We seek to describe hydrological mechanisms like exchange between groundwater and surface water, hydrodynamic structures in streams related to morphology and vegetation, and internal boundaries in lakes and their physical characteristics, which underlie ecological patterns and processes and thus, to bridge the gap between physical processes and the chemical/biological nature of freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, we are developing a platform for trans- and interdisciplinary studies to investigate eco/hydrological and social consequences of short and long-term environmental changes (e.g. the increasing loss of the night). We focus our research to rivers, streams, shallow and stratified lakes and groundwater, whereas the exchange between freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems is of great importance. Mostly but not solely we are working along a gradient of urban, peri-urban and rural waters where a superposition of climate change and local anthropogenic effects are to observe.