Aquatic Ecosystem Services and Sustainability
Freshwater habitats and wetlands are among the most important ecosystems on Earth because they provide important ecosystem services to our societies. These include, for example, drinking water supply, flood prevention, inland fisheries, transport and recreation. The importance of inland waters for humans should lead to their protection. But indeed, intensive use and the fact that many wetlands are linked to fertile soils put a high pressure on many freshwater ecosystems.
In the programme area “Aquatic Ecosystem Services and Sustainability”, IGB is investigating ecosystem services of freshwater habitats and how they can be managed and restored. Important goals are to understand the mechanisms providing resilience to freshwater ecosystems and to elaborate nature-based solutions that support the multiple functions of freshwaters. Production, regulating and cultural services of freshwater ecosystems, the processes that support them, and their threats will be studied. Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture are an important dimension of this programme area.
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Selected publications
June 2023
Journal of Environmental Management. - 342(2023), Art. 118298
Socio-economic or environmental benefits from pondscapes? Deriving stakeholder preferences using analytic hierarchy process and compositional data analysis
The authors studied the needs and knowledge of stakeholders who own, work, research, or benefit from pondscapes in 8 countries. Using the analytic hierarchy process, this study shows that in general stakeholders in the European and Turkish demo-sites prefer environmental benefits, while stakeholders in the Uruguayan demo-sites rank the economic benefits higher.
March 2023
Science. - 379(2023)6635, Seiten 946-951
Ecosystem-based management outperforms species-focused stocking for enhancing fish populations
In a large-scale effort, a research team in cooperation with angling clubs, has conducted whole-lake experiments in 20 lakes to improve ecological conditions. Habitat improvements were the most effective means to enhance fish populations, whereas fish stocking completely failed. The study emphasizes the importance of restoring habitats and improving natural ecosystem processes.
March 2022
Science of the Total Environment. - 814(2022), Art. 151925
Cross-continental importance of CH4 emissions from dry inland-waters
Despite significant progress in quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from dry inland waters, little is known about methane (CH4). The authors determined CH4 emissions from dry sediments across continents and found that the CH4 contribution ranged from 10 to 21% of the equivalent CO2 emissions. Therefore, CH4 emissions from dry inland waters should be considered for the global carbon cycle.
September 2021
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London : Ser. B, Biological Sciences. - 288(2021)1959, Art. 20211623
Ecological impacts of water-based recreational activities on freshwater ecosystems: a global meta-analysis
The authors have summarised and evaluated the scientific literature on recreational ecology in a meta-study. Although all recreational activities can have negative impacts on plants, animals and the environment, they conclude that boat traffic and shoreline use have the most consistently negative impacts.
September 2021
Trends in Ecology and Evolution. - 36(2021)10, 885-888
Fisheries-induced changes of shoaling behaviour: mechanisms and potential consequences
The authors outline key mechanisms by which fishing can change the shoaling tendency and collective behaviour of exploited species – an issue that is rarely considered and poorly understood. They highlight potential consequences for fish populations and food webs, and discuss possible repercussions for fisheries and conservation strategies.
