Services

Luke's diverse research infrastructures are suitable frameworks for experimental research on renewable natural resources and are widely available throughout Finland.

Luke Biodiversity opens access to study vitality of wild fish populations in relation to fisheries, environmental challenges including human-caused deterioration of aquatic environments and climate change, and genetic adaptation. The indoor infrastructure includes: 163 egg incubation units; 72 familytanks (0.5 m²); 11 fingerling tanks (2.1 m² - 12.7 m²); 34 broodstock tanks (28 m² - 63 m²); and 4 aquariums (2.1 m²). There are 44 outdoor tanks, including experimental flow-through environments (63 m² - 113 m²). There are globally unique fish strains of land-locked Atlantic salmon, brown trout and land-locked Arctic charr for which Luke maintains conservation programmes and the associated data collection and genetic analysis, including historical tissue samples. There is equipment and expertise for experiments with thousands of fish with individually tagged fish and data collection, including controlled family-based designs and specific matings.

Luke Biodiversity offer services to study especially wild salmonids and their conservation using the above mentioned facilities, fish strains and expertise, especially -omics, genetics, conservation and selective breeding of wild and farmed fish, and provide support in the statistical genomic analysis of new and existing data sets. The work has resulted in an extensive scientific publication list and documented impact on the international industry and its environmental footprint.

Bioresources available

Strains of land-locked Atlantic salmon, European whitefish, brown trout and land-locked Arctic charr. Species are negotiable.

Support offered

The TA user will be supported by Luke’s extensive, well-established international research community in the fields of breeding, wild fish populations, aquaculture, genomics and computational genetics, to which the users join. Luke will train TA users to utilise the infrastructures and the associated analytical tools and data bases. Luke staff will aid in finding accommodation either within Luke’s own accommodations or via external services.

Modality of access

Combined cost. Typical access lasts between a few weeks to 1-2 years.