© Solvin Zankl

Research for the future of our freshwaters

Through innovative research on the structure and functioning of freshwaters, their biodiversity, ecosystem services and responses to global change, we make a relevant contribution to a better understanding of these ecosystems and to sustainable freshwater management.
© David Ausserhofer/IGB

Our programme areas

In three programme areas, we link internationally competitive basic research with applied research for the sustainable use and conservation of inland waters. This integrative and dynamic approach allows us to develop innovative ideas, respond to research questions and impulses from science and society as well as to drive national, European and global research developments.
© Solvin Zankl

Our research groups

The 37 research groups at IGB are organised in five disciplinary departments that enable multi-faceted research in freshwater ecology and inland fisheries. Their work is integrated most prominently within three programme areas that represent overarching research themes.
© Carmen Cillero/3edata

Our infrastructure

IGB maintains large-scale research facilities such as the IGB LakeLab in Lake Stechlin or the River Lab in the Tagliamento River. Our infrastructure also includes fish and invertebrates facilities as well as modern biogeochemistry, stable isotope, microbial and molecular laboratories. In addition, we use and advance a wide range of models and methods such as remote sensing, 3D print-assisted sampling, sensor technology and AI-assisted image analysis.
© Photo by Reto Gerber on Pixabay

Our latest scientific highlights

Effects of macrophyte removal on biodiversity | Occurrence of freshwater invertebrates in Cuba | Mixed-species fish shoals that perform collective dives

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Selected publications

May 2023
BMC Biology. - 21(2023)109

Massive expansion of sex-specific SNPs, transposon-related elements, and neocentromere formation shape the young W-chromosome from the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis

Stefan Müller; Kang Du; Yann Guiguen; Maria Pichler; Shinichi Nakagawa; Matthias Stöck; Manfred Schartl; Dunja K. Lamatsch

The mosquitofish Gambusia affinis, globally introduced to fight mosquitos, is a threat for freshwater ecosystems and a model for sex chromosome evolution. Cyto-/genomics reveals aneocentromere to shield parts of its evolutionary young female sex chromosome (W) that actively differentiates by expansion of transcribed transposons, while major sequence divergence or gene decay are missing. 

May 2023
Journal of Geophysical Research : Biogeosciences. - 128(2023)4, Art. e2022JG007328

Habitability of Polygonal Soils in the Hyper-Arid Atacama Desert After a Simulated Rain Experiment

Christof Sager; Alessandro Airo; Kai Mangelsdorf; Felix L. Arens; Cornelia Karger; Dirk Schulze-Makuch

The dryness in the Atacama Desert led to fracture networks of salt-poor sand wedges outlining salt-rich polygons as potential microbial habitats. Mineral composition, pH, electrical and thermal conductivity, water activity and content were analyzed for their relevance to habitability. The results emphasize the relevance of polygonal networks as microbial habitats in extreme environments.

May 2023
Oikos. - (2023)5, Art. e09645

A synthesis of biological invasion hypotheses associated with the introduction–naturalisation–invasion continuum

Ella Z. Daly; Olivier Chabrerie; Francois Massol; Benoit Facon; Manon C.M. Hess; Aurélie Tasiemski; Frédéric Grandjean; Matthieu Chauvat; Frédérique Viard; Estelle Forey; Laurent Folcher; Elise Buisson; Thomas Boivin; Sylvie Baltora-Rosset; Romain Ulmer; Patricia Gibert; Gabrielle Thiébaut; Jelena H. Pantel; Tina Heger; David M. Richardson; David Renault

Empirical studies show divergent impacts of alien populations on ecosystems which hinders the creation of a unified theory. The authors propose a synthesis that categorizes hypotheses along a timeline of invasion considering population, community and ecosystem levels. For any given case study, this framework provides a guide to choose the appropriate concepts according to the stage of invasion.

May 2023
Limnology and Oceanography. - XX(2023)XX, XX

Oxygen depletion and sediment respiration in ice-covered arctic lakes

Robert Schwefel; Sally MacIntyre; Alicia Cortés; Steven Sadro

The study investigated the oxygen budget of 4 arctic lakes using high-frequency data. Incubation experiments measured sediment metabolism. Volume-averaged oxygen depletion in situ was independent of water temperature and duration of ice-cover. Modeling under ice-oxygen dynamics requires consideration of optical properties, biological and transport processes modifying oxygen.

May 2023
Journal of Environmental Management. - 325(2023), Art. 116442

Short-term effects of macrophyte removal on aquatic biodiversity in rivers and lakes

Benjamin Misteli; Alexandrine Pannard; Eirin Aasland; Sarah Faye Harpenslager; Samuel Motitsoe; Kirstine Thiemer; Stéphanie Llopis; Julie Coetzee; Sabine Hilt; Jan Köhler; Susanne C. Schneider; Christophe Piscart; Gabrielle Thiébaut

Study of the effects of macrophyte removal on phytoplankton, zooplankton and macroinvertebrates at five sites with highly variable characteristics repeating the same Before-After-Control-Impact design to disentangle general from site-specific effects. Macrophyte removal had negative effects on biodiversity, esp. on zooplankton and macroinvertebrates. It had positive effects on phytoplankton.

Monitoring stations

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  • Water temperature
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  • Oxygen (rel./abs.)
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Last measurement: No data available.
  • Water temperature
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  • Oxygen (rel./abs.)
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  • Wind speed
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Last measurement: No data available.

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