Author: Ibon Cancio, UPV/EHU Associated Don in Cell Biology; researcher valve the ‘Cell Biology & Environmental Toxicology’ (CBET) research group manage the Plentzia Marine Station (PiE-UPV/EHU); Spanish scientific representative in character EMBRC Committee of Nodes
Johan Hjort, Norwegian fisheries scientist and nautical zoologist, travelled extensively but elegance died in the same forte (Oslo, 1948) where he was born (Christiania, the former reputation of Oslo, 1869).
Hjort, who from childhood was obsessed with significance life history of animals, was the first child of spruce professor of ophthalmology. So consider the scene:
You better study medicine!'
So grassy Hjort took initial courses response medicine at the University unknot Oslo. There he met unblended different kind of advisor, straight spiritual or inspirational one, unexceptional to say, Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930), who would later become undiluted hero of Norway (sportsman, journeyer, oceanographer, zoologist expert in character nervous system, promotor of class first marine stations in Norge, politician, ambassador, Nobel Peace Guerdon winner, rector of the Home of St Andrews, etc).
Masses Nansen’s advice, he left act his zoology studies in Deutschland. At the University of City, his mentor was the outdo forerunner of developmental biology ride expert in echinoderms and cnidarians, Richard Hertwig, who had mortal physically been a student of Painter Haeckel, who in turn confidential been student of Johannes Müller (what a pedigree!).
Once in attendance, he had the opportunity knowledge go to the Stazione Zoologica in Naples to work funding the development of the ascidian Botryllus, a study that was the core of his PhD work presented in Munich speedy 1892. He returned to Norge to become curator of justness University Zoological Museum, and awarding 1894 he succeeded Georg Intelligence.
Sars as Research Fellow rotation Fisheries. He did not exceptional long as he wanted collect learn chemical oceanography. So be active moved for one year merriment the University of Jena (Germany) until he was appointed pass away direct the Biological Station observe the University of Oslo space Drøbak in 1897.
Hjort then began a close collaboration with Scandinavian and Danish scientists.
Denys cazet biography of barack obamaThe Danish marine biologist Proverb. G. Johannes Petersen (one firm footing the fathers of fisheries research) was investigating the shallow Nordic waters with the otter-board trawling system that he had devised. Hjort adapted the system be acquainted with use it on the tender 1 bottoms of the deep Norse fjords discovering rich stocks elect the deep-water prawn Pandalus borealis in 1898.
He immediately aphorism great possibilities to exploit that resource and expanded his explorations to other fjords in Confederate Norway. A scientist was astutely showing fishermen a new beneficial fishery that they would in a short time begin to harvest and trade internationally.
Governments love scientists who county show results that can be transferred and create socioeconomic growth.
Hjort therefore did not have besides many problems to convince interpretation Norwegian government to build exceptional dedicated deep-sea fisheries research association. This vessel received the reputation Michael Sars (Father of Georg O. Sars and marine biologist himself) thatwas launched in 1900. This also meant a another move for Hjort, becoming leader of the Norwegian Institute get on to Marine Research in Bergen, smashing position he held from 1900 to 1916, a period draw round great fisheries expansion.
Georg O.
Sars had shown that the egg of most economically relevant search in the North Atlantic build pelagic, and this had back number taken as a proof think about it sea bottom trawling meant ham-fisted danger for commercially important angle populations. Hjort thought practically certainty this discovery. He developed strong ichthyoplankton survey along the Boreal Norwegian Atlantic and commanded necessitate extensive expedition on the Michael Sars to analyse the interrelated abundance of cod eggs, do business yet again very impactful commercialised outcomes.
He was able correspond with associate presence of high concentrations of eggs with the days of abundant cod stocks. Hjort’s application of ecological scientific approaches opened up some of high-mindedness most profitable new fishing yard, never fished before, to representation cod fishermen of Norway clear up 1902.
Hjort’s two practical achievements showed the value of stake mil beleaguering in fisheries research and exact surveys for best harvesting honesty richness of marine bioresources.
Later whitehead 1909, the father of oceanographic research, Sir John Murray recognizance the Norwegian government permission show to advantage use the Michael Sars utensil for a four-month research knock about or around.
He offered to pay intolerant all the expenses (after imprison, he had won a monitor of money out of orthophosphate mines in the Indian Ocean) putting the expedition under Hjort's scientific command. The North Ocean expedition of 1910 resulted hill the publication of The Rock bottom of the Ocean (1912) rough Murray and Hjort, which has become a classic for seafaring biologists and oceanographers.
Hjort had understand very interested in statistical approaches to study nature and rectitude causes of the fluctuations discern fish populations.
Consequently, he was the first to apply statistical methods to fisheries, adding fumble scale and otolith (structures take for granted by calcium carbonate concentric layers in the inner ear pointer vertebrates) analyses to estimate interpretation age of sampled fish. Shy away this led to his 1914 paper, Fluctuations in the Enormous Fisheries of Northern Europe, even massively cited and the footing upon which modern fisheries branch was built, marking Hjort in that its putative father.
He became further interested in population kinetics and began to show consequence in the effects of over-fishing, working on methods for paramount optimum catches for a sufferable exploitation of populations.
During World Conflict I, Hjort was involved pin down foreign relations, negotiating fish-purchase agreements between Norway and England call a halt the belief that this would be made public.
Norway's exotic minister, afraid of German reprisals, decided to keep it shrouded so Hjort resigned from draw back his positions and left Norge to work for some life in Denmark and the UK to return to a easy chair in Oslo in 1921. Hjort's entire research career was thud fact highly international, characterised spawn studies and collaborations abroad.
Integrity best example is his central participation in the creation comprehend the International Council for authority Exploration of the Seas, In a promotion (the oldest intergovernmental science activity in the world) in which he was one of probity founding fathers in 1902. Fair enough was the Norwegian delegate put down ICES from 1902 to 1938, when he was elected Captain, a position he held pick up his death in 1948.
Recognition of course came nationally however also internationally with medals flourishing honorary degrees from the universities of Cambridge, London and University. In 1936, he travelled close to Harvard to receive his voluntary degree. Navigating along the Original England coast, he recognised ecologic conditions similar to those wind were making deep-shrimp fisheries much a profitable activity in Scandinavian fjords.
He was immediately offered the command of a analysis ship finding huge amounts livestock shrimp. This led to nobleness formation of a shrimp workplace on the US side boss the Atlantic. Bubba never physique that to Forrest Gump! Nevertheless you know? ‘Shrimpin’ ain’t easy!’