Another event-packed One Ocean Week is behind us, and the marine group has participated both on the science fair at Festingskaien as part of the Family day, and with an evening of talks on the exploration of marine life.
April 19th: Family Day
We brough with us several activities that we have created through the MarDivA-project. Most eye-catching and enticing was our (huge!) board game “Fjærelære” (“ShoreLore”?) which is normally only available for teachers to book for their students as part of a museum visit (this was also a popular event during the week, as the activity was offered daily at the museum).
Odette, one of the MarDivA-members from the museum communications department was game master extraordinaire, and did a wonderful job adapting the game on the fly so that everyone who wanted could have a go. We also brought with us our own version of the game “Guess who”. The third activity was an exclusive preview of what we have been developing this year; we have a beautiful drawing of the entire ocean, and various organisms that should be placed where they belong. The drawings here are made by local illustrator Gunvor Rasmussen, who we have hired as part of MarDivA.
Finally, we had a table for colouring pages of a variety of ocean animals, always a popular activity.
Many activities to choose from at our stand at the Family Day!
April 23rd: Evening talks at Litteraturhuset
The University Museum once again invited the public to join us on an evening of exploring marine life as part of One Ocean Week here in Bergen. The event was held at Litteraturhuset, a lovely venue that we filled close to capacity!
Sophie introduced the marine research that is going on at the museum, followed by five 15-minute talks about our study organisms (/favourite critters!).
Event organiser Sophie and the five presenters in action.
The talks and speakers were:
Seaweeds: Foundation Species and Future Ocean Resources (Elena)
Slugs: Extravagance & Drugs in a Nutshell (Manuel)
Amphipoda: From Beach-Hoppers to Deep-Sea Giants (Anne Helene)
Jellyfish vs. Salmon: Coexistence or Collision? (Luis)
Exploring the diversity of moss animals (Bryozoa) in Norway (Katrine)
We ended with a Q&A session with great audience participation.
Q&A session after the talks, with an enthusiastic audience
Thank you so much to all the audience at both events, and for your ocean enthusiasm!
-Katrine
If you would like to know more about the topics we covered in the talks, you can start here:
There are periods when you wait quietly for good news to knock. Then there are those rare, wonderful times when great news shows up in twos. We are excited to announce that the Manet Team at the Department of Natural History has been granted not one, but two new projects: CHANGEZ – Challenging taxa of gelatinous zooplankton, and ODIN – Octocoral diversity in Norway.
Figure 1. New projects funded by Artsdatabanken to the Manet Team at the Department of Natural History. Pictures: Erling Svensen and Joan J. Soto-Angel.
The projects are funded by Artsdatabanken, the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre. As you know, Artsdatabanken projects (aka artsprosjekter) aim to improve knowledge of the diversity and distribution of poorly known groups. This is precisely the case for octocorals, as well as many jellyfish and ctenophores in Norwegian waters. Among others, Artsprosjekter aim to produce new DNA barcodes that will allow for an effective species monitoring.
Octocorals (sea fans, sea pens, and soft corals) are important habitat formers, providing substrate and nursery grounds for many species. They are also important indicators for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. Despite their importance, our knowledge of octocoral true diversity and distribution in Norwegian waters remains scarce. Project ODIN (Project leader: Joan J. Soto-Angel) aims to fill this gap in the knowledge by applying a synergetic combination of imaging and sequencing tools.
The diversity of certain jellies (such as trachylines, siphonophores, coronates and ctenophores (aka comb jellies) in Norwegian waters remains inadequately explored. These gelatinous animals are key predators and ubiquitous members of zooplankton, particularly in oceanic waters. However, their fragile bodies and peculiar genetic makeup make them challenging to sample, identify, and DNA sequence. CHANGEZ (Project leader: Aino Hosia) will use the power of next generation sequencing techniques to unveil their hidden diversity.
Figure 3. A new project on jellies for the Museum, this time focusing on the very challenging ones. CHANGEZ: Challenging Taxa of Gelatinous Zooplankton. Picture: Joan J. Soto-Angel
We are very excited about the years to come, the questions we will be able to answer through these projects, and the prospects for continuing our work on such fascinating groups of marine invertebrates.
As part of the Lower Heterobranchia and Pyramidellidae project funded by Artsdatabanken, an international taxonomic workshop was held at the Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, from 8–12 September 2025. The workshop brought together Dr Bastian Brenzinger from the Bavarian State Collections in Munich, Germany, and Dr Kennet Lundin from the Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Sweden. The event was organized by Prof. Manuel Malaquias (project leader) and Dr. Cessa Rauch (project technician) and included the participation of Jon Kongsrud, collection manager of the invertebrate collections at the University Museum of Bergen.
Workshop participants from left to right: Bastian Brenzinger, Kennet Lundin, Jon Kongsrud, Cessa Rauch, and Manuel Malaquias (Photo: KK, UiB).
Lower heterobranchs and pyramidellids are among the most difficult marine gastropods to collect and identify. Their small shell size (1–3 mm), resemblance, specialized habitats, and the fact that many are ectoparasites of other marine invertebrates, create significant challenges. During a recent field trip to southern Norway, we registered for the first time a species of Brachystomia pyramidellid feeding on the blue mussel Mytilus edulis with its extended proboscis penetrating between the valves and sucking fluids from the bivalve tissue.
Brachystomia pyramidellid feeding on the blue mussel Mytilus edulis
Since the beginning of the project in September 2023, efforts have focused on obtaining new samples suitable for DNA barcoding and documenting living specimens. A major component of the work has also involved the curation of the substantial collection housed at the University Museum of Bergen. Much of this material was originally assembled by Prof. Tore Høisæter during the 1970s, with important later contributions by Per Bie Wikander, particularly from southern Norway, and more recent additions through projects such as MAREANO and Hardbunnsfauna, the latter also funded by Artsdatabanken.
Overview of Norwegian localities from where we have samples of pyramidelids and lower heterobranchs in the Museum’s collections.
In August, we had the opportunity to present our first results at the World Congress of Malacology in São Paulo, Brazil. This presentation focused on a large DNA barcoding dataset comprising 164 sequenced specimens and explored the relationships among shell types, habitats, and body colouration.
Poster presented at the World Congress of Malacology in August, Brazil with our preliminary DNA tree of pyramidelids and lower heterobranchs of Norway (Photo: MB, UiB).
This phylogenetic framework formed the backbone of the workshop’s activities, supporting comparisons with our collections, revisions of previous taxonomic identifications, and the selection of additional material for further DNA sequencing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). One morning of the workshop was dedicated to an SEM session in which we discussed and standardized imaging protocols for capturing detailed views of these minute shells, including protoconchs.
Workshop participants examining SEM images. From left to right: Bastian, Manuel, Irene Heggstad (Lab technician), and Kennet (Photo: CR, UiB).
Among the immediate outcomes of the workshop was the recognition of genera and species new to Norway and potentially new to science—findings that will guide our research in the coming months.
Participants working on the identification of species. Back row: Manuel (left) and Cessa (right). Front row: Jon (left), Kennet (middle), and Bastian (right) (Photo: KK, UiB).
We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants and colleagues whose support made the workshop possible. In particular, we thank our guest scientists, Dr Bastian Brenzinger and Dr Kennet Lundin, for generously sharing their expertise and contributing to a highly productive and enjoyable event.
This research was funded by the Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative, Artsdatabanken Project No. 70184245, grant 13-22 (Diversity of Heterobranchia gastropods in Norway with a focus on poorly known groups and habitats).
While the autumn weather is now knocking furiously on our door, we look back at a warm and sunny fieldwork trip in August; the last of the season before we return to winter and cold.
This time, the team from the “Lower Heterobranch & Pyramidellidae” project headed south to the coastal town of Kragerø, a popular tourist destination in southern Norway. Known as a peaceful escape for Norwegians, the area offers forests, fjords, and islands; and during the summer months, its population quadruples. Edvard Munch fell in love with the place and found peace and inspiration there; he called it “The Pearl of the Coastal Towns” (Perlen blandt kystbyene). But for the snail hunters, there was a very different reason to come here.
“The Pearl of the Coastal Towns,” Kragerø, by sunset. Photo: CR, UiB
Back in 2012, researchers from the environmental organization SABIMA recorded the presence of a very interesting and rare species of bubble snail: Haminoea navicula. The species hasn’t been recorded anywhere in Norway since. On top of that, the species diversity list of Pyramidellidae still had a gap in the South. So, without further ado, we set off to southern Norway.
We brought a wide variety of sampling equipment: snorkel gear, a SUP board to reach more distant areas of the coastline, a hand dredge for sandy beaches, microscopes, and a lot of other lab tools to help us find the tiny snails. On our first day, we immediately went out to the pollen (an enclosed fjord) where Haminoea navicula was found years ago. Using the SUP board for easier access and our snorkel gear, we searched the habitat, which seemed ideal for the species, but unfortunately, we didn’t find any. Since 2012, a lot may have changed: the fjord may have warmed up, or perhaps we weren’t there at the right time of year. Many variables could explain its absence.
On the SUP board in search of Haminoea navicula. Photo: MM, UiBGroup selfie of team snail including furry mascot Max! Photo: MM, UiBMax safeguarding our equipment in the pollen of our fist sampling day. Photo: MM, UiB
Still, we didn’t return to the apartment empty-handed. We collected a lot of material that could potentially contain other lower heterobranch and pyramidellid species.
Trays outside the apartment with collected material. Photo: CR, UiBMax posing in front of the apartment where we stayed for the week. Photo: MM, UiB
Inside the apartment, we converted the dinner table into our workstation, equipped with microscopes and tools.
Manuel working on material, hunting for snails. Photo: CR, UiBCessa entering new findings into the database. Photo: MM, UiB
Over the next few days, we collected organic material from a variety of spots; one of which was, in fact, right next to the apartment!
Manuel snorkelling next to our fieldwork apartment. Photo: CR, UiB
Soon, we began to find our first live specimens of pyramidellids. They were especially numerous on blue mussels.
One of many pyramidellid species found, numerous on blue mussels. Photo: CR & MM, UiB
Later that week, we sampled from several beaches using the hand dredge to collect sand; a common habitat for certain pyramidellid species.
A beautiful location for both sunbathers or biologists looking for sand to dredge! Photo: CR, UiB
Quite a few beachgoers approached us, curious about our work with the dredge. One person even helped us haul it back to shore (despite being called a “hand dredge,” it’s not exactly single-hand operational; it can get quite heavy with all the accumulated sand).
Another promising habitat type is found in areas with strong currents, such as narrow channels between fjords. When the tide shifts and large volumes of water pass through, these areas become ideal for sessile filter feeders like calcareous worms and mussels, which pyramidellids feed on.
Narrow channel with strong current; a good indicator of snail diversityCessa snorkelling with dive flag due to boat traffic. Photos: MM, UiBRubble overgrown with coralline algae (red) and serpulid worms (round structures), often home to pyramidellid snails. Photo: CR & MM, UiB
The Final Chapter: Jomfruland National Park The final part of our southern Norway excursion took us to Jomfruland National Park, a long, narrow island reachable by a one-hour ferry. The island is protected, and while cars aren’t banned, their use is discouraged (no paved roads and high ferry fees).
Our car might have been the only one on Jomfruland that day! Photo: CR, UiB
The marine diversity around the island was rich; a clear sign of effective protection. We observed many large fish and numerous tiny pyramidellids feasting on extensive mussel beds covering the rocks.
Back at the apartment, using our microscopes, we even managed to document some pyramidellids feeding on mussel tissue, a rare moment captured on camera!
A rare moment: pyramidellid snails predating on blue mussels, using their long proboscis to feed on the tissue. Photo: CR & MM, UiB
In total, we managed to visit and collect material from 10 different stations in and around Kragerø. We found 18 different species of (lower) heterobranchs and pyramidellids, and possibly a new species for Norway!
10 different sampling stations in and around Kragerø, Google Maps).
But that exciting discovery will have to wait for its very own blog post…
-Cessa, Manuel & Max Image credits: CR= Cessa Rauch, MM= Manuel Malaquias
In a world full of administrative duties, unanswered emails, scary deadlines and project reports, immersing ourselves in a room full of samples of our favourite animals for an entire week is certainly therapeutic. And what a better way to do this than surrounded by colleagues and friends you admire; partners-in-crime with whom to play detective, solving challenging cases about species’ true identity.
Figure 1. Organized chaos at the Kurssal (course room in Norwegian) at the Museum. Several hundred samples of Arctic hydrozoans took over the room, and left us with just the right amount of space to set up our microscopes. Identification work in 3, 2, 1… go! Pictures: Joan J. Soto-Angel, Luis Martell.
The latest NOAH Workshop on Arctic hydrozoans focused on a vast collection of samples obtained during several MAREANO surveys by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR). As hosts, it was a joy to organize and implement an event like this. The workshop participants represented all career stages (from MSc to consolidated professors), five different nationalities and four different institutions, including University of Vigo (Spain), IMR (Norway) and University of Gothenburg (Sweden), in addition to ourselves at UMB. We inventoried over 400 samples. Indeed, we surpassed NOAH sample number 1200! Yaay! Of those, a set of 95 tissue samples are now on their way to the sequencing facility at the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, as part of our agreement with the Norwegian Barcode of Life (NorBOL, BOLD). Despite (or perhaps thanks to) having very long days of nearly 10.5 hours of work, we had a very rewarding and productive week, instrumental to define our next efforts on species delimitation in Arctic Hydrozoa. It was really wonderful seeing people with different backgrounds, expertise and skills joining efforts to put some order in the messy hydrozoan systematics. We leave you with some impressions from each of the workshop participants. Thank you ALL for joining us!
From Marta Gil, Senior Engineer, Institute of Marine Research:
This was another incredible week collaborating with NOAH project, surrounded by hydroids and close friends! Despite being an intense week, I had so much fun in the lab checking samples, taking photos, chatting with Doris about athecate hydroids, discussing our identifications, and realizing that the new data and records we are generating will certainly shape our upcoming research efforts for the years to come. What I enjoyed the most was matching identifications made in the laboratory with the available molecular evidence. It’s very exciting to see how everything fits together. It’s like doing a puzzle!
I’m pleased that Mareano (IMR) supported and encouraged my participation in this workshop and that IMR is actively contributing with physical samples, some of which will be used to generate the first DNA barcodes for a bunch of species without prior molecular data. Collaboration between projects and institutions while sharing expertise and skills is essential: NOAH is a good example of how joining efforts is not only more efficient and productive, but also funnier and motivating. It will be exciting to see the results obtained altogether during the project (including “resurrecting” some species that were pooled as synonyms of supposedly largely distributed species). Stay tuned for updates!
Figure 2. Marta Gil is a passionate taxonomist with a huge expertise in benthic hydrozoan taxonomy. Her contribution to the workshop in particular, and to NOAH in general, have been a great asset to the project. She identified and recorded sample number 1200! Her happy face says it all. Pictures: Joan J. Soto-Angel, Marta Gil and Doris Björling.
From Doris Björling, PhD student, University of Gothenburg
I’m a PhD student in the project HYDROINS (Hydrozoa In Sweden) looking into the diversity of Anthoathecata in Swedish and adjacent waters. With limited resources, the opportunity to explore arctic samples from NOAH, the diverse collection of NorHydro and other samples from the Manet Team collection at the University Museum of Bergen is priceless. During the workshop I’ve gotten access to samples that feed into and expand several of my upcoming projects. While representatives from at least seven anthoathecate families were examined, my main focus has been family Tubulariidae. HYDROINS and NOAH are making a collaborative effort to explore and describe this family in our waters, including the large charismatic species Tubularia regalis in the Arctic.
Figure 3. Over the course of her PhD, Doris has become one of the few European experts in Anthoathecata. Through project HYDROINS (Swedish Species Information Centre, Artdatabanken), she is unveiling the diversity of this poorly studied but extremely diverse group. Pictures: Joan J. Soto-Angel and Doris Björling.
From Praveen Raj, PhD student, University Museum of Bergen
I had a fantastic time at the NOAH workshop coordinated by Joan and Luis. During the week, I helped organizing the NOAH hydrozoan collection: over 1200 samples of benthic hydroids, hydromedusae and siphonophores that has been collected and/or examined over the past 2.5 years. In addition, I also gave a hand photographing larger specimens that would not fit under the microscope. I thoroughly enjoyed these two tasks I was entrusted with. The photography part was especially rewarding, as Joan shared his macro photography tips, which greatly improved my skills. Meeting passionate researchers working on hydrozoan diversity and being part of this vibrant hydrozoan community at the University Museum of Bergen is truly inspiring.
From Lea Dober, Staff Engineer, University Museum of Bergen
In my first week as technician at the University Museum, I was introduced to hydrozoans; quite different to my usual chaetognath suspects I have been working with during my Master thesis. Although hydrozoans are small and delicate creatures, they sure take up a large space in the museums’ collection! So that week we faced one big challenge: Sorting and organizing the entire NOAH hydrozoan collection. Quite some work, but the spirits and motivation were high – how could it be any different with the lovely company of experts from Spain, Mexico and Sweden which were super focused and busy with identifying the most difficult hydrozoans. Not even the call for lunch could lure them away from their microscopes! In the end we managed to sort everything and were rewarded with delicious food and the knowledge that we moved multiple steps further with the NOAH project in only one (intense) week.
Figure 4. During the workshop, Praveen and Lea helped organizing in a more efficient way the entire NOAH collection. Now the samples are easily findable and accessible. Praveen also took care of the largest specimens in the collection, documenting them through macro photography. Thank you both very much for all your hard work! Pictures: Joan J. Soto-Angel and Praveen Raj.
From Fran Ramil and Jose Ansín Agís, Professor and Researcher (resp.), University of Vigo.
Figure 5. Fran and Jose brought their extensive expertise on Macrocolonia to the workshop. They are very good at finding the most subtle details that even experienced observers would easily overlook. Thanks to them, we now have a better overview on certain relevant families such as Haleciidae and Aglaopheniidae. They are not only very good at what they do, but also kind-hearted, always willing to share their immense knowledge. It’s been fantastic to have you both at UiB! Pictures: Joan J. Soto-Angel.
The traditional taxonomy, based on morphological features, together with molecular approaches for hydroid identification posed an exciting challenge during the workshop, mainly within controversial taxa, like Haleciids, Aglaopheniids and “Anthoathecata”. The preliminary results are very promising and may lead to new advances in hydroid taxonomy.
Thanks Joan, thanks Luis for inviting us and organizing such a productive and wonderful meeting. Great work!
Figure 6. Group picture just before celebrating a successful workshop. What a better way to end a fantastic week full of hydroids and friends than a cake especially made for the occasion by our very own Vincent. But the question is: Is it a Tubulariidae or Corymorphiidae? What do you think? Pictures: Unidentified, kind citizen in Bergen and Joan J. Soto-Angel. Cake by Vincent McDaniel.
In addition to the activities during the family day on Sunday 6th within the context of One Ocean Week 2025, we had a behind-the-scenes special session at Litteraturhuset called “Exploring marine life”, where some of us at the Invertebrate Collections shared our recent field trips and research activities, and the cool creatures we encounter when we venture into the wild ocean.
First, Aino opened the event and showed that the Museum not only have fantastic exhibitions, but also passionate and talented researchers that keep producing new biodiversity knowledge at worldwide scale.
Aino opening the session “Exploring marine life” at the One Ocean Week 2025 in Bergen. Picture credit: Alexandre Jan and Joan J. Soto-Angel
This year’s lecturers, Sophie, Joan, Nataliya and Praveen introducing how we at the Museum explore and study biodiversity. Picture credit for the next 4 photos: Alexandre Jan and Sophie Steinhagen
Sophie was the first speaker to open the lectures. She guided us on the importance of macro and microalgae for basic and applied research, and how fundamental it is at many levels to be able to tell species apart.
Sophie and the talk “From green waves to green farms”
Joan invited us to join him on a trip to the remote polar regions. He shared some of the highlights he found while chasing rare polyps and jellyfish. He also explained the challenges associated with working in extreme environments, how crucial jellyfish are for the normal functioning of marine ecosystems, and the little we know about most of them.
Joan and “Hunting jellyfish at the edge of the world”
Nataliya shared outstandingly beautiful pictures of the commonly misunderstood worms. She illuminated everyone in the audience with the great variety of shapes, colors and life strategies that worms come in. From intertidal animals to deep sea inhabitants, she gave many examples on how unearthly their ways of surviving and thriving can be.
Nataliya and her talk “Why do we need to study marine worms?”
Praveen closed the session with a comprehensive talk on jellyfish diversity in Norway, focusing on the work he is doing as part of his PhD with the poorly known but mesmerizing siphonophores and the vastly unexplored Norwegian Sea.
Praveen presenting the talk “Beware the Beauty: Norway’s Stunning and Stinging Jellyfish”
The lectures constituted an opportunity for everyone in Bergen to take a closer look at our work at the Invertebrate Collections, and we genuinely enjoyed sharing our favourite creatures with a crowd avid to know more about natural wonders. We are already looking forward to One Ocean Week 2026!
-Joan
You can read about our participation on Family Day during One Ocean Week here:
The three-masted barque Statsraad Lehmkuhl, decked out for a week of ocean festivities. Photo: Katrine Kongshavn
The “Ocean City Bergen” was especially ocean-themed between April 5th to 11th during the annual One Ocean Week.
One Ocean Week – held every April – features more than 150 events, stretching from conferences, summits and meetings to family experiences and cultural activities.
The marine group of the Natural History Department wanted in on the fun this year as well*, and signed up to run two activities:
🎪🧪🔬a big stand at the outdoor science fair on Family Day, and
✨🪼🪱💚 an evening event with a series of short popular science talks in the Literature House on April 9th.
Going chronologically, we start with a post about the FAMILY DAY, which took place on Festningskaien on Sunday April 6th.
Photos: Joan J. Soto-Angel (UiB), Katrine Kongshavn (UiB), Ross Robertson (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama)
We brought five activities:
Jellyfish doctor 🪼🩺
Bipolar animals 🐧🗺️🐻❄️
A homemade marine edition of the “Guess Who?” game 😶🌫️
Micro-snails and coloring plates 🐌🎨🖍️
A game of trying to “Guess the baby” belonging to various marine animals based on their baby pictures. 👶->😊 🐛->🦀
Images of the five different activities: a) Guess Who? b) Guess the baby, c) Bipolar animals, d) jellyfish doctor e) colouring of microgastropoda (Photos: Katrine Kongshavn, Praveen Raj)
It is so, so impressive to see how quickly kids grasp the different concepts, and how much they know already!
Even so, there’s always something new to learn – and it’s really fun to get to be the one to teach someone something cool about what lives in the sea!
We had a steady stream of kids – and adults! – wanting to test out the various activities, and the hours flew by!
A lot of thought (and crafting!) has gone into the activities to make them both fun and educational, so it was great to see that they were popular! Photos: Nataliya Budaeva, Katrine Kongshavn, Vincent McDaniel
Thank you so much both to our wonderful team of students and staff that made and ran the activities, and all the visitors!
-Katrine
Our other event, “Exploring marine life”, gets a post to itself, you can find it here:
From the 13th to 20th of October, we were on fieldwork again! This time the end destination was Sletvik field station. Sletvik field station belongs to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim (NTNU). The team of NorDigBryo (digitization of Norwegian Bryozoa) had organized a workshop there and team snail was invited to tag along for the opportunity to collect some snails around the area. So there the three of us traveled from Bergen up North; Jon and Katrine for the Bryozoan workshop and me for the Lower Heterobranchia and Pyramidellidae project.
The travel from Bergen to Trondheim takes more than 10 hours! For such a long travel we of course needed to take several breaks throughout the day. But with a bunch of biologists on the way it was very difficult to not sample during those stops whenever we had the opportunity (1).
1. Sampling on our way, together with Jon & Katrine visiting several harbors. Photo: Cessa Rauch, UiB.
After a very long day, we finally arrived at our end destination; Sletvik field station. This would be our home for the coming week. The station has great facilities with different laboratories, a cantina with 3 meals a day being served by the kitchen staff and sleeping facilities. There is space for up to 40 students, so with just 10 of us we had a ton of space (2).
2. The Sletvik field station from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim (NTNU). Photo: Cessa Rauch, UiB.
The Sletvik field station is located on the small peninsula called Slettvik; surrounded by mostly water makes it an excellent location for marine related fieldwork. Despite the relatively small size of the peninsula, it has a surprising number of different habitats; there are seagrass meadows, sea bottoms covered in encrusting coralline algae and due to strong tidal currents, a very vibrant and diverse marine life (3).
3. Sampling from land…or in the water! From different marine habitats! Photos: Cessa Rauch, UiB.
Therefore, we used several days that week to collect fresh material from around the area: by using nets or hands either from land or while in the water snorkeling (4).
4. Snorkeling for samples in strong tidal current right under the little bridge, with Jon and Cessa. Photo Katrine Kongshavn, UiB.
The strong tidal currents are what a lot of the Pyramidellid species absolutely love! Not the least because it attracts high diversity of their hosts that they parasite on (5). Places with lot of current have large influx of nutrients and are well oxygenated which often results in high diversity, such as the well-known Saltstraumen area in Nordland. Therefore, it was easy to collect them as the snails were so abundant.
5. Hard to spot the small snails, here Odostomia turrita (blue circle) crawling away from its host Serpullid worm (white with blue fringes). Photo: Cessa Rauch, UiB.
But it became clear quickly that a few species were quite dominant. The four most common Pyramidellid species in the shallow tidal currents around Sletvik were Odostomia turrita; Brachystomia scalaris; Spiralina spiralis and Parthenina intersincta (6). Although Pyramidellidae snails are often very difficult to identify, these fours exhibited very typical characteristics which made it somewhat easy to name them to species level (7).
6. 4 of the most common species found in Sletvik: Left up; Odostomia turrita, left down; Brachystomia scalaris, right up; Spiralina spiralis, right down; Parthenina intersincta. Photo: Cessa Rauch, UiB
7. Doodles of the most recognizable characters of different common species in Sletvik. Photo: Cessa Rauch, UiB.
However, we still will extract DNA from these animals to confirm species, as it still can happen that we are having snails that are very similar and might have been misidentified in the field. That is why it is important to fix the collected snails in ethanol, so the tissue and DNA in it stays preserved. All collected material will then go back to the University Museum of Bergen to be further used for microscopy, morphological analysis, DNA extractions and eventually become part of the collection of the museum.
After one week, with hours of sorting through collected material, we managed to collect and identify 15 different species; the most so far of any fieldwork so we can say that Sletvik is truly a snail heaven!
Don’t miss out in the coming exhibition at the University Museum! Jellyfish unveiled will be open 4.-30. October
at Muséplassen 3 in Bergen (link)
Feared and misunderstood, jellyfish are often dismissed as little more than ocean pests. Over 100 species of jellies live in Norwegian waters, but most people are unaware of the delicate balance they bring to marine ecosystems. Which roles do they play? Why should we care about them?
The exhibition Jellyfish unveiled, created by the “Manet Team” at the Department of Natural History and the Michael Sars Centre at the University of Bergen, invites you to explore new perspectives on jellyfish and the impact they have on the ocean. Changing the way we think about jellyfish can be challenging, but these images offer a unique glimpse into the positive aspects of their lives and the crucial contribution they make to our waters.
