Ola Svensson

Forskarassistent (Fil dr), ekologisk zoologi

Tel: 031-786 36 57 | ola.svensson@bioenv.gu.se

Research interests

My research is focused on sexual selection, ranging from mate choice and speciation to sperm competition, paternity assurance and care. My research methods include field and aquarium studies as well as molecular work on fish.

Sexual selection in the sand gobies
Pomatoschistus minutus and Pomatoschistus microps, both belong to the so called sand goby group in which all species have exclusive paternal care. My research on the sand gobies is focused on different aspects important in sexual selection, e.g. nest building, sperm competition, paternity and paternal care, and their mutual interrelationships. Furthermore, I am also interested in paternal care per se, that is, outside of the framework of sexual selection. Main collaborators are Prof. Charlotta Kvarnemo and Prof. Kai Lindström.

Photo: Anders Salesjö

The genetics of mate choice and speciation in African cichlids
There are hundreds of mouth brooding cichlid fish species unique to Lakes Malawi and Victoria in Africa. Many closely-related species can be crossed in the laboratory, but mate assortatively in nature, suggesting that speciation may often be influenced by mate choice behaviour. To unravel the genetic background of reproductive isolation we are designing and carrying out experimental crosses, assaying male phenotypes used in species recognition and carrying out experimental tests of mate preference using molecular paternity analysis. Main collaborators are Prof. Ole Seehausen, Prof. George Turner.

Photo: Katie Woodhouse 

Supervised master students and research technicians

Adelle Martins (2006). BSc Honours Research Project. Subject of thesis. Male mate recognition in Lake Malawi Cichlids. Hull University, United Kingdom.

Katie Woodhouse (2004-2007). Research technician in the BBSRC project.

Karin Olsson (2006-2007). Master student in Animal ecology. Subject of thesis: Relative cost of courtship behaviour in nest-building sand gobies. Göteborg University, 20 Swedish university credits.

Anna Singer (2003). Master student in Animal ecology. Subject of thesis: Does nest site availability influence sneaking rate in the sand goby Pomatoschistus minutus? Stockholm University, 30 Swedish university credits.

Andreas Nyman (2001-2002). Master student in Animal ecology. Subject of thesis: Intensitet i parningskonkurrens hos sandstubb i relation till äggtäckningsgrad i boet. Stockholm University, 20 Swedish university credits.

Maria Lissåker (2001). Master student in Animal ecology. Subject of thesis: Effects of a low oxygen environment on parental effort and filial cannibalism in the male sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus. Stockholm University, 20 Swedish university credits.

Publications in peer reviewed scientific journals

Takegaki T, Svensson O, Kvarnemo C (in press). Socially induced tactic change in two types of sand goby sneaker males. Behav. Ecol.

Svensson O, Egger B, Gricar B, Woodhouse K, van Oosterhout C, Salzburger W, Seehausen O, Turner GF (2011). Segregation of species-specific male attractiveness in F2 hybrid Lake Malawi cichlid fish. Int. J. Evol. Biol. 2011: Article ID 426179, doi:10.4061/2011/426179. pdf

Järvi-Laturi M, Lindström K, Kvarnemo C, Svensson O (2011). Sand goby males trade-off between defence against egg predators and sneak intrusions. J. Zool. 283:269-275. pdf

Svensson O, Lissåker M, Mobley KB (2010). Offspring recognition and the influence of clutch size on nest fostering among male sand gobies, Pomatoschistus minutus. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64:1325-1331. pdf

Kvarnemo C, Svensson O, Manson W (2010). Investment in testes, sperm duct glands and lipid reserves differ between male morphs but not between early and late breeding season in Pomatoschistus minutus. J. Fish. Biol. 76:1609-25 pdf

Olsson KH, Kvarnemo C, Svensson O (2009). Relative costs of courtship behaviours in nest-building sand gobies. Anim. Behav. 77: 541-546. pdf

Lissåker M, Svensson O (2008) Cannibalize or care? The role of perceived paternity in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus. Behav.Ecol. Sociobiol. 62:1467-1475. pdf

Svensson O, Kvarnemo C (2007). Parasitic spawning in sand gobies: an experimental assessment of nest-opening size, sneaker male cues, paternity, and filial cannibalism. Behav. Ecol. 18:410-419. pdf

Singer A, Kvarnemo C, Lindström K, Svensson O (2006). Genetic mating patterns studied in pools with manipulated nest site availability in two populations of Pomatoschistus minutus. J. Evol. Biol. 19:1641-1650. pdf

Nyman A, Kvarnemo C, Svensson O (2006). The capacity for additional matings does not affect male mating competition in the sand goby. Anim. Behav. 71:865-870. pdf

Svensson O, Kvarnemo C (2005). The importance of sperm competition risk and nest appearance for male behavior and female choice in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus. Behav. Ecol. 16:1042-1048. pdf

Svensson O, Nyman A, Kvarnemo C (2004). Costly courtship or dishonest display? Intensely displaying sand goby males have lower lipid content. J. Fish. Biol. 64:1425-1429. pdf

Svensson O, Kvarnemo C (2003). Sexually selected nest-building - Pomatoschistus minutus males build smaller nest-openings in the presence of sneaker males. J. Evol. Biol. 16:896-902. pdf

Lissåker M, Kvarnemo C, Svensson O (2003). Effects of a low oxygen environment on parental effort and filial cannibalism in the male sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus. Behav. Ecol. 14:374-381. pdf

Svensson O, Forsgren E (2003). Male mating success in relation to food availability in the common goby, Pomatoschistus microps. J. Fish. Biol. 62:1217-1221. pdf

Kvarnemo C, Svensson O, Forsgren E (1998). Parental behaviour in relation to food availability in the common goby. Anim. Behav. 56:1285-1290. pdf

Svensson O, Magnhagen C, Forsgren E, Kvarnemo C (1998). Parental behaviour in relation to the occurrence of sneaking in the common goby. Anim. Behav. 56:175-179. pdf

Monographs published

Svensson O (2004). Sexual selection in Pomatoschistus - nests, sperm competition, and paternal care (PhD). Stockholm: Stockholm University. ISBN 91-7265-979-3.

Svensson O (2001). Reproductive success in relation to food availability and sneaking in male common goby, Pomatoschistus microps (Licentiate). Stockholm: Stockholm university. ISSN 1403-5227.

Selected non-peer reviewed articles popularising science

Svensson O (2009). Rapport från en vetenskaplig konferens i Berlin om evolutionär ekologi hos fiskar. Ciklidbladet 1/2010:41.

Svensson O (2009). Vad visste Darwin om ciklider (samt några ord om Louis Agassiz)?. Ciklidbladet 4/2009:50.

Svensson O (2009). Book review. Darwins idé - den bästa idé någon någonsin haft och hur den fungerar idag. Ciklidbladet 1/2009:51.

Svensson O (2009). Darwinåret 2009. Ciklidbladet 1/2009:50.

Svensson O (2008). Book review. Freshwater Fishes of México. Ciklidbladet 4/2008: 58.

Svensson O (2008). Rapport från ISBE 2008 - den tolfte internationella beteendeekologikongressen. Ciklidbladet 4/2008: 48-49.

Svensson O (2008) ESEB 2007: Rapport från The European Society for Evolutionary Biology's 11e kongress. Ciklidbladet 1/2008: 50-52.

Svensson O (2007). Rhamphochromis. Ciklidbladet 3/2007: 61.

Svensson O (2007). Kooperativ yngelvård hos Lamprologiner från Tanganyikasjön - Rapport från ISBE 2006, The International Society for Behavioral Ecology's bienna konferens (del 2). Ciklidbladet 1/2007:16-17

Svensson O (2006). Rapport från ISBE 2006, The International Society for Behavioral Ecology's bienna konferens (del 1). Ciklidbladet 4/2006: 44-47.

Svensson O (2005). Book review: The cichlid diversity of Lake Malawi/ Nyasa/ Niassa: identification, distribution and taxonomy. Ciklidbladet 3/2005: 47-49.

Svensson O (2004). Sexual selection in Pomatoschistus - nests sperm competition, and paternal care (lekmannasammanfattning). Ciklidbladet 1/2005: 24-25.

Svensson O (2004). Rapport från ISBE 2004, The International Society for Behavioral Ecology's bienna konferens. Ciklidbladet 4/2004: 12-15.

Svensson O (2004). De fantastiska palettcikliderna. Ciklidbladet 3/2004: 13-15.

Svensson O (2004) Kakadu. SARF-aktuellt 2/2004: 13-21.

McKaye KR, Wiklund AT, Stauffer Jr JR, Konings A, Madsen H, Svensson O (2004). Bevarande av ett av världens biologiska underverk: Cikliderna i Malawisjön. Ciklidbladet 1/2004: 8-17.

Svensson O (2002). Rapport från ISBE 2002, The International Society for Behavioral Ecology's bienna konferens. Ciklidbladet 3/2002: 25-26. text

Svensson O (2002). Book review. The Cichlid Fishes: Nature's Grand Experiment in Evolution. Ciklidbladet 3/2002: 39. text

Svensson O (2001). Rapport från den 27e internationella etologiska konferensen (XXVII International Ethological Conference). Ciklidbladet 4/2001: 34-35. text

In addition to the articles above, I also write a scientific news report in every issue of Ciklidbladet since 1/2006. Ciklidbladet is a quarterly journal released by the Scandinavian cichlid association. Its circulation figure is around 1500. I am the editor since January 2008.