- Department:(Dept. 2) Community and Ecosystem Ecology
Monitoring, trends and impacts of light pollution
The "Night Watch" consortium has compiled studies that use satellite images and star observations to analyse how artificial light is changing our night sky and nocturnal environments. Almost 50 per cent of the earth's surface is affected by light pollution, with natural darkness being outshone by a factor of up to several thousand. And light pollution is increasing: 2-10% each year.
Causes of macrophyte mass development and management recommendations
In field experiments the authors investigated why mass developments of macrophytes occur and what the consequences of removing them are. The evaluation of different management approaches showed that the "do nothing" option can also be considered when dealing with aquatic plants.
Reducing the fatal attraction of nocturnal insects using tailored and shielded road lights
In a transdisciplinary study, a research team led by IGB has developed insect-friendly street lighting and tested it in the Dark Sky Reserve Westhavelland as well as in three German municipalities. Tailored and shielded street lamps make the light source almost invisible outside the illuminated area and significantly reduces the lethal attraction for flying insects in different environments.
Inland navigation and land use interact to impact European freshwater biodiversity
Using a comprehensive set of long-term data, the authors show that shipping has contributed to a significant loss of biodiversity of fish and macroinvertebrates in European rivers in recent decades – and that the animal communities are becoming increasingly homogeneous and river-typical species are being lost. Invasive species, on the other hand, are significantly increasing.
The potential of citizen science to transform science: Lessons for a sustainable future
The authors analysed 8 citizen science projects within Accelerator Programme of the EU H2020 funded ACTION project that deal with environmental pollution. Citizen science involves the public in the scientific process, making research more relevant and responsive. Our findings show that this can lead to a more sustainable future, where science and society work together to solve pressing problems.
Global introductions and environmental impacts of freshwater megafish
The authors investigated the introductions of freshwater megafish on a global scale and assessed their environmental impacts. Of the 134 extant freshwater megafish species, 46% have been introduced to new environments, and of these, 69% have established self-sustaining alien populations and posed negative impacts on native species through nine different mechanisms.
Cross-scale and integrative prioritization of multi-functionality in large river floodplains
Stream macroinvertebrate communities in restored and impacted catchments respond differently to climate, land-use, and runoff over a decade
Three major steps toward the conservation of freshwater and riparian biodiversity
Flexible foraging behaviour increases predator vulnerability to climate change
Based on a combination of (historical) empirical data and model simulations the authors investigated how size-selective adaptive behaviour under warmer conditions in demersal marine fishes might affect their long-term population stability. Under warmer conditions the fish species studied tend to consume less efficiently by choosing smaller and more abundant prey increasing their extinction risk.