I am a marine evolutionary ecologist with research interests in global change ecology, biological oceanography, and sustainable fisheries. I combine theory and modeling with observations and field experiments to understand how ecological systems function. To predict how these complex systems will respond to a rapidly changing world, we need to uncover the underlying mechanisms that drive them. My research focuses on building this understanding and developing stronger tools for ecological prediction.

For further details and a list of publications, please visit my profile on our group website or my Google Scholar page.

For information on my teaching, please refer to: https://bio.uib.no/te/tl/teaching.php 

 

 

Conference lecture

• Tom Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Øyvind Fiksen et al. (2023). Insights from mechanistic models: understanding causes and consequences of mesopelagic diel vertical migration across latitudes. (external link)
• Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Tom Langbehn et al. (2023). Rethinking fisheries in the sustainability crisis - the role of small pelagics. (external link)
• Markus Majaneva; Martta Viljanen; Stephen Denis Grant et al. (2024). Illuminating zooplankton diel vertical migration with eDNA metabarcoding in the polar night. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe (2018). Sea-ice loss boosts visual search: fish foraging and changing pelagic interactions in polar oceans. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øyvind Fiksen; Christian Jørgensen (2018). The deadly midnight sun: Visual predators and northern range limits in mesopelagic fish. (external link)
• Tom Jasper Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Christian Jørgensen (2021). Light and energetics at seasonal extremes limit poleward range shifts. (external link)
• Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Tom Langbehn et al. (2025). Spatial restrictions inadvertently doubled the carbon footprint of Norway’s mackerel fishing fleet. (external link)
• Emlyn John Davies; Maxime Geoffroy; Malin Hildegard Elisabeth Daase et al. (2023). Combining acoustics and in-situ particle imaging for improved measurements of zooplankton classification and abundance. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Christian Jørgensen; Øyvind Fiksen et al. (2019). From light, to vision, to species distribution. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2022). The Arctic lightscape and its role in pelagic interactions and species distributions. (external link)
• Maxime Geoffroy; Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe et al. (2021). In situ experiments reveal behavioral response of marine fish and zooplankton when exposed to artificial light during the Arctic polar night. (external link)
• Maxime Geoffroy; Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe et al. (2021). Behavioral response of marine fish and zooplankton exposed to artificial light during acoustic surveys.. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Andeol Bourgouin; Katja Susanna Enberg et al. (2024). How the the Greater Argentine concentrates the flow of food from the deep ocean.. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Dag Lorents Aksnes; Stein Kaartvedt et al. (2019). Light and the ecology of mesopelagic fish at high latitudes. (external link)
• Tom Jasper Langbehn (2021). From light, to vision, to species distribution - Developing a mechanistic understanding of species (re-)distributions beyond temperature. (external link)
• Tom Jasper Langbehn (2021). From light, to vision, to species distribution - Developing a mechanistic understanding of species (re-)distributions beyond temperature. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Øyvind Fiksen et al. (2023). Model evidence for photic barriers to poleward range shifts. (external link)
• Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Tom Langbehn; Christian Jørgensen (2023). Bergman patterns in a warming ocean, their mechanistic basis, and implications for projecting responses to climate change. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2024). Light as a key top-down driver in marine ecology. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Maxime Geoffroy; Malin Hildegard Elisabeth Daase et al. (2022). Responses of pelagic organisms to artificial light from a lit vessel. (external link)
• Christian Jørgensen; Tom Langbehn (2024). Pace-of-life along slope communities. (external link)
• Tom Jasper Langbehn; Johanna Myrseth Aarflot; Øystein Heggernes Varpe (2021). The pelagic riskscape and consequences for zooplankton size along gradients of light and sea-ice in the Barents Sea. (external link)
• Tom Jasper Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Christian Jørgensen (2021). Equatorwards shifts of marine fishes under climate change: a rule rather than exception?. (external link)
• Anders Martin Frugård Opdal; Christian Jørgensen; Lise Doksæter Sivle et al. (2025). Seasonal dynamics in ocean temperatures can give false impression of thermal bottleneck for spawning fish. (external link)
• Markus Majaneva; Martta Viljanen; Stephen Denis Grant et al. (2024). Illuminating zooplankton diel vertical migration with eDNA metabarcoding in the polar night. (external link)
• Tom Jasper Langbehn; Andeol Bourgouin; Katja Enberg et al. (2020). Exploring the emergent niche of Greater argentine (Argentina silus) along gradients of topography, light and advection. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Johanna Myrseth Aarflot; Øystein Varpe et al. (2022). Visual predation risk and spatial distribution of large Arctic copepods along gradients sea ice and bottom depth. (external link)
• Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Katja Susanna Enberg; Gjert Endre Dingsør et al. (2023). Trends in CO2 efficiency in North Atlantic fisheries. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe (2019). Sea-ice loss boosts visual search: fish foraging and changing pelagic interactions in polar oceans.. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2024). The ecological mechanics of light and life in the open ocean​. (external link)
• Muriel Barbara Dunn; Maxime Geoffroy; Malin Hildegard Elisabeth Daase et al. (2023). Model-informed classification of broadband acoustic backscattering from zooplankton in an in situ mesocosm. (external link)
• Muriel Barbara Dunn; Geir Pedersen; Maxime Geoffroy et al. (2023). Discrimination of target strength spectra from three coinciding Arctic species (Boreogadus saida, Gadus morhua, Pandalus borealis). (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2024). Light as a key top-down driver in marine ecology. (external link)
• Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Tom Langbehn et al. (2024). The pelagic species and carbon footprints: Consequences from quota agreements. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2021). Combining models and observations. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Dag Lorents Aksnes; Stein Kaartvedt et al. (2019). Poleward distribution of mesopelagic fish is constrained by seasonality in light. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström et al. (2023). Spatial restrictions inadvertently doubled the carbon footprint of Norway’s mackerel fishing fleet. (external link)
• Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Tom Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström et al. (2024). Fish for feed or food?. (external link)
• Maxime Geoffroy; Tom Langbehn; David McKee et al. (2023). Pelagic organisms avoid artificial light from scientific instruments. (external link)
• Muriel Barbara Dunn; Maxime Geoffroy; Geir Pedersen et al. (2023). Target spectra discrimination of three Arctic species. (external link)
• Maxime Geoffroy; Tom Langbehn; David Mckee et al. (2023). Pelagic organisms avoid white, blue, green, and red artificial light from scientific instruments. (external link)
• Anders Martin Frugård Opdal; Christian Jørgensen; Lise Doksæter Sivle et al. (2024). Seasonal dynamics in ocean temperatures can give false impression of thermal bottleneck for spawning fish. (external link)
• Katja Susanna Enberg; Christian Jørgensen; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström et al. (2023). How can fisheries contribute more to a sustainable future?. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe (2015). Photoperiodic implications on range expansion in polar marine ecosystems. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Dag Lorents Aksnes; Stein Kaartvedt et al. (2019). Poleward distribution of mesopelagic fish is constrained by seasonality in light. (external link)

Academic article

• Nadja Meister; Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe et al. (2023). Blue mussels in western Norway have vanished where in reach of crawling predators. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe (2017). Sea-ice loss boosts visual search: fish foraging and changing pelagic interactions in polar oceans. (external link)
• W.E. Butler; L. Gudmundsdottir; K. Logemann et al. (2020). Egg size and density estimates for three gadoids in Icelandic waters and their implications for the vertical distribution of eggs along a stratified water column. (external link)
• Muriel Barbara Dunn; Geir Pedersen; Malin Daase et al. (2025). Broadband acoustic classification of Atlantic cod, polar cod, and northern shrimp in in situ mesocosm experiments. (external link)
• Maxime Geoffroy; Jørgen Berge; Sanna Kristiina Majaneva et al. (2018). Increased occurrence of the jellyfish Periphylla periphylla in the European high Arctic. (external link)
• Daniel Ottmann; Tom Langbehn; Patricia Reglero et al. (2023). Model of mesopelagic fish predation on eggs and larvae shows benefits of tuna spawning under full moon. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Johanna Myrseth Aarflot; Jennifer J. Freer et al. (2023). Visual predation risk and spatial distributions of large Arctic copepods along gradients of sea ice and bottom depth. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Dag Lorents Aksnes; Stein Kaartvedt et al. (2021). Poleward distribution of mesopelagic fishes is constrained by seasonality in light. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Dag Lorents Aksnes; Stein Kaartvedt et al. (2019). Light comfort zone in a mesopelagic fish emerges from adaptive behaviour along a latitudinal gradient. (external link)
• Maxime Geoffroy; Tom Jasper Langbehn; Pierre Priou et al. (2021). Pelagic organisms avoid white, blue, and red artificial light from scientific instruments. (external link)
• Muriel Dunn; Chelsey McGowan-Yallop; Geir Pedersen et al. (2023). Model-informed classification of broadband acoustic backscatter from zooplankton in an in situ mesocosm. (external link)
• Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Tom Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström et al. (2024). Spatial restrictions inadvertently doubled the carbon footprint of Norway's mackerel fishing fleet. (external link)
• Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Tom Langbehn; Christian Jørgensen (2023). Bergmann patterns in planktivorous fishes: A light-size or zooplankton community-size rule is just as valid explanation as the temperature-size rule. (external link)
• Camilla Sguotti; Saskia A Otto; Romain Frelat et al. (2019). Catastrophic dynamics limit Atlantic cod recovery. (external link)
• Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Tom Jasper Langbehn; Christian Jørgensen (2021). Light and energetics at seasonal extremes limit poleward range shifts. (external link)
• Maria Quintela; Gaute Wilhelmsen Seljestad; Geir Dahle et al. (2024). Scrutinizing the current management units of the greater argentine in the light of genetic structure. (external link)
• Stein Kaartvedt; Tom Langbehn; Dag Lorents Aksnes (2019). Enlightening the ocean’s twilight zone. (external link)
• Henrike Andresen; Leandro Nolé Eduardo; M. Pilar Olivar et al. (2024). Mesopelagic Fish Traits: Functions and Trade-Offs. (external link)

Conference poster

• Tom Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Dag Lorents Aksnes et al. (2017). Increasing marine food production through ecolabeling. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Johanna Myrseth Aarflot; Øystein Varpe (2019). Sea-ice loss is bad news for large copepods. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Jannes Landschoff (2012). Live fast, die young - what do changes in age structure tell us about the management of cod stocks. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe (2015). Visual search as a trait: consequences of sea ice change in high latitude oceans. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe (2016). Photoperiodic implications on visual foraging in polar marine ecosystems. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2017). Limits to northwards range shifts of fish stocks under climate warming - a fish can't eat food it can't find. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe (2017). Photoperiodic implications on visual foraging in polar marine ecosystems. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Øyvind Fiksen et al. (2017). Introducing a new hypothesis: Southward shifts of species distributions under climate change?. (external link)
• Tom Jasper Langbehn; Katja Enberg; Christian Jørgensen (2020). Exploring the emergent niche of Greater argentine (Argentina silus) along gradients of topography, light and advection. (external link)
• Christian Jørgensen; Tom Jasper Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström et al. (2023). Blue food, green food, and the nature crisis. (external link)
• Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Tom Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström et al. (2023). Unintended climate consequences of fishery management breakdown. (external link)
• Tom Jasper Langbehn; Andeol Bourgouin; Katja Enberg et al. (2021). Exploring the emergent niche of Greater silver smelt (Argentina silus) along gradients of topography, light and advection. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Dag Lorents Aksnes; Stein Kaartvedt et al. (2019). Poleward distribution of mesopelagic fish is constrained by seasonality in light. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Øystein Varpe (2016). Photoperiodic implications on visual foraging in polar marine ecosystems. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2016). Seasonal seas- limits to northward range shifts of marine organisms under climate warming. (external link)

Lecture

• Gjert Endre Dingsør; Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström et al. (2023). Brexit doblet karbonfotavtrykket til Norges makrellfiskeflåte. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2017). Hunger games: can seasonality in light constrain northward range shifts. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2024). Panel debate on Seafloor mining. (external link)
• Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Katja Susanna Enberg; Tom Langbehn et al. (2023). Small fish - The world’s most CO2 efficient animal protein source?. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2017). Abundance and productivity of mesopelagic fish. (external link)
• Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström; Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Tom Langbehn et al. (2024). Landinger i pelagisk fiskeri – til mel/olje eller til konsum?. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström (2024). Bærekraftig mat fra havet. (external link)
• Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Katja Susanna Enberg; Christian Jørgensen et al. (2022). How can fisheries contribute more to a sustainable future?. (external link)
• Kim Josefin Niklasdotter Scherrer; Tom Langbehn; Christian Jørgensen (2022). Mer mat med mindre påvirkning – kan pelagiske fiskerier bidra mer til bærekraftig matproduksjon?. (external link)
• Johanna Myrseth Aarflot; Tom Langbehn (2024). Light, darkness and the ocean ecosystem. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn (2023). Visual Storytelling. (external link)
• Muriel Barbara Dunn; Chelsey McGowan-Yallop; Geir Pedersen et al. (2023). Model-informed classification of broadband acoustic backscattering from zooplankton in an in situ mesocosm. (external link)
• Tom Langbehn; Christian Jørgensen; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström et al. (2019). Can a food systems approach redefine ecosystem-based fisheries management?. (external link)

Media interview

• Leirvåg Asbjørn; Tom Jasper Langbehn; Anna Jeja Gabriella Ljungström (2021). Årstidene begrenser artsutbredelser i havet. (external link)

Academic literature review

• P J Woods; J I Macdonald; H Bárðarson et al. (2021). A review of adaptation options in fisheries management to support resilience and transition under socio-ecological change. (external link)

Doctoral thesis (PhD)

• Tom Langbehn; Christian Jørgensen; Øyvind Fiksen et al. (2019). Light and visual foraging in the pelagic: Opportunities and constraints along gradients of seasonality. (external link)

Master’s thesis

• Astrid Holtan Fredriksen; Christian Jørgensen; Eva García-Seoane et al. (2021). Trophic structure of mesopelagic species in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean based on stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

I am currently leading the following project: https://bio.uib.no/te/research/advection/