Climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species, and emerging pathogens threaten both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. My research in evolutionary biology, genomics, and ecology aims to uncover evolutionary processes in a changing world for sustainable fisheries management and conservation. Most of my work focuses on studying the genetic variation and genes of fish and their parasites to develop strategies for maintaining healthy fish populations. Through the application of advanced genomic methodologies and environmental DNA tools, my research group seeks to build a deeper understanding of population vulnerability and ecosystem resilience. Our goal is to develop practical solutions that support healthy fish populations, safeguard aquatic biodiversity, and promote the long-term sustainability of ecosystems in the face of global environmental challenges.
My ongoing research projects fall into four areas:
1) Population genomics –analysis of biodiversity, demography and footprints of selection
2) Environmental DNA – moving from detection towards quantification
3) Ecological genomics – linking genes and traits to populations, environment and ecosystems
4) Host-parasite genomics & interactions
We focus on various model systems including myxozoan parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, trematode eye flukes belonging to the Diplostomidae family, sea lice Caligus elongates and microbial pathogens.
Postdocs
M. E. López (2019-2022)
K. Noreikiene (2018-2020)
P. Debes (2014-2016)
M. Ozerov (2013-2018)
A. Wibowo (2014)
D. Philippenko (2013-2014)
PhD Students
2021- Co-supervisor of PhD student Konrad Taube (Estonian University of Life Sciences, main supervisor R. Gross).
2020- Main supervisor of PhD student Vitaly Lichman (Estonian University of Life Sciences, co-supervisors R. Gross, M. Ozerov).
2020- Co-supervisor of PhD student Jingyao Niu (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, main supervisor A. Gårdmark, co-supervisor M. Huss).
2019- Main supervisor of PhD student Alfonso Diaz Suarez (Estonian University of Life Sciences, co-supervisor V. Kisand).
2019- Main supervisor of PhD student Erik Karlsson (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, co-supervisor M. Ogonowski, G. Sundblad, J. Sundin).
Finished PhD thesis
2018-2024 Main supervisor of PhD student Magnus Lauringson (Estonian University of Life Sciences, co-supervisor P. Päkk).
2015-2023 Main supervisor of PhD student Freed Ahmad (University of Turku, co-supervisor P. Debes).
2013-2017 Co-supervisor of PhD student Tiia Forsström funded by University of Turku graduate school (main supervisor V. Jormalainen).
2010-2016 Main supervisor of PhD student Lilian Pukk (Co-supervisors R. Gross, T. Paaver, Estonian University of Life Sciences).
2009-2015 Co-supervisor (main supervisor J. Sorvari) of PhD student Salla-Riikka Vesterlund (University of Turku).
2006-2009 Co-supervisor of PhD student Akarapong Swaditpong (University of Turku, Finland). Main supervisor Prof. C. Primmer.
109 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 3 book chapters. Check Researchgate & Google Scholar for more information.
Recent publications:
Lichmann V, Ozerov M, López M-E, Noreikiene K, Kahar S, Pukk L, Burimski O, Gross R, Vasemägi A (2024) Whole-genome analysis reveals evolutionary and demographic history of Eurasian perch. Journal of Fish Biology, doi: 10.1111/jfb.15821.
Layton K, Brieuc M, Castilho R, Díaz-Arce N, Estévez-Barcia D, Fonseca V, Fuentes-Pardo A, Jeffery N, Jiménez-Mena B, Junge C, Kaufmann J, T Leinonen, S Maes, P McGinnity, T Reed, C Reisser, Celine, G Silva, A Vasemägi, I Bradbury (2024) Predicting the future of our oceans – evaluating genomic forecasting approaches in marine species. Global Change Biology, 30(3):e17236.
Vasemägi A, Ozerov M, Noreikiene K, López M-L, Gårdmark A (2023) Unlocking the genome of Eurasian perch – from genes to ecology and back again. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. 00, 1-26.
Theissinger. et al. (2023) How genomics can help biodiversity conservation. Trends in Genetics, 39(7):545-559.
Lopez M-E, Bergenius Nord M, Kaljuste O, Wennerström L, Hekim Z, Tiainen J, Vasemägi A (2022) Lack of panmixia of Bothnian Bay vendace -implications for fisheries management. Front. Mar. Sci., Sec. Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture and Living Resources Volume 9 - 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1028863
Formenti et al. (2022) The era of reference genomes in conservation genomics. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2021.11.008
Ogonowski, M., Karlsson, E., Vasemägi, A., Sundin, J., Bohman, P., Sundblad, G (2023) Temperature moderates eDNA-biomass relationships in northern pike. Environmental DNA, 5, 750-765.
Karlsson E, Ogonowski M, Sundblad G, Sundin J, Svensson O, Nousiainen I, Vasemägi A (2022) Strong positive relationships between eDNA concentrations and biomass in juvenile and adult pike (Esox lucius) under controlled conditions: implications for monitoring. Environmental DNA. https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.298
Gilbey J, Carvalho G, Castilho R, Coscia I, Coulson MW, Dahle G, Derycke S, Francisco SM, Helyar SJ, Johansen T, Junge C, Layton KKS, Martinsohn J, Matejusova I, Robalo JI, Rodríguez-Ezpeleta N, Silva G, Strammerj I, Vasemägi A, Volckaert FAM (2021) Life in a drop: sampling environmental DNA for marine fishery management and ecosystem monitoring. Journal of Marine Policy, 124, 104331.
Noreikiene K, Aavik K-E, Kahar S, Lauringson M, Taube K, Diaz-Suarez A, Gross R, Vasemägi A (2024) Eggs on plate: Population-dependent effects of water rich in humic substances on egg size and hatching success in perch. Freshwater Biology, 69(9), 1307-132.
Ozerov MY, Noreikiene K, Kahar S, Flajšhans M, Gross R, Vasemägi A (2024) Differential expression and alternative splicing analyses of multiple tissues reveal albinism-associated genes in the Wels catfish (Silurus glanis). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B, 11:271:110941.
Ozerov O, Noreikiene K, Kahar K, Huss M, Huusko A, Kõiv T, Sepp M, López M, Gårdmark A, Gross R, Vasemägi A (2022) Whole-genome sequencing illuminates multifaceted targets of selection to humic substances in Eurasian perch. Molecular Ecology 31(8):2367-2383.
Ahmad F, Debes PV, Nousiainen I, Kahar S, Pukk L, Gross R, Ozerov M, Vasemägi A (2021) The strength and form of natural selection on transcript abundance in the wild. Molecular Ecology, 30(12), 2724-2737.
Noreikiene K, Ozerov M, Ahmad F, Kõiv T, Kahar S, Gross R, Sepp M, Pellizzone A, Vesterinen EJ, Kisand V, Vasemägi A (2020) Humic-acid-driven escape from eye parasites revealed by RNA-seq and target-specific metabarcoding. Parasites & Vectors, 13, 433.
Diaz-Suarez A, Noreikiene K, Kahar S, Ozerov MY, Gross R, Kisand V, Vasemägi A (2024) DNA metabarcoding reveals spatial and temporal variation of fish eye fluke communities in lake ecosystems. International Journal for Parasitology, 54(1), 33-46.
Taube K, Noreikiene K, Kahar S, Gross R, Ozerov M, Vasemägi A (2023) Subtle transcriptomic response of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) associated with Triaenophorus nodulosus plerocercoid infection. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 22, 146-154.
Lauringson M, Kahar S, Veevo T, Silm M, Philpott D, Svirgsden R, Rohtla M, Päkk P, Gross R, Kaart T, Vasemägi A (2023) Spatial and intra-host distribution of myxozoan parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae among Baltic sea trout (Salmo trutta) Journal of Fish Diseases, 46(10):1073-1083.
Lauringson M, Ozerov MY, Lopez M-E, Wennevik V, Niemelä E, Vorontsova TY, Vasemägi A (2022) Distribution and prevalence of the myxozoan parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae in northernmost Europe: analysis of three salmonid species. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 151:37-49.