Charophytes are characteristic for oligo-mesotrophic hardwater lakes and have been severely declining in Northeast Germany during the last decades. Multiple potential stressors were identified (high TP, low DIC, low Ca, periphyton shading, benthivorous fish). The Chara-Lake Project conducts restoration measures targeting hydrochemistry and fish communities in 27 lakes. Hydrochemical measures include nutrient reduction in inlets, nutrient precipitation in the lake and liming as well as biomass removal. Following the measures, charophyte abundance and is monitored.
Biomanipulation of fish communities tests if reduction of benthivores, herbivores or omnivores affect fish community composition, charophyte states and periphyton shading caused by sediment turbulence by benthivorous fish.
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Fig.1: Oligo-mesotrophic lake in Northeast-Germany
Fig.2: Charophytes in experimental setup (Foto: Michal Brzozowski)
Fig.3: Chara tomentosa (Foto: Patrick Heidbüchel)
Fig.4: Monitoring of submerse macrophytes with underwater videos and echolot (Foto: Constancia Levertz / Patrick Heidbüchel)
Fig.5: Enclosure experiment at Lake Wuckersee to test for biomanipulation of fish communities (Foto: Fabian Bruck)
Fig.6: Enclosures to test for re-establishment of charophytes and effects of periphyton shading
Short Profile
Duration
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN) mit Mitteln des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz (BMU)
Länder Brandenburg und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
WWF Deutschland
2017-2018 NABU Stiftung Nationales Naturerbe
Förderverein Feldberg-Uckermärkische Seenlandschaft e.V.
Dr. Rüdiger Mauersberger
Michael Steinmüller
Katrin Koschmieder
