Johanna Myrseth Aarflot
Arbeidsområde
Currently, I am the principal investigator for the PELAGIC project (Plankton size and planktivore competition along the Norwegian coast and fjords: ecological implications of warmer and darker waters), a young researchers project funded by the Norwegian Research Council (2023-2027). The aim of this project is to understand how foraging opportunities for pelagic fish (herring, sprat, mackerel etc.) may change as a result of two climate change assoicated stressors: warming and coastal water darkening. Both warming and coastal water darkening are expected to alter the size structure within plankton communities that have rapid life cycles and respond fast to changes in the environment. In this project we expose historical zooplankton samples to new technology for revealing community size structures, and incorporate plankton size in an existing ecosystem model for Norwegian coastal waters. With this we aim to enhance our understanding of how temperature and light affects the size structure within planktonic communities along the Norwegian coast, both historically and in the future, which ultimately affects the feeding opportunities for fish.
I am also involved in several projects (CoastRisk, CoastShift, Multistress Skagerrak, CoastSUPPORT) focusing on integrated ecosystem assessment, and cumulative impact assessments in particular. Coastal nations like Norway are becoming increasingly dependend on marine resources and maritime activities, a trend often referred to as the "Blue Economy" or "Blue Acceleration". This means that over the next decades, the intensity and diversity of cumulative anthropogenic pressures to the ocean will increase. In cumulative impacts assessments, we systematically evaluate how sectors through their activities are drivers for pressures on the marine environment, and thus contributing to risk of negative impacts on different components of the ecosystem. Cross-sectoral assessments like these are a key step in ecosystem-based management, and we use our results both to inform managers and stakeholders, and also for method development to improve and make these assessments even more relevant for marine management.
Curriculum Vitae
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2021 - Research Scientist, Institute of Marine Research
2019 - 2021 Postdoctoral research fellow, Nansen Legacy project/Institute of Marine Research
2016 - 2019 PhD candidate, Institute of Marine Research
2013 - 2016 Consultant, Norwegian Trekking Association (Den Norske Turistforening, DNT)
2009 - 2012 HR advisor, Norsk Gjenvinning corporation
EDUCATION:
2016 - 2019 PhD in marine ecology, University of Bergen
2008 - 2009 Master in European Business (junior MBA), ESCP Europe
2006 - 2007 MSc in Fisheries Biology and Management, University of Bergen
2002 - 2005 Bachelor in General Biology, University of Bergen
PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
2023 - 2027 Project leader for PELAGIC: Plankont size and plaktivore competition along the Norwegian coast and fjords: ecological implications of warmer and darker waters. Funder: Norwegian Research Council.
2022 - 2023 Work package leader in CoastRisk, IMR strategic institute project. Funder: Norwegian Research Council.
2019 - 2022 Main developer of C. glacialis indivdual-based model, Nansen Legacy project. Funder: Norwegian Research Council.
OTHER RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES:
2023 Invited co-chair of session "Natural disasters, multiple stressors and cumulative impacts along sub-arctic and arctic coasts", ESSAS Annual Science Conference.
2022 - 2023 Invited guest editor for Nansen Legacy special issue "Seasonality and interannual variability of physical, chemical and biological states and processes in the northern Barents Sea and adjacent areas", Progress in Oceanography.
2022- Chair-invited member of the ICES Working Group on Integrative, Physical-biological and Ecosystem Modelling.
2021 Invited member of the science committee for Arctic Frontiers 2021 session 5 "The coupled Arctic ecosystem - lessons learned from recent international campaigns.
2020 - 2021 Invited member of "Vest ut og Fram", network for females working in industries and research institutions within the ocean and energy sectors. Organizer: Vestlandets Innovasjonsselskap (VIS). Funder: Norwegian Research Council and Vestland fylkeskommune.
SELECTED POPULAR OUTREACH:
2024 NorFishing, popular science outreach at Forskningstorget. Organizer: Norwegian Research Council.
2024 Intervju VG (printed + online): Dette skaper krise i Oslofjorden. https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/dRdPKo/dette-skaper-krise-i-oslofjorden
2024 Podcast NRK Ekko: Ekko forklarer plankton. https://radio.nrk.no/serie/ekko/sesong/202404/MDFP02006124
2024 Researcher Friday Bergen Aquarium: Det usynlige livet i havet. https://www.akvariet.no/tidligere-forskerfredager
2023 Podcast Havpodden: Slik blir kysten satt under press. https://havpodden.podbean.com/e/risikokartet-slik-blir-kysten-satt-under-press/
2023 Newspaper intervju Verdens Gang (VG): Slik endres Norge. https://www.vg.no/spesial/klima/slik-endres-norge/artikler/havets-bunn/
2023 Invited speaker One Ocean Conference Bergen: The cumulative footprint on the ocean - is there space for everyone?
2023 Invited speaker "Fjord i Nord". Organizer: Institute of Marine Research.
2022 NorFishing, popular science outreach at Forskningstorget. Organizer: Norwegian Research Council.
2022 Arendalsuken, invited speaker. Organizer: Institute of Marine Research.
2022 Newspaper interview Verdens Gang (VG, online edition): https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/lVPok7/nytt-prosjekt-de-skal-gi-deg-sannheten-om-vannet-ditt
2021 Arendalsuken, invited participant to public debate. Organizer: Norwegian Polar Institute.
2021 Pint of Science, invited speaker. Organizer: Pint of Science Bergen
2020 Research elevator pitch, YouTube and Facebook. Organizer: Nansen Legacy project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVMVFZrZR58
2019 Newspaper chronicle, Aftenposten (printed edition)
2018 Participant in "Researcher Grand Prix". Organizer: Forskningsdagene i Bergen/NRK
Publikasjoner
Vitenskapelige artikler (NVI)
2025
Ethical approaches for engaging extended peer communities: Insight into responsible workshopping with citizens
Futures: The journal of policy, planning and futures studies
166
2024
Comparison of WP-2 and MOCNESS plankton samplers for measuring zooplankton biomass in the Barents Sea ecosystem
Journal of Plankton Research
2024
Bridging the gap: integrating models and observations for better ecosystem understanding
Marine Ecology Progress Series
739
2024
Ecosystem risk from human use of ocean space and resources: A case study from the Norwegian coast
Ocean and Coastal Management
256
2024
Ecosystem risk from human use of ocean space and resources: a case study from the Norwegian coast
Ocean and Coastal Management
2024
Bridging the gap: integrating models and observations for better ecosystem understanding
Marine Ecology Progress Series
2023
Abundance and biomass of copepods and cladocerans in Atlantic and Arctic domains of the Barents Sea ecosystem
Journal of Plankton Research
2023
Abundance and biomass of copepods and cladocerans in Atlantic and Arctic domains of the Barents Sea ecosystem
Journal of Plankton Research
fbad043
2023
New insights into the Barents Sea Calanus glacialis population dynamics and distribution
Progress in Oceanography
217
2023
Visual predation risk and spatial distributions of large Arctic copepods along gradients of sea ice and bottom depth
Limnology and Oceanography
2022
Transportation and predation control structures the distribution of a key calanoid in the Nordic Seas
Progress in Oceanography
202
2022
A standard protocol for describing the evaluation of ecological models
Ecological Modelling
471
2021
Seasonal and interannual variability in abundance and population development of Calanus finmarchicus at the western entrance to the Barents Sea, 1995–2019
Progress in Oceanography
195
2020
Foraging success in planktivorous fish increases with topographic blockage of prey distributions
Marine Ecology Progress Series
644
p. 129-142
2018
Caught in broad daylight: Topographic constraints of zooplankton depth distributions
Limnology and Oceanography
64
p. 849-859
2017
Contribution of Calanus to the mesozooplankton biomass in the Barents Sea
ICES Journal of Marine Science
2017
Contribution of Calanus species to the mesozooplankton biomass in the Barents Sea
ICES Journal of Marine Science
2011
Do accurate stock estimates increase harvest and reduce variability in fisheries yields?
Natural Resource Modeling
24
p. 222-241
Annet tidsskriftbidrag
2025
Seasonality and interannual variability of physical, chemical and biological states and processes in the northern Barents Sea and adjacent areas
Progress in Oceanography
2024
Fiske er største trussel
VG : Verdens gang
2023
Slik endres Norge: Havtemperatur
VG : Verdens gang
2019
Hver sommer bader du med verdens sterkeste dyr
Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.)
p. 16-17
Faglige foredrag
2025
Moderator paneldebatt: Protection of the North Sea’s ecosystem – how to navigate through multiple interests?
2024
Calanus in the Nordic Seas: Ecosystem models as a tool for knowledge validation.
2024
Miljøutfordringer i Oslofjorden: samlet påvirkning fra menneskelig aktivitet
2024
Evaluating impacts of climate and human pressures on primary production - with implications for management
2024
The role of predation in structuring the distribution of large, lipid-rich copepods
2024
Light, darkness and the ocean ecosystem
2024
Prey size and visibility is more important than prey abundance for fish foraging and production
2024
Det usynlige livet i havet
2023
The total human footprint in the ocean - is there space enough for everyone?
2023
Hvordan vurderer vi samlet menneskelig påvirkning på kysten vår?
2023
Risk of negative cumulative human impact on scientific-based valuable and vulnerable areas in Norwegian waters
2023
Cumulative impact assessment of four coastal regions with contrasting scope of human activities
2023
A standard protocol for describing the evaluation of ecological models
2022
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND INCREASED AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION IN A NORWEGIAN FJORD
2022
Integrated assessment of human activities and associated pressures along the Norwegian coast
2022
Integrated assessment of human activities and associated pressures along the Norwegian coast
2022
Visual predation risk and spatial distribution of large Arctic copepods along gradients sea ice and bottom depth
2021
How the bottom kills plankton
2021
The pelagic riskscape and consequences for zooplankton size along gradients of light and sea-ice in the Barents Sea
2021
Why we care about copepods
2020
Bathymetry Structures Predator-prey Dynamics between Zooplankton and Fish in Marine Pelagic Ecosystems
2019
Bathymetry structures predator-prey dynamics between zooplankton and fish in marine pelagic ecosystems
2019
Zooplankton-phytoplankton relationships in a changing climate
2019
Tips and tricks for popular science communication
2018
Verdens sterkeste dyr
2017
Contribution of Calanus to the mesozooplankton biomass in the Barents Sea
2017
Mesozooplankton in the Barents Sea: Key drivers, predation effects and impacts on fish stock productivity
2017
Zooplankton studies in the Barents Sea
Poster
2022
The distribution of Calanus hyberboreus in the Nordic Seas is structured by advective transport and predation
2021
Cosmopolitan or endemic: on the source of Calanus glacialis in the Barents Sea ecosystem
2019
Sea-ice loss is bad news for large copepods
2017
Do predation from fish structure zooplankton communities in the Barents Sea?
Rapporter og avhandlinger
2025
Vurdering av samlet påvirkning fra matsystemer på marine kystøkosystemer i Nord-Norge (Troms – Kvaløya til Loppa) — CoastShift – et Framsenteret prosjekt
Rapport fra havforskningen
2024
Liste over forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter - Oppfølgende informasjon til rapporten "Forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter i sjø"
Rapport fra havforskningen
2024
Pilotprosjekt for vurdering av samlet påvirkning i Oslofjorden – ytre del
Rapport fra havforskningen
2022
Samlet påvirkning i foreslåtte særlig verdifulle og sårbare områder i norske havområder
2020
Best practices for ecological model evaluation II: Workshop Report
2019
Three-dimensional zooplankton distributions seen through the lens of fish in the Barents Sea
Nettrapporter
Nettrapporter
- Vurdering av samlet påvirkning fra matsystemer på marine kystøkosystemer i Nord-Norge (Troms – Kvaløya til Loppa)
- Liste over forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter
- Pilotprosjekt for vurdering av samlet påvirkning i Oslofjorden – ytre del
- Samlet påvirkning i foreslåtte særlig verdifulle og sårbare områder i norske havområder
Nyheter
Nyheter
- (26.08.2024) Menneskelig aktivitet har større påvirkning på kysten i sør enn i nord
- (24.06.2024) Gamle planktonprøver blir gull verdt med ny teknologi
- (08.05.2024) Her er fem hovedgrunner til at Oslofjorden er i kjelleren
- (05.04.2024) 10 ting du ikke visste om plankton
- (23.08.2022) «Risikokartet for kysten» utvides med landbruk
- (22.06.2022) HI lanserer «Risikokartet for kysten»
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