Lene Petersen

Lene Petersen serves as an Instructional Associate Professor and Chair of Undergraduate Research in the Department of Marine Biology within the College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Her research bridges multiple physiological systems with a focus on environmental stressors affecting marine organisms.

Her primary research interests span fish cardiovascular physiology, reproduction, conservation physiology, endocrinology, and animal behavior. Current projects investigate saltwater exposure effects on juvenile American alligators' renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and steroidogenesis, while fish physiology studies examine hypoxia impacts on cardiorespiratory function in Gulf of Mexico species. The lab employs molecular, cellular, and whole-organism approaches across developmental stages.

Analysis of recent publications reveals consistent focus on environmental stressors (hypoxia, salinity, contaminants) affecting vertebrate physiology, with methodologies ranging from in situ cardiac measurements to in silico modeling. Key trends include:

• Translational work connecting molecular mechanisms to conservation outcomes
• Integration of endocrine disruption studies with climate change impacts
• Development of non-invasive physiological assessment techniques

Petersen actively teaches undergraduate courses including Fish Physiology (MARB 335), Animal Behavior (MARB 410), Marine Parasitology (MARB 405), Pathology of Marine Animals (MARB 437), and Comparative Physiology (MARB 420). Her lab utilizes specialized facilities such as swim tunnel respirometers, flow-through exposure systems, and Ethovision XT behavioral analysis software to study stress responses in fish and alligators.