The Seagrass Ecology Lab at Kristineberg offers modern marine research laboratories with unique facilities to perform field and laboratory scientific activities.

• Hydraulic flume. The flume can generate currents and waves similar to those in shallow coastal areas. The tank has of 8 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.4 m high with a test section box of 2 m. Flow can be measured with an acoustic Doppler velocimeter (Nortek, Vectrino) and wave gauges (HR-Wallingford).
• Wave mesocosms. Long-term experiments on marine organisms using wave exposition can be performed using wave mesocosms with tanks available between 1-4 m long.
• Indoor and outdoor mesocosm facilities. Indoor mesocosms can be accommodated in climate control rooms with lights and seawater flow-through. Water temperature can be controlled and filtered with UV light.
• Lab equipment. Seawater flow-through is available together with compress air, de-ionised water taps. Fish respirometer (O₂ sensors and peristaltic pumps), video-cameras, microscopes, water filtration columns, oven, weight scales, dynamometer, fridge and freezer between others.
• Field equipment. Instruments to measure physical parameters such as flow meters, wave gauges, temperature, salinity, light and turbidity loggers. Underwater photography, video equipment and drop-video camera. Hand-held YSI multi-parametric probe. Other equipment such as sampling nets, cages, sediment corers and box corers.
• Boat and diving equipment. Side-scan sonar mounted on boat. Snorkeling and SCUBA equipment such as dry suits, tanks, fins, masks, BCDs, regulators. Kristineberg has its own air compressor and diving facilities.
• Drones to carry aerial surveys and monitoring of coastal habitat and marine mammals (DJI Phantom 4-Pro, DJI Matrice 210, DJI Phantom 4-RTK, Mavik 2S, multispectral sensor, x30 optical zoom lense) and DJI Googles.
• Outreach. We use 360^o underwater cameras and virtual reality headsets for teaching and outreach using Oculus Quest 2.

Research in Seagrass Ecology is possible in the meadows of Zostera marina (eelgrass) and Zostera noltii  present along the Gullmars Fjord. Ruppia maritima is also present at the inner parts of the fjord where water is more brackish. Seagrass beds are found between 1 to 5 m depth at most sites with a range of hydrodynamic wave expositions, salinities and sediment grain sizes. These shallow depth makes it fairly easy to access the meadows by snorkeling or Scuba. Eelgrass morphologies can range from leaves lengths of 15-20 cm when is present at 1 m depth to 70-80 cm at 4m depth. Eelgrass flowering occurs from June to August when the water is warmer.

Since seagrass meadows are present close to Kristineberg, they can be accessed directly by swimming, walking or boat. Samples of seagrass, fish, invertebrate and macroalgae can be easily collected and transported to the lab. Experiments can be easily performed in the field since the marine station provides an excellent platform for field access. Check here some fauna present in eelgrass beds near Kristineberg!!

Kristineberg Marine Research Station is located in the West coast of Sweden is part of the University of Gothenburg. Established in 1877, Kristineberg is also one of the oldest marine research stations in the world, with a well-established contact network and a long tradition of hosting visiting scientists. Kristineberg offers an excellent profile for students and researchers to access all the benefits of the academic institution.

Kristineberg has its own dorm and apartments to accommodate students and visiting guest scientists. The station restaurant provide daily meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) with vegetarian and special diet options.

Contact: eduardo.infantes [at] gu.se    Kristineberg Station, Kristineberg 566, SE-45178, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden