The subject covers the entire animal kingdom, and everything from the innermost parts of the cell to the integrated functions of the whole organism and its adaptation to the environment. Almost all the large animal groups are represented in the sea. The adaptation to the marine environment, particularly among the vertebrates, has produced many interesting systems and mechanisms, often with general physiological interest.
T here are two major reasons for the study of the physiology of marine animals.
The choice of a marine species for the studies is made either because the animal is a marine species, or because the animal offers some other features which makes it a good object for studies of a particular phenomenon and just happens to live in the sea. The boundary between the two approaches is fluid, and not particularly interesting. The department is also involved in research related to aquaculture, e.g. rearing of marine fish such as turbot, and environmental protection issues.