News

In some regions of the world, such as some Chinese lakes, cyanobacterial blooms are increasingly managed through large-scale mechanical harvesting to improve water quality and ensure a continued supply of drinking water. However, as a recent study shows, this does not prevent greenhouse gas emissions.

Two recent review articles in the journals “Trends in Ecology & Evolution” and “Fish and Fisheries” focus on the influence of humans on the diversity of fish behaviour, and on how management can help preserve this diversity.

A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution sheds light on the relationship between biodiversity and the ecological functions of ponds in seven European countries. 

A new study by the Cluster of Excellence ‘Science of Intelligence (SCIoI)’ on clonal mollies suggests that swarm behavior is not innate: During their first days of life, the fish still display distinct individual behaviors, and it is only around one month of age that they begin to form cohesive shoals, developing the coordinated movements characteristic of the group. However, several shoals of genetically identical clones begin to behave differently after a few weeks. 

Chemicals from tire wear and pharmaceutical residues are ubiquitous in urban water bodies. This is shown by a new study of 43 ponds across Berlin. The research team, led by IGB, discovered that the extent of chemical pollution in the ponds is determined less by the degree of of surrounding built-up areas than by the type of water flowing into them. 

Over the past two decades, shrimp aquaculture has grown enormously worldwide and consumer awareness of ethical, environmental and sustainability issues has increased. A new IGB Manual provides guidance on how to assess animal welfare in shrimp aquaculture.

The 41st Annual Meeting of the German Society for Limnology (DGL) and the 16th Water Research Horizon Conference (WRHC) organised by the Water Science Alliance are being hosted by IGB in collaboration with the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

When people think of toxic cyanobacteria, they usually picture green algal blooms. However, these organisms can also grow on aquatic plants, meaning they are found in places where they come particularly close to humans and animals.