Our research group focuses on studies of structure and function of high-latitude marine ecosystems. We work on a large variety of organisms, ranging from bacteria through plankton, benthic animals and parasites, to top predators such as fish and marine mammals, and often take a system-level approach. Understanding trophic interactions, life cycles and the responses of organisms to various biotic and abiotic factors including changing climate are common interests within the group. Members of our group also ecotoxicological questions.
Master students are an integral part of our research group and participate actively in group meetings, both scientific and social. If you are interested in a MSc project within our research group, feel free to contact our present our recently graduated MSc students for inside information about us and their projects. Many of the master students are also parts of ongoing national and international research projects - follow the links for more information.
Information for new/upcoming MSc students
Get a supervisor, and sign a Contract of Supervision
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Get access to lab facilities and an office. Contact Kristin Herstrøm or Karin Lia through your supervisor.
Pedersen, Torstein. Ecosystem dynamics, foodwebs and fisheries, population dynamics, shallow water fish nursery areas, climate effects on the Barents Sea
Reigstad, Marit. Sub-arctic to arctic marine ecosystems, plankton, bentho-pelagic coupling, ecosystem responses to climate change
Svensen, Camilla. Zooplankton ecology, biological pump, copepod feeding and reproduction, seasonality in plankton
Current MSc students
Emma Forss, 2023-2024. Investigating the effect of reduced salinity on the productivity and photophysiology of the sea ice algae Melosira arctica.
Ricarda Cremer, 2023-2024. Physiological impact of waterborne crude oil exposure to reproducing polar cod. Advisor: Jasmine Nahrgang
Florence Rappin (Erasmus student), 2024. Winter grazing of copepods at the polar front. Advisor: Sünnje Basedow
Lorenz Schick (Erasmus student), 2024. Seasonal variation of marine snow at the polar front. Advisor: Sünnje Basedow
Ida Søhol, 2024. Characterizing Ridge fauna in the Central Arctic Ocean. Advisors: Bodil Bluhm, Eva Ramirez-Llodra.
Guro Bang Synnes, 2024. Effects of future temperature conditions on shallow water coastal ecosystems. Advisor: Torstein Pedersen
Rae Hansen, 2024-2025. Meiofaunal Microbiome Nutrition & Contribution to Carbon Fixation at Arctic Methane Cold Seeps. Advisors: Arunima Sen (UNIS), Bodil Bluhm
Master theses completed (since 2012)
Ongoing PhD projects
Bernhard Schartmüller, 2016-2024. Underwater hyperspectral imaging: Methods for identification, monitoring and mapping of light regime and biogeochemical objects in polar regions. Main supervisors: Jørgen Berge and Geir Johnsen (NTNU)
Claudia Erhart, 2019-2024. Biological effects of crude oil in fish species from the Barents Sea. Main supervisor: Jasmine Nahrgang
Christine Gawinski, 2019-2024. Seasonal production and population patterns of mesozooplankton in the northern Barents Sea, with a special focus on copepods with contrasting life-history traits. Main supervisors: Camilla Svensen, Malin Daase, Slawomir Kwasniewski (IOPAN Poland)
Marti Amargant Arumi, 2019-2024. Pelagic and sympagic primary production in the Barents Sea across season. Main supervisor: Rolf Gradinger
Kristin Heggland, 2020-2024. Can Arctic Calanus copepods adapt to climate change? Main supervisors: Camilla Svensen, Haakon Hop (NPI)
Snorre Flo, 2019-2024. Diet assessments in small Arctic marine invertebrates using molecular tools. Main supervisors: Camilla Svensen, Anna Vader (UNIS); co-supervisors: Bodil Bluhm, Kim Præbel
Eva Chamorro Garrido, 2021-2024. High resolution spatial-temporal variability of Calanus spp. and its relationship with hydrographic variables in the Norwegian Sea. Main supervisors: Sünnje Basedow (UiT), Ingrid Ellingsen (SINTEF-Ocean) and Kanchana Bandara (UiT)
Amalia Keck Al-Habahbeh. 2021-2025. Climate effects in coastal benthic ecosystems over the past 40+ years: from northern Norway to Svalbard and beyond. Supervisors: Bodil Bluhm, Raul Primicerio, Mikael Sejr (Aarhus University)
Nicolas, Gosset, 2021-2025. Spatio-temporal distribution and large-scale patches of zooplankton communities in the Norwegian Sea. Main supervisor: Sünnje Linnéa Basedow
Rosalie McKay, 2021-2025. Variability in sea ice productivity under a changing climate. Main supervisors: Karley Campbell, Rolf Gradinger
Joel Vikberg Wernstrøm. 2022-2025. Benthic Metazoan Meiofauna of the Barents Sea – Ecology, Systematics and Evolution. Main supervisors: Andreas Altenburger (UMAK) and Bodil Bluhm
Marja Gächter, 2022-2026. Assessing microbial respiration in sea ice habitats of the Arctic. Main supervisor: Karley Campbell
Tiziana Durazzano, 2023-2027. Functional traits of copepods in the Barents Sea. Main supervisor: Camilla Svensen, co-supervisors: Andre Visser (DTU-Aqua), Janne Søreide (UNIS), Haakon Hop (NPI)
Abigail Chapman, 2023-2027. Reproductive toxicity and transgenerational effects of petroleum mixtures in fish. Main supervisor: Jasmine Nahrgang
Marta Prieto del Campo, 2024-2028. Freshwater and temperature modulated predator-prey interactions in high-latitude rocky intertidal. Main supervisor: Markus Molis co-supervisor: Frank Melzner (GEOMAR Kiel, Germany)
Hanna Modin, 2024-2028. (to be defined) Arctic benthos - biodiversity and carbon budget perspectives. Advisory team: Bodil Bluhm, Raul Primicerio, Paul Renaud (Akva-plan Niva and UNIS), Jennifer Dannheim (AWI)
Completed PhD Dissertations (2023-2011)
Yasemin Bodur, 2024. Seasonal patterns of particle aggregation, vertical flux and pelagic-benthic coupling in Arctic marine ecosystems. Main supervisors: Marit Reigstad, Paul Renaud (Akvaplan-niva)
Christine Dybwad, 2023. What sinks in the seasonal sea-ice zone? Seasonal patterns and composition of downward carbon export in a changing Arctic Ocean. Main supervisors: Marit Reigstad, co-supervisors: Paul Renaud (APN/UNIS), Catherine Lalande
Elisabeth Hansen, 2023. Physiological and ecological effects of organic and inorganic contaminants in marine and terrestrial raptor species. Main supervisor: Sophie Bourgeon
Estelle Coguiec, 2023. Zooplankton seasonality in sub-Arctic fjord: from community to individual behaviour. Main supervisors: Jørgen Berge, Malin Daase
Coralie Barth-Jensen, 2023. The role of small copepods in high-latitude ecosystems. Main supervisor: Camilla Svensen; co-supervisors: Peter Thor, Marja Koski, Øystein Varpe (UiB)
Raphaelle Descoteaux, 2022. Phenology of life cycles in benthic invertebrates of the Arctic seasonal ice zone. Main supervisor: Bodil Bluhm, co-supervisors: Paul Renaud (APN), Kim Præbel, Randi Ingvaldsen (IMR), Jørgen Berge
Erin H. Kunisch, 2022. Life cycles, resource use, and trophic links in Arctic marine fauna. Main supervisor: Bodil Bluhm, co-supervisors: Rolf Gradinger, Øystein Varpe (UiB)
Irina Zhulay, 2022. Arctic Deep-sea benthos: Biodiversity, food web, and biological traits. Main supervisor: Bodil Bluhm, co-supervisor: Paul Renaud (APN)
Maeve McGovern, 2022. Land-Ocean Interactions: Effects of terrestrial inputs on coastal food-web structure and contamination in an Arctic fjord system. Main supervisor: Amanda Poste (NIVA/UiT), Anita Evenset (APN)
Vonnahme Tobias Reiner, 2021. Microbial food webs in the seasonal ice zone: Linking observations and experiments to dynamic modeling. Main supervisor: Rolf Gradinger
Matsson Böris Sanna Christina, 2021. Fouling of macro epibionts on cultivated Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae) - In situ temporal and spatial variation. Main supervisor: Bodil Bluhm, co-supervisors: Hartvig Christie (NIVA), Anna Metaxas (Univ. Dalhousie)
Bender Morgan Lizabeth, 2020. Jasmine Nahrgang Polar Cod in a Changing Arctic - Toxicity of crude oil on sensitive life history stages of a key Arctic species. Main supervisor: Jasmine Nahrgang
Bakke Snorre, 2019. Life history and distribution of the edible crab (Cancer pagurus) in Norway”. Main supervisor: Einar Magnus Nilssen
Kvernvik Ane-Cecilie, 2019. Ecophysiological Responses of Sea Ice Algae and Phytoplankton to a Changing Arctic. Main supervisors: Marit Reigstad, Eva Leu (APN)
Michelsen Helena Kling, 2017. Seasonal and spatial dynamics of meroplankton in a sub-Arctic fjord With additional focus on larvae of the invasive red king crab. Main supervisor: Torstein Pedersen
Vieweg Ireen, 2017. Biological effects of dietary crude oil on polar cod (Boreogadus saida). Main supervisor: Jasmine Nahrgang
Grenvald Julie Cornelius, 2017. Understanding winter patterns of zooplankton Diel Vertical Migration (DVM) in a high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard). Main supervisor: Jørgen Berge
Bailey Allison Michelle, 2017. The fate of a key Arctic copepod in future ocean acidification: Integrating molecular, organismal, and evolutionary thinking in the face of climate change. Main supervisor: Camilla Svensen
Lars H. Larsen, 2017. Navigare necesse est". Bio - Environmental implications of shipping in the European Arctic. Main supervisor: Torstein Pedersen
Grote Ulrike, 2017.Calanus glacialis and C. finmarchicus in a warming Arctic - Implications of increasing temperature at the individual and population level. Main supervisor: Paul Wassmann
Stübner Eike Ingrid, 2016. Seasonality of Meroplankton in Svalbard Waters. Main supervisor: Marit Reigstad
Fuhrmann Mona Maria, 2016. The role of the invasive red king crab in the food web of a high-latitude fjord - Studying macrobenthic communities and trophic control in Porsangerfjord, northern Norway. Main supervisor: Torstein Pedersen
Marquardt Miriam, 2016. Marine microbial eukaryotes in Svalbard waters: Seasonality, community composition and diversity. Main supervisors: Marit Reigstad, Tove Gabrielsen (UNIS)
Wiedmann Ingrid, 2015. Potential drivers of the downward carbon and particle flux in Arctic marine ecosystems under contrasting hydrographical and ecological situations. Main supervisors: Marit Reigstad, Paul Wassmann, Sünnje Basedow
Ramasco Virginie, 2015. Spatial and temporal patterns of foraging of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Porsangerfjord: from behavioural interpretation to resource selection. Main supervisor: Einar Magnus Nilssen
Vihtakari Mikko Juhani, 2015. Bivalves as indicators of environmental perturbations related to climate and ocean acidification. Main supervisor: Bjørn Gulliksen, Paul Renaud
Vogedes Daniel Ludwig, 2014.Calanus spp. in the Arctic ecosystem- a story on predation, distribution and methodology Main supervisor: Jørgen Berge
Lynghammar Arve, 2014. Chondrichthyan fishes in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas - do we know our species? Main supervisor: Jørgen Schou Christiansen
Hovinen Johanna Emilia Heidi, 2014. Foraging, reproduction and survival of the zooplanktivorous seabird Little Auk (Alle alle) in the Arctic in relation to climatic and environmental variability. Main supervisor: Jørgen Berge
Kristin Windsland, 2014. The invasive red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus): Mortality, individual growth and dispersal in Norwegian waters. Main supervisor: Torstein Pedersen
Nina Mikkelsen, 2013. Predation on the demersal fish eggs of capelin Mallotus villosus and lumpsucker Cyclopterus lumpus in relation to recruitment. Main supervisor: Torstein Pedersen
Silje Ramsvatn, 2013. Investigating coastal ecosystem structure and dynamics using Ecopath mass-balance modeling and stable isotope data. Main supervisor: Torstein Pedersen
Lise H. Ofstad, 2013. Anglerfish Lophius piscatorius L. in Faroese waters. Main supervisor: Torstein Pedersen
Aarbakke Ole Nicolai Staurland, 2013.Pseudocalanus (Copepoda: Calanoida) of the North Atlantic Ocean - Species composition, environmental preferences and phylogeography. Main supervisors: Fredrika Norrbin, Svein Erik Fevolden
Aubert Anais Beatrice, 2012. Stoichiometry of lipid synthesizing calanoid copepods in Arctic and sub-Arctic marine regions. Main supervisor: Paul Wassmann
Pétursdóttir Hildur, 2012. Trophic relationships and the role of Calanus in the oceanic ecosystems south and north of Iceland. Main supervisor: Stig Falk-Petersen
Wold Anette, 2012.Calanus glacialis - the role of lipids in the life cycle and for the Arctic pelagic food web. Main supervisors: Marit Reigstad, Stig Falk-Petersen
Seuthe Lena, 2011. Planktonic food webs in the Arctic Ocean: Structure and function in contrasting seasons and physical settings across Fram Strait. Main supervisors: Marit Reigstad, Paul Wassmann
Lødemel Helene Louise Hodal, 2011. Primary production and the relevance of small autotrophic and heterotrophic cells in arctic marine ecosystems. Main supervisor: Svein Kristiansen
Jensen Louise Kiel, 2011. Acute and long-term effects from petroleum discharges on temperate and Arctic Calanus species. Main supervisor: Paul Wassmann
Nygård Henrik Andreas, 2011. Scavenging amphipods in the high Arctic. Studies of benthic and sympagic amphipods in the genera Onisimus and Anonyx. Main supervisor: Jørgen Berge
Iversen Kriss Wenche Rokkan, 2011. The microbial food web in a changing Arctic Ocean: Seasonal structure and function, regulatory mechanisms and carbon dynamics in Svalbard waters. Main supervisors: Marit Reigstad, Paul Wassmann