The IGB Policy Brief recommends continued commitment to the objectives of the WFD and improved practical implementation.

Putting the Water Framework Directive to the test

Read the new IGB Policy Brief
Photo: Tama66/pixabay
IGB scientists have quantified the global decline of big freshwater animals: From 1970 to 2012, global populations of freshwater megafauna declined by 88 percent. Large fish species are particularly affected.

88 Percent Decline of Big Freshwater Animals

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The distribution range of the European sturgeon diminished by 99 %. Photo: Solvin Zankl
Researchers call for a consideration of recreational fishers in international fisheries and water protection policy.

Five-point plan for global policy reform

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Photo: Florian Möllers
Dry inland waters, fluctuating water levels and rising temperatures will affect numerous freshwater fish species in the future. This is particularly the case for species in the Mediterranean region.

Climate change endangers freshwater fish species in Southern Europe

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Photo: shutterstock
The latest IGB Dossier explains the impact of climate change on lakes.

When lakes start to sweat

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Photo: stockadobe.com - Maurice Tricatelle

Research for the Future of our Freshwaters

 Our profile

Our vision is the understanding of all fundamental processes in freshwaters and their communities. Our research findings help to tackle global environmental changes and to develop measures conductive to sustainable water management.

IGB is Germany’s largest and one of the leading international research centres for freshwaters. Here, hydrologists, chemists, physicists, microbiologists, limnologists, fish ecologists and fisheries biologists from all over the world are working under one roof.

News

Newsroom
focus

“Let’s jointly create more real knowledge!”

The plethora of raw data and unlinked information that we gather too rarely leads to real knowledge and understanding, says Jonathan Jeschke. In an interview, the ecologist talks about how one could shed light on “knowledge in the dark”.
focus

“There may be life on Mars – look out for salt!”

Im Interview: Professor Dirk Schulze-Makuch: er hat für die NASA gearbeitet, einen Science-Fiction-Roman geschrieben – und seit Sommer 2019 einen Lehrstuhl für Planetare Habitibilität und Astrobiologie an der TU Berlin inne, zudem eine Anstellung am IGB.

Downloads

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Outlines | IGB Policy Brief: Strengths and weaknesses of the Water Framework Directive (WFD)

The IGB Policy Brief recommends continued commitment to the objectives of the WFD and improved practical implementation – and offers options for action to policy makers and practitioners.
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IGB Annual Report 2018

This annual research report summarises our research results on climate change, urban waters and fish behaviour as well as the most important developments at IGB in 2018.
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Our Topics

Colloquia

All colloquia

Research on focus

“The things we enjoy doing produce better results”

Dörthe Tetzlaff has been head of IGB’s department of Ecohydrology since August 2017. Time, to make up a first balance. And to talk about research & family, and her future plans.

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Ms Adrian, what are the effects of climate change on lakes?

Prof. Dr. Rita Adrian explains how climatic changes have already had an impact on lakes and what we can expect in the future.

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Do fish have different personalities?

Dr. Kate Laskowski observes shy, bold and dominant individuals and explains how researchers can test personality in fish.

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Do we need to better protect the biodiversity in our freshwaters?

Yes, says Dr. Gregor Kalinkat, and explains why species in lakes, rivers, etc. are particularly at risk.

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My PhD thesis

Anika Brüning investigates how artificial light at night affects fish species and the balance of whole life communities and ecosystems.  

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My PhD thesis

Stefan Linzmaier wants to find out how animal and plant species manage to adapt to a new environment within the shortest space of time, sometimes even displacing native species.

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Monitoring Stations

All measured values
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  • Water temperature
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International

Fellowship Programme

'Freshwater Science'

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