Olof Liberg

Olof Liberg, PhD is a research leader with the Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Dept. of Conservation Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden. His research projects are focused on the following topics: 1) Population dynamics and optimal harvest models for roe deer. 2) Lynx population biology and predator prey interactions, especially with roe deer. 3) Population biology, conservation and management of the Scandinavian wolf population. Dr Liberg is the Coordinator of the Scandinavian Wolf Research Project, SKANDULV.

Dr Liberg has worked on the effects of biophysical features, competition, predation and harvest in determining roe deer demography (example, Kjellander P, Hewison AJM, Liberg O et al. Experimental evidence for density-dependence of home range size in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus: A comparison of two long term studies. Oecologia 139: 478-485, 2004; Jarnemo A. & Liberg O. Red fox removal and roe deer fawn survival – A 14 year study. J. Wildl. Manage. 69 (3): 1090-1098, 2005). He also conducted research on the ecology and management of the Scandinavian lynx (example, Andrén H, Linnell, JDC, Liberg, O et al. Survival rates and causes of mortality in Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in multi-use landscapes. Biological Conservation 131: 23-32, 2006; Helldin, J-O, Liberg, O & Glöersen, G. 2006. Lynx (Lynx lynx) killing red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in boreal Sweden – frequency and population effects. J. Zoology, London 270: 657-663, 2006).

Dr Liberg’s studies on wolves addressed ecological, genetic and human-related aspects of wolf recovery in Scandinavia (example, Wabakken P, Sand H, Liberg O, et al. The recovery, distribution, and population dynamics of wolves on the Scandinavian peninsula, 1978-1998. Can J Zool 79: 710-725, 2001; Liberg O et al. Severe inbreeding depression in a wild wolf Canis lupus population. Biology Letters 1: 17-20, 2005; Sand H, Wikenros C, Wabakken P & Liberg O. 2006. Cross-continental differences in patterns of predation: will naïve moose in Scandinavia ever learn? Proc. Roy. Soc. B. 273: 1421-1427, 2006). Dr Liberg also collaborated with various project personnel about wolf issues and research in Canada and the USA. He has been responsible for action plans and recommendations and for coordinating efforts for a wolf Population Viability Analyses for Scandinavia.