Filip advances Arctic biodiversity research through Nordic collaboration
Filip, an MSc student at Gothenborg University, is making strides in understanding the taxonomy of the bivalve genus Astarte, a key group of mollusks found in Arctic marine ecosystems. His research is part of a collaborative project involving UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the University of Gothenburg, and Luleå University of Technology, exemplifying the power of Nordic cooperation in advancing Arctic biodiversity science.
Currently, Filip is visiting at Luleå University of Technology, where he is utilizing the state-of-the-art Zeiss Versa 620 XRM, an advanced 3D X-ray microscope, to image Astarte specimens and create high-resolution digital specimens. These digitized specimens will serve as a foundation for further analysis and are a perfect fit with the goals of the UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Marine Biodiversity, which aims to promote collaboration and innovation in Arctic biodiversity research.
The bivalve genus Astarte has a complicated taxonomy, which Filip attempts to resolve with his MSc thesis.
Main news image: Filip Morin extracting DNA from Astarte shells in the lab at UiT in Tromsø.