I am a fisheries biologist with a strong fascination for fish behaviour, and I have spent my time practicing this interest by the help of acoustic telemetry the last couple of years. More specifically, I am interested in how human impact and interest in nature affect the behaviour, response, and overall life history characteristics of fish species - both in freshwater and marine systems in northern regions. I found interest in acoustic telemetry research during my Master’s, where I studied effects of tag weight on vertical behaviour of salmon smolts. I have since been working as a researcher at NORCE in the Bergen Telemetry Network group with LFI (Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries) spending my time tracking various fish species all over the country.
The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the global average, reshaping ecosystems and threatening native fish species in Svalbard. My research focuses on understanding how rising temperatures and the introduction of invasive species influence habitat use, interactions, and potential competition between the salmonids Arctic charr and pink salmon in this rapidly changing environment. By studying their spatial distribution, movement patterns, and ecological interactions, my overall goal is to assess the impact of climate change on these species and their potential for coexistence or displacement. My main method is acoustic telemetry, which is a widely used tool that tracks aquatic species in real-time to study their movements, behavior, and habitat preferences.
My supervisors are Knut Wiik Vollset, Katja Enberg, and Tormod Haraldstad.
