Introduction to NATKOP Náttúrufræðistofa Kópavogs Natural History Museum of Kópavogur

What we do Our research area is freshwater ecology. Studies include nationwide lake surveys, monitoring of biological and physical-chemical factors, environmental assessments, and biological studies at the species and population levels. The museum cooperates with other research institutes in Iceland, the Nordic countries and Canada..

Ecological survey of Icelandic lakes (ESIL) Implementation of Emerald Network (Natura 2000) – freshwaters Ecological monitoring of Lake Thingvallavatn Monitoring of crustaceans in lake Elliðavatn Monitoring of Arctic charr in lake Þingvallavatn Ecology of the tadpole-shrimp in Iceland Environmental impact assessment of Hydroelectric power-plant at Kárahnjúkar Our main research projects

The ESIL - project Associates: University of Iceland, Hólar Agricultural Collage and Institute of Freshwater Fishery Making database with standardized information. 72 lakes – Geology – Hydrology – Chemistry – Biology (vegetation, micro-invertebrates, fish, birds)

Emerald Network – freshwaters Cooperation with Icelandic Institute of Natural History Conservation of flora and fauna and their natural habitats (Bern convention) Nomination of conservation sites Classification of sites mainly based on macrophyte communities and lake trophy

72 Sampled lakes.

International Cooperation Queen´s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada Próf. Jon P. Smol Dr. Tammy Karst University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado, USA Nat. Hist. Mus. of Faroe Ilands NERI, Silkeborg KUFL, Hillerød NIVA, Osló Univ. of Oslo Univ. of Lund Inst. of Limnol, Uppsala

International Cooperation European project named EURO- LIMPACS Aim of project is to estimate impacts of global changes on freshwater ecology in Europe. 37 institutions from 19 countries. Natural History Museum of Kópavogur, Mývatn Research Station and Univ. of Iceland Inst. of Biology. Funded by European Union (EU) Total amount 20 m. Euro.

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