University of Iceland

About: University of Iceland is a education organization based out in Reykjavik, Suðurnes, Iceland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Genome-wide association study. The organization has 5423 authors who have published 16199 publications receiving 694762 citations. The organization is also known as: Háskóli Íslands.

Changing Arctic Snow Cover: A Review of Recent Developments and Assessment of Future Needs for Observations, Modelling, and Impacts

Abstract: Snow is a critically important and rapidly changing feature of the Arctic. However, snow-cover and snowpack conditions change through time pose challenges for measuring and prediction of snow. Plausible scenarios of how Arctic snow cover will respond to changing Arctic climate are important for impact assessments and adaptation strategies. Although much progress has been made in understanding and predicting snow-cover changes and their multiple consequences, many uncertainties remain. In this paper, we review advances in snow monitoring and modelling, and the impact of snow changes on ecosystems and society in Arctic regions. Interdisciplinary activities are required to resolve the current limitations on measuring and modelling snow characteristics through the cold season and at different spatial scales to assure human well-being, economic stability, and improve the ability to predict manage and adapt to natural hazards in the Arctic region.

Macrobenthic invertebrate richness and composition along a latitudinal gradient of European glacier‐fed streams

Abstract: 1. The influence of 11 environmental variables on benthic macroinvertebrate communities was examined in seven glacier-fed European streams ranging from Svalbard in the north to the Pyrenees in the south. Between 4 and 11 near-pristine reaches were studied on each stream in 1996–97. 2. Taxonomic richness, measured at the family or subfamily (for Chironomidae) levels for insects and higher levels for non-insects, increased with latitude from Svalbard (3 taxa) to the Pyrenees (29 taxa). 3. A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) incorporating channel stability [Pfankuch Index (PFAN)], tractive force, Froude number (FROU), water conductivity (COND), suspended solids (SUSP) concentration, and maximum temperature explained 79% of the total deviance of the taxonomic richness per reach. Water temperature and the PFAN of stability made the highest contribution to this deviance. In the model, richness response to temperature was positive linear, whereas the response to the PFAN was bell-shaped with an optimum at an intermediate level of stability. 4. Generalized Additive Models calculated for the 16 most frequent taxa explained between 25 (Tipulidae) and 79% (Heptageniidae) of the deviance. In 10 models, more than 50% of the deviance was explained and 11 models had cross-validation correlation ratios above 0.5. Maximum temperature, the PFAN, SUSP and tractive force (TRAC) were the most frequently incorporated explanatory variables. Season and substrate characteristics were very rarely incorporated. 5. Our results highlight the strong deterministic nature of zoobenthic communities in glacier-fed streams and the prominent role of water temperature and substrate stability in determining longitudinal patterns of macroinvertebrate community structure. The GAMs are proposed as a tool for predicting changes of zoobenthic communities in glacier-fed streams under climate or hydrological change scenarios.

Protein intake from 0 to 18 years of age and its relation to health: a systematic literature review for the 5th Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Abstract: The present systematic literature review is a part of the 5th revision of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. The aim was to assess the health effects of different levels of protein intake in infancy and childhood in a Nordic setting. The initial literature search resulted in 435 abstracts, and 219 papers were identified as potentially relevant. Full paper selection resulted in 37 quality-assessed papers (4A, 30B, and 3C). A complementary search found four additional papers (all graded B). The evidence was classified as convincing, probable, limited-suggestive, and limited-inconclusive. Higher protein intake in infancy and early childhood is convincingly associated with increased growth and higher body mass index in childhood. The first 2 years of life is likely most sensitive to high protein intake. Protein intake between 15 E% and 20 E% in early childhood has been associated with an increased risk of being overweight later in life, but the exact level of protein intake above which there is an increased risk for being overweight later in life is yet to be established. Increased intake of animal protein in childhood is probably related to earlier puberty. There was limited-suggestive evidence that intake of animal protein, especially from dairy, has a stronger association with growth than vegetable protein. The evidence was limited-suggestive for a positive association between total protein intake and bone mineral content and/or other bone variables in childhood and adolescence. Regarding other outcomes, there were too few published studies to enable any conclusions. In conclusion, the intake of protein among children in the Nordic countries is high and may contribute to increased risk of later obesity. The upper level of a healthy intake is yet to be firmly established. In the meantime, we suggest a mean intake of 15 E% as an upper limit of recommended intake at 12 months, as a higher intake may contribute to increased risk for later obesity.