Inaugural lectures

Dorte Bekkevold holds an MSc and a PhD from Aarhus University. She was employed as a researcher at DTU Aqua in 2002 and was appointed Senior Researcher in 2007. In February 2026, she was appointed Professor of Population Genomics and Biodiversity.

Her research covers population genetics/genomics, focusing on:

• Development and analysis of DNA data in identifying species, demographics, life histories and migratory behaviour in aquatic organisms.
• Evolutionary and molecular ecologydetection of intraspecific biodiversity and local adaptation.
• Determining effects of genetic introgression and climate change.
• Development of molecular tools to trace populations and species, including in environmental samples (eDNA).
• Implementation of genetic marker-based stock identification in fisheries data collection. 

See Dorte Bekkevold's publications in DTU Orbit

Population genomics and -biodiversity application in conservation and management
The exploration of central evolutionary mechanisms is becoming increasingly feasible with the continued development and refinement of DNA and genome analysis tools. Apart from the increased capacity for developing basic understanding of the dynamics of species and populations in time and space, this provides us with unique tools for safeguarding biodiversity through mitigation of human pressures and by promoting sustainable use of natural resources.

Although molecular tools for inference are widely available, the application of genetic and genomic approaches to inform management and conservation are still generally underused. I will present illustrious examples of how DNA analysis is used to build knowledge about biological parameters and indicators relevant for conservation and management, including mechanisms underlying population structures, demographic histories, migration behaviours, responses to global change, and not least prospects for novel developments.

Jane Behrens holds an MSc from Aarhus University and a PhD from the University of Copenhagen. She has been a research assistant at different universities and as a postdoc at the University of Gothenburg and DTU. In 2012, she became a researcher at DTU and was appointed Senior Researcher in 2015. In April 2026, she was appointed Professor of Fish Biology.

Her research covers:

• Fish ecophysiology, involving experimental and field investigations of physiological and behavioural responses and adaptations to biotic and abiotic factors in the environment.
• Optimal behavioural strategies and habitat requirements, including internal and external drivers, bioenergetics, physiological requirements and constraints.
• Tolerances and thresholds for dispersal and establishment of invasive fish.
• Fish welfare in the fishery.

See Jane Behrens’ publications in DTU Orbit

Fish biology – and its application in management and conservation
Global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 235 million tonnes in 2024, highlighting the sector’s vital role in feeding a growing global population. At the same time, our seas are under increasing pressure, and multiple stressors are affecting the productivity and distribution of fish stocks. Yet understanding and disentangling their effects is far from trivial.

Experimental fish biology can help reveal how environmental conditions influence the physiology, performance, habitat occupancy and survival of wild fish. This knowledge is essential for predicting how fish populations will respond to environmental change and how non-fishing pressures influence their fitness and long-term viability.

In this presentation, I will show how experimental studies can be used to understand what drives fish performance in the wild, the mechanisms behind these patterns, and how this can be used in conservation and management.