Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Comparison of synthetic and post-synthetic molecular genetic methods of reducing xylan glucuronidation in hybrid aspen for biorefinery applications

Abstract Background The pattern of xylan backbone substitution by 4- O -methylglucuronic acid (mGlcA) and O -acetyl groups generated during biosynthesis in the Golgi apparatus plays a key role in molecular interactions between secondary cell wall polymers in hardwoods, thus regul...

Combined sewer overflows attributable to wet weather season contributing to pharmaceutical pollution: a case study in northern Spain

The use of combined sewer systems is associated with frequent overflow events and discharges of untreated wastewater containing micropollutants, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of weather-related factors on the...

Development of research on retention forestry over the last four decades

Four decades ago, a modified form of forest management was introduced with the aim of reconciling wood production and environmental values. Central is the deliberate retention at harvest of structural components key to biodiversity and ecological processes such as old trees, dead...

A targeted, hypothesis-based analysis of functional metagenomic changes in anaerobic digestion: preregistered methods, predictions and targeted KEGG orthologs (KOs)

The versions of the targeted KO table are referred to in the (preregistered) Methods. In the KO tables, From Sikora ... Mieczysław (2018) onwards, column names refer to first and last authors, and years of publication, of relevant publications mentioning KOs. A full reference lis...

No effect of short‐term exposure to ocean acidification on individual‐level variation in behaviour and susceptibility to predation in a Great Barrier Reef damselfish

Abstract Ocean acidification, caused by rising carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere, has been reported to negatively impact a wide variety of behaviours in fishes, including activity, exploration, and predator avoidance. These effects have been documented at the population le...

Harnessing macrogenomics to study changing marine ecosystems under global climate change

Abstract Climate change is reshaping marine ecosystems at an accelerating pace. Predicting its impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functions is therefore crucial to developing effective conservation strategies. Integration of genomic tools, habitat modelling and simulations off...

Remote sensing and deep learning for standing dead-tree detection and mapping: a review of advances, challenges, and future directions

Standing dead trees are visible indicators of tree mortality and an important transitional component linking forest disturbance to future lying deadwood, habitat availability, and carbon storage. As drought, insect outbreaks, pathogens, and climate extremes intensify tree mortali...

Long-term patterns in phenotypic plasticity of chironomid head capsules in small high-elevation subarctic lakes: exploring possible mechanisms using multi-proxy paleolimnological records

Abstract We quantified temporal variation in the head capsule (HC) length of subfossil chironomids from two high-elevation subarctic lakes in northern Sweden and explored its potential drivers using chironomid assemblages, sedimentary pigments, and stable isotope analyses. Althou...

Wind conditions shape co-migration fidelity in trans-Saharan birds at a Mediterranean stopover site

Abstract Weather is a key driver of bird migration, particularly near ecological barriers, where migratory species often converge before crossing. While its effects on individual timing are well documented, how weather reshapes the temporal assemblage of migratory bird communitie...

Biotic and abiotic drivers of ecosystem functioning differ between a temperate and a tropical region

Any single ecosystem will provide many ecosystem functions. Yet, we lack large‐scale, systematic studies of how abiotic factors can directly or indirectly – via effects on biodiversity – drive ecosystem functioning. In this study, we assessed the impact of climate, landscape and...

Feasibility and reliability of farmer-recorded plant diversity indicators in European grasslands

European grasslands are biodiversity hotspots but face ongoing threats from intensification and abandonment. Monitoring is essential for evaluating policies that promote grassland biodiversity, but conventional expert-led surveys are costly and difficult to scale. Farmer-led biod...

Diversity and composition of the seed-associated mycobiome of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) in Sweden

Abstract Silver birch ( Betula pendula Roth) frequently produces large proportions of empty seeds lacking a viable embryo, contributing to low germination rates and reduced seed quality. To investigate whether fungi may be associated with seed developmental status, we characteris...

Landscape context outweighs stand properties in shaping saproxylic beetle assemblages on clear-felled stumps

Abstract In managed production forests, dead wood is often deficient, leading to declines in saproxylic (dead wood-dependent) beetles due to a lack of suitable substrates. Tree stumps created after clear-felling can host numerous saproxylic beetles, yet rising demand for renewabl...

Mechanistic Origins of Selective Aromatic Amino Acid Oxidation by Mn-Doped TiO2 Nanozymes

Abstract Metal oxide nanozymes are emerging as robust redox catalysts, yet the molecular basis of their substrate selectivity and reaction pathways remains poorly understood. Here, we identify 20 mol% Mn-doped TiO2 as a nanozyme platform that selectively oxidizes aromatic amino a...

Projecting Impacts of Marine Heatwaves and Their Effects on Long‐Term Changes in Marine Ecosystems Over the 21st Century

ABSTRACT Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are increasing in frequency, duration and intensity under climate change. Although current MHWs trigger broad ecological impacts, such as coral bleaching, mass mortality of seagrass meadows, and declines in important fish stocks, the cascading eff...

Trifluoroacetic Acid in Complex Matrices: A Critical Review of Analytical Strategies, Uncertainties, and Standardization Needs

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the shortest perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid, is the most prevalent ultra-short-chain PFAS in the environment. Its high polarity, strong acidity, water solubility, persistence, and mobility promote widespread occurrence across aquatic, terrestrial, agri...

Strengthening systems to monitor antibiotics. An action oriented approach

Background Antibiotics have become lynchpins of our modern systems of healthcare, animal health and agriculture. Monitoring the types and volumes of antibiotics distributed, used and discharged across these systems is critical to provide evidence for action. With limited resource...

Exposure to remote work and probability of long-distance commuting: evidence from pandemic lockdowns

Abstract In this paper, we investigate how the lockdown-induced exposure to remote work affected the likelihood of switching to longer commutes using a longitudinal full-population register of Swedish employees. We find that employees with little experience of longer commutes wer...

Widespread endocrine-disrupting pollutant alters male courtship behavior in a livebearing fish

Abstract Sexual selection is a potent evolutionary force shaping both pre-copulatory courtship behavior and post-copulatory sperm traits, with male reproductive effort often adjusted to social and mating context. Endocrine-disrupting contaminants are predicted to alter how males...

Reindeer health and supplementary feeding practices – a survey among herders in Norway and Sweden

Abstract Background The well-being, health and nutrition of reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus ) and the practice of reindeer husbandry in Fennoscandia are strongly affected by climate change and the loss and fragmentation of pastures. Supplementary feeding has become increasi...