Rebekah Oomen

Researcher

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Email r.a.oomen@ibv.uio.no

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Academic interests

I’m a James S. McDonnell Foundation Fellow at the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis at the University of Oslo and a Researcher II at the Centre for Coastal Research at the University of Agder. Much of my work is carried out in collaboration with the Flødevigen Research Station (Institute of Marine Research).

My research uses interdisciplinary experimental and genomic studies of natural populations to understand how organisms respond to environmental change and the mechanisms of adaptation to local environments across different spatial scales. After a degree in Forensic Science that sparked my interest in genetics, I completed my MSc and PhD with Dr. Jeff Hutchings at Dalhousie University on the genomic basis and spatial scale of variation in temperature responses of Atlantic cod populations. I’m currently interested in integrating genomic data into eco-evolutionary models for predicting population responses to environmental change, as well as the role of behaviour and mating systems in environmental responses and adaptation. My research addresses these topics using tools from complex systems science, such as individual based modeling, machine learning, and network analyses.

I lead the scientific and artistic project TORSKETROMMING ('COD DRUMMING'), which investigates the role of drumming vocalizations in the Atlantic cod mating ritual. I also work on the NRC-funded project CODSIZE (PI: Dr. Esben Moland Olsen) at the Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen to study the impact of cod body size on population productivity and ecosystem dynamics. Outside of Norway, I'm a member of the Santa Fe Institute working group Sociality Under Scarcity, investigating the relationship between changes in group size and resource-related drivers of sociality across the tree of life.

Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Moland, Even; Olsen, Esben Moland; Knutsen, Jan Atle & Bernatchez, Louis [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Nothing so boundless, nothing so patient: Obituary for Professor Jeffrey Alexander Hutchings (1958–2022). Fish and Fisheries. ISSN 1467-2960. 23(3), p. 519–521. doi: 10.1111/faf.12661.
Rasmussen, Jeppe Have; Moyano, Marta; Fuiman, Lee A. & Oomen, Rebekah Alice (2022). FishSizer: Software solution for efficiently measuring larval fish size. Ecology and Evolution. ISSN 2045-7758. 12(3), p. 1–10. doi: 10.1002/ece3.8672.
Goodwin, Morten; Halvorsen, Kim Aleksander Tallaksen; Jiao, Lei; Knausgård, Kristian Muri; Martin, Angela Helen & Moyano, Marta [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2022). Unlocking the potential of deep learning for marine ecology: overview, applications, and outlook. ICES Journal of Marine Science. ISSN 1054-3139. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsab255. Full text in Research Archive
Raatikainen, Kaisa; Purhonen, Jenna; Pohjanmies, Tähti; Peura, Maiju; Nieminen, Eini & Mustajärvi, Linda [Show all 30 contributors for this article] (2021). Pathways towards a sustainable future envisioned by early-career conservation researchers. Conservation Science and Practice (CSP). ISSN 2578-4854. 3(9). doi: 10.1111/csp2.493. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Scientists have warned decision-makers about the severe consequences of the global environmental crisis since the 1970s. Yet ecological degradation continues and little has been done to address climate change. We investigated early-career conservation researchers' (ECR) perspectives on, and prioritization of, actions furthering sustainability. We conducted a survey (n = 67) and an interactive workshop (n = 35) for ECR attendees of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology (2018). Building on these data and discussions, we identified ongoing and forthcoming advances in conservation science. These include increased transdisciplinarity, science communication, advocacy in conservation, and adoption of a transformation-oriented social–ecological systems approach to research. The respondents and participants had diverse perspectives on how to achieve sustainability. Reformist actions were emphasized as paving the way for more radical changes in the economic system and societal values linked to the environment and inequality. Our findings suggest that achieving sustainability requires a strategy that (1) incorporates the multiplicity of people's views, (2) places a greater value on nature, and (3) encourages systemic transformation across political, social, educational, and economic realms on multiple levels. We introduce a framework for ECRs to inspire their research and practice within conservation science to achieve real change in protecting biological diversity.
Wolf, Jesse F.; MacKay, Layla; Haworth, Sarah E.; Cossette, Marie-Laurence; Dedato, Morgan N. & Young, Kiana B. [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Preprinting is positively associated with early career researcher status in ecology and evolution. Ecology and Evolution. ISSN 2045-7758. 11(20), p. 13624–13632. doi: 10.1002/ece3.8106. Full text in Research Archive
Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Kuparinen, Anna & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2020). Consequences of single-locus and tightly linked genomic architectures for evolutionary responses to environmental change. Journal of Heredity. ISSN 0022-1503. 111(4), p. 319–332. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esaa020. Full text in Research Archive
Mérot, Claire; Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Tigano, Anna & Wellenreuther, Maren (2020). A roadmap for understanding the evolutionary significance of structural genomic variation. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. ISSN 0169-5347. 35(7), p. 561–572. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.03.002. Full text in Research Archive
Roney, Nancy; Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2018). Fine-Scale Population Differences in Atlantic Cod Reproductive Success: A Potential Mechanism for Ecological Speciation in a Marine Fish. Ecology and Evolution. ISSN 2045-7758. p. 1–11. doi: 10.1002/ece3.4615. Full text in Research Archive
Roney, Nancy; Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2018). Temporal variability in offspring quality and individual reproductive output in a broadcast-spawning marine fish. ICES Journal of Marine Science. ISSN 1054-3139. 75(4), p. 1353–1361. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsx232.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2017). Transcriptomic responses to environmental change in fishes: Insights from RNA sequencing. FACETS. ISSN 2371-1671. 2, p. 610–641. doi: 10.1139/facets-2017-0015. Full text in Research Archive
Kuparinen, Anna; Roney, Nancy E.; Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Hutchings, Jeffrey & Olsen, Esben Moland (2016). Small-scale life history variability suggests potential for spatial mismatches in Atlantic cod management units. ICES Journal of Marine Science. ISSN 1054-3139. 73(2), p. 286–292. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsv181.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2016). Genetic variation in plasticity of life-history traits between Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) populations exposed to contrasting thermal regimes. Canadian Journal of Zoology. ISSN 0008-4301. 94(4), p. 257–264. doi: 10.1139/cjz-2015-0186.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2015). Variation in spawning time promotes genetic variability in population responses to environmental change in a marine fish. Conservation Physiology. ISSN 2051-1434. 3:cov027(1). doi: 10.1093/conphys/cov027.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2015). Genetic variability in reaction norms in fishes. Environmental Reviews. ISSN 1181-8700. 23(3), p. 353–366. doi: 10.1139/er-2014-0077.

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Deininger, Anne; Martin, Angela Helen; Pardo, Juan; Berg, Paul Ragnar; Bhardwaj, Jyotirmoy & de Oliveira Catarino, Diana Sofia [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2021). Coastal Research Seen Through an Early Career Lens—A Perspective on Barriers to Interdisciplinarity in Norway. Frontiers in Marine Science. ISSN 2296-7745. 8. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.634999. Full text in Research Archive
Oomen, Rebekah Alice & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2020). Evolution of Reaction Norms. In Futuyma, Douglas J. (Eds.), Oxford Bibliographies in Evolutionary Biology. Oxford University Press. ISSN 9780199941728.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Thorbjørnsen, Susanna Huneide; Goodwin, Morten & Stenseth, Nils Christian (2020). Torsken vår bruker antakelig sørlandsdialekt. Agderposten. ISSN 0805-3723. Show summary
FORSKNINGSDAGENE: Unike dialekter blant fiskene kan hjelpe torsk til å velge partnere som ligner den selv.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland; Jentoft, Sissel; Stenseth, Nils Chr. & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2018). Transcriptomic variability in population responses of Atlantic cod to temperature.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice (2017). Genetic and environmental drivers of gene expression in Atlantic cod.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice (2016). Transcriptomic responses to environmental change in fishes: insights from RNA-seq.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland; Jentoft, Sissel; Stenseth, Nils Christian & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2016). Genetic variability in population responses of Atlantic cod to temperature.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice (2015). The transcriptomic response of cod to temperature.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland; Jentoft, Sissel; Stenseth, Nils Christian & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2015). The transcriptomic response of cod to temperature.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland; Jentoft, Sissel; Stenseth, Nils Christian & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2015). Genetic variability in population responses of Atlantic cod to temperature.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland; Jentoft, Sissel; Stenseth, Nils Christian & Hutchings, Jeffrey (2015). Genetic variability in population responses of Atlantic cod to environmental change and the transcriptomic response to temperature.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice; Knutsen, Halvor; Olsen, Esben Moland; Jentoft, Sissel; Stenseth, Nils Christian & Hutchings, Jeffrey A. (2014). Genetic variability in population responses of Atlantic cod to environmental change.
Oomen, Rebekah Alice (2013). Genetic variability in population responses of Atlantic cod to environmental change.

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Published Oct. 27, 2016 2:50 PM - Last modified Feb. 4, 2022 3:41 PM

Projects

CodSize: Resolving impacts of Atlantic cod body size on population replenishment and coastal ecosystem change
Sociality Under Scarcity
TORSKETROMMING
The spatial scale, molecular basis, and demographic consequences of variable responses to environmental change