News

Student Katja Mehrwald has investigated what species are on the diet of grey seals in the southern Baltic Sea. For her study, carried out at the University of Rostock and IGB, she has now been awarded the Master's Prize of the German Zoological Society. 

At its annual conference, the German Society for Limnology (DGL) awards three prizes to outstanding young researchers. Malwina Schafft from the research group of Robert Arlinghaus received the 3rd prize.

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

Freshwater biodiversity is declining at alarming rates. In a large-scale effort, a research team led by IGB and the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (HU) in cooperation with angling clubs, has conducted whole-lake experiments in 20 lakes to improve ecological conditions. Habitat improvements were the most effective means to enhance fish populations, whereas fish stocking completely failed. The study published in the journal Science emphasizes the importance of restoring habitats and improving natural ecosystem processes, which benefits fish populations, conservation and fisheries.

IGB has provided feedback on the government draft of the National Water Strategy, emphasising, among other things, the relevance of aquatic biodiversity and the large practical implementation deficit in water management.

Robert Arlinghaus and his team have received this year's Inter Circle U Prize for their engagement in sustainable fisheries research.

Do fishing clubs take their responsibility seriously at artificial gravel pit lakes? Researchers compared managed and unmanaged natural lakes as well as managed and unmanaged gravel pit lakes in Lower Saxony and Brandenburg. They found that lakes managed by anglers host similar fish species to unmanaged natural lakes.

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.