Global Freshwater Biodiversity, Biogeography and Conservation

Only 25 per cent of newly-delineated priority areas identified for the protection of freshwater fishes in Colombia overlap with existing protected areas. This is shown by a recent study published in Diversity and Distributions.

Protected areas are meant to preserve endangered species and stabilize ecosystems. But for many European rivers, this protection apparently falls short. This is the finding of a new study in Nature Communications led by the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, in which IGB participated.

In 2025, the Forschungsverbund Berlin will celebrate a special anniversary: the Marthe Vogt Award for outstanding young women scientists turns 25. In the anniversary year, the award goes to IGB's researcher Dr. Afroditi Grigoropoulou. 

Head out to the lake for a swim, but have you ever wondered what might be swimming, growing or crawling in the water? A catfish recently attacked several people in the Brombachsee, a lake in Franconia. But just how dangerous are these predatory fish? What other creatures might you encounter in the lake? We take a look at the diverse underwater world of animals and plants, from the harmless to the astonishing.

Two recent studies highlight the profound impacts of hydropower on biodiversity in river channels and at the land-water surface. The studies demonstrate that these effects arise from impoundment upstream of the dams, disruptions to the natural flow, sediment, and thermal regimes in downstream channels and floodplains, altering habitat conditions and environmental cues vital for many species to complete their life cycles. 

The World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) latest report on the state of the world's climate shows that global warming is accelerating, with a particularly sharp increase in 2024 – and with far-reaching and in some cases irreversible consequences for our inland waters. Rising temperatures and changing water levels are driving new ecological dynamics: oxygen-free zones are expanding in lakes, the composition of species communities is changing and animals are adapting their behaviour – often struggling to obtain sufficient food.

Global change poses immense challenges to our society. To better understand and address these challenges, IGB has launched a new, visionary programme area. This initiative represents an important strategic development within an extraordinary item of expenditure.

An international research team has analysed the state and development of biodiversity in European rivers. As the extensive study shows, development has stagnated after initial improvement; many river systems have not been able to regenerate completely.