News

 Urbanization introduces large amounts of nutrients, chemical pollutants and antimicrobial products, and thereby changes the makeup of the microbiome by favouring groups of bacteria that contain human pathogenic bacteria, with yet unknown consequences for ecosystem functioning and human and animal health.

The Prussian carp or Gibel carp is considered one of the most successful invasive fish species in Europe. Its ability to reproduce asexually gives it a major advantage over competing fish. An international research team has for the first time described the complete genome of the Prussian carp. This also provides a much better understanding of its unusual reproductive method and to improve its management.

Since 1996, the Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer-Förderpreis has been awarded for special doctoral achievements and degrees at the Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Philipp Czapla received the award for his outstanding Master's degree in the M.Sc. Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture programme, which is co-led by IGB.

Researchers with the participation of IGB have shown for the first time that the moon plays a key role in the reproductive behaviour of male moths: when the moon rises on the horizon, they find females better and faster. Fortunately, they are not bothered by low levels of light pollution.

Interactive Qualifying Project on Lake Ecology between students from different technical disciplines from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), USA, and IGB researchers.

Is there an "excess" of aquatic plants? IGB has now published a fact sheet to give all interested parties a brief research-based overview.

In spring 2022 , a research team from the IGB, together with students from the HU Berlin, conducted extensive groundwater investigations at Arendsee. The aim was to repeat a measurement campaign from 2012 to determine whether nutrient inputs to Lake Arend via groundwater have changed over the last 10 years. The results of the measurement campaign are now available.

Freshwaters are underestimated sources of greenhouse gases. Researchers with IGB have now shown that even dry water bodies can release considerable amounts of methane. An overview of the causes and magnitudes of methane emissions from freshwaters and an outlook on future developments in climate change make this evident: cleaner waters and more moorland, please.