Selected publications

In recirculating flumes, the authors investigated the degradation of micropollutants from treated wastewater along specific subsurface flow paths in triangular bedforms. Shallow subsurface flow fields and small-scale heterogeneity of the microbial community are major controlling factors for the transformation of micropollutants in river sediments.

Molecular survey methods detecting DNA released by target-species into their environment (eDNA) provide cost-effective tools for conservation, yet such eDNA-based methods are prone to errors. The authors synthesized recent advances in data processing tools that increase the reliability of interpretations drawn from eDNA data.

Invasion science is the systematic investigation of the causes and consequences of biological invasions. The authors identified four priority areas to advance the field in the Anthropocene: (1) predicting impacts of biological invasions, (2) understanding synergisms of multiple environmental stressors, (3) resolving the taxonomic impediment, and (4) enhancing international biosecurity.

The authors analyzed 18 long-term high-frequency lake datasets to assess the magnitude of wind- vs. rainstorm-induced changes in epilimnetic temperature. They found small day-to-day epilimnetic temperature decreases in response to strong wind and heavy rain during stratified conditions, but day-to-day temperature change, in the absence of storms, often exceeded storm-induced temperature changes.

Many contaminants affect organismal behavior and subsequent ecological outcomes. To improve understanding of the challenges and opportunities for behavioral ecotoxicology within regulatory toxicology/risk assessment, the authors formulated perspectives and recommendations, which promise to serve as a roadmap to advance interfaces among basic and translational sciences, and regulatory practices.

In a lab study it was tested if light pollution affects thyroid hormones in Eurasian perch. The results show first signs of endocrine disruption in thyroid metabolism after a relatively short exposure of two weeks under high-intensity streetlight conditions. Misbalanced thyroidal status can have serious implications for metabolic rates as well as developmental and reproductive processes.

Diversity and community composition of bacteria along vertical gradients were studied in Lake Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan, the 6th deepest lake worldwide and the largest high-altitude lake. In the molecular assessment, the 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed significant changes in the composition, responding mainly to depth and salinity with Planctomycetes and Chloroflexi dominating in the deepest layers.

In order to empower the field of biogeochemistry further in its capacity to inform and influence social transitions, the authors make a strong plea to further strengthen the integrative nature of biogeochemistry. They put special attention to the integration of mechanisms, including both the molecular and eco-evolutionary perspectives, and insights from the social sciences.