological and life-history ecological study questions related to sociality in social insects such as ants, bumblebees and wasps are studied in the research group (?See Bees??). The studies include experiments both in laboratory and field environments. Several of the studies have also landscape ecological and environmental ecological context as managed forests and heavy metal polluted environments are been used as study areas. In addition, there are ongoing studies on the effects of global warming on ecologically very important social insects. The main goal of the study is to get more information on how environment is associated with life-histories and the evolution of social behaviour of social insects.
    Jouni Sorvari
  • Effects of Air Pollution on Birds
    Our study focuses on the effects of air pollution on free-living bird populations. The main study site is the surroundings of a Finnish copper smelter, which has emitted heavy metals (e.g. copper, nickel, lead and arsenic) and acidifying compounds (e.g. sulphuric oxides) in the environment during the past decades. We aim to find out which kind of ecological impacts environmental pollution has on birds. Currently, one of the main topics in our study are the indirect effects of air pollution on birds, which take place via pollution-induced dietary changes.
    Tapio Eeva
  • Cervids as modifiers of boreal forest communities
    Moose and reindeer herbivory are studied as a key process affecting community composition and biodiversity of boreal forest ecosystems. The effects of differing grazing intensities, duration and timing of grazing on microclimate, vegetation and invertebrate fauna are being studied in Northern Sweden and Finland using both natural and simulated grazing.
    Otso Suominen
  • Alga - Grazer Interactions In Marine Littoral Environment
    In this project, we study the ecological role of invertebrate herbivores in regulating littoral biodiversity and the evolutionary ecology of interactions between aquatic macrophytes and their grazers. Knowledge on interactions between consumers and producers is crucial for understanding the mechanisms how environmental changes affect littoral communities. Specific research questions include effects of eutrophication on regulation of macroalgal communities, local adaptation in alga-grazer interactions, feeding strategies of littoral grazers and chemical ecology of brown algal secondary metabolites.
    Veijo Jormalainen
  • Human Life-History Project
    The aim of this project is to study a variety of questions relating to human life-history evolution in preindustrial and historical populations, using large multi-generational demographic data sets. The questions studied include, for example, the evolution of human family living and senescence, measuring darwinian fitness in humans, genetic constraints and natural selection on life-history evolution, and the effects of early development on lifelong reproductive success and lifespan.
    Samuli Helle, Virpi Lummaa
  • Life-history evolution and population establishment of invasive plants
    We investigate life-history evolution and population establishment of invasive plant species by combining experimental and modelling approaches. More specifically, we examine factors contributing to population establishment (e.g. propagule pressure, disturbance, genetic origin), and the amount of genetic variation in relation to invasion history and invasion success using a perennial herb (Lupinus polyphyllus) as a model species.
    Satu Ramula
  • The Effects of Climate Change on Life-History Events of Birds
    We use long-term time series to analyze effects of climate change on bird ecology. Based on events in the past we model how birds react to climate variation. The first phase concentrates on temporal changes of separate events in the annual cycle. In the future we extend research to cover distribution and population changes. The final goal is to create predictive models based on well-parameterized processes.
    Esa Lehikoinen
  • History of Finnish Ornithology
    We aim at republication and reinterpretation of all academic ornithological studies made in the Academy of Turku from 1687 to 1819. This source of information is largely neglected in the studies concerning the historical changes of Finnish avifauna. We will extend Finnish ornithological knowledge a way earlier from the time of publication of Finlands fåglar by Magnus von Wright (1859) and Johan Axel Palmén (1873). Our conservative reinterpretations will improve understanding of faunal changes on very long timescales.
    Esa Lehikoinen
  • Moult Project
    Research on passerine moult was initiated by Erkki Haukioja in 1968 in Turku. Since then data collected from volunteer ringers all over Finland has been collected in this never-ending project in Turku. The aim of the project is to produce basic information on the extent, timing and changes of postnuptial moult in Finnish passerines and near-passerines.
    Esa Lehikoinen
  • Constant Effort Feeding Site Project
    This new project is a semi-constant trapping scheme. It is based on the effort of volunteer ringers (30 ringers are involved in the experimental year). Trapping is performed twice a month year round (or between September to May, at least) and several measurements are taken from the birds and their condition and moult stage checked. We hope to get a superb dataset to reveal spatial and temporal trends of traits of a dozen or so common species.
    Esa Lehikoinen
  • The response of ecological networks to environmental changes: is it predictable?
    One of the greatest challenges for ecologists is to understand the complexity of interactions between species and their response to environmental change. Our hypothesis is that the structure of ecological networks after an environmental change is predictable on a general level. We expect that we can find the general rules by cross-comparisons among different networks at different scales. We  use patches of alien species as model systems of a rapid environmental change. Our focus is not on alien species per se, but on the impact of rapid environmental changes on the configuration of ecological networks. We compare above-ground food webs with antagonistic interactions (plants, herbivores, omnivores, predators) with mutualistic plant-pollinator webs. The information produced by the project helps in understanding the basic questions regarding ecological networks. This understanding is the key for the development of targeted conservation and management measures.
    Kai Norrdahl
  • Plant-herbivore interactions in a naturally fragmented environment
    We study coevolution and the role of plant mating system and plant distribution patterns in the interaction between a host plant and its specialist herbivores. We examine the interactions both from the plant?s point of view (resistance and tolerance to herbivory) and from the herbivores? standpoint (potential shifts in host plant specialization and local adaptation to sympatric host plant populations). We also examine if inbreeding depression is expressed as reduced resistance to herbivores, and whether herbivory thus selects for outcrossing in plant populations with high levels of herbivory. As a model system we will use populations of a perennial herb, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria (Asclepiadaceae), and its specialist herbivores, occurring mainly in the islands of Archipelago Sea near Turku, Finland.
    Roosa Leimu
  • Relationships between basic structural and functional properties of terrestrial ecosystems: changes caused by industrial pollution
    Our main goal is to advance the understanding of pollution-induced changes in relationships between structural and functional parameters of terrestrial ecosystems. The project, launched in 2008, aims at collecting and analysing information on pollution-induced changes in structure (biodiversity measured at different levels) and functions/services (including net primary production, secondary production and decomposition) of terrestrial ecosystems around the four non-ferrous smelters located in Harjavalta (Finland), Monchegorsk, Karabash and Revda (Russia). The study is exploratory by its nature: we aim at finding quantitative relationships linking biotic changes with some characteristics of both polluters and the affected ecosystems. The project is conducted in cooperation with the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (Yekaterinburg, Russia); it is jointly funded by the Academy of Finland (the Finnish team) and by the Russian Foundation of the Basic Research (the Russian partners).
    Elena Zvereva
  • Impacts of point polluters on terrestrial biota
    This project, initiated more than a decade ago, aims at improving our understanding of the changes in ecosystem structure and functions that have been caused by aerial pollution. Our objective is to identify general regularities and sources of variation in the responses of terrestrial ecosystems to industrial pollution by exploring relationships between the magnitude of these effects and the various characteristics of the biota, polluters, and environments. This goal is achieved by meta-analyses of published information and by comparative analysis of original data collected in an uniform manner in impact zones of several industrial enterprises. The project had been supported by several grants from the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, the Academy of Finland, and the Turku University Foundation.
    Mikhail Kozlov and Elena Zvereva
  • Impact of endemic insect herbivory on structure and productivity of vegetation in Northern Europe under a changing climate
    While outbreaks of forest pests attract considerable attention from scientists and the general public, little is known about the importance of the endemic herbivory (consumption of plant biomass when insect density is low) for vegetation and for ecosystems in general. Within the ongoing project we monitor endemic herbivory on principal forest-forming species of woody plants (Scots pine, Norway spruce, white and silver birches) along latitudinal transects in Northern Europe, investigate impact of endemic herbivory on growth of woody plants, and explore effects of climate on losses of plant biomass due to endemic insect herbivory. The obtained information is used to incorporate herbivory-mediated processes into the dynamic ecosystem model and investigate potential effects of climate-driven changes in the endemic herbivory on vegetation structure and ecosystem parameters such as net primary production, carbon fluxes and albedo. The project is supported by the Academy of Finland.
    Mikhail Kozlov
  • Structure and function of aquatic food webs and restoration of eutrophicated lakes
    Lacustrine food webs are studied with conventional limnological methods and using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and modeling. Most important study lakes are Säkylän Pyhäjärvi (in collaboration with the Pyhäjärvi Institute) and Littoistenjärvi in SW Finland, and Tanganyika in East Africa (in collaboration with other Finnish scientists and African scientists from Burundi, DR Congo and Tanzania). Comprehensive long-term ecosystem data are used to analyse, among others, the biological basis of fish production and the significance of biological interactions to the water quality. The results are useful for practical lake restoration and fisheries management.
    Jouko Sarvala
  • Tritrophic interactions between plants, herbivores and birds
    This research project started already in summer 2003 as my MSc research project and has continued after that as the topic of my PhD thesis and still as part of my postdoc research. Experimentally we have first studied whether insectivorous birds are interested in plants eaten by herbivorous insects. These experiments have been conducted both in aviary and in nature. After that we have researched in more detail how birds find the damaged trees, meaning do the birds use primary their vision or olfaction. As study species we have so far had mountain birch, silver birch, downy birch, autumnal moth, sawfly, willow warbler, great tit, blue tit and pied flycatcher. The research areas have located both in the Turku area and at the Kevo subarctic research institute. More information can be found from here: http://users.utu.fi/elkuma
    Elina Mäntylä
  • Factors behind natal dispersal and habitat selection in squirrels
    Natal dispersal, that is, the movement between the natal area and the area where breeding first take place, is a fundamental process underlying population dynamics, biological invasion, gene flow, and species persistence in the landscape. In this project, we study how both innate (individual condition, experience and genetics) and external factors (location of habitat and recourses, interactions with con- and heterospecifics) together influence the natal dispersal and habitat selection of mammals. The objective is also to analyse the search strategy and decision rules used by individuals while selecting the future home. The model organisms will be forest-dwelling squirrels, the red squirrel and the Siberian flying squirrel.
    Vesa Selonen

  • Species interactions and speciation in cichlid fishes
    With more than 2000 species, cichlid fishes constitute the most species rich vertebrate family (Cichlidae) and are also one the prime study systems for research on speciation and many other evolutionary processes. This project aims at understanding interactions among different individuals in dense communities of multiple cichlid species. In particular I am interested in speciation processes while the diverging lineages live in sympatry. In this respect, rapidly evolving cichlid assemblages of Nicaraguan crater lakes provide an apt study system. Thanks to 'Ecological interactions and ecological genetics' having been chosen as one of the areas of research strength at the University of Turku, the Department of Biology is currently providing the main funding for the project. For additional info, check my homepage.
    Topi Lehtonen

  • Snake interactions with prey and an alien predator in the Baltic Sea archipelago
    In Europe one of the most widespread non-native mammals is the American mink (Mustela vison) which has been accused of the decline of many native species throughout its introduced range. One of the best-studied ecosystems affected by mink is the outer archipelago of the Baltic Sea, SW Finland, where mink is the only terrestrial mammalian carnivore. Mink show negative impacts on populations of all prey groups studied: small mammals, amphibians and many breeding bird species, and mink impacts on voles also cascade down to vegetation. However, mink effects on the two native terrestrial vertebrate predators on the islands, European adders (Vipera berus) and grass snakes (Natrix natrix), are unknown. Mink are occasionally known to prey on snakes and mink and snakes also compete for the same prey species. This project will explore whether the presence of mink has a negative impact on archipelago snake populations via resource competition. In addition, we will study the possible impacts of snake predation on prey populations and whether these effects cascade on vegetation.
    Pälvi Salo
  • Language evolution
    BEDLAN (Biological Evolution and the Divergence of Languages) is a cross-disciplinary research initiative funded by the Kone Foundation. The central aim is to investigate how the theories and methods of evolutionary biology can help to explain the diversification of languages both in micro- and macroevolutionary levels. First we have studied the macroevolution, i.e. speciation of languages by constructing a phylogenetic tree of uralic languages by analyzing the branching order and divergence time estimates of 17 languages. The data consists of basic vocabulary collected by linguistics. Secondly, we will study the microevolution of languages by analyzing a data set of Finnish dialects collected 80 years ago. The aim is to study the population dynamics of languages with methods derived from population genetics and ecology. The evolutionary changes will be further compared to the variation found in latin and other romanic languages.

    The project involves three doctoral students: a biologist Terhi Honkola (UTU, Dep of Biology) and linguists Kaj Syrjänen (UTA, School of Languages, Translation Studies and Literary Studies) and Jyri Lehtinen (UH, General linguistics/ Research Institute for the Languages of Finland). From the field of biology, the project has also a post doc researcher (Dr. Outi Vesakoski, UTU, Dep. of Biology) and a phylogenetist (Dr. Niklas Wahlberg, UTU, Dep. of Biology). The other researchers are linguists from University of Helsinki (Dr. Kalle Korhonen, Dr. Minna Palander-Collin, Dr. Antti Leino) and from Research Institute for the Languages of Finland (Toni Suutari, A.L.) and from University of Tampere (Dr. Carita Klippi and Dr. Urho Määttä).  Dr Määttä acts also as the project leader.
    Outi Vesakoski, Niklas Wahlberg
  • Evolution of personality and sexual-dimorphism in behavioural traits
    SiPe-project studies the evolution of behavioural and personality traits and especially evolution of sexually dimorphic behaviour. We hypothesize that sexually dimorphic behavioural or personality is  caused by disruptive selection favouring different traits in males and females. We also assume that the outcome depends on the interaction between mortality and fertility selection and that differences between them may constrain the evolution of behavioural traits. We also study the behavioural variation among populations from different selective environments to see whether the locally varying selective pressures cause the polymorphism of personality traits. Our model species is the marine crusteacean grazer Idotea baltica. I. baltica is a colour polymorphic species allowing us to differentiate between the individuals if examining them in bigger groups. This provides a unique possibility to study relative fitness or mortality of individuals with varying personalities in properly replicated experimental set-ups. The personnel of the project includes the biologists: PhD-student MSc Maria Yli-Renko, Dr.’s Jenni Pettay and Outi Vesakoski, all from Department of Biology, University of Turku and a psychologist Dr. Markus Jokela from Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki. The studies are done in co-operation with Dr. Veijo Jormalainen.
    Outi Vesakoski, Jenni Pettay
 

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Division of Genetics and Physiology

The research in the division combines the genetics and physiology of organisms - including man - and uses the information to clarify the function, evolution and ecology of organisms.

  • Environmental and Evolutionary Physiology Research Unit (EEPRU)
    The unit investigates how environmental factors, especially temperature changes, oxygen availability and oxidative stresses affect cellular functions in fish and other vertebrates. Largely the research relates to the success of fishes, and disturbances of their function in the Baltic environment. Investigations concentrate on environmental regulation of gene expression, specifically transcriptional regulation by hypoxia-inducible factor - initially cloned and sequenced from rainbow trout in the laboratory. We are also looking at the evolution of oxygen-dependent phenomena, and responses of fish, frog and bird populations to environmental contamination and gradients. The unit forms together with Prof. Craig Primmer's Unit (Genetics, University of Turku) and Prof. Juha Merilä's unit (Bio- and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki) the Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Genetics and Physiology. Methods used include, in addition to normal physiological measurements of, e.g., metabolic rates, gene cloning, DNA microarrays and real timePCR.
    Mikko Nikinmaa
  • PnP Group- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Research Unit
    Professor Craig Primmer's group is one of three core research groups in the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Genetics and Physiology. Research of the group focuses on the evolutionary and conservation genetics of non-mammalian vertebrates, in particular salmonid fishes. Research interests include the identification of genes underlying traits of ecological and evolutionary importance in non-model organisms. Specific studies include investigations of genes involved in local adaptations in salmonid fishes, and studies of genes implicated in speciation in passerine birds (Ficedula spp.). In a number of cases, information gathered in these studies has been applied for developing conservation strategies in the studied populations. Other research projects include phylogeographic studies of species such as Atlantic salmon, grayling and the common frog, as well as more applied conservation genetic studies for developing management plans for harvested Finnish salmonid species. See http://users.utu.fi/primmer for more details.
    Craig Primmer
  • Mechanism and utilization of transpositional DNA recombination
    During the last few decades it has become clear that genomes are not rigid and stable. Segments of DNA are moved, inverted, duplicated, and extensively multiplied within living cells. Collectively, these phenomena are called DNA recombination. DNA transposition is a recombination reaction, in which a DNA element (a transposon) moves from one location to another in the genome of its host organism. The underlying molecular mechanisms are universal from lower prokaryotes to higher eukaryotes including retrotransposons and retroviruses. In this process specific protein molecules, utilizing tightly controlled biochemical reactions, excise a piece of DNA and splice it into another location in the genome. We are studying the molecular mechanisms of DNA transposition and developing the reactions into general tools for molecular biology applications.
    Harri Savilahti
  • Signalling Pathways Regulated by Oncogenic Pim Kinases
    The Signal Transduction group investigates cellular mechanisms regulating growth, differentiation as well as death of normal and cancer cells, focusing on the effects of the oncogenic Pim family kinases and their substrates in cellular models for the immune system and the nervous system.
    Päivi Koskinen
  • Evolutionary implications of transgenes in plants
    Transgenic herbicide and insect resistances are widely studied in crops and trees. These resistances may be advantageous also in certain natural or agricultural environments. This project studies transgene-induced evolution in transgenic Arabidopsis, Avena, and Betula species, and their hybrids with closely related species. We are applying both quantitative genetics and molecular methods to reveal direct and indirect effects of the genes on ecologically important traits. Besides basic research in evolutionary and conservation genetics, this study aims at agro-ecological pplications.
    Irma Saloniemi
  • Nymphalidae Systematics Group (NSG)
    The NSG aims to contribute to the understanding of evolutionary processes that are involved in diversification of species. As a model group, Nymphalidae is of exceptional utility in studies of evolutionary processes. The uneven distribution of its ca. 6000 species on Earth as well as in evolutionary lineages allow comparisons of groups of species to identify similarities and differences in their evolutionary histories. The ecology of many species is also well-known, unlike in many other invertebrate groups. The NSG uses molecular systematic methods to study the processes of diversification, mainly by analysing sequence data from a number of nuclear protein-coding gene regions.
    Niklas Wahlberg
  • Genetic and life-stress impacts on telomere dynamics in wild mice: a new animal model for experimental biological aging research
    I investigate the role of telomere length and telomere dynamics as a background mechanism for organismal senescence and evolution of life-history traits. In particular, I focus on elucidating the genetics of telomere length determination and stress-induced telomere attrition and their consequences for individuals’ pathogen resistance, fitness and life-span.
    Petteri Ilmonen

 

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10.01.2012 11:10 Matti Ketola