(Dept. 2) Community and Ecosystem Ecology
Inland waters support exceptional biodiversity, are characterised by intense metabolism of matter, and provide important ecosystem services. However, freshwater ecosystems face high and increasing pressures from multiple stressors. The Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology conducts research in both standing and running waters studying the response of freshwater communities and ecosystems to global change. Ultimately, we aim to advance our mechanistic understanding of the structure and functioning of inland waters as a basis for their sustainable management. Specifically, we focus on:
- Response of freshwater communities and diversity to changing environments
- Interactions between freshwater communities, their environment and ecosystem functioning
- Spatial and temporal freshwater biodiversity patterns
- Sustainable management of freshwater communities and ecosystems
We develop and analyse the long-term monitoring data of Lake Müggelsee and Spree as well as from other inland waters and their catchments, employ spatially explicit statistical and deterministic modelling approaches, and conduct lab and field experiments. Our department additionally encompasses research on the global effects of climate change and biodiversity and develops new theoretical concepts on that.
Research groups
Department members
Selected publications
Ontogenetic shifts by juvenile fishes highlight the need for habitat heterogeneity and connectivity in river restoration
The authors analysed the habitat use of larval and juvenile fishes in the lower river Rhine. More than 60 per cent of the fish species switched between five different habitat types during their development, which should be available both in the river and connected floodplains. However, human intervention has drastically altered and homogenised the European river landscapes.
Guiding Aquatic Reptile (Chelonian and Crocodylian) Conservation in the Face of Growing Light Pollution: Lessons From Experience
The paper reviews existing knowledge on how aquatic reptiles, especially freshwater crocodilians and turtles, respond to light pollution and discusses existing mitigation strategies. Learning from measures that have proven effective for related taxa, such as sea turtles, could be useful in setting up initial measures to protect freshwater reptiles against light pollution.
A Holistic Catchment-Scale Framework to Guide Flood and Drought Mitigation Towards Improved Biodiversity Conservation and Human Wellbeing
The authors suggest to combine conventional civil engineering methods, nature-based solutions, and biodiversity conservation actions at catchment-scale to leverage flood and drought mitigation and cater to improved biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing. We outline the needs in terms of legislation structure, adequate funding and governance structures to make this happen.
A modelling approach to assess climate change impacts on taxonomic and functional diversity of European stream macroinvertebrates: Implications for water quality monitoring
The authors used bioclimatic models to predict EU freshwater macroinvertebrate habitats. The future distribution of macroinvertebrates reveals significant regional variations. Functional diversity was projected to change less than taxonomic diversity. Changes in environmentally suitable areas will impact widely used biological indices.
Rapid Eutrophication of a Clearwater Lake: Trends and Potential Causes Inferred From Phosphorus Mass Balance Analyses
In just 10 years, the phosphorus concentration in Lake Stechlin has quadrupled, which has been accompanied by algal blooms, oxygen depletion in the deep water and other signs of eutrophication. The study now shows that the causes are not always to be found in increasing nutrient inputs from the catchment or in re-dissolution processes in the deep areas of the lake, but also in the shallower parts.
