Research 

In the lab we are interested in cellular physiology. We use different techniques ranging from behavior, anatomy and molecular biology to electrophysiology, to understand how cellular and molecular determinants evolved in order to enable organisms to sense and adapt to their specific niche in the environment. We investigate these questions in the context of ecologically relevant behaviors, such as habitat choice and hunting using marine invertebrates (Octopus and Corals).

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How do organisms with a small number of neurons encode complex environments?

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We have studied questions related to sensory biology for example in the gustatory system of the Drosophila larvae. To understand how gustatory sensory input is encoded, we designed and developed a custom microfluidics chip, that enabled us to measure neuronal activity in primary sensory neurons in a semi-intact preparation. This investigation revealed, that the larvae are able to navigate in complex chemical environments and encode salient information with a very small number of primary sensory neurons through combinatorial coding. With this strategy, the larva encodes the valence of a mixture, rather than using a labeled line model in which individual modalities are encoded by specific cell types. (van Giesen et al. 2016).

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​How do marine animals detect chemical signals in the vastness of the ocean?

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Sensory specialists such as the Octopus, are good models to study specialized sensory modalities like for example chemo-tactile sensation. Investigation into this virtually unexplored ‘touch-taste’ sense led to the description of a novel family of chemotactile receptors (CRs) that mediate the octopus’ contact-dependent, aquatic chemosensation. CRs are found specifically in cephalopods, expressed in suction cups (suckers) along the arms, and mediate the detection of poorly-soluble terpenoid molecules from natural products which act as ‘touch-taste’ stimuli in aquatic environments (van Giesen et al. 2020, Kang et al 2023). 

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Animals rely on their sensory systems to detect and filter signals from a noisy environment. However, recent anthropogenic influence has changed many ecosystems, including the ocean in a quite extreme way, and is threatening the very existence of many species. Understanding which cellular and molecular mechanisms are employed to filter sensory signals important for survival will help us to understand how animals cope with rapid changes in their sensory Umwelt.  

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ERC Project: "EnvIronchannel"

Corals form the basis for some of the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet- ecosystems, which have suffered tremendous harm due to anthropogenic influences and are predicted to be among the most adversely affected habitats under the foreseen changes in climate. Yet very little is known about how many coral species sense and interact with their environment.

Among these changing conditions are the occurrence and composition of microorganisms in the coral’s habitat, which are affected by changes in temperature and pH. Corals associate with several specific microorganisms, that govern central aspects of their complex lifecycle, such as the recruitment of larvae, a process that ensures health and resilience of coral reefs.

While the central role of biofilms is established in tropical coral species, the vast deep-sea cold-water coral species are less well studied. Lophelia Pertusa is a framework-forming cold-water coral with a global distribution and important ecosystem function – and lucky for us accessible here in Trondheim. We will study whether larval recruitment depends on biofilm abundance and composition and how the animals are capable of finding and recognizing the right place to settle.