Research groups

Research

My research is mainly on the vegetation and climate history of the time from the last glacial period until today. I use plant remains such as pollen, seeds, leaves, and needles that have been deposited in lakes and bogs. The plant remains can tell us about past vegetation and landscapes, and how changes in climate, environment and human impact has affected the vegetation. 

 The projects I am involved in are about:

* climate and environemental changes in the Ural Mountains, Russia

* how our forests have changes since the last glacial period

* climate change and how it affects the tree line in the Norwegian mountains

* how pollen are spread across the present day landscape

Teaching

At the moment I am Head of Education at the Department of Biological Sciences and are working for quality and development in our study programs.

 

I do teaching in the following courses:
 

BIO 101 - Organismal biology I - the botany part, spring

BIO 250 - Palaeoecology, autumn

BIO 299 - Research experience, spring and autumn

 

Supervising

I can offer MSC and PhD, and Bachelor projects in relation to my research interests.

My former students are; 

PhD

  • Maaike Zwier. Effects and responses to changing environments in the sub-Antarctic, a palaeoecological approach.2019-2022. Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerkenes Centre for Climate Research, UiB. Main supervisor.
  • Lydia S. Messingfeld. Time will tell: understanding the impacts of past climate change, human land use history, and natural succession on ecosystem composition, biodiversity, and soil carbon storage. 2017-2021. Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerkenes Centre for Climate Research, UiB. Main supervisor.
  • Vivian Astrup Felde. Terrestrial biodiversity through time – novel methods and their applications. 2011-2014. Uni Research Climate and Department of Biological Sciences, UiB. Main supervisor.
  • Kristine Fjordheim. Vegetation dynamics and historic changes on mires. Effects of changing land use, environment and climate on scythed outfields. 2007-2011. Department of Biological Sciences, UiB. Co-supervisor.
  • Isabella Rudolph. 2008-2013. Past and future wildfires in Norway. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Co-supervisor.
  • Ingelinn Aarnes. Vegetation and climate reconstruction based on plant macrofossils from Andøya, northern Norway. 2007-2010. Department of Biology, UiB. Co-supervisor.

 

MSc

  • Vemund R. Opedal: The charcoal record of small spruce (Picea abies) -swamps in southeastern Norway: a study of local fire history and fine scale spatial variation. 2020-2021. NMBU, Co-supervisor.
  • Sondre K. Sørsdal: Potential use of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) frass in fruit tree pest management. 2020-2021. Department of Biological Sciences, UiB. Co-supervisor.
  • Kristina F. Svare. Post-glacial (Holocene) forest-line and climate dynamics at Høvringen, Rondane, inferred from pollen and megafossils. Department of Biological Sciences, UiB. Co-supervisor.
  • Ingeborg Helvik. Ecosystem processes in connection to the establishment of Fagus sylvatica in southern Norway. 2009-2010. Department of Biology, UiB. Main supervisor.
  • Anveig Nordtug Wist. Spatial structure of the charcoal record in a boreal landscape. - A quantitative study of a lake sediment and the surrounding forest soil. 2008. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Co-supervisor.
  • Kjersti Ane Bredesen. Vegetation and forest history in Gammeldalen valley, Hedmark. 2007. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Co-supervisor.
Publications
Interview
Lecture
Academic article
Academic lecture
Report
Poster
Popular scientific lecture
Editorial
Popular scientific article
Programme participation
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Academic literature review
Doctoral dissertation
Book review
Abstract
Brochure
Popular scientific chapter/article
Feature article
Reader opinion piece
Thesis at a second degree level

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.