Kjersti Sjøtun

Position

Emerita

Affiliation

Research

My research is on seaweeds. Seaweeds are very important primary producers in the coastal area, they form habitats for myriads of associated animals, they can function as devices for measuring levels of heavy metals in the environment, and they can be harvested or cultured for food or valuable biochemical components such as agar and alginate. My main interests are seaweed ecology, and how seaweeds evolve and adapt to the environment. Some of the topics I study:

-        Evolution, morphological variation and speciation processes in the genus Fucus

-        Effects of invasive seaweeds on indigenous coastal communities

-        Changes in seaweed communities due to environmental impact and climate changes

Publications
Poster
Academic lecture
Academic article
Report
Database
Lecture
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Doctoral dissertation
Chapter
Editorial
Abstract
Masters thesis
Thesis at a second degree level

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Knoop FCS, Ribeiro PA, Dahle G, Martín Martín R, Gómez Garreta A, Rull Lluch J, Sjøtun K (2025). Genetic affiliations of miniaturized morphotypes within the F. vesiculosus-F. spiralis clade (Phaeophyceae, Fucales). European Journal of Phycology 60:1, 11-23, DOI: 10.1080/09670262.2024.2415006

Ruiz Martínez E, McKeown D, Schroeder DC, Thuestad G, Sjøtun K, Sandaa R-A, Larsen A, Hoell IA (2023). Phaeoviruses present in cultured and natural kelp species, Saccharina latissima and Laminaria hyperborea (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales)in Norway. Viruses 15, 2331. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15122331 

van der Loos, LM et al. (2023). Non-indigenous seaweeds in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, The Mediterranean Sea, and Macaronesia: a critical synthesis of diversity, spatial and temporal patterns. European Journal of Phycology

Vranken S. et al. (2023). AlgaeTraits: a trait database for (European) seaweeds. Earth System Science Data https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-2711-2023

Hatchett WJ, Coyer JA, Sjøtun K, Jueterbock A, Galice Hoarau G. (2022). A Review of Reproduction in the Seaweed Genus Fucus (Ochrophyta, Fucales): Background for Renewed Consideration as a Model Organism. Frontiers of Marine Science doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.1051838

Ribeiro PA, Næss T, Dahle G, Asplin L, Meland K, Fredriksen S, Sjøtun K (2022). Going with the flow - population genetics of the kelp Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales). Frontiers in Marine Science DOI 10.3389/fmars.2022.876420

Sjøtun K, Armitage CS, Eilertsen M, Todt C (2021). Fauna associated with non-native Sargassum muticum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) vary with thallus morphology and site type (sounds and bays). Marine Biological Research DOI 10.1080/17451000.2021.1994999

Thomson et al. (2021). Charting a course for genetic diversity in the UN Decade of Ocean Science. Evolutionary Applications httP://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13224

Sandvik et al. (2020). Alien species in Norway: results from quantitative ecological impact assessments. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 1 10.1002/2688-8319.12006

Sandvik H et al. (2019). Alien plants, fungi and algae in Norway: an inverntory of neobiota. Biological Invasions 21: 2997-3012

Bringloe TT, Sjøtun K, Saunders GW (2019). A DNA barcode survey of marine macroalgae from Bergen (Norway). Marine Biology Research https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2019.1699659

Bjordal MV, Jensen KH, Sjøtun K (2019). A field study of the edible red alga Vertebrata lanosa (Rhodophyta). Journal of Applied Phycology in press.

Enerstvedt KH, Lundberg A, Sjøtun IK, Fadnes P, Jordheim M (2017). Characterization and seasonal variation of Individual flavonoids in Zostera marina and Zostera noltii from Norwegian coastal waters. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 74:    42-50

Armitage CS, Sjøtun K (2017). Can an old alien benefit from rising ocean temperatures? An experimental and field study on the growth and local distribution of Codium fragile subsp. fragile (Chlorophyta). Marine Biology DOI 10.1007/s00227-017-3170-5

Armitage CS, Husa V, Petelenz-Kurdziel EA, Sjøtun K (2017). Growth and competition in a warmer ocean: A field experiment with a non-native and two native habitat building seaweeds. Marine ecology Progress Series 573: 85–99

Sjøtun K, Heesch S, Rull Lluch J, Martín Martín R, Gómez Garreta A, Brysting AK, Coyer JA (2017). Unraveling the complexity of salt marsh "Fucus cottonii" forms (Phaeophyceae, Fucales). European Journal of Phycology             doi.org/10.1080/09670262.2017.1309688

Armitage CS, Sjøtun K (2016). Codium fragile in Norway: Subspecies identity and morphology. Botanica Marina 56: 439–450

Armitage CS, Sjøtun K (2016). Epiphytic macroalgae mediate the impact of a non-native algae on associated fauna. Hydrobiologia DOI 10.1007/s10750-016-2707-9

Sjøtun K, Heggøy E, Gabrielsen TM, Rueness J (2016). Dasya adela sp. nov. (Rhodophyta, Ceramiales), an enigmatic new Dasya from a landlocked fjord in southwest Norway. Phycological Research 64: 79-94 

Sjøtun K, Husa V, Asplin L, Sandvik AD (2015). Climatic and environmental factors influencing occurrence and distribution of macroalgae – a fjord gradient revisited. Marine Ecology – Progress Series 532: 73-88 

Armitage C, Sjøtun K, Jensen KH (2014). Correlative evidence for competition betweenFucus serratus and the introduced chlorophyte Codium fragile subsp. fragile on the southwest coast of Norway. Botanica Marina 57: 85-97

Husa V, Steen H, Sjøtun K (2014). Historical changes in macroalgal communities in Hardangerfjord (Norway). Marine Biology Research 10: 226-240

Husa V, Kutti T, Ervik A, Sjøtun K, Kupka Hansen P, Aure J (2014). Regional impact from fin-fish farming in an intensive production area (Hardangerfjord, Norway). Marine Biology Research 10: 241-252

Bengtsson MM, Sjøtun K, Lanzén A & Øvreås L (2012). Bacterial diversity in relation to secondary production and succession on surfaces of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea. The ISME Journal 6: 2188-2198

Sjøtun K, Heldal HE, Brakstad, DS (2011). Differential concentration of Technetium-99 (99Tc) in common intertidal molluscs with different food habits. Marine Pollution Bulletin 62: 2420-2426

Brattegard T, Høisæter T, Sjøtun K, Fenchel T & Uiblein F (2011). Norwegian Fjords: from Natural History to Ecosystem Ecology and beyond. Marine Biology Research 7: 421-424 (editorial note).

Eilertsen M, Norderhaug KM & Sjøtun K (2011). Does the amphipod fauna associated to epiphytes on kelp (Laminaria hyperborea) change with depth? Marine Biology Research 7: 224-234

Bengtsson MM, Sjøtun K, Storesund JE& Øvreås L (2011). Utilization of kelp-derived carbon sources by kelp surface-associated bacteria. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 62: 191-199

Heldal HE & Sjøtun K (2010). Technetium-99 (99Tc) in annual growth segments of knotted wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum). Science of the Total Environment 408: 5575-5582

Lorentsen S-H, Sjøtun K & Grémillet D (2010). Multi-trophic consequences of kelp harvest. Biological Conservation 143: 2054-2062

Bengtsson M, Sjøtun K & Øvreås L (2010). Seasonal dynamics of bacterial biofilms on kelp (Laminaria hyperborea). Aquatic Microbial Ecology 60: 71-83

Coyer J, Hoarau G, Sjøtun K & Olsen JL (2008). Being abundant is not enough: a decrease in effective population size over eight generations in a Norwegian population of the seaweed, Fucus serratus. Biology Letters 4: 755-757

Sjøtun K, Husa V & Peña V (2008). Present distribution and possible vectors of introductions of the alga Heterosiphonia japonica (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) in Europe. Aquatic Invasions 3: 377-394

Husa V, Sjøtun K, Brattenborg N & Lein TE (2008). Changes of macroalgal biodiversity in sublittoral sites in southwest Norway: impact of an introduced species or higher temperature? Marine Biology Research 4: 414-428

Rueness J, Heggøy E, Husa V & Sjøtun K (2007). First report of the Japanese red alga Antithamnion nipponicum (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) in Norway, an invasive species new to northern Europe. Aquatic invasions 2: 431-434 (Short communication).

Sjøtun K, Eggereide SF & Høisæter T (2007). Grazer-controlled recruitment of the introduced Sargassum muticum (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) in northern Europe. Marine Ecology Progress Series 342: 127-138. 

Husa V & Sjøtun K (2006). Vegetative reproduction in "Heterosiphonia japonica" (Dasyaceae, Ceramiales), an introduced red alga on European coasts. Botanica Marina 49: 191-199

Sjøtun K, Christie H & Fosså JH (2006). The combined effect of canopy shading and sea urchin grazing on recruitment in kelp forest (Laminaria hyperborea). Marine Biology Research 2: 24-32. 

Rinde E & Sjøtun K (2005). Demographic variation in the kelp Laminaria hyperborea along a latitudinal gradient. Marine Biology 146: 1051-1062

Husa V, Sjøtun K & Lein TE (2004). The newly introduced species Heterosiphonia japonica Yendo (Dasyaceae, Rhodophyta): geographical distribution and abundance at the Norwegian southwest coast. Sarsia 89: 211-217

Sjøtun K & Schoschina EV (2002). Gametophytic development of Laminaria spp. (Laminariales, Phaeopyceae) at low temperature. Phycologia 41: 147-152

Projects

 

 

The network "Norwegian seaweeds": http://seaweeds.uib.no