Elin Dahlgren

Environmental assessment specialist at the Department of Aquatic resources, Institute of Freshwater Research. I am currently involved in research projects with focus on:

•  Production and transport of algal toxins in the Baltic Sea environment
•  Salmon health, 

                     -Reproductive disease, M74

                     -Red Skin disease

•  Flow of thiamine in the Baltic Sea

I coordinate the section on Salmonids Stock Identification, Assessment and Advice on the Principles of Fisheries Science master course at SLU.

Salmon health

The health situation for our native salmon is worrying, both in the Atlantic and in the Baltic Sea.  Disease outbreaks (bleedings, erythema’s and fungal infections) along with well-studied reproductive disorder (M74), is reported by most Nordic countries. The reason(s) behind the failing salmon health are unclear and it is not known how the various symptoms are related. In spite of its iconic status, little effort have been put into studies of wild salmon diseases. Large-scale assessments and monitoring studies are key for research and monitoring efforts to shed light on the magnitude and cause of the deteriorating salmon health. With grants from the Nordic Council of Ministers (2021 – 2023), The Nordic collaboration network on salmon health, aim to strengthen collaboration within salmon health issues among the Nordic countriesromotes through networking and pilot studies.

 Algal toxins and thiamine deficiency in the marine food web

 Previous findings on toxic effects following exposure to algal toxins and thiamine deficiency in key species of the Baltic Sea food web require pursuit. This autumn, We aim to initiate study of spatiotemporal variations of algal toxins in pelagic mussels with the overall ambition to develop new tools for monitoring of concentrations. 

I am the project leader of national monitoring programs of Baltic Sea salmon and responsible gor coordinating the monitoring of reproductive disease, M74, in salmon and thiamine (vitamin B1) in salmon.

2021 - Member of the Baltic Sea Committee at The Royal Swedish Agricultural Academy 

2019- 2022: Appointed as lay judge within The Land and Environment Court (Mark och Miljödomstolen).

Alternate in SLU Aqua "Gruppen för kvalitet i vetenskapliga kunskapsunderlag"

•  Senior advisor, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). 2015- 2018.
• Guest researcher (50%), Stockholm University. 2015.
• Guest lecturer (50%), Södertörn University.  2015.
• Toxicologist, Swedish National Food Agency (NFA).  2014.
  Curator/researcher, Swedish museum of Natural history, Stockholm, Sweden. 2012- 2013.
  Post-doctoral researcher, Swedish museum of Natural history, Stockholm. 2012.
  Teaching assistant, Södertörn University. 2008.
  Field assistant, Inventory alpine meadows, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway. 2002.
  Field assistant, behavioural studies of ruffs, Uppsala University, 2001.
  Field assistant, behavioural studies of red squirrels, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2000.
  Field assistant, GPS tracking of Lynx, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden. 1999 -2000.

Co-supervisor of PhD-student Vittoria Todisco, “Quantifying the transfer of thiamin (vitamin B1) from producers to top predators”. Linnaeus University. 2020-ongoing

 Jones, D., Dahlgren E., Jacobson, P. and Karlson, A. 2021. Determining Baltic salmon foraging areas at sea using stable isotopes in scales – a tool for understanding health syndromes. Accepted with revisions for publication in ICES Journal of Marine Science. 

Kanwischer, M., Asker, N., Wersnersson, AS., Wirth, M.A., Dahlgren, E., Osterholz, H., Habedank, F., Naumann, M. and Mannio, J. 2021. Substances of Emerging Concern in Baltic Sea Water – Review on Methodological Advances for the Environmental Assessment and Proposal for Future Monitoring. Accepted for publication in Ambio.

Glynn, A., Kotova, N., Dahlgren, E., Lindh, C., Jakobsson, K., Gyllenhammar, I., Lignell, S., Nälsén, C. 2020. Determinants of serum concentrations of perflouroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in school children and the contribution of low-level PFAA-contaminated drinking water. Env. Sci. Processes Impacts. DOI: 10.1039/c9em00497a

Lindqvist, D., Dahlgren, E och Asplund, L. 2017. Biosynthesis of hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers and the correlation with photosynthetic pigments in the red alga Ceramium tenuicorne. Phytochemistry 133, 51-58.

Dahlgren, E., Lindqvist, D., Dahlgren, H. , Asplund, L , Lehtilä, K. 2016. Trophic transfer of naturally produced brominated aromatic compounds in a Baltic Sea food chain.  Chemosphere 144, 1597-1604.

Dahlgren, E., Enhus, C., Lindqvist, D., Eklund, B., Asplund, L. 2015. Induced production of brominated aromatic compounds in the algae Ceramium tenuicorne. Environ Sci. Pollut. res: 22, 18107 - 18114.

Noring, M., Håkansson, C., Dahlgren, E. 2015. Non-market valuation of the costal
environment- ecosystem services and ecotoxicity. Ambio.

Dahlgren, E., and K. Lehtilä. 2015. Tolerance to apical and leaf damage of Raphanus raphanistrum in different competitive regimes. Ecology and Evolution 5:5193–5202.

https://www.slu.se/ew-nyheter/2019/10/gladjande-siffror-om-laxsjukdomen-m74/

https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/inst/aqua/externwebb/sidan-publikationer/aqua-reports-xxxx_xx/aquarapporter/2019/aqua-reports_2019_13.pdf