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Stefán Óli Steingrímsson Professor Head of Department of Aquaculture & Fish Biology stefan(at)holar.is Curriculum Vitae Google Scholar Researchgate |
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Research interestI am a behavioural ecologist. My main research focus is on animal behaviour and its consequences for individual fitness and population ecology. More specifically, I typically use stream salmonids as a model organism to answer questions on how organisms exploit, share and compete for resources in time and space, e.g. via territoriality, foraging mode, habitat use and diel activity.
Currently, I most frequently study wild individually tagged fish in natural streams, using either an observational approach or field experiments. I also use laboratory setting to obtain phenotypic measurements of individuals (e.g. personality traits and physiological characteristics) which I then relate to behaviour and growth under natural conditions. |
Current research projects1. Territoriality, foraging and social organisation in stream salmonids: Repeatability vs. Plasticity. Funded by Rannis 2022-2025. Principle investigator.
In this research project we will make repeated individual estimates of territory size, foraging mode, social behaviour, and estimates of spatial structure, in juvenile stream-dwelling salmonids, and examine how these change across ecological situations. More specifically, we will conduct three field studies to estimate how these space use patterns, and their individual repeatability, vary between (i) related species (Arctic charr, brown trout and Atlantic salmon) at day and night, (ii) low versus high predation risk situations, and (iii) situations where prey is dispersed or a clumped in space. We also test whether these behaviours, and their repeatability, are associated with laboratory estimates of personality and contribute to individual growth rates in nature. This study will improve our ability to predict how individual plasticity in behaviour mediates growth and survival in response to natural and human induced changes. 2. Personality and space use in stream-living Arctic charr. Funded by the Energy Research Fund 2021. This research project is a collaborative project with Prof. David Benhaim and is a part of Rosanne Beukeboom´s Ph.D. project and examines how/if personality (e.g., boldness, swimming activity) measured under laboratory conditions affect larger scale movement, habitat use and growth of Arctic charr in a natural stream. 3. Diel activity in stream salmonids. Ecological and phenotypic and ecological correlates. Funded by Rannis 2016-2019. Principle investigator. This project is still ongoing. The goal of this project is to test, using both a laboratory- and field-experimental approach, several hypotheses on how diel activity of stream-dwelling Arctic charr (and other behaviours) are related to ecological conditions (e.g., water temperature, stream habitats, and competition) and phenotypic traits (e.g, personality and metabolic rate). We also examine how these variables/conditions may combine to shape individual growth rates and fitness. |
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Graduate students
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2020- Margrét Thorsteinsson (M.Sc.) Topic: Habitat dynamics of wild anadromous Arctic charr and brown trout in Iceland, and the potential association with salmon lice infection. Co-supervised with Dr. Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir, the director of the University of Iceland's Research Centre of the Westfjords. 2020- Friðþjófur Árnason (M.Sc). Topic: Density-dependent growth in juvenile stream-dwelling salmonids in Iceland. Supervisor. 2018- Benjamin I. Andrews (M.Sc.). Topic: Comparison of diel activity in three sympatric species of stream salmonids. Co-supervised with Tommi Linnansaari at the Univ. of New Brunswick, Canada. 2017- Michael Galloway (M.Sc.), Topic: Metabolic rate as a predictor of diel activity in Arctic charr. Supervisor. 2017- Krystal L. Mannion (M.Sc.). Topic: Effect of food availability on diel activity in stream-dwelling Arctic charr. Supervisor. Former graduate students: Nicolas Larranaga (Ph.D. 2016) Amy Fingerle (M.Sc. 2014) Sarah J. Kennedy (M.Sc 2013) Guðmundur S. Gunnarsson (M.Sc. 2009) Tyler D. Tunney (M.Sc. 2008) |
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Publications
Larranaga, N., Valdimarsson, S. K., Linnansaari, T. and Steingrimsson, S. O. (2018). Diel activity and foraging mode of juvenile Arctic charr in fluctuating water flow. River Research and Applications, 34(4), 348-356. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3256
Grant, J. W. A., Weir, L. K. and Steingrímsson, S. Ó. (2017). Territory size decreases minimally with increasing food abundance in stream salmonids: Implications for population regulation. Journal of Animal Ecology, 86(6), 1308-1316. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12737
Fingerle, A., Larranaga, N. and Steingrímsson, S. Ó. 2016. Density-dependent diel activity in stream-dwelling Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus. Ecology and Evolution, 6(12), 3965-3976. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2177
Larranaga, N. and Steingrímsson, S. Ó. (2015). Shelter availability alters diels activity and space use in stream fish. Behavioral Ecology, 26(2), 578-586. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/aru234
Stefán Óli Steingrímsson, Tyler Douglas Tunney og Guðmundur Smári Gunnarsson (2015). Fæðu- og óðalsatferli ungra laxfiska í íslenskum ám. Náttúrufræðingurinn, 85(1-2), 28-36.
Tunney, T. D. and Steingrímsson, S. Ó. (2012). Foraging mode variation in three stream-dwelling salmonid fishes. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 21(4), 570-580. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0633.2012.00577.x
Gunnarsson G. S. and Steingrímsson S. Ó.( 2011). Contrasting patterns of territoriality and foraging mode in two stream-dwelling salmonids, Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 68(12), 2090-2100. https://doi.org/10.1139/f2011-127
Steingrímsson, S. Ó. and Grant, J. W. A. (2011). Determinants of multiple central-place territory use in wild young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65, 275-286. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-010-1042-9
Steingrímsson, S.Ó. and Grant, J. W. A., (2011). Shape of single and multiple central-place territories in a stream-dwelling fish. Ethology, 117(12), 1170-1177. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01976.x
Steingrímsson, S.Ó. and Grant, J.W.A. (2008). Multiple central-place territories in wild young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Journal of Animal Ecology, 77(3), 448-457.
Girard, I. L., Grant, J. W. A. and Steingrímsson, Ó. S. (2004). Foraging, growth and loss rate of young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in relation to habiat use in Catmaran Brook, New Brunswick. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 61(11). https://doi.org/10.1139/f04-216
Gíslason, G. M. and Steingrímsson S. Ó. (2004) Seasonal and spatial variation in the diet of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) in the River Laxá, North-East Iceland. Aquatic Ecology, 38, 263-270. (Note: equal authors, order determined by a flip of a coin.)
Steingrímsson, S. Ó. and Grant, J. W. A. (2003). Patterns and correlates of movement and site fidelity in individually tagged young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 60(2), 193-202. https://doi.org/10.1139/f03-012
Gíslason, G. M., Steingrímsson S. Ó. and Guðbergsson, G. (2002). Stock size and movements of landlocked brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) In the subarctic river Laxá, North-East Iceland. Internationale Vereiningung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie: Verhalten, 28(3), 1567-1571. https://doi.org/10.1080/03680770.2001.11902720
Steingrímsson S. Ó. and Gíslason, G.M. (2002). Body size, diet and growth of landlocked brown trout, Salmo trutta, in the subarctic river Laxá, North-East Iceland. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 63, 417-426. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014976612970
Steingrímsson, S. Ó. and Grant, J. W. A. (2002). Allometry of territory size and metabolic rate as predictors of self-thinning in young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon. Journal of Animal Ecology, 68(1), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2656.1999.00261.x
Grant, J. W. A., Steingrímsson, S. Ó., Keeley, E. R. and Cunjak, R.A. (1998). Implications of territory size for the measurement and prediction of salmonid abundance in streams. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 55(S1), 181-190. https://doi.org/10.1139/d98-018
Grant, J. W. A., Weir, L. K. and Steingrímsson, S. Ó. (2017). Territory size decreases minimally with increasing food abundance in stream salmonids: Implications for population regulation. Journal of Animal Ecology, 86(6), 1308-1316. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12737
Fingerle, A., Larranaga, N. and Steingrímsson, S. Ó. 2016. Density-dependent diel activity in stream-dwelling Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus. Ecology and Evolution, 6(12), 3965-3976. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2177
Larranaga, N. and Steingrímsson, S. Ó. (2015). Shelter availability alters diels activity and space use in stream fish. Behavioral Ecology, 26(2), 578-586. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/aru234
Stefán Óli Steingrímsson, Tyler Douglas Tunney og Guðmundur Smári Gunnarsson (2015). Fæðu- og óðalsatferli ungra laxfiska í íslenskum ám. Náttúrufræðingurinn, 85(1-2), 28-36.
Tunney, T. D. and Steingrímsson, S. Ó. (2012). Foraging mode variation in three stream-dwelling salmonid fishes. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 21(4), 570-580. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0633.2012.00577.x
Gunnarsson G. S. and Steingrímsson S. Ó.( 2011). Contrasting patterns of territoriality and foraging mode in two stream-dwelling salmonids, Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 68(12), 2090-2100. https://doi.org/10.1139/f2011-127
Steingrímsson, S. Ó. and Grant, J. W. A. (2011). Determinants of multiple central-place territory use in wild young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65, 275-286. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-010-1042-9
Steingrímsson, S.Ó. and Grant, J. W. A., (2011). Shape of single and multiple central-place territories in a stream-dwelling fish. Ethology, 117(12), 1170-1177. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01976.x
Steingrímsson, S.Ó. and Grant, J.W.A. (2008). Multiple central-place territories in wild young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Journal of Animal Ecology, 77(3), 448-457.
Girard, I. L., Grant, J. W. A. and Steingrímsson, Ó. S. (2004). Foraging, growth and loss rate of young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in relation to habiat use in Catmaran Brook, New Brunswick. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 61(11). https://doi.org/10.1139/f04-216
Gíslason, G. M. and Steingrímsson S. Ó. (2004) Seasonal and spatial variation in the diet of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) in the River Laxá, North-East Iceland. Aquatic Ecology, 38, 263-270. (Note: equal authors, order determined by a flip of a coin.)
Steingrímsson, S. Ó. and Grant, J. W. A. (2003). Patterns and correlates of movement and site fidelity in individually tagged young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 60(2), 193-202. https://doi.org/10.1139/f03-012
Gíslason, G. M., Steingrímsson S. Ó. and Guðbergsson, G. (2002). Stock size and movements of landlocked brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) In the subarctic river Laxá, North-East Iceland. Internationale Vereiningung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie: Verhalten, 28(3), 1567-1571. https://doi.org/10.1080/03680770.2001.11902720
Steingrímsson S. Ó. and Gíslason, G.M. (2002). Body size, diet and growth of landlocked brown trout, Salmo trutta, in the subarctic river Laxá, North-East Iceland. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 63, 417-426. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014976612970
Steingrímsson, S. Ó. and Grant, J. W. A. (2002). Allometry of territory size and metabolic rate as predictors of self-thinning in young-of-the-year Atlantic salmon. Journal of Animal Ecology, 68(1), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2656.1999.00261.x
Grant, J. W. A., Steingrímsson, S. Ó., Keeley, E. R. and Cunjak, R.A. (1998). Implications of territory size for the measurement and prediction of salmonid abundance in streams. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 55(S1), 181-190. https://doi.org/10.1139/d98-018
Teaching
Since 2003, I´ve taught a wide range of courses at Holar University and other Icelandic university. The topics of these courses deal with variable issues such as the natural history of Iceland, environmental issues in aquaculture, general biology, freshwater biology, animal behaviour and scientific methods. Below are the main courses I´m responsible for
Current courses:
Diploma in aquaculture:
- Environmental issues in aquaculture
M.Sc. program in aquatic biology
- Scientific methods
Diploma/B.A. in rural tourism
- Natural history of Iceland
Current courses:
Diploma in aquaculture:
- Environmental issues in aquaculture
M.Sc. program in aquatic biology
- Scientific methods
Diploma/B.A. in rural tourism
- Natural history of Iceland
