Study organisms
Past study organisms
| Adder | Japanese flounder | Blue tit | Common lizard |
| Collared flycatcher | Smooth snake |
| Thinhorn sheep | Moor frog |
| Three-toed woodpecker |
Three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus, Linnaeus 1758)
Threespine stickleback is a small teleost fish found in marine and in some freshwater habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Following the postglacial colonisation of fresh waters, threespine sticklebacks have diverged extensively in behavioural, morphological and life history traits. Threespine stickleback morphology is characterised by three dorsal and two pelvic spines. Their sides are covered to a variable degree by bony lateral plates, which together with the spines act as a defense against predators.
The threespined stickleback is an interesting species for ecologist and evolutionary biologists not only because of existence of divergent and locally adapted populations, but also because it’s genome has been sequenced. Our work in this species focuses on phylogeography, population genetics and studies of local adaptation. In particular, we are interested on identifying genes and genomic regions responsible for various local adaptations. Likewise, quantitative genetic work and estimation of selection gradients on particular traits are in our agenda.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Nine-spined stickleback ( Pungitius pungitius, Linnaeus 1758)
The nine-spined stickleback is a distant relative of the three-spined stickleback. In contrast to the latter, nine-spined sticklebacks are not very common in marine habitats but more confined to life in freshwater. Consequently, the species can be found almost any types and kinds of freshswater bodies throughout Europe. Although nine-spined sticklebacks are typically much smaller than three-spined sticklebacks, exceptions occur: the average size of adult nine-spine sticklebacks in some of our study populations is around 10 cm. In fact, the current World Record fish – 11.5 cm long female – was caught by Gabor Herczeg in summer 2006 in course of our studies in Kuusamo, Finland. This individual is pictured above together with a normal size Baltic Sea individual. More about this individual can be found from the article (in Finnish) here.
Our current interests on this species are varied: phylogeographic, population genetic and genomic studies are in progress. Also studies focusing on gigantism, behaviours, local adaptation and brain size variation are in our agenda. Some of this research in described in news paper article (in Finnish) which appeared in Helsingin Sanomat 3.6.2008.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, Linné 1758)
The Atlantic salmon is the most beautiful fish in the world. Not only are the silvery and well fed spring fish aesthetically most pleasing to watch, but their mysterious life at the high-seas has spurred human imagination for centuries, and will continue to do so.
Unfortunately, the Atlantic salmon stocks of the Baltic Sea and Finland in particular are in a bad shape. Of the original perhaps ca. 25 Finnish salmon rivers, only three significant runs are left. Only one of these run into Baltic. The signatures of shameful energy politics of the post-war Finland are reflected in the geography of the remaining salmon runs: all the three rivers with any significant salmon production in Finland are boarder rivers shared with Sweden and Norway. In other words, thanks to our neighbors, Finland still has natural runs of salmon.
Our interest on salmon derives mainly from the fact that salmons constitute an interesting model system for studies of fisheries induced evolution. Given the state Finnish salmon stocks, we are, however, focusing mostly on long-term data from Spain - collection of which was initiated by General Franco. This work is done in collaboration with Sonia Consuegra and Carlos Garcia de Leaniz.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Common frog (Rana temporaria, Linnaeus 1758)
The common frog is the most widespread amphibian of Europe occurring from northern Spain to the North Cape in the northernmost Scandinavia. It is an interesting model species for ecological and evolutionary studies due to wide range of habitats it occupies in different parts of distribution range, and because of the ease its larval stages can be used in experimental studies. The northern populations of the common frog are interesting because of their slow pace of life: while frogs in southern Scandinavia mature at an age of 2-3 years and die typically before age of four, frogs in northern Finland take 6-7 years to mature and live up to an age of 15 years.
Our work with this species has focused on local adaptations in different parts of distribution range, genetics and plasticity in different quantitative traits together with studies on population and conservation genetics. We continue our work with common frogs with focus in melanism and linkage-mapping.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Indirana frogs (Indirana sp.)
Indirana frogs are anuran amphibians endemic to *Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot*. There is currently 8-10 described species, but their taxonomic status, affinities and biology are very poorly understood. Some of the species endangered, some probably extinct, some may remain to be described. In collaboration with researchers at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (Trivandrum, India), we investigating genetic and phylogenetic affinities of these species.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Shrub frogs (Raorchestes sp.)
The genus Raorchestes (Rhacophoridae) is currently represented by 32 known species from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. The frogs in this genus have direct development with all growth taking place in egg. Therefore, swimming tadpole stage is lacking. To differentiate in between closely related Raorchestes species is extremely difficult - morphological differences among species are slight. Hence, many taxonomist ave emphaisiszed the importance of molecular and bioacoustic traits for species identification in this genus. We are interested in species diversity and distribution of this endemic genus in Western Ghats biodiversity hotpot.
Red-billed gull (Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus, Forster 1844)
The red-billed gull is a long-lived (up to 30 years), socially monogamous and colonially breeding larid native to southern hemisphere. Our study population is situated in Kaikoura, New Zealand where an individually marked population has been followed since 1958 by Jim Mills. The breeding takes between October and December and each bird breed on average 5-6 times during their lifetime.
The size of the colony, fidelity to mate and to natal site makes this a species suitable for quantitative genetic studies. We have based a large pedigree based on banding records and behavioural observations. Much of our current interest on this species is build on looking and explaining changes in mean trait values over time, as well as in using the available data to address various general problems in evolutionary quantitative genetics.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus, Linnaeus 1758)
The Siberian jay is a semi-social and long-lived corvid living in the boreal coniferous forests from Scandinavia to Siberia. The birds are very philopatric and live territorial, sedentary life. Offspring from the given years breeding attempt are often retained until the next spring, so the flocks seen in forests during autumns and winters are usually – but not always – family groups. In southern Finland, the species has gone through a dramatic population decline most likely due to loss of its forest habitats. More information about the species can be found from the pages BirdLife Finland and Suupohjan Lintutieteellinen yhdistys.
Our interest on Siberian jay is based on the long-term (1975-2007) population study carried out in western Finland. We have resolved the pedigrees of individual birds living in this population with the aid of molecular markers and banding records, and use this data as basis for various studies in genetics, evolutionary and population biology.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Barrow's golden eye (Bucephala islandica, Gmelin 1789)
The Barrow's goldeneye is a diving duck breeding in North America and Iceland, and it is closely related to the common goldeneye (Buchephala clangula). The species is interesting for evolutionary ecologists because of the egg-dumping behaviour exhibited by laying females: females of this species seem to try to reduce costs of reproduction by laying other females' nests. This behaviour has commonly been termed "brood parasitism", but recent research has proposed a more cooperative nature to the behaviour. We aim to further investigate where exactly this behaviour can be placed on the continuum between cooperation and conflict.
Our interest on this species derives from collaboration with Kim Jaatinen who is preparing his PhD-thesis on the evolution of breeding strategies, using the Barrow's goldeneye as a model species. Our role has so far been in development of microsatellite markers to be used in maternity and paternity identification of eggs.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus, Linné 1758)
The Lesser white-fronted goose a is a species which was still pretty common in Scandinavia in 1950’s, but has since gone dramatic population decline and no breeding attempts have been recorded inside the territorial borders of Finland for several years. More about this species – including mind-bogging maps showing migration routes based on satellite tracking – can be found from here. Also pages maintained by WWF Finland here are worth visiting.
Our interest on this species is grounded on JM’s personal history with this species dating back to 1988 when he was involved in rediscovery of this species as breeder in Finland. Currently, JM is collaborating with Minna Ruokonen, Anna-Carin Lundqvist and Tomas Aarvak to understand patterns of historical and current gene-flow to Fennoscandian populations by analyzing genetic variation in historical (museum) and contemporary samples.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
The Domestic dog (Canis familiaris)
Although not explicitly in our agenda, some of us are keen (some times less so) students of dog behavior. The literature about understanding and training pet dogs is huge, but it has been mostly written by amateurs with the consequence that much of the "truths" about dogs are nothing but mistaken folklore. It is in fact only recently that the scientific study of dog behaviour has really become modernized to a serious and rigorous science (Miklosi 2007. Dog. Behaviour Evolution and Cognition. Oxford Univ Press). Dogs are also becoming an important models in genetic research. Couple dog-related contributions from us:
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus)
Whitefish is one of the most important commercially fished species in the Baltic Sea area. Our research is focusing on the migratory form of whitefish which breed in the rivers draining to the Gulf of Bothnia and have their feeding grounds in the Baltic Sea . Migratory whitefish forms an interesting model system for fisheries induced evolution as the phenotypic characteristics of the maturing fish has been observed to change over decades. This might reflect evolutionary response to exploitation or alternatively, plastic response to prevailing growth conditions.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Herring (Clupea harengus)
The herring is the most important commercial fish species in the Baltic Sea. It occurs in all parts of Baltic Sea, and earlier genetic studies have revealed very little genetic differentiation between stocks in different parts of the Baltic. However, only very limited number of markers have been studied so far, and hence, possible cryptic structuring of the different stocks is an possibility that has been little explored so far. One of the aims of the BALTGENE project is to study the genetic structuring and diversity of Baltic herrings in more detail to uncover possible cryptic structuring and stocks.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Pike (Esox lucius)
Pike is a predator fish that can be found throughout the Europe, Asia and North America in lakes and coastal areas with low salinity. Our studies on pikes focus on fisheries induced selection on phenotypic traits, particularly behavioural vulnerability to fisheries, growth characteristics and differences between fishing gears and methods in terms of their selectivity.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Eider (Somateria mollissima)
Eiders are facultatively social, long-lived sea ducks. The presence of solitary, as well as social reproductive strategies provides a great opportunity to study factors underpinning sociality and group formation. The study population is located in the Tvärminne archipelago on the south-western coast of Finland and behavioural studies on the population have gone on since 1990.
Our eider research is done in collaboration with Markus Öst and Kim Jaatinen. The main study questions regarding this species pertain to the role of relatedness in the formation of cooperative brood rearing coalitions between females. We are also interested in recruitment and the role of natal philopatry in elevating local relatedness.
Adder (Vipera berus, Linnaeus 1758)
Adders are venomous, but one has to be extremely unlucky to tramp accidentally on one. Although the populations where our studies have been conducted harbor large adder populations, finding and catching them (by hands using motor-cycle gloves) is hard work and often one has to ‘dive’ to get them. Even then, the success rate may be poor if it is a warm day – they tend to bask mostly during the early morning hours.
Our recent work with adders has focused on their thermal biology as well as genetics of melanism. They have also served in our work with common lizards as natural fear factors. For the future, we are hatching a solution to a problem how to carry out an experiment that some of us keep on dreaming about during sleepless nights.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Thinhorn sheep (Ovis dalli, Nelson 1884)
Mountain sheep in North America belong to a widely distributed genus (Ovis) of ungulates that stretches from Europe (where many populations of wild living sheep have been introduced) across southwestern Asia and then northeast through central Asia to Siberia and into North America. The genus is a relatively recent arrival to North America, colonising the continent about 500,000 to 1,000,000 years ago by crossing the Bering land bridge. The species of sheep that research focuses on is thinhorn sheep (Ovis dalli) which inhabit mountain ranges of British Columbia, Yukon, and Northwest Territories, Canada, and Alaska, USA. Across their range sheep intergrade in colour from all white to dark brownish black, a trait which appears to be a product of past hybridisation.
Thinhorn sheep require habitat which has large grass and sedge meadows for forage and steep cliffs and rock outcrops which are used as escape terrain for predator avoidance. Importantly, winter range is found in areas of relatively low snowfall and high winds that clear snow from foraging areas. In summer sheep spend most of their time in alpine areas, while winter range can be found in both alpine and subalpine areas.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Blue tit (Parus caeruleus, Linnaeus 1758)
Blue tit is a small hole-nesting passerine with qualities that make it a good study organism for those interested in natural selection and genetics of wild populations. We have studied blue tits on the Swedish island of Gotland in the past. More information about these studies can be found from here.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis, Temminck 1815)
The collared flycatcher – a close relative of the pied flycatcher (F. hypoleuca) – has been the subject of a long-term study (1980 – present) on the Baltic island of Gotland, off the Swedish east coast. Due to the ease with which the lives and deaths of these birds can be monitored on Gotland, it has become a well known model-organism among ecologists and evolutionary biologists.
An interesting ornithological anecdote regarding the isolated populations of Collared flycatchers on the islands of Gotland and Öland is that Carl von Linné did not see this species during his trip to these islands in 1741 (Linneaus Carl 1745. Öländska och gotländska resa 1741. Re-printed 1962), suggesting that the species may be a recent addition to the Swedish fauna (first record 1846). However, because Linné’s trip took place late in the breeding season, he may have dipped the species due to its cryptic behaviour after the young have reached independence. A nice historical account of the species in Sweden can found from: Rosvall S. 1982 (Halsbandsflugsnappare och skärfläcka. Hanseproduktion, Visby).
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara, Jacquin 1787)
The common lizard is the world’s most widespread lizard, and occurs in Finland all the way up to subarctic mountains where the summers can be as short as 2-3 months.
We have used common lizards – aside of copper pipes and adders - as models to study thermal physiology and biology of ectothermic vertebrates. This work has been published in the following papers:
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca, Laurenti 1768 )
The smooth snake is a very rare species in Finland, and occurs only on Åland islands. It's English name derives most likely from the fact that the scales of this species lack central ridges making it feel very "smooth" in hand. Unfortunately, the species resembles superficially the adder (Vipera berus) making it vulnerable for killing by humans.
Jarmo Saarikivi has investigated the historical and current occurrence of smooth snakes in Finland for his Master of Science thesis, summary of which has been published in Luonnon Tutkija.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
The Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck & Schlegel) is an economically important fish species widely distributed around Japan. It is one of the most important fishes in Japan's coastal fisheries, but overfishing has caused a reduction of the stock size. In order to support the diminishing natural stock, enormous numbers of juveniles are produced at hatcheries and released to the ocean for stock enhancement. Studies by EGRU members have revealed various kinds of genetic problems in hatchery stocks, including high incidence of albinism in some stocks.
Click here to see pictures of normal and albinistic Japanese flounders.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Moor frog (Rana arvalis, Nilsson 1842)
The moor frog is a close relative of the common frog and although quite common in Fennoscandia, many people are not familiar with this rather cryptic species. Outside of the breeding season, both sexes are brownish or grey dull and not so easily distinguishable from common frogs without experience. However, during the breeding season males are easily recognized from their distinct call and blue breeding coloration.
The moor frog is known to exhibit considerable variation in size, shape and coloration throughout its distribution range, which covers large parts of Eurasia. The species can be distinguished from the common frog, Rana temporaria, by its smaller size and more pointed snout. The eggs and egg clumps are smaller in R. arvalis, also they are more transparent and laid deeper into water than the eggs from common frogs.
Our interests on this species have been varied (see publications), but at moment we are interested on its phylogeography, population genetics and mating system.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus, Linnaeus 1758)
The three-toed woodpecker is an interesting species not only because of having three toes per leg instead of the usual four in woodpeckers, but also because it is a long-lived species with quite specific habitat requirements. The species lives in old spruce forests in large (70-90 ha) territories feeding on insects living in dead wood.
Our interest on this species traces back to a collaboration in the context of long-term population study coordinated by Drs. Timo Pakkala and Markus Piha and Ville Vepsäläinen. At the moment, our role in this project is in developing a battery of microsatellite markers to be used in individual identification and characterization of reproductive success in the study population.
EGRU publications featuring this species.
Page updated 27.06.2011