Vigdis Vandvik

Position

Professor, Centre Director, CeSAM Centre for Sustainable Area Management

Affiliation

Research groups

Research

I am a community ecologist interested in how natural and human global change drivers affect plants, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions and services at different spatial and temporal scales. My research falls into three broad categories;

  • How do local and regional processes interact to shape the patterns in diversity, abundance and function that we observe in nature?
  • How does environmental changes affect plants, and how do these effects scale across levels of organization from individuals via populations to communities?
  • What are the impacts of human land-use regimes, past and present, on terrestrial ecosystems?

My group - Between The Fjords Lab - use macroecological experiments - replicating field experiments across broad geographical and climatic extents within Norway and across the globe - to disentangle and understand patterns and processes underlying generalities as well as context-dependencies in global change effects and responses. Our research is both methodological and conceptual, and most often conducted in alpine, grassland, or heathland systems. The Vestland Climate Grid is our main experimental playground. We combine field experiments with laboratory experiments and field observational data.

Through my own research projects and collaborations in Norway, Europe, the US, Uganda, Nepal, China, and Peru I get the opportunity to explore these questions in different regions, study systems, and by using different methods.

Field experiments offer opportunities for student-active research, and my research is test-bed for developing effective ways of teaching and learning as integral components of 'real' research projects. I can offer PhD, Msc, and bacherlor's projects in connection to most of my research projects.

I am passionate about research integrity, FAIR open research practice, research quality, and research communication and impact in society. I an active in research communication and dissemination, and have worked with nature management and conservation authorities in Norway,  with IPBES, and the UNESCO-recognised Heathland Centre at Lygra to explore science-policy links relating to my research.

Outreach

I am actively communicating popular science and in the science-policy interface in Norway and internationally over topics related to the nature crisis and climate crisis, global change ecology and all things related to mountain biodiversity, equity in science and especially in the natural sciences, open and reproducible science, students in research, and other topics. 

Key current roles and responsibilities in th escience-policy interface: 

2022 –     Member on the COUNCIL ON ETHICS for the NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT PENSION FUND GLOBAL, appointed by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance. https://etikkradet.no/members/ 

2022 – 2023    Member of NATURRISIKOUTVALGET, appointed by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and the Environment, Norway, to deliver a white paper on nature risks for Norway. https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/oppnevner-naturrisikoutvalg/id2920345/  

2019 – 2023    Coordinating Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES; http://ipbes.net/) thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control (deliverable 3 (b)) 

2019 –     Open Science Ambassador, GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION FACILITY https://www.gbif.org/article/6dNF1d0tgcI4cmqeoS2sQ4/biodiversity-open-data-ambassadors 

Teaching

I teach the following courses:

BIO 299 - Research practice in biology. In this course, students conduct a small research project under the supervision of a staff member or advanced student at BIO. I am responsible for coordinating and interacting with the student group through the semester, to ensure that they ahcieve 'metascience' skills in ethics, communication, and collaboration.  

Field experiments offer opportunities for student-active research, and my research is test-bed for developing effective ways of teaching and learning as integral components of 'real' research projects. I am passionate about research integrity, FAIR open research practice, research quality, and impact in society. I lead research and education projects that further reproducible research practices, share data, and train students in reproducible practices. 

I can offer PhD, Msc, and bacherlor's projects (BIO299) in connection to most of my research projects.

PhD Supervisory committees (*main supervisor)

2023 –         TBD*: Plant and climate impacts on grassland mycorrhiza FUNDER

2023 –         TBD*: Ericoid mycorrhiza in climate responses and feedbacks DURIN

2023 –         Nadine Artz*: Range-expander impacts in alpine ecosystems RangeX

2023 –         Kristine Birkeli*: Dwarf-shrub roles in climate responses and feedbacks DURIN

2021 –         Morgane Demeux*  Plant and climate impacts on soil mesofauna FUNDER

2020 –         Joseph Gaudard: Global change effects on C fluxes INCLINE and ThreeD

2019 – 2022 Anja M Jacobsen: Developing and testing methods for team learning bioCEED

2018 – 2022 Ragnhild Gya*: I Indirect effects of climate change INCLINE

2017 –         Lorah Patterson: TransPlant experiments at RMBL, Colorado

2016 – 2022 Siri Vatsø Haugum*: Drought impacts on heathland ecosystems LandPress

2015–2019   Francesca Jaroszynska*: Functional groups and biodiversity FunCaB

2015– 2018  Inge Althuizen*: Functional groups and carbon FunCaB

2013–2017   John Guittar: Climate and plant and microbial traits SEEDCLIM

2013–2017   Mari Jokerud*: UVB impacts on plant ecophysiology PARASOL

2011–2015   Tessa Bargmann: Heathland dynamics, biogeography and conservation 

2011–2014   Siri Lie Olsen: Climate and species interactions SEEDCLIM

2009–2012   Heidi Saure: Effects of invasive aliens on biodiversity INVALIENS

2008–2014   Collins Bulafu: Herb biodiversity in tropical forest fragments MATRIX

2008–2014    Perpetra Akite: Butterfly biodiversity in tropical forest fragments MATRIX

2008–2012    Eric Meineri*: Climate and plant regeneration SEEDCLIM

2008–2014    Joachim Töpper*: Climate and population dynamics SEEDCLIM

2008–2018    Jan Håkon Vikane*: Population dynamics of invasives in heathlands INVALIENS

2007–2013    Krishna Shestra*: Himalayan treeline dynamics HIMALINES

2007–2012    Liv Guri Velle*: Heathland post-fire dynamics and climate VILLSAU

2003–2009    Inger Måren*: Heathland seedbanks and regeneration after fire  

 

MSc Supervisory committees (*main supervisor E = External)

2021 –           Camilla Zernicow: Community responses to warming and interactions  INCLINE

2021 –           Ruben Tormodssæter*: Dark diversity in the Norwegian mountains   FUNDER

2020 –           Helene Sandsten: ThreeD: Global change and carbon flux in grasslands  ThreeD

2018 – 2022   Kristine Birkeli*: Drought effects on seed mass and growth LandPress

2019 – 2021   Ingrid J Dahle: Seed recruitment and range expansion INCLINE

2019 – 2020   Lasse SF Søgaard*: Resource allocation INCLINE

2019 – 2020   Gunvor Skjelstad*: Floral traits along climate gradients INCLINE 

2018 – 2020   Alexander Vågenes*: Drought effects on carbon flux in heathlands LandPress 

2018 – 2018   Joris Schwitter*: Seed predation along climate gradients SeedClim

2017 – 2019   Linn VassvikE: Phenology and pollinator mismatch FINSE

2017 – 2018   Elisabeth N. Hauge*: Traits during ontogeny LandPress 

2017 – 2018   William Garcia*: Microbial response to graminoid removal FunCaB 

2017 –  2018  Victoria GrapeE: Bryophyte traits in response to drought   LandPress 

2017 – 2018   Silje Östmann*:Phenology and pollinator mismatch FINSE 

2015 – 2018   Jesslyn Tjendra*: Microbial response to graminoid removal  FunCaB 

2015 – 2017   Ragnhild Gya *: Trait and ecosystem services in alpine grasslands FunCaB

2014–2015    Sigrid S. Bruvoll*: Smoke-induced germination in heathland plants

2014–           Aksel A. Henriksen*: Drought and grassland productivity FunCaB

2012–2014    Ynghild G. Storhaug*: Pollination an ecosystem service

2011–2014    Berhe Luel*: Fire history in coastal and alpine Calluna populations

2011–2012    Martha Ramirez*: Seed rain and climate SEEDCLIM

2010–            Kine Bakke Birkeland*: N-deposition effects BEGIN

2009–2012     Mari Jokerud*:  N deposition on bogs in S Norway  BEGIN/RESAMPLE:

2009–2010     Sumal Aryal: Land-use and biodiversity in the Nepalese Himalayas NOMA

2009–2010     Astrid Berge*: Dispersal and grasslands biodiversity SEEDCLIM

2009–2010     Kristoffer Hauge: Moth biodiversity in tropical forest fragments MATRIX

2009– 2010    Christine Pötch: Climate and Carex resource allocation SEEDCLIM

2008– 2010    Therese Kronstad: Butterflies in tropical forest fragments MATRIX

2008–2009     Øystein Langaker: Beach vegetation at Karmøy SW Norway   RESAMPLE

2006–2008     Kathrin Bochmühl: Altitudinal biodiversity gradients at Svalbard

2006–2008     Eva Kittelsen*: Pasture quality and feral sheep lambs    VILLSAU

2005–2007     Jan Håkon Vikane*: Population dynamics of Arnica montana

2005–2006     Håvard Nilsen*: Biodiversity patterns in a fragmented heathland landscape

2001–2002     Jarngerdur Gretarsdottir: Revegetation of degraded land on Iceland

Publications
Popular scientific lecture
Feature article
Programme participation
Reader opinion piece
Poster
Lecture
Academic article
Editorial
Academic lecture
Chapter
Database
Popular scientific chapter/article
Letter to the editor
Website (informational material)
Report
Short communication
Interview Journal
Academic literature review
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Popular scientific article

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Projects

My current research projects (follow links ot web pages): 

DURIN: The underappreciated roles of dwarf-shrubs in responding to and influencing global climate change. NORWEGIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL FRIMEDBIO project 325645 (2022 – 2026).     

FUNDER: Direct and indirect climate impacts on the biodiversity and FUNctioning of the UNDERground ecosystem. NORWEGIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL KLIMAFORSK project 315249 (2021 – 2025)

ECoMAP: Modelling Ecological state and Condition Maps to support knowledge-based decision-making in Area management and spatial Planning (ECoMAP). NORWEGIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL KSPSAMARBEID20 project 320602 (2021 – 2024).

RangeX: Mechanisms underlying the success and impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of range-expanding species under climate change. BiodivERsA project 578 (2021 – 2023).   

DYNAMIC: Reducing fire disaster risk through dynamic risk assessment and management. NORWEGIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL BRANNSIKKERHET project 298993 (2019 – 2022). 

ExperTS: Experiments, Traits, Synthesis: Using knowledge from global ecological experiments to validate, assess, and improve trait-based theory. NORWEGIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL INTPART project 287784 (2019–2021).

INCLINE: Indirect climate change impacts on alpine plant communities. NORWEGIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL FRIMEDBIO project 274712 (2018–2021).  

RECITE: Research and Education Partnership in Climate Change Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems. NORWEGIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL INTPART project 274831 (2018–2021).