Research Centre Húsavík | University of Iceland

Research Centre Húsavík - Available at University of Iceland

About the Research Centre

The University of Iceland's Research Centre in Húsavík was established in fall 2007, followed by the first research. The official opening was on the 4th of December 2008 in a newly renovated house down at the Húsavík Harbour.

The Research Centre directs and supports marine biology research in cooperation with universities and other institutes, in Iceland and abroad, involving both teaching and research projects. Many of the projects focus on cetaceans, but projects also include plankton, seabirds, and climate change research among other marine topics.

The centre is directed by Dr. Marianne Helene Rasmussen, a leading specialist in marine mammal research. Marianne has a PhD. in Science from the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. Her thesis (2004) was entitled ”A study of communication and echolocation sounds recorded from free-ranging white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) in Icelandic waters”.

Research

Publications

Akamatsu, T, Rasmussen, MH and Iversen, I (2014). Acoustically invisible feeding blue whales in northern Icelandic waters. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 136, 939 – 944.

Akiyama, Y, Akamatsu, T, Rasmussen, MH, Iversen, MR, Iwata, T, Goto, Y, Aoki, K, Sato, K (2019). Leave or stay? Video-logger revealed foraging efficiency of humpback whales under temporal change in prey density. Plos One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211138

Albrecht, S, Jung, JL, Lémery-Peissik, D, Lazar, L, Baithe, M, Eider, D and Rasmussen, MH (2022). Minke whales’ distribution dependence on food, their small-scale site fidelity in North Iceland and its implications regarding a distribution shift northward in the Atlantic. Marine Biology Research, DOI: 10.1080/17451000.2021.2016839

Alves, F, Towers, JR, Baird, RW, Bearzi, G, Bonizzoni, S, Ferreira,R, Halicka, Z, Alessandrini, A, Kopelman, AH, Yzoard, C, Rasmussen, MH, Bertulli, CG, Jourdain, E, Gullan, Rocha, D, Hupman, K, Mrusczok, MT,Samarra, FIP, Magalhaes, S, Weir,CR, Ford, JKB and A. Dinis, A (2017). The incidence of bent dorsal fins in free-ranging cetaceans. J. Anat. Rec. doi: 10.1111/joa.12729

Atem, AC, Rasmussen, MH, Wahlberg, M, Petersen, HC and Miller, LA (2009). Changes in click source levels with distance to targets: studies of free-ranging white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) and captive harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Bioacoustics 19, 49-65.

Basran, C. J., Bertulli, C. G., Cecchetti, A., Rasmussen, M. H., Whittaker, M. & Robbins, J. (2019). First estimates of entanglement rate of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae observed in coastal Icelandic waters. Endangered Species Research 38: 67-77. https://doi.org/10.3354/ESR00936

Basran, C. J. & Rasmussen M. H. (2019). Chapter 5: Conflicts Between Arctic Industries and Cetaceans. In: E. Pongrácz, V. Pavlov & N. Hänninen (Eds.) Arctic Marine Sustainability: Arctic Maritime Businesses and the Resilience of the Marine Environment. Springer Polar Series, Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28404-6

Basran C.J. & Rasmussen M.H. (2021). Fishers and whales in Iceland: Whale interactions with fishing gear from the fisher's perspective, with a focus on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 22: 111-128. https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v22i1.218

Basran, C. J., Woelfing, B., Neumann, C., & Rasmussen, M. H. (2020). Behavioural Responses of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to Two Acoustic Deterrent Devices in a Northern Feeding Ground off Iceland. Aquatic Mammals 46(6): 584-602. DOI 10.1578/AM.46.6.2020.584

Basran, C.J. & Sigurðsson, G.M. (2021). Using Case Studies to Investigate Cetacean Bycatch/Interaction Under-Reporting in Countries With Reporting Legislation. Frontiers in Marine Science 8: 779066. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.779066

Bertulli, CG, Guéry, L, McGinty, N, Suzuki, A, Brannan, N, Marques,T, Rasmussen, MH Olivier Gimenez, O (2018). Capture-recapture abundance and survival estimates of three cetacean species in Icelandic coastal waters using trained scientist-volunteers. Journal of Sea Research 131, 22-31

Bertulli, CG, Galatius, A, Kinze, CC, Rasmussen, MH, Keener, W and Webber, MA (2016a). Colour patterns in white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) from Iceland. Marine Mammal Science. DOI: 10.1111/mms.12312

Bertulli, CG, Rasmussen, MH and Rosso, M (2016b). An Assessment of the Natural Marking Patterns used for Photo-Identification of Common Minke Whales and White-Beaked Dolphins in Icelandic Waters." Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 96, 807–819

Bertulli, CG, Rasmussen, MH, Rosso, M (2021). Fission-fusion dynamics of a pelagic delphinid in the arctic: the white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) . Integrative Zoology 2021; 0: 1–15

Bertulli, C, Tetley, M, Magnúsdóttir, EE and Rasmussen, MH (2015) Observations of movement and site fidelity of white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) in Icelandic coastal waters using photo-identification’. J. Cet. Res. Manage 15: 27-34.

Bertulli, CG, Galatius, A, Kinze, CC, Rasmussen, MH, Deaville, R, Jepson, P, Vedder, EJ, Sánchez, GJ, Contreras8, Sabin, CRC and Watson, A (2015a). Vertebral column deformities in white-beaked dolphins from the eastern North Atlantic. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 116:59-67.

Bertulli, CG, Rasmussen, MH and Tetley, MJ (2013). Photo-identification rate and wide-scale movement of common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the coastal waters of Faxaflói and Skjálfandi Bays, Iceland. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 39 – 45.

Bouchard, B, Barnaguad, J-Y, Glotin, H, Pupard, M, Gauffier, P, Ortiz, ST, Lisney, T, Campagna, S, Rasmussen, M and Célérier (2019). Behavioural responses of humpback whales to food-related chemical stimuli. Plos One, 14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212515

Christiansen, F, Bertulli, C, Rasmussen, M and Lusseau, Dl (2015). Estimating cumulative exposure of wildlife to non-lethal disturbance using spatially explicit capture recapture models. Journal of Wildlife Management 79, 311-324

Christiansen, F, Rasmussen, M and Lusseau, D (2013). Whale watching disrupts feeding activities of minke whales on a feeding ground. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 478, 239-251

Christiansen, F, Víkingsson, G, Rasmussen, M and Lusseau, D (2013). Minke whales maximise energy storage on their feeding grounds. J.Exp.Biol., 216, 427-436

Christiansen, F, Víkingsson, G, Rasmussen, M and Lusseau, D (2014). Female body condition affects foetal growth in a capital breeding mysticete. Functional Ecology, 28, 579–588.

Christiansen, F, Rasmussen, M, Lusseau, D (2011). Inferring surface time of Minke whales from inter-surfacing intervals data using a hidden Markov model. SC/63/RMP6

Christiansen, F, Rasmussen, M, Lusseau, D (2011). Whalewatching boats disrupt the foraging activities of Minke whales in Faxaflói bay, Iceland. SC/63/WW2

Dudzinski, KM, Brown, SJ, Lammers, M, Lucke, K, Mann, DA, Simard, P, Wall,CC, Rasmussen, MH, Magnúsdóttir, EM, Tougaard, J, and Eriksen, N (2011). Trouble-shooting deployment and recovery options for various stationary passive acoustic monitoring devices in both shallow and deep water applications. J. Acoustic Soc. Am. 129, 436-448.

Grove, T, Senglat, C, Petiguyot, M, Koshiba, D and Rasmussen, MH (2020). Mass stranding and unusual sightings of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) in Skjálfandi Bay, Iceland. Marine Mammal Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12689

Gunnlaugsson, T, Víkingsson, G and Rasmussen MH (2009). Acrial survey in Faxaflói, Southwest Iceland in 2008, Report and comparison to earlier surveys. IWC 2009 SC/61/RMP 11.

Hansen, Andersen, K, Hernandez, A, Wahlberg, M, Mooney, A and Rasmussen, M (2020). The common murre (Uria aalge), an auk seabird, reacts to underwater sound. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 147, 4069-4074.

Hansen RG, Boye TK, Larsen RS, Nielsen NH, Tervo O, Nielsen RD, Rasmussen MH, Sinding MHS and Heide-Jørgensen MP. Abundance of whales in West and East Greenland in summer 2015 (2018). NAMMCO Scientific Publication series

Heide-Jørgensen MP, Laidre, KL, Hansen, RG, Burt, LM, Simon, M, Borchers, DL, Harding, K, Rasmussen, M, Dietz and Teilmann (2012). Rate of increase and current abundance of humpback whales in West Greenland. J. CETACEAN RES. MANAGE. 12: 1-14

Heide-Jørgensen, MP, Burt, LM, Hansen, RG, Nielsen, NH, Rasmussen, M, Fossette, S and Stern, H (2012). The Significance of the North Water Polynya to Arctic Top Predators. AMBIO

Heide-Jørgensen MP, Laidre, KL, Burt, ML, Borchers, DL, Hansen, RG, Rasmussen, M and S Fossette (2010). Abundance of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Greenland. Journal of Mammalogy, 91, 1135–1151

Heide-Jørgensen MP, Witting, L, Laidre, KL, Hansen, RG and Rasmussen, M (2010). Fully corrected estimates of common minke whale abundance in West Greenland in 2007. J. CETACEAN RES. MANAGE. 11: 75-82.

Heide-Jørgensen MP, Laidre, KL, Simon, M, Burt, ML, Borchers, D and Rasmussen M (2010). Abundance of fin whales in West Greenland in 2007. J. CETACEAN RES. MANAGE. 11: 83-88.

Klotz, L, Fernández, R and Rasmussen, MH (2017). Annual and monthly fluctuations in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) presence in Skjálfandi Bay, Iceland, during the feeding season. J. CETACEAN RES. MANAGE 16: 9–16

Koblitz, J, Stilz, P, Rasmussen, MH and Laidre, K (2016). Highly directional sonar beam of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) measured with a vertical 16 hydrophone array. Plos one: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162069

Laute, A, Grove, T, Rasmussen, MH, Smith, A, Loisa, O, Fournet, MEH (2022). Impact of whale-watching vessels on humpback whale calling behavior on an Icelandic foraging ground during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 701: 159–173, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14202

Lopes-Marques, M, Machado, AM, Alves, LQ, Fonseca, MM, Barbosa, S, Sinding, MH, Rasmussen, MH, Iversen, MR, Bertelsen, MF, Campos, PF, Fonseca, R, Raquel Ruivo, R, and Castro, FC (2019). Complete Inactivation of Sebum-Producing Genes Parallels the Loss of Sebaceous Glands in Cetacea. Mol. Biol. Evol. 36: 1270–1280

Magnúsdóttir, EE, Rasmussen, MH, Lammers, MO and Svavarsson, J (2014). Humpback whale songs during winter in subarctic waters. Polar Biology 37, 427 – 433

Malinauskaite, L, Cook, D, Davidsdóttir, B, Karami, MP, Koenigk, T, Kruschke, T, Ögmundardóttir, H and Rasmussen, M (2022). Connecting the dots: An interdisciplinary perspective on climate change effects on whales and whale watching in Skjálfandi Bay, Iceland. Ocean and Coastal Management 226:106274 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106274

Mooney, TA, Smith, A, Larsen, ON, Hansen, KA, and Rasmussen, M (2020). A field study of hearing in the Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica. J.Exp. Biol. doi:10.1242/jeb.228270

Mooney, TA, Smith, A, Larsen, O, Hansen, KA, Wahlberg, M and Rasmussen, M (2019). Field-based hearing measurements of two seabird species. J. Exp. Biol.222 (doi:10.1242/jeb.190710).

Mooney, TA, Nachtigall, P, Taylor, KA, Rasmussen, MH and Miller, LA (2009). Auditory temporal resolution of a wild white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris). J. Comp. Physiology. 195, 375-384.

Nachtigall, PE, Mooney, TA, Taylor; KA, Miller, LA, Rasmussen, MH, Akamatsu, T, Teilmann, J, Linnenschmidt, M, and Vikingsson, GA (2008). Shipboard measurements of the hearing of white-beaked dolphins, (Lagenorhynchus albirostris). J Exp Biol 211: 642-647.

Ovide, B.G., Cirino, E., Basran, C.J., Geertz, T., & Syberg, K. (2022). Assessment of prevalence and heterogeneity of meso- and microplastic pollution in Icelandic waters. MDPI Environments 9(12): 150, https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9120150

Pampoulie, C., Gíslason, D., Ólafsdóttir, Chosson, V., Halldórsson S.D., Mariani S., Elvarsson, B.Þ., Rasmussen, M.H., Daníelsdóttir A.K., and Víkingsson G.A. (2020). Evidence of unidirectional hybridization and second-generation adult hybrid between the two largest animals on Earth, the fin and blue whales. Evolutionary Applications: in press. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13091

Pampoulie, C, Gíslason, D, Ólafsdóttir, G Chosson, V, Halldórsson, SD, Mariani, S, Elvarsson, B, Rasmussen, MH, Iversen, MR, Daníelsdóttir, AK Gísli A. Víkingsson, GA (2021). Evidence of unidirectional hybridization and second-generation adult hybrid between the two largest animals on earth. Evolutionary Applications. 2020;00:1–8.

Rasmussen, MH, Atem, A and Miller, LA (2016). Behavioral Responses by Icelandic White-Beaked Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) to Playback Sounds. Aquatic Mammals 42, 317-329

Rasmussen, MH, Koblitz, JC and Laidre, KL (2015). Buzzes and High-Frequency Clicks Recorded from Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) at Their Wintering Ground. In: Aquatic Mammals 41(3), 256-264.

Rasmussen, MH (2014). “The Bottlenose Dolphin: biology and conservation”. Book Review. Ecology 95, 790–793

Rasmussen, MH (2014). Chapter 7. A history of whaling and whale watching in Iceland. Whaling-watching, sustainable tourism and ecological management. Editors: J.E.S. Higham, L. Bejder and R. Williams. Cambridge University Press. 400pp.

Rasmussen, MH, Akamatsu, T, Teilmann, T, Víkingsson, G and Miller, LA (2013). Biosonar, diving and movements of two tagged white-beaked dolphin in Icelandic waters. Deep-Sea Research II 88-89, 97-105.

Rasmussen, MH (2011). Discovers of the Census of Marine Life - Making Ocean Life Count. Book Review. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 43, 490-491.

Rasmussen MH, Lammers M, Beedholm K, and Miller LA (2006). Source levels and harmonic content of whistles in white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 120: 510-517.

Rasmussen MH, Wahlberg M, and Miller LA (2004). Estimated transmission beam pattern of clicks recorded from free-ranging white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116: 1826-1831.

Rasmussen MH and Miller LA (2004). Echolocation and social signals from white-beaked dolphins, (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), recorded in Icelandic waters. In: Echolocation in bats and dolphins chapter number .5.1. Pp. 0-53 (editor J. Thomas, C. Moss and M. Vater),University of Chicago press, Chicago.

Rasmussen MH and Jacobsen T (2003). Photo-identification of White-beaked dolphins in Icelandic waters. In: ECS proceedings 2003, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.

Rasmussen MH and Miller LA (2002). Whistles and clicks from white-beaked dolphins, (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) recorded in FaxaflóiBay. Aquatic Mammals 28:78-89.

Rasmussen MH, Miller LA and Au WWL (2002). Source levels of clicks from free-ranging white beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris Gray) 1846) recorded in Icelandic waters. J. Acous. Soc. Am. 111: 1122-1125.

Rasmussen MH (2001). Behaviour of free-ranging white-beaked dolphins. In: ECS-proceedings 2001, Rome, Italy.

Rasmussen MH, Miller LA and Au WWL (2000). The sounds and calculated source levels from the white-beaked dolphin recorded in Icelandic waters. In: ECS-proceedings 1999, Valencia, Spain.

Rössler, H, Tougaard, J, Sabinsky, PF, Rasmussen, MH, Granquist, SM, and Wahlberg, M (2021). Are Icelandic harbor seals acoustically cryptic to avoid predation? JASA Express Lett. 1 (3), 1-7.

Samara, FIP, Bassoi, M, Béesau, J, Elíasdóttir, MO, Gunnarsson, K, Mrusczo, M-T, Rasmussen, M, Rempel, JN, Thorvaldsson, B and Víkingsson, GA (2018). Prey of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Iceland. PLOS One 13 (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207287)

Samara, FIP, Deecke, VB, Vinding, K, Rasmussen, MH, Swift, R and Miller, PM (2010). Killer whales (Orcinus orca) produce ultrasonic whistles. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 128, 205-210.

Selbmann, A, Basran, CJ, Bertulli, CG, Hudson, T, Mruszok, M-T, Rasmussen, MH, Rempel, JN, Scott, J, Svarvarsson, J, Wensveen, PJ, Whitaker, M and Samarra, FIP (2022). Occurrence of long‑finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) and killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Icelandic coastal waters and their interspecific interactions. Acta ethologica, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-022-00394-1

Wahlberg, M, Jensen, FH, Natacha Arguilar Soto, NA, Beedholm, K, Bejder, L, Oliveira, C, Rasmussen, M, Simon, M, Villadsgaard, A and Madsen, P (2011). Source paraments of echolocation clicks from wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus and Tursiops truncatus). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 130, 2263-2274.

Yuan, Y, Zhang, Y Zhang, P, Liu, C, Wang, Gao, J, Lv, M, Lin, M, Dong, L Gao, Yang, Z, Seim, I, Caruso, F, Lin, W, Hoelzel, AR, da Fonseca, RR, Wang, D, Wang, X, Rasmussen, MH, Liu, M, Zheng, J, Zhao, L, Campos, PF, Kang, H Iversen, M, Song, Y, Guo,X, Guo, J, Qin, Y, Pan, S, Xu, Q, Meng, L, Liu, YAS, Lee, SM-Y,Liu, X, Xu, X, Yang, H, Fan, G, Wang, K, Li, S (2021), Comparative analyses of 35 marine mammal genomes provide insights into the evolution of aquatic life. PNAS 2021 Vol. 118 No. 37 e2106080118

Zahn, M, Laidre, KL, Stilz, P, Rasmussen, MH and Koblitz, JC (2021). Vertical sonar beam width and scanning behavior of wild belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in West Greenland. . PLoS ONE 16(9): e0257054. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257054

Zahn, M, Rankin, S, McCullough, JLK, Jens C. Koblitz, JC, Archer, F, Rasmussen, MH and Laidre, KL (2021). Acoustic differentiation and classification of wild belugas and narwhals using echolocation clicks. Sci Rep 11, 22141. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01441-w

Internship

Each year the University of Iceland's Húsavík Research Centre hosts internship students from abroad. We primarily encourage students who have the opportunity to undertake internship abroad courses for credit at their home university, and who have a strong interest in marine biology and marine mammal research, to send a CV and cover letter to apply. Internships are between March and November.

Contact: Charla Basran cjb2@hi.is

Summer Course 2025

The dates for the 2025 course are 28 May until 6 June 2025.

Skjálfandi Bay, off Húsavík, Northeast Iceland, is considered as one of the best locations in Iceland to watch and research whales.

Studying marine mammals in the wild is a master's level field course, held in Húsavík, on fundamentals of a suite of field methodologies used in the study of free-ranging cetaceans (whales and dolphins). Students will receive background lectures on the diverse assemblage of dolphins and whales off Húsavik, as well as learn the theory and practice the use of each of the different cetacean research methodologies. In collaboration with the local whale watching companies, students will receive hands-on research skills training and will undertake their own mini research project.

The application deadline is March 15th.

How to apply:

You apply by going to the Communication Portal.
There you start by setting up an account with your student email address and register for the course.
When you have made an account and gained access to the open courses application you can choose the course: LÍF641M and attach two documents:
1. Your transcript of records
2. A copy of your passport.

Students are responsible for their own accommodations but the Research Centre prebooks rooms at the Húsavík Hostel.

Staff

Director