The defense will also be live streamed using Zoom. The host of the session will moderate the technicalities while the chair of the defense will moderate the disputation.
The event opens for participation just before it starts, and closes for new participants approximately 15 minutes after it has begun.
Trial lecture
The candidate will first give at trial lecture on the following topic: 'The impacts of climate change on arctic biodiversity'
Time and place: Sep. 2, 2025 10:15 AM, Nucleus, Bikuben, Kristine Bonnevies hus
Research findings
This PhD explored biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics of the Last Glacial, in the Scandinavian Arctic, a region vulnerable to climate change characterized by the rareness of fossil remains predating the Last Glacial Maximum (~23 ka). Research focused on the faunal deposits of Nygrotta and Arne Qvamgrotta (AQ), located above the Norwegian Arctic Circle, investigated using ancient DNA (aDNA) and combining results with archaeological and geological analyses. In Nygrotta, the 40 vertebrate taxa identified provided insights into the development of the ecosystem throughout the Holocene (~12 – 5 ka). In AQ, we dated the deposit to the Odderade interstadial (MIS5a; ~85 - 71 ka). The 46 coastal Arctic taxa identified indicated cold environmental conditions, including seasonal sea ice. Notably, this was the first identification of the collared lemming (D. torquatus) in Scandinavia. Phylogeographic reconstruction identified complete genetic discontinuity between MIS5a and today in terrestrial taxa, corresponding to a significant faunal turnover in the Norwegian Arctic during the Last Glacial period. The same pattern was not observed in both of the analysed marine mammals. Overall, this PhD offered insights into past survival/extinction of taxa with whom we can draw parallels for current and future climate change and demonstrated the value of multidisciplinary research.
Adjudication committee
Prof. Eline Lorenzen, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
Assoc. Prof. Claudio Ottoni, Department of Biology, University of Rome
Assoc. Prof. Mark Ravinet, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Chair of defense
Prof. Asbjørn Vøllestad, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Supervisors
Prof. Sanne Boessenkool, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Prof. Love Dalén, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University