How natural and anthropogenic factors interact to affect community dynamics and ecosystem function is a fundamental question in ecology and highly relevant for sustainable management of natural resources. This is particularly true in subarctic and alpine lakes whose natural ecosystem processes and valued salmonid fishes are threatened by rapid, yet poorly understood, environmental changes. This project will study the large-scale effects of natural and anthropogenic factors (e.g. invasive species, hydropower operations and fishing) on food webs and salmonid populations in over 100 Fennoscandian cold-water lakes. The resulting empirical and theoretical models will elucidate the underlying factors that determine the biomass and resource use of individuals and populations in ecological networks and thereby the structure, function and resilience of cold-water lake ecosystems. This innovative project supports sustainable management of cold-water lakes and their vulnerable salmonid stocks.

2021

2026