Selected publications

Improving growth and health parameters by immunostimulants is widely used in older fish, but rarely studied in larvae. Using zebrafish as a model organism, the authors evaluated the effects of exposure to fulvic acids (FAs) on embryonic development. They showed that FA at low to medium concentrations can increase the health of larvae, but becomes detrimental at higher concentrations.

Researchers have been studying the evolution of sex chromosomes for about 100 years. Yet many aspects of sex development in vertebrates remain a mystery. No wonder – the methods of reproduction are incredibly diverse, and some can only now be detected thanks to novel molecular methods. This special issue summarizes the knowledge. The result is a unique scientific overview: Part I.

The authors compared the contribution of species interactions to forming fish communities in lakes, relative to effects from abiotic filtering and dispersal. Using Bayesian models with latent variables, they demonstrate that predator-prey and competitive interactions structure biomass and mean mass of fish communities, whereas abiotic filtering and dispersal shape their presence/absence structure.

What makes anglers happy? Is catch necessary? A recent global meta-analysis shows that catch and non-catch aspects jointly are relevant to angler satisfaction, but the catch and harvest component have stronger effects than most non-catch aspects.

Many contaminants affect organismal behavior and subsequent ecological outcomes. To improve understanding of the challenges and opportunities for behavioral ecotoxicology within regulatory toxicology/risk assessment, the authors formulated perspectives and recommendations, which promise to serve as a roadmap to advance interfaces among basic and translational sciences, and regulatory practices.

The review study highlights examples of “bright spots” to show that a positive future for inland recreational fisheries in the face of climate change is possible. The authors present potential strategies (e.g. community-based or transdisciplinary restoration projects, adaptive approaches to short-term fisheries interventions) to adapt to current and future climate scenarios.

The authors have summarized how technical innovations can affect anglers, fisheries management and fish populations. They advise to increasingly study the effects of fishing innovations and adjusting management measures as necessary. 

The authors investigated how the genetic population structure of northern pike in Germany varies with the type of ecosystem and the integrity of the ecosystem using ecological status assessments of the Water Framework Directive and indices of the wetland quality and trophic state. The study revealed a positive association of the degree of genetic hybridisation with decreasing ecological status.