Facilities for experimental work with aquatic animals
At DTU's main campus in Lyngby, DTU Aqua has access to versatile RAS facilities for freshwater and saltwater experimental work with aquatic animals. The facilities are part of the so-called Blue Unit.
This system is automated and alarm controlled both regarding water flow, salt balance, oxygen, temperature, drumfilter and protein-skimmer flushing. Reservoir tanks provide a stable recycled water mass for the tanks in the research laboratories that are allocated to controlled experiments, where e.g. temperature, salinity and light levels can be adjusted.
The facilities contains state-of-the-art equipment for quantifying the physiology and behaviour of fishes and other aquatic organisms. This includes multiple aquatic respirometry systems to measure metabolic rates for various life stages, egg to adult, temperature and oxygen preference/avoidance systems, and arenas for monitoring various behaviours, for example related to personality traits.
Plankton laboratories
DTU Aqua has state-of-the art plankton laboratories at Lyngby Campus. The facilities are part of the Blue Unit.
The spacious laboratories are equipped with running seawater, walk-in cold rooms, excellent culture facilities including facilities for sterile work, as well as most standard equipment expected for a modern experimental plankton laboratory.
Special highlights are facilities for 3D video recordings of plankton motility patterns, high-speed video cinematography, and a relatively large culture collection of both heterotrophic and autotrophic plankton.
Otolith laboratory etc.
DTU Aqua's facilities include laboratories utilized for analysis of fish samples from monitoring of fish stocks, and dedicated facilities and equipment for otolith preparation and age determination.