Selected publications

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). 

The field study compared sediment characteristics as well as multitrophic diversity and function in two vertical layers of migrating ripples and stationary patches in sandy lowland streams. It indicates that migrating bedforms create streambed heterogeneity by modulating the abundance, diversity, and structure of different trophic guilds of microbial communities and their resource acquisition.

The authors tested the effect of 3 migration velocities as well as oscillating and constant light conditions on the structure and function of the microbial community residing in sediments from migrating ripple and stationary patches: Light oscillation is the predominating environmental factor during ripple migration, resulting in an increased vulnerability of light-dependent photoautotrophs.

The authors add a new perspective to the topic of "recreational use of wild animals". The hypothesis is that an emotionally intense interaction between hunters / anglers and wild animals can create a particularly strong sense of responsibility, described as "environmental stewardship". This in turn would be an incentive for many to commit to lifelong environmental and species protection action. 

The research team has sequenced the complete genome of the microalga from the the Oder disaster 2022 in order to identify future risk factors under which the alga multiplies and produces its toxin. They were able to identify the gene sequences that encode the toxins an important step toward an early warning system. 

The research team estimates that recreational fishing in lakes and rivers accounts for more than 11 per cent of the annually reported catches in inland fisheries worldwide. The analyzed total consumption value of harvested fish is around 10 billion US dollars per year. Due to climate change and direct human impacts on freshwater ecosystems, the productivity of important fish species is declining.

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on mapping and monitoring peatlands from field sites to the globe and identifies areas where further research is needed. Simple peat characteristics such as degree of humification, dry bulk density or stoichiometry can be used as a proxy to estimate the carbon and nutrient fluxes in different degraded peatlands. 

The paper offers an introduction to novel methods of high-resolution positional telemetry that provide guidance to practioners. It presents a summary of all techniques for fine-scale positioning of the movements of fish.