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Tina Heger, an IGB scientist, was recently appointed as an honorary professor at Leuphana University Lüneburg and as an adjunct professor at Technical University Munich. The ecologist develops concepts for pooling knowledge and making research findings more accessible. She also creates scientific visions on how to improve the relationship between people and nature. She enjoys working interdisciplinarily, for example with philosophers. This gives her a very broad view of the topic of ecology. We wanted to find out more about her work.

Freshwater mussels are the industrious cleaners of lakes and rivers, filtering small algae out of the water and keeping it clear. This positive image has suffered since the spread of the invasive quagga mussel. The voracious appetite of this newly introduced species means that fish in Lake Constance and other water bodies are deprived of plankton as a source of food. Keeping them in check also costs a lot of money: masses of quagga mussels clog up pipes and boats. We put five questions to IGB researchers to find out more about these industrious filter feeders.

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. 

How do invasive species change the use of food resources? A meta study reveals that the maximum consumption rates of the invasive species are on average 70 percent higher than those of their native counterparts. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in freshwater species and could be a major reason for the strong impact of invasive species on biodiversity.

Without algae, little would function in aquatic ecosystems: they are a key component of the aquatic food web and provide oxygen for respiratory animals. But there is ample evidence that their abundance and composition are shifting as a result of climate change. This often has alarming consequences for the communities that live in rivers and lakes – and for us humans. 

IGB researchers gave feedback in the EU consultation on the GreenData4All initaitive.

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.

IGB researchers gave feedback on the planned European Water Resilience Strategy and underlined the relevance of freshwater ecosystems.