Comparative studies on the adaptability of marine organisms require specialised techniques. Non-invasive methods such as MR imaging and spectroscopy allow integrative studies from the whole-animal to the cellular level to directly follow parameters such as ventilation, cardiac activity and energy metabolism in the organism.

Bottom-living fish such as the Antarctic eelpout can be examined in small aquaria in the MR tomograph without any problems. As an example, anatomical slice images of the Antarctic eelpout are shown here (see gallery).

On the images, the gills, brain, liver and stomach can be clearly distinguished from the muscle.