Live animal facilities
The live animal facilities are a unique research resource where scientists can study and experiment with living organisms under controlled conditions. The facilities enable groundbreaking marine and aquatic research, giving the research communities in Bergen a distinct national and international advantage.
About
The live animal laboratories at the Department of Biological Sciences comprise several units:
- Bio-block Live Animal Unit
- Salmon Louse Lab
- Zebrafish Facility
- A-block Live Animal Unit, including a plankton lab, algae lab, and guppy lab
In addition, UiB has access to a large wet lab area in the Industrial Laboratory (ILAB). Collectively, the live animal laboratories offer excellent opportunities for experimental research in marine and aquatic biology. Most of the laboratories are new or have recently been upgraded.
Co-location with strong research communities
The facilities at Marineholmen are a vital resource for the marine research communities in Bergen. Co-location with other strong research groups fosters collaboration and makes the laboratories highly attractive on both a national and international level. We also collaborate with the Industrial Laboratory Foundation (ILAB).
Fasiliteter og forskningsmuligheter i Levendelaboratoriene
Technical facilities and environmental control
- Controlled environmental conditions: 2–30°C and 0–35 ppt salinity
- Programmable feeding and lighting systems (diurnal and seasonal control)
- Centralized reverse osmosis water supply
Access to CO₂, O₂, and compressed air
- Over 30 climate-controlled rooms with individual experimental conditions
Infrastructure and operations
- Technical infrastructure featuring alarm systems, emergency standby personnel, and automated data logging and monitoring
- Experimental units ranging from small beakers to fish tanks of up to 7,000 liters
- Fish experimental facilities with tanks ranging from 160 to 7,000 liters
- Wastewater disinfection for specific areas (approved for experiments involving non-native species)
Specialized facilities
- Containment facilities for work with fish pathogens (ILAB)
- Specialized laboratories for work with radioactive isotopes and environmental contaminants
- Laboratories with specialized equipment, such as a vertical simulator and a pelagic simulator
Organisms and experimental models
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Dedicated laboratories housing multi-generational populations of sea lice, zebrafish, and guppies
GMO authorization for experiments involving zebrafish, medaka, and sea lice
- Specialized larval facility for marine larvae experiments and fry production based on natural plankton
- Climate-controlled rooms for algae production and the cultivation/enrichment of plankton organisms (e.g., rotifers and *Artemia*)
Authorizations
All units are approved by the Norwegian Animal Research Authority for experiments involving fish, decapod crustaceans, and cephalopods
People
Kontaktpersoner
Frank Midtøy Senior Engineer
Heikki Juhani Savolainen Senior Engineer