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The evolution of reproductive isolation is a key evolutionary process, but the factors that shape its development in the early stages of speciation require clarification. Here, using a meta-analysis of 34 experimental speciation studies on arthropods, yeast and vertebrates, we show that populations subject to divergent selection evolved stronger reproductive isolation compared with populations tha
Against the backdrop of the ecological crisis, food production systems will need to transform to ensure future food security. There are contrasting visions of what this transformation should look like. This paper scrutinizes these competing imaginaries of future agriculture and associated styles of anticipation in Tanzania. We find that both government visions and global crop models anticipate fut
Human-mediated changes in island vegetation are, among others, largely caused by the introduction and establishment of non-native species. However, data on past changes in non-native plant species abundance that predate historical documentation and censuses are scarce. Islands are among the few places where we can track human arrival in natural systems allowing us to reveal changes in vegetation d
Pollen plays a key role in plant reproductive biology. Despite the long history of research on pollen and pollination, recent advances in pollen-tracking methods and statistical approaches to linking plant phenotype, pollination performance, and reproductive fitness yield a steady flow of exciting new insights. In this introduction to the Special Issue “Pollen as the Link Between Phenotype and Fit
This paper assesses the opportunities for resource- and energy-efficient biojet fuel production from forest-based biomass utilising existing industrial infrastructure in Sweden. Two categories of production pathways are considered: one including technologies that are certified for the production of biojet fuel, and the other uncertified technologies under development. Aspects included are producti
Our paper about the impacts of the Laschamps Geomagnetic Excursion 42,000 years ago has provoked considerable scientific and public interest, particularly in the so-called Adams Event associated with the initial transition of the magnetic poles. Although we welcome the opportunity to discuss our new ideas, Hawks’ assertions of misrepresentation are especially disappointing given his limited examin
Through in situ experiments, this study investigated the erosion resistance of a prototype dike with different vegetation and soil sections built on the Falsterbo peninsula, Sweden. A gravity-driven wave impact simulator was used to simulate waves breaking on the dike. Two sandy soils and three vegetation types (standard grass, biodiverse seed mixture, and hay) were tested for this study. In gener
Lake water storage variations on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) serve as crucial indicators of regional hydrological dynamics and climate changes, providing more comprehensive insights than discrete measurements of lake area or water level alone. While accurate bathymetric data is fundamental for quantifying lake water storage, conventional bathymetric surveys are often constrained by logistical challen
Exposure to extreme temperatures can negatively affect animal reproduction, by disrupting the ability of individuals to produce any offspring (fertility), or the number of offspring produced by fertile individuals (fecundity). This has important ecological consequences, because reproduction is the ultimate measure of population fitness: a reduction in reproductive output lowers the population grow
Recent discoveries of several Mesolithic sites within the Dagsmosse Basin, south-central Sweden, offer an opportunity to study the lifestyle and skillsets of Mesolithic hunter-gatherer-fishers operating in wetland environments. In this paper, we present a combined archaeological and palaeoecological analysis of a Mesolithic fenland environment using Repetitive-Proxy Pollen Analysis (RPPA) of early
The occurrence of within-population variation in germination behavior and associated traits such as seed size has long fascinated evolutionary ecologists. In annuals, unpredictable environments are known to select for bet-hedging strategies causing variation in dormancy duration and germination strategies. Variation in germination timing and associated traits is also commonly observed in perennial
Transport of terrestrial carbon through riverine systems to coastal water has a negative impact on oxygen concentration in coastal areas. However, information on seasonal variation and the impact of catchment composition on the bioavailability of allochthonous carbon is lacking. In this project we address this knowledge gap by investigating the reactivity of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) at river
Reconstructions of past land use and related land-cover changes at local and regional scales are needed to evaluate the potential long-term impacts of land use on the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. In this purpose, we selected the Gamleby area at the Swedish Baltic Sea coast for a case study. We use a new, high resolution pollen record from a small lake (Lillsjön) located 3.6 km NNW of the bay
Terrestrial organic matter (OM) plays a key role in coastal organic carbon burial. However, few studies focus on the relationship between land use in the watershed and the transport of terrestrial OM to coasts from a long-term perspective. In this study, we compared terrestrial OM deposition between an inlet of the Baltic Sea and an upstream lake within the same watershed over the last 500 years,
The movement of plants, animals, and microorganisms by humans, consciously or unconsciously, has changed both ecosystems and societies throughout history. This article focuses on one such transformative species, lodgepole pine, and its relocation from northwestern America to northern Sweden in the mid-twentieth century. A cultural biography of the lodgepole pine’s existence in Sweden examines how
The agriculture sector can contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing its own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, sequestering carbon in vegetation and soils, and providing biomass to substitute for fossil fuels and other GHG-intensive products. The sector also needs to address water, soil, and biodiversity impacts caused by historic and current practices. Emerging EU policies create incentiv
Our overall understanding of long-term climate dynamics is largely based on proxy data generated from archives such as ice cores, ocean sediments, tree rings, speleothems, and corals, whereas reconstructions of long-term changes in vegetation and associated climate during the Holocene are largely based on paleoecological records from peat and lake sequences, primarily pollen and plant macrofossil
