Labs and facilities

Photo: Marko T Wramén

These pages provide an overview of our laboratories and the equipment available at the centre. You can also find lab rules, a link to the chemical management system and instructions regarding risk assessment of lab work.

Labs and instruments

  • Microbiology lab suited for with risk class 2 microbes.
  • Radiation lab equipped with a liquid scintillation counter.
  • Particle counter.
  • Automatic alkalinity titration device (contact Sam Dupont).
  • Inverted and upright light microscopes and stereo microscopes for courses.
  • UV-VIS spectrophotometer and plate reader.
  • Advanced microscopes with cameras (inverted fluorescence microscope with micromanipulator, motorized light- and stereo microscopes with and without fluorescence).
  • Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) with Raman detector (contact Martin Hassellöv).
  • FTIR microscope (contact Martin Hassellöv).
  • Portable CTD.
  • Turner fluorometer.
  • Nutrient analyzer Quaatro.
  • Clean room and lab suited for work with trace metal analysis
  • Basic multi-purpose course-labs.

If you have any questions, please contact

Lars Ljungqvist
Research engineer
Mobile: 070-319 16 45
lars.ljungqvist@polar.se

Thermoregulated rooms and intake halls

At Kristineberg you may work in so-called thermoregulated rooms: rooms where air and/or water temperature can be manipulated.

We have six thermoregulated rooms where you can control both water and air temperature, floor areas 15-37 m2. Some of them have lighting fixtures for regulation of circadian rhythms. Two additional thermoregulated rooms exist, where only air can be regulated.

There are also two intake halls where field samples can be handled and stored in deep or surface water.

If you have questions about the thermostatic rooms and intake halls, please contact:

Andreas Ljung
Technician
Mobile: 070-326 77 51
andreas.ljung@polar.se

Sea water systems

Through-flowing filtered sea water is one of our most important facilities. We have deep water, with relatively high and stable salinity, and surface water, in which both salinity and temperature varies. Thanks to water reservoir and alarm to caretaker, the sea water systems are quite reliable.

Deep water

The deep water intake is at 32 metre depth. It is pumped up through the Main Building to a water reservoir on the third floor. The water is flowing through four serie-connected tanks, where sediment and large particles sinks. From the last tank, the water flows down through the building to the laboratories. In the thermoregulated rooms there are screen filters in the taps. In other labs, water is unfiltered.

Surface water

The surface water intake is at 7 metres depth. This water is usually available in the laboratory from April to November. The water is pumped to the water reservoir on third floor of the Main Building. From here it flows through tanks and down into the laboratories.

Salinity and temperature

For both deep and surface water entering the Kristineberg Main Building, salinity and temperature are continuously measured. It can be seen on the Water and weather data web page.

Compiled measurement results from 2007-2013 and 2016-2018 can be found here

If you have questions about the seawater system, please contact:

Benny Fredriksson
Facilities caretaker
Mobile: 072-217 75 59
benny.fredriksson@akademiskahus.se

Wave lab

The wave mesocosm laboratory at Kristineberg makes it possible to test how different type of waves affect plants and animals. See our researcher Eduardo Infantes explain how it works in the video below.

If you have questions about the wave laboratory, please contact:

Eduardo Infantes
Researcher
Mobile: 076-622 95 67
eduardo.infantes@bioenv.gu.se

Sedimentology and seafloor robot lab

The Experimental Sedimentology and Seafloor Robot Laboratory is a stand-alone, 150 m2 building equipped to facilitate physical experiments to study particle dynamics in marine environments. The lab is located next to the Gullmarsfjord with access to filtered surface and deep water. 

If you have questions about sedimentology and seabed robots, please contact:

Laurenz Thomasen
Professor
Phone: 031-786 30 10
laurenz.thomsen@gu.se

Nutrient Analysis

Kristineberg Centre is accredited by SWEDAC to analyse nutrients (PO4, NH4, NO3, NO2, SiO2) in seawater samples. We accept samples from both partners and external customers.

Photo: Marko T Wramén

If you have questions about nutrient analysis, please contact:

Rebecca Vidin
Research Engineer
Mobil: 070-319 74 68
rebecca.vidin@polar.se

Research on animals

We can assist you both before your arrival and during your stay with the collection of certain species and other materials, especially from the waters around Kristineberg. We have the equipment and experienced staff for collection using most methods. At Kristineberg, we can keep the speciments alive until you set up your experiment or have your course. We can also assist with the setup of your experiments. The cost depends on the scope of the work.

Ethical permit required

When it comes to keeping and studying vertebrates, such as fish, these require an ethical permit that must be applied for by the responsible researcher well in advance of the work. When applying for ethical approval, a free consultation with our veterinarian and laboratory animal manager is included.

Field equipment

At Kristineberg the following equipment are available, for use from land, in shallow water or from our smaller boats:

  • 1 handheld trawl with otter board
  • 1 shore seine (special legislation when catching fish)
  • 1 small purse seine
  • 6 aquascopes
  • approx. 25 waders
  • approx. 20 dip nets of different kind
  • 1 drop-trap (0.5 m2)
  • 1 drop-trap (1 m2)
Photo: Marko T Wramén

If you have questions about animal research, please contact:

Leon Green
Director of Laboratory Animal Facilities
Mobile:  070 476 14 80
leon.green@bioenv.gu.se

Workshop and service

We have a fully equipped workshop designed to handle tasks involving engines, wood, metal, and plastic. Our staff is on hand to assist with new fabrications, repairs, and maintenance. We handle minor tasks without any additional charges. For extensive projects, reach out to our technicians for a detailed cost estimate. Please be aware that only authorized workshop technicians are allowed to operate within the primary workshop.

Dedicated Research Workshop

We offer a specialized workshop for researchers and staff, outfitted with essential tools and workbenches. This space is ideal for conducting straightforward tasks independently.