Marine Research Laboratory at Syke
The Marine Research Laboratory is located in the Viikki Campus area of the University of Helsinki. It has up-to-date basic and advanced laboratory facilities for experimental marine ecology research, including several imaging instruments for planktonic organisms (Imaging FlowCytobot, Cytosense, LISST Holo, FlowCAM), flow cytometer, microscopes, spectrofluorometers, plate readers, spectrophotometer with integrating sphere, FRR fluorometers, controllable LED panels, nutrient analyzers, as well as laboratories for microplastics, molecular biology and isotope work (see more in the Gear Gallery).
A photobioreactor and nutrient analyses at the Syke Marine Research Laboratory (Photos Katri Kuuppo)
The laboratory has several walk-in climatic growth chambers, thermostated water baths, and a range of controllable cultivation units (0.5 to >300 L) available for experimental work. The lab hosts a phytoplankton culture collection, including ca hundred species strains which can be used in experimental work. There is also access to seawater samples taken from various locations from the Baltic Sea.
The Marine Research Laboratory profile in FINMARI emphasizes research and innovation in automated experimental systems, especially applied to plankton research, with integrated growth condition control, multifaceted data retrieval, and their on-line presentation. The automated experimental platforms range from wellplate to mesocosm scales.
The miniaturization and integration trend in electronic circuits will also make it easier to include experiment-like features in future monitoring studies. The Utö Station and Alg@line routes will serve as testbeds for these developments in FINMARI. The laboratory staff and part of the lab instrumentation are also used onboard Research Vessel Aranda on its cruises.
As a part of the Research Infrastructure Unit of Syke, the marine research laboratory has accredited methods , and it works in close collaboration with the fully FINAS accredited analytical chemistry laboratory.
Contact
Laboratory Coordinator: Anne-Mari Luhtanen
Experimental factory: Pasi Ylöstalo
Links
Quality and analytical services at Syke