The Fish Physiology Group at the Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen - and a few collaborators:
John Fleng Steffensen, lic. scient., Professor
JFSteffensen @ bio.ku.dk or alternatively JFSteffe @ u.washington.edu
Collecting blood of Gadus ogac in Greenland. Fishing in Antarctica.
Collaborators:
Prof. Diego Bernal, UMass Dartmouth, USA.
Prof. Peter G. Bushnell, Indiana University South Bend, USA.
Prof. Jørgen Schou Christiansen, Tromsø University, Norway.
Senior Researcher Paolo Domenici, CNR IAMC, Italy.
Associate Prof. Jacob Johansen, University of Hawaii, USA.
Prof. Keith Korsmeyer, Hawaii Pacific University, USA.
Directeur de Recherche, David McKenzie, French National Centre for Scientific Research, Montpellier, France.
Prof. Robert Shadwick, University of British Columbia, Canada.
Postdoctoral fellows:
Morten Bo Søndergård Svendsen, Ph.D.
2017-2019. Optimizing growth in Aquaculture - FitFish GUDP-project:
Currently also at Rigshospitalet.
Maria Faldborg Steinhausen, Ph.D., Research assistant professor.
2008 - 2010. Optimization of growth in aquaculture. Photo: Rainbow trout with Oxyguard oxygen-transmitter.
In collaboration with Niels Kjølstad Poulsen, DTU-Informatics, Department of Informatics and Mathematical Modelling.
Funded by Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. Danish Food Industry Agency.
Currently high school teacher @ Helsingør Gymnasium.
Damian Moran, Ph.D.
2007-2010.Postdoc at DTU-Aqua and partly MBL. Project: CO2 in Aquaculture
Systems.
Currently Senior Scientist @ New Zealand Institute of Plant & Food Resaerch,
Nelson
Jon C. Svendsen, Ph.D., Research assistant professor.
2007 - 2009. Fishnet.dk-project - funded by the Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation.
Currently Senior Researcher @ DTU-Aqua.
Neill A. Herbert, Ph.D., Research assistant professor.
Effect of hypoxia on behaviour and physiology of marine fishes.
Funded by the EU-Framework 5 Project ETHOFISH: The effect of turbidity and hypoxia on the behaviour of coastal marine fish.
Currently lecturer at the Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Peter V. Skov, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor
Anatomy and Function of the secondary circulatory system in fishes.
Funded by Funded by the EU-Framework 5 Project ETHOFISH (The effect of turbidity and hypoxia on the behaviour of coastal marine fish) and the Carlsberg Foundation.
Currently associate professor at DTU-Aqua: pvsk@aqua.dtu.dk
Keith E. Korsmeyer, PhD., Assistant Research Professor
Funded by grant from the former Danish "Forskerakademiet" now Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation.
Currently Professor of Biology at Hawaii Pacific University, USA.
Arivaldo Cruz Neto (Brazil)
Funded by EU-Framework Programme. Effect of CO2 in European eel (Anguilla anguilla).
Currently Professor at UNESP, Instituto de Biociencias, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
Ph.D.-students:
Heidrikur Bergsson
Fitfish: Optimizing growth and feed intake in off-shore aquaculture by using a remote operated profiling CTD, video and modelling.
Funded by GUDP. In collaboration with DTU-Aqua, OxyGuard International, Biomar, Musholm A/S & Hjarnø Fiskeopdræt. Defenden in 2020.
Now working at Hiddenfjord Faroe Island.
e-mail: heidrikur.bergsson@bio.ku.dk
Project website:https://www1.bio.ku.dk/Projects/Fitfish
Emil Aputsiaq Flindt Christensen
Living on the edge: Ecology and physiology of European perch Perca fluviatilis in brakish water.
Funded by a PhD-grant from Dept. of Biology, University of Copenhagen. Defended 2018.
Aftefr working as a postdoc at DTU-Aqua and I Glasgow, Scotland, Emil is now working at NOVO.
e-mail: emilflindt@hotmail.com
Julius Nielsen
Biology of Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus - in collaboration with Pinngortitaleriffik -Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland and National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet. Defended 2018.
e-mail: juliusnielsen88@gmail.com
Currently working at Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
Part of the Project Old and Cold: Biology of the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) Project website: www.mbl.ku.dk/JFSteffensenOldAndCold
Funded by a grants from Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation, The Danish National Aquarium "The Blue Planet", Pinngortitaleriffik -Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, The Carlsberg Foundation, National Geographic, Save our Seas, etc
Morten Bo Søndergård Svendsen
Physiological effects (oxygen transport) of toxic algae, hypoxia and temperature on fish.
Funded by the Strategic Research Council Project HABFISH 2012 - 2016. Defended 2017.
e-mail: mortenbosvendsen@gmail.com
Currently working Rigshospitalet - Dept. of Medical Education and Simulation.
Bjørn Tirsgaard
Effect of temperature and food concentration on juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and larvae metabolism, growth and activity.
In collaboration with DTU-Aqua. Part of the project SUNFISH - Sustainable fisheries, climate change and the North Sea ecosystem.
Funded by the Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation. Defended 2014.
Currently high school teacher.
Caroline Methling
The respiratory- and circulatory physiology of the European eel at extreme temperatures, hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions.
Financed by Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen; Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation, and the Elisabeth and Knud Petersen Foundation. Defended 2013.
Madelene Åberg
Individual variation in developmental rate in rainbow trout larvae; implications
for welfare and production aspects in modern aquaculture.
DTU-Aqua. Main-supervisor: Erik Höglund. Funded by DTU-Aqua. Defended 2013.
Michael Van Deurs
The life-cycle of sandell - adaptations to a seasonal environment, from the perspective of a forage fish.
Funded by a grant to Fishnet.dk from the Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation. Co-supervisor: Henrik Mosegård, DTU-Aqua. Defended October 2010.
Currently Senior Researcher @ DTU-Aqua.
Maria Faldborg (Petersen) Steinhausen
In collaboration with DIFRES (Danish Institute of Fisheries Research, Hirtshals).
Estimation of energy budgets of free swimming gadoids. Defended 2006.
Currently high school teacher.
Mikkel Sand.
In collaboration with DIFRES (Danish Institute of Fisheries Research, Hirtshals).
PhD-project terminated 2005.
Anders Drud Jordan
Ph.d.-project: Energy Utilization in fish: consequences for the economy and environment.
In collaboration with Akvaforsk, Norway - now Nofima Marin. Funded by the Norwegian Research Council. Defended 2008.
Currently @ Natural Histroy of Denmark.
Jane W. Behrens
Effekt af Global Change relateret iltsvind på fisk; kysttobis (Ammodytes tobianus) som modelorganisme.
In collaboration with DMU, Denmark. Defended: 2008.
Currently Senior Researcher @ DTU-Aqua.
Henrik Schurmann
Indflydelse af temperatur og ilt på fysiologi og adfærd hos fisk.
Financed by Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. Defended 1995.
Currently CEO of Gallery Henrik Schurmann.
Foreign Ph.D.-students that have carried out part of their project in the FishLab:
Lasse Dahl Ejby Jensen
Mechanisms of malignant and non-malignant angiogenesis using zebrafish models.
Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Supervisor: Yihai Cao. Defended 2010.
Currently Assistant Professor @ Linköping University, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Linköping, Sweden.
Joana Catarina Rocha Moreira da Silva (Portugal)
Ammonia tolerance in the teleost Misgurnus anguillicaudatus: Surviving
high environmental ammonia and aerial exposure.
Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto,
Portugal. Supervisor: Jonathan Wilson.
Defended 2009.
Susan McFarland (UK)
Biochemical and physiological adaptations of haemoglobin-I genotypes of Atlantic
cod, Gadus morhua.
School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, UK. Supervisor: Prof. E. W. (Ted) Taylor. Defended 1998.
M.Sc.-students (from approximately 2000 to present) :
Marie Golan and Gustav Mathias Kronholm
Effects of heat waves on coral reef fish - the project will be carried out partly at University of Hawaii's Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology with Jacob Johansen as co-supervisor.
Expect to finish in 2022
Aske Bang Hansen
Optimal temperature of fish sp. based on different methods ranging from ECG @ ramping temperatures to using a temp pref shuttlebox.
Expect to finish in 2022
Heledd Imogen Smith
CTmax of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua with different sixes and heating rates.
Expect to finish in 2022
Oliver Rommelhoff Reichel
Optimal temperature of small spotted catshark Schyliorhinis caniculla bease on aerobic scope of activirty measurements.
Expect to finish in 2022
Lasse Polke-Pedersen and Jakob Gaarsdal Blakø
Vasculature of the Fish: Lymphatic System or Something Else?
Defended in 2021. Lasse is now working at OxyGuard International.
Lars Emil Juel Andersen
Standard metabolic rate and critical oxygen tension of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) under conditions of hypercapnia.
Defended 2021
Mathias Søgård
Ventilatory flow, oxygen extraction, scope of activity and ECG at dfifferent tempertures in European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).
Finished 2019.
Victoria Becker
Partial presseure of oxygen in the swim bladder of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) when exposed to hypoxia.
(Did a somewhat similar as Søs below with Greenland cod (Gadus ogac) in Greenland in 2018). Defended 2019.
Now working on PhD @ University of Oslo.
Søs Emilie Riber
Temperature preference of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) with different haemoglobin types, based on ECG-monitoring at various temperatures.
(Did a somewhat similar experiment with Greenland cod (Gadus ogac) in Greenland in 2018 - with Victoria Becker above).
Defended September 2019.
Iren Tabak
Metabolic rates of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in relation to temperature.
The project was carried out at DTU-Aqua (With Jane Behrens & Emil from DFK).
Defended September 2019.
Connor Hamilton
Investigating the final preferendum in a new candidate for Danish aquaculture: the Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandia) and the validation of the Max Power system.
Defended April 2019.
Steffan Kalsø
Optimizing flow properties in land based salmon aquaculture.
Defended September 2018.
Currently working @ Bakkafrost, Faoe Islands (Salmon aquaculture).
Andreas Ruth
Metabolic response and capacity of the Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in a changing climate. In collaboration with Greenland Institute of Natural resources (Rasmus Nygaard).
Defended December 2016.
Currently working @ Novo Nordisk
Jeppe Vismann
Optimal temperature of goldfish based on measuring metabolic rate at different temperatures compared with selected preferred temperature.
Defended December 2016. Current working at Musholm A/S (Aquaculture).
Marianne Juhl
Studies of the Evasive Behavior and Electrophysiological response to the Lanthanide Metal Neodymium and Permanent Magnets in Lesser Spotted Dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula)
Co-supervisor w. Anders Garm.
Defended January 2016.
Signar Pærurssonur Dam
A study on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in aquaculture: Moving into exposed waters, the effect of waves on behaviour and growth. Defended December 2015.
Defended December 2015.
Currently working @ Luna /HiddenFjord - Salmon aquaculture, Faroe Islands.
Emil Aputsiaq Flindt Christensen
The cost of osmoregulation at different temperatures for the stenohaline teleost Perch (Perca fluviatilis).
Defended February 2015
e-mail: mts447@alumni.ku.dk
Later did a Ph.D. in the Fishlab@MBS
Currently working as postdoc @ DTU-Aqua.
Adam Habary
"Temperature preferences of coral reef fishes" with Dr. Jodie Rummer & Dr. Jacob Johansen, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia - ARC Centre of Exellence Coral Reef Studies.
Defended December 2014.
Currently working @ Novo Nordisk.
Julie Juanita Larsen
In collaboration with Dr. Rich Brill, VIMS and Prof. Peter G. Bushnell, IUSB.
Experments were carried out at the VIMS Eastern Shore Lab, VA.
Defended January 2015.
Andreas Salling
"Effects of predation by harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) on gill net fisheries in Danish waters. In collaboration with Anders Galatius og Jonas Teilmann, Dept. Bioscience, Aarhus University.
e-mail: shg705@alumni.ku.dk. Defended September 2014.
Heidrikur Bergsson
Effect of toxic algae on the respiration physiology of fish.
Bergsson, H. Andersen, N. R., Svendsen, M. B. S., Hansen, P. J. and Steffensen, J. F. (2019). Respiratory Physiology of European Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Exposed to Prymnesium parvum. Fishes; 4, 32.
Defended March 2014.
Currently Ph.D.-student @ Univ. of Copenhagen.
Sanne Høj Andren
Multidisciplinary approach to understand the role of temperature in the distribution of three cryptic species of flatlip grey mullet, Mugil cephalus, in the North West Pacific. In collaboration with Prof. Dave McKenzie, Dept. of Fish Diversity and Ecology, Univ. of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Defended November 2014.
Currently working as Scientific Officer, International Trade Division, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration
Julius Nielsen
Biology of Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus - in collaboration with Pinngortitaleriffik -Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (Rasmus Hedeholm), Nuuk, Greenland.
Nielsen, J., Hedeholm, R. B., Simon, M. and Steffensen, J. F. (2013). Distribution and feeding ecology of the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) in Greenland shelf waters. Polar Biology. DOI 10.1007/s00300-013-1408-3.
Defended 2013. e-mail: juliusnielsen88@gmail.com
Later did Ph.D. @ the FiskLab @ MBS.
Currently working @ Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland.
Effect of temperature on European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), including among others measurements of SMR and MMR at different temperatures from 10-35 degrees, and the effect of acute temperature changes on SMR.
Defended November 2012.
Morten Svendsen - DTU-Aqua
Oxygen transport in the primary and secondary vascular system in the glass catfish (Kryptopterus bicirhis). In addition he is a software wiz and made Aqua-Resp.
Defended June 2012.
Currently working @ Rigshospitalet - Dept. of Medical Education and Simulation.
Jacob Kring Højgård & Jacob Møller
Specific Dynamic Action (SDA) and Fast escape response in sand eel.
Defended March 2012.
Michael Amdi Madsen:
Investigating the existence of lead fish in a school and the factors that may determine them.
Defended November 2011.
Currently @ IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Office of Public Information and Communication.
Mikael Frisk
The metabolic and cardiac temperature-scheme of pike perch.
Frisk, M., Steffensen, J. F. & Skov, P. V. (2013). The effects of temperature on specific dynamic action and ammonia excretion in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) Aquaculture, 404-405; 65-70.
Co-supervisor: Peter V. Skov, DTU-Aqua, Hirtshals.
Defended 2010.
Currently working at Univ. of Oslo, Div. of Medicine,Norway.
Karina Juhl Rasmussen
Characterization and comparison of immunilogical functions in the primary and secondary circulatory system in Oncorhynchus mykiss.
Rasmussen, K. J., Steffensen, J. F. and Buchmann, K. (2013). Differential
occurrence of immune cells in the primary and secondary vascular systems in
rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). J. Fish Diseases,
doi:10.1111/jfd.12058.
Eksterne vejledere: Karsten Skjødt & Charlotte Harken Jensen, IMB - Immunologi
og Mikrobiologi, Southern Danish University.
Defended December 2010.
Currently @ Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, SDU.
Stine Dalmann Ross
Effects of fishery and climate change on cod in the Kattegat and Skagerak.
In Collaboration with Anne Rindorf,DTU-Aqua.
Defended September 2010.
Bjørn Tirsgaard
Effects of prolonged elevated carbon dioxide on Specific dynamic action in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).
Defended 2009.
Currently high school teacher.
Kasper Ramkær.
Metabolism of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) exposed to hypoxia combined
with hypercapnia - acute and 3 days acclimation.
Defended 2008.
Caroline Methling
Expression of heat shock protein (HSP-70) in Atlantic cod at different temperatures and ambient oxygen tension.
Methling, C., Aluru, N., Vijayan, M.M. and Steffensen, J.F. (2010). Effect of moderate hypoxia at three acclimation temperatures on stress responses in Atlantic cod with different haemoglobin types. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A. Molecular & Integrative Physiology. 156: 485-490.
In collaboration with M. M. (V. J.) Vijayan, Biology, University of Waterloo, Canada.
Defended 2006.
Later did a Ph.D. here at the Marine Lab.
Jan Bielecki
Det sekundære cirkulationssystems rolle i forbindelse med sidelinien hos torsk.
I samarbejde med Jørgen Tranum Jensen, Panum Inst. & Peter V. Skov, MBL.
Defended 2006.
Claes Fischer
The secondary circulatory system in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): protein composition and capillary permeability.
Defended 2004.
Currently working @ Novo Nordisk.
Line T. Enevoldsen
Distribution and growth of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, with different hemoglobin types.
Funded by Nordic Council NARP-project.
Defended 2004.
Currently as Senior Clinical Manager @ Genmab.
Mikkel Jungersen
Oxygen consumption of resting and swimming pike perch exposed to environmental hypoxia.
Defended 2004.
Currently Senior Medical Manager a@ Pfizer.
Mikkel Detz Jensen
Relationship between food intake, digestibility and excretion of BOD-products in rainbow trout.
In collaboration with Danish Fisheries Research Institute, Hirtshals.
Defended 2004.
Currently working @ Biomar
Jon C. Svendsen
The use of an acoustic angle transmitter for quantification of the feeding behaviour of free-ranging common bream Abramis brama.
Defended 2003.
Currently working as Senior Researcher @ DTU-Aqua.
Paul Maslen
An investigation of embryonic, ventilation and respiration in the lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula).
Defended 2003.
Currently working as biologist @ Københavns Kommune.
Anders Drud Jordan
Arctogadus: A single species? Studies of taxonomy, Phylogeny and Physiology.
Defended 2002.
Later did a Ph.D. here @ MBS.
Currently working @ Danish Natural History Museum.
Maria Faldborg Petersen
Temperaturpræference under hypoxi, vækstrater og enzymkinetik hos torsk (Gadus morhua) med forskellige hæmoglobintyper.
Defended 2001.
Currently working as high school teacher.
Peter V. Skov
Det sekundære cirkulationssystem hos Atlanterhavstorsken, Gadus morhua:
Volumen og fysiologi.
Defended 2000.
Currently working as associate professor @ DTU-Aqua, Hirtshals.
Bachelor Projects:
Minik Hans Jørn Damgaard Holding, Terry Overgård Pedersen and Frederik August Bülow Sivertsen
Responsiveness and Latency for small-spotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula
Finished July 2021
Amalie Bech Poulsen
Activity and swimming behaviour of gilthead seabream exposed to simulated global change (hypoxia and/or hypercapnia).
Finished June 2019.
Inuk Mosa Grønvold Petersen
Biology of redfish (Sebastes mentalla & S. norvegicus) in Godthåbsfjorden, Greenland.
The project will be carried out @ Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland.
Finished June 2019.
Mathias Schakmann Sørensen
Size dependent temperature preference of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).
Finished June 2017.
Later he did his M.Sc. @ Hawaii Pacific University w. Keith Korsmeier as supevisor.
Currently working on his PhD @ University of Hawaii w. Jacob Johansen as supervisor.
Lasse Polke-Pedersen
Temperature preference of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) based on the max power principle.
Defended June 2017.
Ditte Sundberg
The olfactory system and brain organization in Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus.
Defended June 2016.
Nick Lauritzen
Ampullae Lorenzini in the Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus.
Defended June 2016.
Steffan Kalsø
Optimal swimming speed (based on least cost of transport) of rainbow trout compared to preferred swimming speed.
Defended January 2016.
Currently working @ Bakkafrost, Faroe Islands (Salmon aquaculture).
Roland Gregers Madsen
Optimal and preferred swimming speed in rainbow trout.
Defended June 2016.
Frederikke Larsen
Stride length and swimming speed of benthic and pelagic sharks determined by 3-D video.
Defended June 2016.
Kristain Maar
Investigating embryonic respiration in Schyliorhinus canicula (Lesser spotted dogfish)
Defended May 2016.
Signar Pæturssonur Dam
Acute temperature tolerance of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua.
Defended December 2016.
Currently working at Luna /HiddenFjord - Salmon aquaculture, Faroe Islands.
Rikke Beckmann Dahl
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF SHARKS: A FOCUS ON THE GREENLAND SHARK.
Defended June 2015
Christian Riisager-Pedersen
Seasonal migration patterns for harbour porpoises. In collaboration with Signe Sveegaard and Jonas Teilmann, DCE - Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, Risø.
Defended 2013.
Marie Plambech
Physiological response to acute hypoxia in Atlantaic cod, Gadus morhua. In collaboration with DTU-Aqua (Jane Behrens & Michael van Deurs).
Defended 2012.
Currently PhD-Student at DTU-Aqua.
Heiðrikur Bergsson
Behaviour of wild and genetically modified zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Defended 2010.
Currently PhD-student at Univ. of Copenhagen.
Jacob Kring Højgård og Jacob Møller
Iltforbrug hos svømmende kysttobis (Ammodytes tobianus). Medvejleder: Michael van Deurs, DTU-Aqua.
Defended 2008.
Anders Hostrup and Michael Frisk
The effects of acetylcholine, adrenaline, and frequency on force production in
myocardial strips from the sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus.
Experiments were carried out at
VIMS' Eastern Shore Lab in Wachapreague, VA, USA.
Internal supervisors: John Fleng Steffensen and Peter V. Skov. External supervisors: Peter G. Bushnell, IUSB and Richard W. Brill, VIMS.
Defended 2008.
Thomas Warnar
Ammodytes tobianus' adfærdsmæssige respons på en ændring i føde og temperatur.
Co-supervisor: Michael van Deurs, DTU-Aqua.
Defended 2008.
Steen T. Dupont & Sigurd T. Gronemann -
Flowrate & frekvens af røde blodlegemer i det sekundære cirkulationssystem hos glasmallen Kryptopterus bicirrhis.
Afsluttede 2005.
Nynne Hjort Nielsen & Payana Hendriksen.
Metabolic rates, EPOC and critical swimming speeds of rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss). I samarbejde med Jon Svendsen, Danmarks Fiskeriundersøgelser, Silkeborg.
Finished 2006.
Updated August 2022