News

A new study led by the University of British Columbia (UBC), with contributions from IGB, has revealed alarming results: climate change could lead to an increase in bacterial and fungal infections in cold-blooded animals such as corals, insects and fish. 

Using long-term monitoring data from 46 German lakes, researchers from IGB have shown that surface temperatures of lakes have risen faster than air temperatures over the last 30 years. Ooxygen concentrations in the deep water have decreased. Modelling suggests that this trend will continue. The good news is that the lack of oxygen in the hypolimnion would be alleviated if the nutrient loads from urban and agricultural discharges could be reduced.

This study in Nature Climate Change shows how interactions between climate change and urbanisation affect biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. The authors point out that the interactions between these two drivers of global change can have far-reaching effects, and how this knowledge can inform urban planning.

At around 380 kilometres, the Spree is not one of Germany’s longest rivers, but it is one of its most famous. As the capital’s river, it is representative of water bodies in Germany and around the world that are under increasing pressure. While private and commercial interests in its water resources continue to grow, it is also clear that there will be significantly less water available in the future. What needs to be done to counteract this is the subject of controversial debate.

Fish are changing how they search for and consume prey in warmer waters, with models suggesting extinctions become more likely due to this behaviour change. This is the result of a new study led by researchers from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, with the participation of IGB, published in "Nature Climate Change".

A new study with IGB researchers Oleksandra Shumilova and Igor Ogashawara aims to advance the application of declassified satellite data in the fields of ecology and conservation. The team, led by the University of Freiburg, has analysed the spatial and temporal resolution of more than one million images: they cover the entire Earth and all seasons.

Who made the Berlin research region shine this year? The science editorial team of the Tagesspiegel has selected the 100 most important personalities and nominated IGB researcher Christian Wolter for his great commitment to the Oder River.

How can the declining pike stocks in the Bodden be supported? IGB researchers have formulated clear recommendations for politics, authorities and the user groups.