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Seasonal Ecology
Seasonal Ecology
Seasonality is a central template in nature and an important selective force. We aim to understand how seasonal environments shape ecological processes and evolutionary adaptations and how human stressors impact these processes. Most of our research questions have an annual cycle perspective to them. We run both theoretical and empirical studies and strive for concept rich research anchored in mechanisms and theory. Coastal and marine organisms form the main part of our work, but our interests are broad and general and we also work in terrestrial systems including links between sea and land.
The Seasonal Ecology Lab is a research lab led by professor Øystein Varpe Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen. The web pages feature postdocs, PhD- and MSc students, our research questions, projects and publications. The lab is embedded in the larger Theoretical Ecology Group
Coasts - where sea and land meet
Summer on the rocky shores
Two generations - and spectators
Research
Research
Our field is evolutionary ecology, with particular attention to how seasonality shapes ecological processes and evolutionary adaptations.
Central topics in our lab:
Life history theory
Phenology
Population biology
Predator-prey interactions
Foraging ecology
Ecosystem connections & meta-ecosystems
Sea - land interactions
Marine and coastal ecology
Ecological modelling
Some current projects
Some current projects
ClimateNarratives Varpe is WP-leader and adviser for two PhD-candidates. Funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN)
ARCTIC OCEAN 2050 Contributor to this large new initiative in Norwegian marine Arctic research.
Migratory Crossroads Akvaplan-NIVA leads. Funded by RCN
CASCADES Understanding human-induced trophic cascades in coastal ecosystems. NINA leads. Funded by RCN
Øystein Varpe - Professor. Evolutionary ecology, Population biology, Marine ecology
Iliana-Vasiliki Ntinou - PhD candidate. Zooplankton ecology
Steven Guidos - PhD candidate. Trophic cascades in coastal systems
Nadja Meister - PhD candidate. Rocky shore predator-prey interactions
Juan Manuel Valero Rodríguez - affiliated researcher. Macroalgae ecology
Martyna Syposz - affiliated researcher. Seabird ecology
Stine Emilie Grytøyr - MSc student. Seabird ecology
Jonah Henrius Laan - MSc student. Krill-whale interactions
Maria Eleni Vogiatzi - MSc student. Harbour porpoise ecology
Matas Abaliksta - MSc student. Sea gras ecology
Ada Margrethe Vestli - MSc student. Sea gras ecology
Two recent publications:
Kristiansen et al. 2025. Climate change impacts on ocean light in Arctic ecosystems. Nature Communications open access
Ntinou et al. Effects of crude oil and high salinity on eggs and early naupliar stages of the copepod Calanus hyperboreus. Journal of Plankton Research open access
and some "classics":
Varpe 2017. Life History Adaptations to Seasonality. Integrative & Comparative Biology full text
Varpe, Daase, Kristiansen 2015. A fish-eye view on the new Arctic lightscape. ICES Journal of Marine Science full text
Ji, Jin, Varpe. 2013. Sea ice phenology and timing of primary production pulses in the Arctic Ocean. Global Change Biology abstract
Varpe 2012. Fitness and phenology: annual routines and zooplankton adaptations to seasonal cycles. Journal of Plankton Research full text
Varpe et al. 2007. Early is better: seasonal egg fitness and timing of reproduction in a zooplankton life-history model. Oikos pdf
Collaborators and networks
Collaborators and networks
Theoretical Ecology Group, University of Bergen - where many in the lab also belong. Among other topics there - see our Arctic and Antarctic Ecology section.
UiB's Marine Biological Station at Espegrend is a key resource for us.
bioCEED - Centre for Excellence in Biology Education. ARCTOS - Arctic marine ecosystem research network. Section for Aquatic biology and toxicology (AQUA), University of Oslo. Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU. DEEP - Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University. The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). Farallon Institute, California. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) - where Øystein has an adjunct position.
Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research - where some of us are also affiliated.
Selected outreach, recent events, and media appearances
Selected outreach, recent events, and media appearances
A brighter future may not suit everyone - Bjerknes Centre, March 2026
Robynne Nowicki defending her PhD - UNIS, March 2026
Post by Øystein Varpe on Bluesky: @oysteinvarpe.bsky.social
Inspiration
Inspiration
Reflections on Papers Past - revisiting old papers in ecology and evolution through interviews.
Life history evolution. Online lecture by Steven Stearns, Yale University.
We have at all times acknowledged seasons. Vivaldi's musical conception in The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni) is a splendid artistic reminder - here an amazing performance of Winter (L'inverno).
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