Selected publications

Researchers from all over Europe have created high-standard reference genomes for 98 species as part of the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) pilot project. This collaboration of scientists from 33 countries is an important milestone on the way to a reference genome database for European animals, plants and fungi. 

The authors conducted a scientific online survey among representatives of the general public, forestry and agriculture to find out their opinions on beavers in Germany. The majority of the general public have a positive view of beavers, while the agricultural and forestry sectors have a much more negative view. There are also regional differences. 

Conservation efforts have led to the recovery of pinnipeds populations worldwide after decades of intensive hunting and culls. However, this positive development has led to conflicts with fisheries, particularly small-scale fisheries. They are almost three times more likely to come into conflict with seals, sea lions and walruses, and lose four times more of their catch than larger fisheries.

The authors introduce the concept of novel river landscapes, the limitations of current fish habitat models and opportunities for new models. They outline 3 priority data-driven opportunities that incorporate the novel riverscape concept: fish movement, river behavior, and drivers of novelty that all are integrated into a scale-based framework to guide the development of new models. 

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.

The study aimed to elucidate the tradeoffs for the utilization of remote sensing data in limnological studies with an example based on the estimation of chlorophyll a due to its importance as a water quality indicator. Assessing atmospheric correction and product limitations ensures alignment with the limnological study.