Øystein Varpe

Interesser og spesialfelt

Evolutionary ecology
-  Predator-prey interactions, Life histories, Phenology, Ecological modelling

Aim: understand why we observe variation in life histories and behavior (both among individuals within species, and between species) and how this variation influences population dynamics and interactions.

I work in highly seasonal environments and study the scheduling of important annual events, such as reproduction, energy storage, dormancy and migrations, and the trade-offs involved. In my research I try to understand how environmental variability and change impact on animal populations and communities, particularly through responses in behaviour and life history strategies. I find state-dependent responses particularly interesting. Most of my work is on the ecology and evolution of birds, fish and zooplankton using both mathematical models and statistical analyses of data. 
 

Referanser

The one most recent article and a selection:

Ø Varpe (2012) Fitness and phenology: annual routines and zooplankton adaptations to seasonal cycles. Journal of Plankton Research. 34: 267-276. pdf 

Ø Varpe and Ø Fiksen (2010) Seasonal plankton-fish interactions: light regime, prey phenology, and herring foraging. Ecology 91: 311-318. pdf

Ø Varpe (2010) Stealing bivalves from common eiders: kleptoparasitism by glaucous gulls in spring. Polar Biology 33: 359-365. pdf   online appendix

Ø Varpe, C Jørgensen, G A Tarling, Ø Fiksen (2009) The adaptive value of energy storage and capital breeding in seasonal environments. Oikos 118: 363-370. abstract

J Titelman, Ø Varpe, S Eliassen, Ø Fiksen (2007) Copepod mating: chance or choice? Journal of Plankton Research 29: 1023-1030. pdf

Ø Varpe, C Jørgensen, G A Tarling, Ø Fiksen (2007) Early is better: seasonal egg fitness and timing of reproduction in a zooplankton life-history model. Oikos 116: 1331-1342. abstract  online appendix

Ø Varpe, Ø Fiksen and A Slotte (2005) Meta-ecosystems and biological energy transport from ocean to coast: the ecological importance of herring migration. Oecologia 146: 443-451. abstract

Ø Varpe and T Tveraa (2005) Chick survival in relation to nest site: is the Antarctic petrel hiding from its predator? Polar Biology 28: 388-394. abstract

Ø Varpe, T Tveraa and I Folstad (2004) State-dependent parental care in the Antarctic petrel: responses to manipulated chick age during early chick rearing. Oikos 106 (3) 479-488. abstract

Ice, Climate & Ecosystems ICE

Other links

Beauty. The equaton of the month (Lund University)
A concern. Concerned Scientists Norway
Talks and discussions. NPI seminar series
Promissing new initiative. Centre for Ocean Life

In the field:
Ecological detective work: kleptoparasitism and benthos-eider-gull interactions
Zooplankton sampling all year round:  Billefjorden, Svalbard
Marine ecology in Rijpfjorden and the pack ice (in Norwegian)

Additional peer-reviewed publications:

P E Renaud, J Berge, Ø Varpe, O J Lønne, J Nahrgang, C Ottesen, I Hallanger (2012) Is the poleward expansion by Atlantic cod and haddock threatening native polar cod, Boreogadus saida? Polar Biology. 35: 401-412. abstract

K. Enberg, C Jørgensen, E S Dunlop, Ø Varpe, D S Boukal, L Baulier, S Eliassen, M Heino. (2012) Fishing-induced evolution of growth: concepts, mechanisms, and the empirical evidence. Marine Ecology. 33: 1-25 pdf

H Nygård, J Wallenschus, L Camus, Ø Varpe, J Berge. (2010) Annual routines and life history of the amphipod Onisimus litoralis: seasonal growth, body composition and energy budget. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 417: 115-126. pdf

D Vogedes, Ø Varpe, J E Søreide, M Graeve, J Berge, S Falk-Petersen (2010) Lipid sac area as a proxy for individual lipid content of arctic calanoid copepods. Journal of Plankton Research 32: 1471-1477 pdf   cover photo 

S A Hanssen, J O Bustnes, T Tveraa, D Hasselquist, Ø Varpe, J A Henden. 2009. Individual quality and reproductive effort mirrored in white wing plumage in both sexes of south polar skuas. Behavioral Ecology (20) 961-966. abstract

J Berge, P E Renaud, K Eiane, B Gulliksen, F R Cottier, Ø Varpe, T Brattegard. 2009. Changes in the decapod fauna of an Arctic fjord during the last 100 years (1908-2007). Polar Biology. (32) 953-961. pdf

J Berge, F Cottier, K Last, Ø Varpe, E Leu, J Søreide, K Eiane, S Falk-Petersen, K Willis, H Nygård, D Vogedes, C Griffiths, G Johnsen, D Lorentzen, A S Brierley. 2009. Diel vertical migration of Arctic zooplankton during the polar night. Biology Letters (5) 69-72. pdf

M Heino, L Baulier, D S Boukal, E S Dunlop, S Eliassen, K Enberg, C Jørgensen, Ø Varpe. 2008. Evolution of growth in Gulf of St Lawrence cod? Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences (275) 1111-1112. pdf

J O Bustnes, T Tveraa, Ø Varpe, J A Henden, J U Skaare. 2007. Reproductive performance and organochlorine pollutants in an Antarctic marine top predator: the south polar skua. Environment International (33) 911-918. abstract

J O Bustnes, T Tveraa, J A Henden, Ø Varpe, K Janssen, J U Skaare. 2006. Organochlorines in Antarctic and Arctic avian top predators: a comparison between the south polar skua and two species of northern hemisphere gulls. Environmental Science and Technology (40) 2826-2831. abstract

Ø Fiksen, Ø Varpe, S Kaartvedt. 2004. Reply to Horizons Article “Some ideas about the role of lipids in the life cycle of Calanus finmarchicus” Irigoien (2004): II. Journal of Plankton Research (26) 980-981. pdf

Popular science

Ø Varpe, H Hop, K M Kovacs, H Steen. 2010. Centre for Ice, Climate and Ecosystems (ICE). GLOBEC International Newsletter (16 No. 1) 62. pdf

Ø Varpe and Ø Fiksen. 2005. Zooplankton-fish interactions and the fat conveyor-belt in the Norwegian Sea. GLOBEC International Newsletter (11 No. 2) 4-6. pdf