Arctic Animal Physiology

Particular emphasis is placed on how these animals cope with the climatic variability, extreme light-dark cycles and large seasonal fluctuations in food availability that are all typical characteristics of their environment. Physiological adaptations to diving in aquatic birds and mammals, which are abundant at high-latitudes, also represents an important topic.

The group has extensive expertise within many aspects of animal physiology e.g.

• chronobiology,
• endocrinology,
• reproductive physiology,
• thermoregulation,
• nutrition/digestion,
• cardiovascular physiology
• diving physiology

We study physiological adaptations to life at high latitudes in arctic animals (e.g. arctic char, ptarmigans, reindeer, muskoxen, seals and whales).

Research methodology spans from studies of molecular and subcellular/cellular mechanisms to integrative, whole-animal studies that may be conducted in the field or as experimental studies in the laboratory (or as a combination of these). For this purpose, specialized laboratories and approved research animal facilities, where several relevant species of fishes, birds and mammals are maintained, are available to the group.

Master projects will normally form a part of ongoing projects which encompass both curiosity-driven basic research projects and projects important for production and management of natural resources in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Students will be expected to participate actively in seminars that are given within the research group, as well as at the institute.