Embrc - European Marine Biological Resource Centre

The Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences is the University of Gothenburg’s marine research infrastructure organization, established in 2008. The Centre integrates the research capacities of two reputed marine research stations and several research vessels. Both marine stations are situated on the Swedish west coast, one at Kristineberg about 100 km north of Göteborg and the other at Tjärnö 160 km north of Göteborg.

• The research station at Kristineberg was established in 1877 on the initiative of Sven Lovén and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The station is situated on the Gullmarsfjord, the largest and only true fjord in Sweden.
• The station at Tjärnö was founded in 1963 and it situated close to the Koster fjord which in 2009 was made the first Swedish Marine National Park.

Research themes: The stations at Kristineberg and Tjärnö are two of Europe's most modern marine research laboratories, offering unique opportunities for carrying out advanced experimental work. Residents scientists at these stations comprise a group of researchers who are active in the large number of marine research areas such as Marine Ecology, Ecotoxicology, Marine Zoology, Marine Chemistry and, more recently, Large Scale Ecosystem research, linked to processes at the molecular and gene levels.

Laboratories: Both research stations have high-capacity flow-through seawater systems giving service to all experimental facilities in the laboratories, including large and small indoor experimental climate controlled mesocosms, light- and temperature-regulated climate control rooms, as well as outdoor experimental facilities, including green-houses and space for outdoor open tank experiments (Ecotrons). The experimental facilities are extensive and support biological research in fields ranging from ecology, through physiology and taxonomy, to molecular biology with several new and advanced instruments.

Platforms: Molecular biology and genetics laboratories are fully equipped for cloning, Real-Time PCR, sequencing, proteomics and in-situ hybridization, advanced microscopy, including a confocal and an ocean acidification laboratory.

Marine facilities: The Lovén Centre operates three large vessels; 39 m R/V Skagerak, 12 m R/V Oscar von Sydow and 15 m R/V Nereis, with advanced devices for chemistry, biology and geology sampling. R/V Skagerak operates in the Skagerak, Kattegatt, and Baltic Sea. 140-160 days are normally allocated for science and education (20-30 days). Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV), the newest from 2011 with 2000 m depth capability, two video cameras and one high-resolution still camera, sonar, CTD, hydraulic manipulator, sample storage box and suction sampler. Several smaller boats are available for work in shallow waters.

Main marine model organisms used: Ciona intestinalis (sea squirt), Amphiura filiformis, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, Asterias rubens (echinoderms), Balanus improvises (crustacean barnacle), Debaryomyces hansenii (marine fungus), Fucus vesiculosus (Brown alga, bladder wrack) Idotea balthica (Isopod, crustacean), Littorina saxatilis (Gastropod,  mollusc), Pomatoschistus minutus (Sand Goby), Skeletonema marinoi (Diatom).

Supervisory bodies: University of Gothenburg, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences still supports the Lovén centre with competitive fellowships and stipends.

Special partnership(s): The Integrated Network of Swedish Marine Research infrastructure (SMRI).