Projects

Our project aims to understand the evolution of individual and collective intelligence in fish due to size-selective harvesting (like in fisheries) and the fitness consequences using zebrafish as a model.

The killing of even single specimen might be of species conservation legal relevance, so fish mortality at hydropower plants. This project aimed to establish the Mortality Hazard Index as standardized assessment system for the legally relevant mortality risk of species also for the group of fishes and lampreys.   

We analyse the effects of wind-induced mixing on phytoplankton development in the shallow lake Tai near Shanghai.

The SMART Joint Doctorate focuses on the core areas of natural and engineering sciences relevant to the sustainable management of river systems from their headwaters to estuaries. SMART aims to provide education and research at PhD level by offering a 3-year programme within the Erasmus Mundus action. It adopts a multidisciplinary, multi-scale approach that integrates relevant aspects of the physical, chemical and biological sciences, including relevant theory, monitoring and modelling.

Defining a safe operating space (SOS) for water resources in a changing climate and society is urgently needed to ensure a sufficient and reliable supply of water of a quality acceptable for human activity and natural ecosystems over the coming decades.

Species protection through environmentally friendly lighting

Tatort streetlight discovers causes for insect decline. Street lighting can severely impair nocturnal flying insects, as many insects are attracted to the light of the luminaires and withdrawn from their actual habitats. Help us to investigate which insects are affected by street lighting and how environmentally sound lighting solutions can help preserve the insects' habitat.

This project used whole genome-based approaches for the improvement of conservation and aquaculture in two sturgeon species: Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and Beluga (Huso huso).

Charophytes are declining in European lakes despite protection. Our research explores how light and nutrients affect their growth vs. vascular plants, revealing key insights for lake restoration.