Milaja Nykänen
Postdoctoral Researcher
Postdoctoral researcher working in the Saimaa ringed seal research group
Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology
[email protected] | +358 50 354 2595
I have a background in various aspect of marine mammal ecology including population genetics, phylogenetics, population modelling and passive acoustics. Currently my research focuses on the movement ecology and abundance estimation of the Saimaa ringed seal, and I am also developing new non-invasive ways to investigate the condition of the seals using photogrammetry.
Research groups
Projects
Publications
11/11 items-
Motion detection or time-lapse? A comparison of camera trap triggers for monitoring breeding taiga bean geese (Anser fabalis fabalis)
Nykänen, Milaja; Pöysä, Hannu; Matala, Juho; Kunnasranta, Mervi, 2026, PLoS ONE, 21, 1, e0340055. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Aquatic vocalization activity indicates the timing of the mating season of Saimaa ringed seals
Young, Mairi; Nykänen, Milaja; Niemi, Marja; Kurkilahti, Mika; Kunnasranta, Mervi, 2025, Marine mammal science, 41, 3, e13225. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Evidence of long-term purging of mutation burden in killer whale Orcinus orca genomes
Foote, Andrew D; Gilbert, M. Thomas P; Gopalakrishnan, Shyam; Louis, Marie; Martin, Michael D; Morin, Phillip A; Nykänen, Milaja; Scharff-Olsen, Camilla Hjorth; Excoffier, Laurent, 2025, Heredity, [Published: 28 October 2025], 1-9. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Linking ringed seal foraging behaviour to environmental variability
Nykänen, Milaja; Niemi, Marja; Biard, Vincent; Carter, Matt ID; Pirotta, Enrico; Kunnasranta, Mervi, 2025, Movement ecology, 13, 1, 31. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Multiannual co-occurrences between Saimaa ringed seal individuals suggest social associations during the moulting season
Biard, Vincent; Mutka, Piia; Young, Mairi; Niemi, Marja; Nyman, Tommi; Nykänen, Milaja; Kunnasranta, Mervi, 2025, Animal behaviour, 277, 123273. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Ancient dolphin genomes reveal rapid repeated adaptation to coastal waters
Louis, Marie; Korlević, Petra; Nykänen, Milaja; Archer, Frederick; Berrow, Simon; Brownlow, Andrew; Lorenzen, Eline D; O’Brien, Joanne; Post, Klaas; Racimo, Fernando; Rogan, Emer; Rosel, Patricia E; Sinding, Mikkel-Holger S; van der Es, Henry; Wales, Nathan; Fontaine, Michael C; Gaggiotti, Oscar E; Foote, Andrew D, 2023, Nature communications, 14, 1, 4020. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Genomic evidence uncovers inbreeding and supports translocations in rescuing the genetic diversity of a landlocked seal population
Sundell, Tarja; Kammonen, Juhana, I; Mustanoja, Ella; Biard, Vincent; Kunnasranta, Mervi; Niemi, Marja; Nykanen, Milaja; Nyman, Tommi; Palo, Jukka U; Valtonen, Mia; Paulin, Lars; Jernvall, Jukka; Auvinen, Petri, 2023, Conservation genetics, 24, 2, 155-165. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Seasonal changes in diel haul-out patterns of a lacustrine ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis)
Niemi, Marja; Nykanen, Milaja; Biard, Vincent; Kunnasranta, Mervi, 2023, Ecology and evolution, 13, 7, e10264. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Extreme moulting site fidelity of the Saimaa ringed seal
Biard, Vincent; Nykänen, Milaja; Niemi, Marja; Kunnasranta, Mervi, 2022, Mammalian biology, 102, 4, 1483-1495. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Molting phenology of a lacustrine ringed seal, Pusa hispida saimensis
Niemi, Marja; Nykänen, Milaja; Biard, Vincent; Kurkilahti, Mika; Kunnasranta, Mervi, 2022, Ecology and evolution, 12, 8, e9248. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research