News

Floodplains can store and purify water. A team led by the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), in close cooperation with the Lower Oder Valley National Park, has investigated the role of the Oder's extensive floodplains for the water balance and the turnover of nutrients and pollutants. The results indicate that a permanent opening of the flooding weirs could be beneficial in order to keep at least some of the floodplains in contact with the river for longer periods of the year and maintain their important function.

Diverse and well-connected habitats in floodplains are essential for maintaining or restoring stable fish communities and high species diversity. This is the result of a study by researchers from Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands and the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB). They analysed the habitat use of larval and juvenile fishes in the lower river Rhine by collecting data on more than 1.4 million larvae and young fish in 18 restored floodplains.

For her project ALLES FLIESST (EVERYTHING FLOWS), photojournalist Astrid Scheuermann accompanied researchers from the ODER~SO project at work. Now the photo series has been selected for the 11th European Month of Photography Berlin (EMOP Berlin). The exhibition will take place from 7 to 10 March 2025 at the Retramp Gallery Berlin. 

Germany's rivers and their floodplains are important resources for us humans and valuable habitats for animals and plants. However, their ecosystem services are being jeopardised by advancing man-made climate change and the ever-increasing pressure of water use. River revitalisation is therefore an important strategic, long-term investment in the future that should not be put on the back burner by politicians and authorities, even in times of economic and security policy challenges. Researchers from the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) emphas

A team with Dagmar Frisch has tested a simple and inexpensive method for detecting damaged DNA in permanent eggs of water fleas. This method could also be used for other natural bioarchives.

Global change poses immense challenges to our society. To better understand and address these challenges, IGB has launched a new, visionary programme area. This initiative represents an important strategic development within an extraordinary item of expenditure.

A new IGB Dossier shows options for action for policy-makers and authorities at the nutrient-polluted Lake Arendsee.

The largest global assessment of freshwater animals on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to date has revealed that 24% of the world’s freshwater fish, dragonfly, damselfly, crab, crayfish and shrimp species are at high risk of extinction, according to an analysis published in Nature today. Migratory fish such as sturgeons suffered these losses decades ago and since then little has improved in terms of water management to protect biodiversity. This is emphasized by Dr. Jörn Gessner, co-author of the study from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB).