Alpine Lake Telemetry Network Workshop at Finse

Alpine lakes are among the most climate-sensitive ecosystems on Earth. As temperatures rise, cold-adapted species face increasing pressure, and key ecological processes begin to shift. Yet these lakes also offer a unique opportunity: they act as natural laboratories where we can study how freshwater ecosystems respond to environmental change.

Finsevatn (Finse lake), located in the high mountains of southern Norway, is particularly well-suited for this kind of research. Finsevatn offers a rare combination of accessibility and ecological complexity, making it an ideal site for long-term freshwater research. It is also easily accessible by low-emission train via the Bergensbanen, and supported by existing infrastructure from nearby hydropower operations. The lake hosts Arctic charr, enabling comparative studies with Arctic sites like Svalbard and Greenland.

Our team is working to establish a freshwater field laboratory at Finsevatn using acoustic telemetry — a method that tracks fish movements through a network of underwater listening stations. This system will allow us to monitor how fish respond to seasonal and climatic changes, shedding light on broader ecological dynamics such as recruitment and food web interactions. Earlier this fall, we deployed several receivers in the lake and tagged Arctic charr with acoustic transmitters to track their lake behaviour over the next year.

To launch this initiative, we hosted a workshop at the Finse field station at the end of October. The goal was to bring together researchers and partners to discuss research topics and questions, methodology, share expertise, and lay the foundation for long-term collaboration. During the workshop, we also discussed and shared ideas for future funding applications, as well as starting on a manuscript idea. We thank everyone for attending and joining the workshop, contributing to fruitful and interesting conversations about alpine lake fish dynamics.

This marks the beginning of a broader effort to position Finsevatn as a reference site for freshwater climate research — with the potential to contribute to sustainable ecosystem management in a warming world. We want to thank everyone who travelled up to beautiful Finse to attend our Alpine Lake Telemetry Network Workshop 2025. Also to Jens Haga for welcomming us to the Finse research station for the fourth year, as well as big thanks to Finsefondet for financing the Alpine Lake Telemetry Network project (#FF-COLD), and for joining us for a lovely dinner at the Finse research station.