Karin Nilsson

I am a researcher at the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies at SLU, Umeå. Most of my work concerns aquatic food webs and fish populations in particular. I am especially interested in the importance of different life stages - the fact that animals grow and develop during their lives - and what implications that has for population and community dynamics.

I lead several projects related to hydropower. One project investigates whether measures in hydropower reservoirs can enhance biodiversity. Another focuses on improving downstream fish passage efficiency and the role of returning spawners in population dynamics. A further project involves modeling how different measures affect fish populations.

Another theme in my research is climate change and its impact on food webs in northern lakes, with a particular focus on Arctic char and brown trout. Related to this, I also study how changes in land use and nutrient inputs affect lakes, including the effects of fish farming. 

I am very enthusiastic about teaching and I have been teaching on a variety of courses, ranging from basic to advanced level. Currently, I am the course leader for Scientific theory and I am teach on other courses, including Fish and wildlife management, Fish and wildlife census techniques, and Applied Population Ecology. 

If you are interested in writing a candidate or master thesis there is information on the department page - for example one project on how minnows affect brown trout and Arctic charr. But there may also be additional opportunities in connection to my research projects, for example in upcoming projects concerning the effects of fish farming and forestry on lake food webs.