Natural selection is one of the most fundamental processes in biology. However, there is still a controversy over the importance of selection in microevolution of molecular traits. Despite the general lack ofdata most authors hold the view that selection on molecular characters may be important, but at lower rates than selection on most phenotypic traits. Here we present evidence that natural selection may contribute substantially to molecular variation on a scale of meters only. In populations of the marine snail Littorina saxatilis living on exposed rocky shores, steep microclines in allele frequencies between splash and surf zone groups are present in the enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (allozyme locus Aat; EC. 2.6.1.1). We followed one population over 7 years, including a period of strong natural perturbation. The surf zone part of the population dominated by the allele atwl' was suddenly eliminated by a bloom of a toxin-producing microflagellate. Downshore migration of splash zone snails with predominantlyAat120 alleles resulted in a drastic increase in surf zone frequency of Aat 20, from 0.4 to 0.8 over 2 years. Over the next four to six generations, however, the frequency of Aat120 returned to the original value. We estimated the coefficient of selection ofAat120 in the surfzone to be about 0.4. Earlier studies show similar or even sharperAat clines in other countries. Thus, we conclude that microclinal selection is an important evolutionary force in this system.

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This paper undertakes the concept of universities as role models for sustainability, regenerative sustainability and universities as living laboratories through a case study from University of Gothenburg and the implementation of the climate strategy. The climate strategy is a comprehensive university-wide strategy, including collaboration between faculty, administration and management, as well as with external stakeholders. With the support of its environmental management system (EMS), the University of Gothenburg manages climate action with a systematic approach, both in implementation and follow-up. This creates opportunities for technical solutions and social learning processes, and allows the University of Gothenburg to serve as a living laboratory and a role model for sustainability. The climate strategy was initiated 2011 and by the end of 2015 the target to reduce total carbon emissions by 20% was almost reached with a reduction of 18.5% compared with the baseline year 2008. The total energy use was reduced by 19%. These results were achieved even though the university revenues, staff/employees as well as students has increased from the year 2008 to 2015.