Selected publications

September 2024
Science of the Total Environment. - 934(2024), Art. 173188

Tapping into fungal potential: Biodegradation of plastic and rubber by potent Fungi

Sabreen S. Ibrahim; Danny Ionescu; Hans-Peter Grossart

The presence of plastics in our environment is an increasing burden on nature and our health. The authors have now identified fungi isolated from freshwater ecosystems that can efficiently degrade plastic polymers made of polyurethane, polyethylene and tyre rubber. Contrary to previous assumptions, no pre-treatment of the plastics was necessary. 

September 2024
Journal of Environmental Management. - 370(2024), Art. 122474

A global systematic map of knowledge of inland commercial navigation effects on freshwater ecosystems

Alienor Jeliazkov; Vanesa Martínez-Fernández; Vassil Y. Altanov; Jean-Nicolas Beisel; Anthonie Dirk Buijse; Sofia Consuegra; Swann Felin; Carlos Garcia de Leaniz; Wolfram Graf; Fengzhi He; Sonja C. Jähnig; Patrick Leitner; Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber j; Aaron N. Sexton; Cybill Staentzel; Evelyne Tales; Karl M. Wantzen; Christian Wolter

The authors conducted a systematic mapping of the published literature (1908–2021) to provide a global synthesis of the effects of inland navigation on the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater ecosystems. Inland navigation impacts rivers through shipping, infrastructure, and waterway management, causing direct (e.g., waves) and indirect effects (habitat loss, invasions). 

Nature_Water
September 2024
Nature Water. - XX(2024)X, XX-XX

Ecohydrological resilience and the landscape water storage continuum in droughts

Doerthe Tetzlaff; Hjalmar Laudon; Shuxin Luo; Chris Soulsby

A better understanding of water storage dynamics at medium scales, i.e. areas between 10 and 100 square kilometres, could help to better predict and ensure the availability of water resources, even in times of climate change. To this end, the researchers here synthesised findings from several long-term studies and introduced the concept of ecohydrological resilience. 

September 2024
Journal of Hydrology. - 643(2024), Art. 131914

Electrical conductivity fluctuations as a tracer to determine time-dependent transport characteristics in hyporheic sediments

Jonas L. Schaper; Olaf A. Cirpka; Joerg Lewandowski; Christiane Zarfl

The paper presents a modeling approach to estimate time-varying travel times from the stream water to the streambed. The modeling is based on fluctuations in electrical conductivity in the surface water and in the porewater. Given the high temporal dynamics of transport in streambed sediments, the model will be a valuable tool for the assessment of reactive transport in streambed sediments.

September 2024
Biological Reviews. - 99(2024)4, 1141-1163

Freshwater megafauna shape ecosystems and facilitate restoration

Fengzhi He, Jens-Christian Svenning, Xing Chen, Klement Tockner, Tobias Kuemmerle, Elizabeth le Roux, Marcos Moleón, Jörn Gessner, Sonja C. Jähnig

This is a review, synthesizing how megafauna shape ecological processes in freshwater ecosystems and discussing their potential for enhancing ecosystem restoration. Restoring freshwater megafauna can revive essential ecological processes like disturbances, trophic cascades, and species dispersal, boosting biodiversity and enhancing nature's contributions to people.

Monitoring stations

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