Alexander Hansson

My research spans many fields within evolutionary ecology, with a particular focus on the thermal effects on traits related to reproduction and survival. I have studied such effects on sex determination systems, growth rates, fecundity, and telomere shortening in reptiles (telomeres are the protective ends of chromosomes, whose shortening can contribute to ageing). More recently, I have worked on climate modelling and long-term life history data to examine how early-life thermal conditions influence lifetime reproductive success and ageing rates in wild populations. 

In my current role as environmental assessment specialist at SLU Aqua, I work with data collection, monitoring and management of Swedish salmonids. 

Ph.D. University of Tasmania, Australia (double degree)

Ph.D. University of Gothenburg, Sweden (double degree)                

MSc. University of Gothenburg, Sweden

BSc. Linnaeus University, Sweden

Hansson, A., Wapstra, E., While, G. M., & Olsson, M. (2024). Sex and early-life conditions shape telomere dynamics in an ectotherm. Journal of Experimental Biology, 227. doi:10.1242/jeb.246512. 

Olsson, M., Miller, E., Rollings, N., Lillie, M., Hufton, J., Hansson, A. & Wapstra, E. (2024). The effects of costly telomere maintenance on lifespan: reproductive tradeoffs in sand lizards. Evolution, qpae181. doi:10.1093/evolut/qpae181. 

Hansson, A., Wapstra, E., While, G. M., Lindsay, W. R., & Olsson, M. (2023). Context-dependent thermolability of sex determination in a lacertid lizard with heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Biology Open, 12, bio059967. https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.059967

Hansson, A. & Olsson, M. (2018). Incubation temperature and parental identity determine sex in the Australian agamid lizard Ctenophorus pictus. Ecology and Evolution, 8, 9827–9833. doi:10.1002/ece3.4466. 

Hansson, A. & Olsson, M. (2018). The influence of incubation temperature on phenotype of Australian painted dragons (Ctenophorus pictus). Herpetologica, 74, 146–151. doi:10.1655/herpetologica-d-17-00052.1.

ECR spotlight – Alexander Hansson (2024). Journal of Experimental Biology, 227, jeb247401. doi:10.1242/jeb.247401.