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The Oder is the last major river in Germany where fish and other animals can still migrate freely over long stretches. Since 2006, it has been the focus area for the reintroduction of the Baltic sturgeon. What is the fate of the sturgeon now?

Naturalne przyczyny tej zaistniałej katastrofy są mało prawdopodobne. Ostatnie badania wzmocniły podejrzenie, że w Odrze masowo rozwinęły się toksyczne glony słonawowodne.

Neueste Untersuchungen erhärten den Verdacht, dass die Massenentwicklung einer giftigen Brackwasser-Alge in der Oder stattgefunden hat. Von einem natürlichen Phänomen gehen die Forschenden nach wie vor nicht aus, denn die Algenart Prymnesium parvum kommt auf den betroffenen Oder-Abschnitten unter natürlichen Bedingungen nicht massenhaft vor. 

The environmental disaster on the Oder river also leaves researchers from the IGB in a great sense of shock. They the are currently tracking down a strong toxin that can be produced by the algae species Prymnesium parvum. Even if this suspicion is confirmed, it is not a natural phenomenon, but definitely a man-made problem.

Low-growing species such as stoneworts were last sighted in the Müggelsee over a century ago. Now, after 20 years of intensive mapping and diving surveys, not just one but three of these desirable species of underwater vegetation have been found.

New encyclopedia on rivers, lakes, wetlands and the groundwater published

German scientists have summarised in a policy brief what smart flood protection should look like and what benefits nature-based solutions in particular provide. 

Dry banks instead of expanses of water, trickles instead of torrents. With climate change, freshwater bodies are losing water. Researchers of IGB are investigating what this means for people and ecosystems. Over the next few weeks, they will answer 10 questions on the topic.