- Department:(Dept. 2) Community and Ecosystem Ecology
Trophic Transfer Efficiency in Lakes
The authors explored how spatial and temporal variability of lake food webs and their links to the terrestrial environment affect trophic transfer efficiency (TTE). They suggest that TTE can be estimated as mechanistic expression of energy flow between consumer and producer pairs, or as ecosystem efficiency comparing total sums of heterotrophic production rates with fixation rates of carbon.
Large-scale sampling of the freshwater microbiome suggests pollution-driven ecosystem changes
Citizen scientists sampled more than 600 freshwaters in Germany. This unique data set provides evidence of 3 trends: first, microorganisms in the sediment show signs of chemical stress and antibiotic resistance in their genetic material. Second, excessive artificial lighting at night alters the species composition of microorganisms. And third, all studied water bodies emit greenhouse gases.
Hydrography90m : a new high-resolution global hydrographic dataset
The authors used a digital elevation model at 90m resolution and extracted the stream network, sub-catchments and drainage basins along with a suite of topographical and topological attributes. "Hydrography90m" provides a global, high-resolution and standardized dataset, emphasizing headwater streams, and can be used in spatial freshwater biodiversity analyses.
Invasion impacts and dynamics of a European-wide introduced species
The authors assessed the invasion dynamics of the New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum, one of the most damaging freshwater invaders. They observed that the snail abundance increased through time with 59% of populations following the proposed pattern, providing insights into large-scale invasion dynamics to inform management actions to mitigate impacts on ecosystems and economies.
From minute to day: ecophysiological response of phytoplankton to fluctuating light exposure during vertical mixing
The authors performed a cross-timescale investigation of a suite of physiological processes governing phytoplankton growth under fluctuating light exposure during vertical mixing: Respiration was enhanced in the short periods of low light following higher photosynthesis at the lake surface, indicating a tight connection between photosynthesis, respiration and biosynthesis under fluctuating light.
Heat waves rather than continuous warming exacerbate impacts of nutrient loading and herbicides on aquatic ecosystems
The authors used 48 mesocosms to test how nutrient loading, continuous warming, heat waves and glyphosate-based herbicides interactively impact the growth of submerged macrophytes, phytoplankton and periphyton. Heat waves facilitated phytoplankton growth under combined nutrient loading and glyphosate treatments more than continuous warming. Macrophyte biomass was lowest under these conditions.
Spatial and temporal dynamics of water isotopes in the riverine-marine mixing zone along the German Baltic Sea coast
The spatial and temporal variability of stable water isotopes were investigated in the Schlei and in the Baltic Sea boddens. The data improve the understanding of hydrological processes behind those dynamics. Further they will be a helpful contribution to multiple IGB projects, e.g. in context of migration studies of pike and analysis of biochemical processes in macrophytes
Multiple angle observations would benefit visible band remote sensing using night lights
The authors propose that next generation night-time remote sensing missions should consider multiple angles for observations in the visible band. They demonstrate via modeling and examples how the proposed method would leverage light pollution studies and unlock new applications for night-time remote sensing.
The rising moon promotes mate finding in moths
The authors have shown for the first time that the moon plays a key role in the reproductive behaviour of male moths: when the moon rises on the horizon, they find females better and faster. Fortunately, they are not bothered by low levels of light pollution.
Spatial and seasonal patterns of water isotopes in northeastern German lakes
In course of measuring campaigns, the spatial and temporal dynamics of water isotopes in northeastern German lakes were evaluated. The data will serve as basis for further studies, for example with respect to connectivity of lakes and biochemical processes in macrophytes.