PhD Defence - Kris-Emil Jørgensen

On 12 January, PhD Candidate Kris-Emil Jørgensen will defend his PhD entitled “Life history in a complex sea – Ichthyoplankton phenology in the Kattegat”.

Kris-Emil’s research focused on how spatiotemporal distribution and early life history development varied among fish species in the Kattegat, with implications for spatial management and fish production.

Time: Friday, 12th of January 2024 at 13.30

Place: Building 1531, room 113, Lecture Theatre Aud. D1, Department of Mathematics, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, 8000 Aarhus C

More information here and below.

Good luck, Kris-Emil!

BlueBioClimate project kick-off!

Last month marked the start of the BlueBioClimate project.

Funded by Interreg, BlueBioClimate brings together researchers from Denmark, Norway and Sweden to develop nature-based tools to support blue biodiversity management in the Kattegat-Skagerrak region. Excited to get started with this inspiring group!

Neuheimer Lab visits the Faroe Islands for a workshop on individual-based modelling

Nathalie, Sofia and Anna visited the Faroe Islands this week where Anna led a workshop on developing individual-based models (IBMs) to test hypotheses. While the focus were research aims of the FjordProcess project, the group was represented by a range of experiences (chemistry, math, biology and oceanography) from institutes in the Faroes and Denmark.

Over the 2.5 days, participants developed an IBM to explain seasonal dynamics of ichthyoplankton in Faroese fjords (with applications beyond).

A big thank you to our colleagues at Havstovan for hosting and showing us around the beautiful country.

Neuheimer Lab in Kalaallit Nunaat for FjordProcess project!

In May, Anna travelled to Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) to take part in the Annual Meeting of the “Marine Research in the North Atlantic” group. Along with collaborators from the Faroes, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark, we shared progress on research projects exploring marine processes in the areas of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroes. There to help represent the FjordProcess project, the research and the land were incredibly inspiring!

A big thank you Research Council of the Faroe Islands who organised the meeting!

Join us! PhD candidate wanted to explore biophysical modelling of early life-stages in the Kattegat-Skagerrak

We are looking for a PhD candidate for the project “How bio-physical processes shape early-life-history habitat in the Kattegat-Skagerrak region". Join us at AU's Department of Biology (Aquatic Section) to explore ecology, genetics, oceanography, and modelling.

Application deadline is 1 November 2023 at midnight (23:59), with a starting date of 1 February 2024.

Read more about the position here.

Get your graduate degree at a top 100 university

The Graduate School of Natural Sciences at Aarhus University is looking for a number of bright, enthusiastic and ambitious candidates who are interested in pursuing a PhD education.

The University is located in Aarhus, Denmark, which provides international students with a safe and stable environment, a high standard of living and a wealth of social opportunities.

Besides having an excellent reputation that enables our PhD graduates to find outstanding employment prospects, Aarhus University offers attractive working conditions, research support and campus resources. Read more about all the benefits here.

Applications are accepted from college students and graduates with an academic record corresponding to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

New Article: Predator-prey match across three trophic levels

In an article out earlier this year, we explore the match-mismatch hypothesis across three trophic levels in the North Sea marine ecosystem.

Led by lab member Sofia Ferreira, the study explores the spatially explicit overlap of seasonal timing of larval herring, copepods and phytoplankton, and how overlap can explain recruitment of herring one year later.

Overlap in predator-prey timing varied spatially and could explain ~ 23% of recruitment in age-1 herring. We discuss possible mechanisms behind the negative relationship between overlap and recruitment including feeding-dependent and independent factors and data limitations.

The study was a collaboration between the Department of Biology at Aarhus University and the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES) at the University of Oslo.

Read more here:

Ferreira, A.S.A., A.B. Neuheimer, & J.M. Durant. 2023. Impacts of the match-mismatch hypothesis across three trophic levels - a case study in the North Sea. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 80: 308-316. (link)

Neuheimer Lab in Hamburg for the West Baltic Cod Forum

In January, the Anna and Kris-Emil (Jørgensen) headed to the University of Hamburg (UHH) to join the West Baltic Cod Forum meeting. Kris-Emil ran a workshop on larval fish identification, and the group shared research interests and sampling plans to coordinate investigations of cod in the Western Baltic.

A big thank you to our hosts at UHH!

Catching up on 2022 Highlights

A few other highlights from 2022 and the Neuheimer Lab:

In September 2022, our work exploring match-mismatch dynamics across trophic levels in the North Sea was presented by lead author Sofia Ferreira at the ICES Annual Science Conference in Dublin, IE.

In November 2022, Anna Neuheimer and Sofia Ferreira travelled to the International Symposium on Small Pelagic Fish in Lisbon, PO. We presented work on match-mismatch dynamics and explaining spawning time variability across space and time.

In December 2022, Anna travelled to Møn, DK as a keynote speaker for DTU Aqua’s Centre for Ocean Life Annual Retreat. Anna shared her thoughts on temperature and the relativity of biological time, as well as the building of a “second brain” for knowledge management.

New Article: Modelling human pathogens in coastal waters

Our study modelling the concentration of the human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus has been published in Science of the Total Environment. In the effort, we are able to explain 80% of the variability in V. vulnificus concentration in the Ala Wai Canal using rainfall, temperature, water nitrogen (nitrate + nitrite) and humic dissolved organic matter (DOM). We show how the model can be used to predict future V. vulnificus concentrations including a 2-3 fold increase in concentration by 2100.

The study included colleagues at the University of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi Pacific University and was led by Jessica Bullington, now at Stanford University.

Read more here:

Bullington, J.A., A.R. Golder, G.F. Steward, M.A. McManus, A.B. Neuheimer, B.T. Glazer, O.D. Nigro & C.E. Nelson. 2022. Refining real-time predictions of Vibrio vulnificus concentrations in a tropical urban estuary by incorporating dissolved organic matter dynamics. Science of the Total Environment. 829: 154075. (link)

and a press release is available here.

New Article: Interdisciplinary efforts to explain fish larval dispersal

In a recent study published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, we combine field surveys, genetic analysis and biophysical modelling to explain larval dispersal of convict surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus) on the windward coast of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Results from the various methods show that Kāne‘ohe Bay acts as a retention zone for the larvae.

The study was led by Chelsie Counsell with colleagues at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in both Biology and Oceanography.

Counsell, C.W.W., R.R. Coleman, S.S. Lal, B.W. Bowen, E.C. Franklin, A.B. Neuheimer, B.S. Powell, R.J. Toonen, M.J. Donahue, M.A. Hixon & M.A. McManus. 2022. Opening the black box: interdisciplinary analysis of larval dispersal for a coral reef fish. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 684: 117-132. (pdf).

New Article: Thermal time predicts growth and development in lobsters and crabs

In a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, we use thermal time to explain growth and development in 7 species of lobsters and crabs. We estimate growing degree-days as a physiologically relevant measure of time for the ectothermic organisms. The models can be used to predict growth under variable temperatures (e.g. in the field), identify temperature tolerance limits, and disentangle temperature effects from other factors affecting growth. The study was led by Dalhousie student Reid W. Steele.

Read more here:

Steele, R. & A.B. Neuheimer. 2022. Assessing the ability of the growing degree-day metric to explain variation in size-at-age and age at moult of lobsters and crabs. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. (link)

New Article: Life history constraints on fish distribution

Results from our study exploring bottlenecks on fish distribution was published earlier this year in Fish and Fisheries. The study identifies spatial constraints to population distribution at early life stages by characterizing both the consistency and extent of distribution with life stage. The effort explored six groundfish species across three marine systems and can be used to predict limitations to distribution shifts in response to climate change. The study was led by Lorenzo Ciannelli with collaborators Norway, Canada, USA and Russia.

Read more here:

Ciannelli, L. A.B. Neuheimer, L.C. Stige, K.T. Frank, J.M. Durant, M. Hunsicker, L.A. Rogers, S. Porter, G. Ottersen, & N.A. Yaragina. 2002. Ontogenetic spatial constraints of sub-arctic marine fish species. Fish and Fisheries. 23: 342-357. (link)

Neuheimer Lab Qualifying Exam - Good Luck, Kris-Emil!

Kris-Emil Mose Jørgensen’s PhD Qualifying Exam will be held tomorrow (d. 09/11) with the title:

“Spatiotemporal spawning variation in temperate waters. Investigating the who, when and where of fish spawning in Kattegat“

More information here.

Many thanks to the external examiner Prof. Dr. Christian Möllmann for making the trip from the University of Hamburg, co-advisor Prof. Peter Grønkjær, and AU’s Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies for providing the beautiful location. Kris-Emil’s project is partly funded by the Aarhus Universitets Forskningsfond.

In the field: 2021 larval fish cruises

Our larval fish cruises were featured on AU’s Forskning (Research) website. More info here:

https://bio.au.dk/forskning/forskningsinfrastruktur/forskningsskibet-aurora/fiskelarveundersoegelse-ombord-paa-aurora/

Neuheimer Lab @ Sea - observing larval fish timing in the Kattegat

The Neuheimer Lab is running a series of cruises this spring to observe the timing of larval fish in the Kattegat Sea. Led by PhD Candidate Kris-Emil Jørgensen, we’ve planned six 4-day cruises using AU’s RV AURORA to sample larval Atlantic cod and their copepod prey. Results to follow!

New Article: Exploring the drivers of deep-sea fish growth

Results of our study exploring the drivers of fish growth across habitat depths was published this month in Marine Ecology Progress Series. Led by Jesse Black and Jeff Drazen (the University of Hawaiʻi), the article explores growth in 53 species of teleosts ranging in habitat depth from 0-4000m. We find temperature is a significant driver of growth and identify temperature-independent growth trends with depth. The study was a collaboration between the U.S.A’s University of Hawaiʻi, New Zealand’s National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), and Denmark’s Aarhus University. Our article was chosen by the editor to be a Feature Article and is available with open-access here.

New Article: Long-term presence of the island-mass effect at Rangiroa Atoll

In an article published this month in Frontiers of Marine Science, we find evidence of long-term presence of the island-mass effect via observations of chlorophyll enhancement around Rangiroa Atoll. The study, led by the McManus lab at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa finds phytoplankton enhancement as high as 130% in nearshore waters over ~ 76% of the study period. We suggest the enhancement is linked to tides and waves transporting the nutrient-rich water from inside Rangiroa’s lagoon to coastal ocean waters. The study is a collaboration with colleagues at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, and Aarhus University. Read more about the study here.

New Article: Identifying growth rate differences in Atlantic cod ecotypes

In a recent publication in Marine Ecology Progress Series, we use otoliths to identify juvenile growth rate differences in co-existing ecotypes of Atlantic cod. We find faster growth in North Sea vs. fjord ecotype cod associated associated with the period following settlement. The manuscript was led by Kris-Emil Jørgensen and Peter Grønkjær’s Fish Ecology Lab and was a collaboration between AU and Norway’s Institute for Marine Research (P.E. Jorde) and University of Agder (H. Knutsen). More information can be found here.

New PhD Course - Exploring your Hypotheses with Statistics

Anna is offering a new PhD course this fall entitled “Exploring your Hypotheses with Statistics” through AU’s Department of Biology. Email Anna for more information.

New PhD Course - Productive writing for Biologists

Along with colleagues at AU’s Departments of Bioscience (Johnna Michelle Holding) & Biology (Chris Selbach), Anna will be offering a course entitled Productive Writing for Biologists (1 ECTS).

In this course, students will learn and practice strategies to improve productivity of their scientific writing. The course aims at helping students identify individual strengths and challenges in their scientific writing, and provides them with a range of strategies to develop their writing skills. Students will practice productive writing techniques with their thesis projects.

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• identify their personal strengths and weaknesses in their scientific writing.

• use specific productive writing techniques to overcome challenges (organization, creative blocks, endurance).

• work more confidently and productively on the writing tasks of their MSc and PhD projects.

Contact Anna for more information.