PhD Student
Centre for Palaeogenetics
Svante Arrhenius väg 20C
SE-106 91 Stockholm
SWEDEN
Email: johannes.masviken@nrm.se
Phone: +46 704343774
Organisation: Department of Zoology, Stockholm University
Publications: [Papers in Google Scholar]
ResearchGate: [ResearchGate Page]
Research Description
Arctic and alpine environments have a harsh climate and harbour simple ecosystems characterised by a low primary productivity. Productivity gradients in both latitude and altitude cause further declines in species richness and ecological complexity. Alpine species communities are particularly susceptible to ecological perturbations caused by climate change, such as north- and upward expansions of boreal and sub-alpine species. The Fennoscandian mountains contain sub-Arctic and alpine environments that provide important ecosystem services for diverse stakeholder groups. Although north- and upward expansions of some species is already ongoing, we have scant information of the likely effects of and the processes regulating such range shifts for resident species communities.
In my PhD project, I will quantify community composition of vascular plants and arthropods along altitude gradients along the Fennoscandian mountains and investigate how such altitude variation is influenced by latitude, grazing, and competition. I will use a variety of methods and techniques including morphological and field identification as well as genetic methods for identification of different species groups.