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Crustaceans such as shrimp are a popular food. Due to the high demand for crustaceans, the majority of those consumed no longer come from the wild, but are farmed on a large scale in aquaculture. However, there is potential for improvement in terms of sustainability and animal welfare. In an interview, Dr Sven Würtz explains why aquaculture practitioners should address this issue with urgency.

IGB has been honoured with the TOTAL E-QUALITY award. This renowned award recognises the Institute's equal opportunities strategy, which meets the TOTAL E-QUALITY standards in various fields of action.

With a varied programme, IGB attracted more than 250 guests to the Open Day at the IGB site in Neuglobsow on the shores of Lake Stechlin on 1 July.

Researchers from the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources in Xiamen and the IGB have identified a natural fungus-bacteria consortium that metabolises nitrate particularly efficiently and consistently. This could be crucial for the further development of biotechnological approaches in water treatment and provides further evidence of the important role of fungi in aquatic ecosystems.

Parasites can significantly reduce the food intakeof their host animals. In a meta-analysis, IGB researchers have now quantified that parasitized animals consume on average a quarter less food than their non-infected conspecifics.

Reeds are dying in many of Europe's lakes. The causes are manifold. Researchers from IGB and the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin) have now identified high sulphate concentrations as a result of mining in Lusatia as one of the causes of the decline of reeds in Berlin's lakes. They analysed data from 14 lakes in the Berlin catchment area for the period 2000 to 2020. Rising sulphate concentrations are associated with a decline in the reed beds.

Two outstanding IGB researchers, Professor Jonathan Jeschke and Professor Justyna Wolinska, were honoured with the "Teaching Award" by the students of Freie Universität Berlin on 13 July. The prize is awarded annually by students of biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and pharmacy to recognise highly committed members of the teaching staff.

Microplastics are found in lakes and reservoirs around the world. Pollution reaches even the most secluded places where human influence is minimal. Moreover, concentrations of microplastics in freshwaters are sometimes higher than in subtropical gyres, the marine areas where large amounts of waste accumulate. These are the findings of an international study of 38 lakes and reservoirs led by the University of Milan-Bicocca in Italy, with the participation of IGB, and published in the journal Nature.