The Department studies the effects of natural and anthropogenic environmental drivers (e.g. climate change, nutrient input, hydromophological alterations) on the structure, function and long-term development of lowland freshwaters, from the organism to the ecosystem level. We focus on the response and adaptation of biotic communities including phytoplankton, macrophytes, periphyton, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates and the related ecosystem processes.

Our research reflects the unique properties of lowland water bodies, such as their strong connectivity with the terrestrial environment (e.g. nutrient inputs), the occurrence of alternative stable states (e.g. allochthony and allelopathy) and their strong dependence on higher-level physical factors (e.g., climate). The Department combines expertise in limnology, hydrobiology, geography, molecular ecology, genomics and modelling. This provides the basis for conducting both basic and applied research and to develop integrative management strategies. In cooperation with other departments with additional expertise (e.g., other organisms, hydrology and hydrodynamics, modelling) we are able to address questions related to the complexity of entire lowland ecosystems.