BIO - English > Research > Freshwater Biology

Section for Freshwater Biology

The section covers the entire spectrum of the aquatic sciences including biodiversity and organismal studies, microbiology, physiology, evolutionary phylogenetic, biogeochemistry, community and systems ecology. The research and teaching are based on fundamental freshwater biology, but many projects also address environmental issues of a more applied nature with direct relevance for, e.g., pollution problems, conservation and global climate change.

Furthermore there are ongoing projects that includes development and use of advance detection techniques for laboratory and field based underwater studies (electrochemical and optical sensors, imaging, sensor network, underwater robots m.m.), that has numerous possible applications not only in biological research and teaching but also in interdisciplinary projects with others including the industry.

The research includes a broad array of organisms (virus, bacteria, protists, invertebrates, macrophytes and fish) as well as types of aquatic systems (lakes, streams, fjords, embayments, coastal waters and the open ocean). Geographically it covers places all over the world from the polar to the tropical ecozones. The section has extensive culture and aquarium facilities including the Scandinavian Culture Centre of Algae and Protozoa (in Copenhagen), and the Øresunds-aquarium (in Helsingør) as a public interface. The IOC Science and communication centre for harmful algae is affiliated to the section and provides a wide range of opportunities for teaching (especially foreign students), networking and research. The facilities also includes advanced microscopy and bio-imaging, state of the art DNA methods, a wide range of advanced ecophysiological techniques including micro sensor technology and autonomous underwater measuring platforms. The Section has a fleet of research vessels for coastal studies but also participates frequently in international ocean cruises and field work worldwide.