Jörn Gessner

Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin
Profile
We work on the prerequisites for the restoration and reestablishment of both the European and the Baltic sturgeon in their historic range – with a focus on the rivers Elbe and Oder. We combine restoration management and functional biology while studying behavior of early life phases to be related to physiological effects of the environment. The results help us to develop assessment tools for habitat suitability studies and to improve rearing conditions to increase fitness for survival.
In collaboration with our our geneticists we develop breeding plans and management tools to improve broodstock maintenance and restoration efficiency of the ex situ measures. The group contributes to the work on functional genomics as an emerging field. The results are applied to assess the adaptive potential of animals, their response to training and to verify effects of environmental adaptation in early life phases. The results are utilized to develop on site rearing technology in an EMFF project. Restoration guidance is under development in close cooperation with the respective Expert Groups under Helcom and in international panels such as the IUCN Sturgeon Specialist Group, ICES WGDIAD, the World Sturgeon Conservation Society (WSCS), but also in support of regional conventions such as Bern, Bucharest, Oslo-Paris and commission (ICPDR).
Field studies on movement and habitat use in the wild, and recapture data of juvenile sturgeons are used to determine critical impacts and to develop counter measures: for instance modified gillnets for the inner coastal waters that can reduce by-catch of sturgeons by 98%. The in situ work also addresses the restoration options and effects for large rivers in close collaboration with our colleagues of the CCRD 3, exemplified in the assessment of management options on the River Havel. Joint work and transfer of the experiences in this work is taking place through collaborations with partners in France, the Netherlands, the Danube region, under the Helsinki Convention, the Bern Convention as well as through the World Sturgeon Conservation Society.
To increase public awareness, the project Wanderfisch – funded during the Science Year by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research – involved several groups in public releases at the river Oder.and the infrastructure established continues toprovide information and materials for schools and educational institutions,
Jörn Gessner's research group is affiliated with (Dept. 4) Biology and Ecology of Fishes as well as with (Dept. 5) Ecophysiology and Aquaculture.
Group members
Janina Fuest
Projects
IGB Publications
2021
Ausbaupläne an der Oder : das Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei bezieht Stellung
Protection and recovery measures for the Baltic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)
Defining criteria for the reintroduction of locally extinct populations based on contemporary and ancient genetic diversity: the case of the Adriatic Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso)
Identification of species and hybrids, source and geographical origin of sturgeon and paddlefish (Acipenseriformes spp.) specimens and products in trade (based on SC70 Doc.
Standardisierung der Haltungsbedingungen in der experimentellen Fischhaltung
Biologische Vielfalt in Binnengewässern – bedrohte Lebensgrundlagen von Natur und Mensch besser schützen : Forschungsbasierte Handlungsempfehlungen für eine nachhaltige Gewässerpolitik: IGB Policy Brief
A 180 Myr-old female-specific genome region in sturgeon reveals the oldest known vertebrate sex determining system with undifferentiated sex chromosomes
Die ökologische Verschlechterung des Stechlinsees – Wissensstand und Handlungsoptionen: Handreichung (März 2021)
Characterization of European lampreys and fishes by their longitudinal and lateral distribution traits
2020
Ausbaupläne an der Oder – Gefahren für Natur und nachhaltige Nutzung: IGB Policy Brief
Plans to regulate the River Oder - pose risks to nature and sustainable use: IGB Policy Brief
Nachhaltige Aquakultur in Deutschland - Chancen und Herausforderungen: IGB Policy Brief
Temperature training improves transcriptional homeostasis after heat shock in juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)
Fachplanerische Bewertung der Mortalität von Fischen an Wasserkraftanlagen
(BfN-Skripten ; 561)
The sterlet sturgeon genome sequence and the mechanisms of segmental rediploidization
2019
Flagship species of the Danube - will there be sturgeons in the future?
Sturgeon
HELCOM-action plan for the protection and recovery of the Baltic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus: action plan for the period of 2019 - 2029
Sturgeon re-introduction in the upper and middle Danube River basin
Can juvenile Baltic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) smell the enemy?
Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Sturgeons (ISS 8): University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Austria, September 11-17, 2017
How to improve foraging efficiency for restocking measures of juvenile Baltic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)
Critical swimming speed of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus): Does intraspecific hybridization affect swimming performance?
Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) in Europe: an aquaculture species and a potential invader
Sturgeon meat and caviar production: global update 2017
Summary report on the major topics addressed at ISS 8 (8th International Symposium on Sturgeons)
On the overlap between scientific and societal taxonomic attentions - insights for conservation
2018
Pan-European action plan for sturgeons: multi species action plan for the Russian sturgeo complex (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. persicus-colchicus), Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii), Ship sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris), ...
Development and assessment of a multiplex PCR assay for genetic analyses of microsatellite loci in beluga sturgeon, Huso huso
Validation of 12 species-specific, tetrasomic microsatellite loci from the Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, for genetic broodstock management
Diversity of immunoglobulin light chain genes in non-teleost ray-finned fish uncovers IgL subdivision into five ancient isotypes
If you build it, will they come? Spawning habitat remediation for sturgeon
Sturgeon and paddlefish life history and management: experts' knowledge and beliefs
2017
New microsatellite multiplex PCR sets for genetic studies of the sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus
Schutz und Nutzung von Binnengewässern in Deutschland - Status Quo, Konflikte und politische Handlungsoptionen
IGB Policy Brief zur Bundestagswahl 2017