Freshwater Ecology Group

Research

Freshwater and coastal waters harbour some of the most diverse and abundant ecological communities on our planet. Yet, organisms in these habitats are highly vulnerable to environmental changes and anthropogenic pressures, ranging from temperature changes to habitat degradation, biological invasions or pollutants. Aquatic systems in high latitudes and Arctic regions are particularly affected and impacted by these global changes.

In the Freshwater Ecology Group at UiT, we conduct research to better understand these unique and culturally important ecosystems in a changing world. Focussing on invertebrates, fish, and parasites, we use experimental approaches, long-term time series, and modelling approaches to better understand ecological interactions from the interspecific to the population and community level within and across ecosystems from the catchment to the coast. Our research and teaching address fundamental questions in ecology and maintain a strong connection to the freshwater and coastal ecosystems in northern Norway to inform regional management decision.