Even though freshwaters and oceans are connected and it’s becoming evident that ecosystem processes act on a global scale, aquatic research is still divided in marine and freshwater sciences. As a result, projects do not cooperate sufficiently internationally, experimental research is often too local, and potential sources of funding are not developed.
AQUACOSM-plus is a European network of aquatic experimental mesocosm facilities, with the mission to address the dramatic challenges aquatic ecosystems are facing by providing an open-access to high- quality and innovative European-driven research infrastructures, coordinate a broad multidisciplinary international research community, development and coordination of international leading research as well as methods beyond the state-of-the-art integrating all aquatic realms across EU. The network is coordinated from IGB and we bring together a research community specialised in experimental mesocosm-based research, covering freshwater and marine ecosystems from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.
Fish is an important source of protein for millions of people throughout the world. And yet the world’s natural occurrences are unable to meet the rapidly growing demand for fish. Breeding fish in aquaculture may help to protect natural resources and ecosystems, while improving food security. However, this is only possible if conducted within sustainable aquaculture: environmental, economic and social aspects must be taken into account equally. With regard to this triad, at IGB we explore aspects such as resource-saving and efficient production, animal welfare and alternative therapeutics, organic feed and self-sufficiency concepts. The aquaponics system developed at IGB, known as Tomato-Fish, is particularly resource-saving: combined fish and vegetable farming saves water, energy, artificial fertiliser and space, and considerably reduces emissions in food production. We also use our expertise in fish genetics and reproduction to protect species. We communicate our research topics and results to different stakeholders and practice partners in a targeted manner, ensuring that our scientific findings are transferred to practice* without delay.
Zusammenarbeit von Fischereiforschenden und VertreterInnen aus der Anglerschaft in Niedersachsen mit dem Ziel, durch lebensraumverbessernde Maßnahmen die Artenvielfalt, die Angelfischerei und den Naherholungswert in kleinen Baggerseen zu fördern.
The project CONNECT will establish a collaborative network between experts in remote sensing (RS) and freshwater ecology to study connectivity and coherence of lake ecosystems in a regional context at unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. The overall aim is to understand the yet unexplained variation in phytoplankton dynamics among river-connected German lowland lakes, many of which are presently classified as in poor to bad ecological status. Large-catchment shallow lakes face the highest risk of eutrophication, mass development of harmful algal blooms, and high production of greenhouse gases - calling for action.
Skyglow, the diffuse illumination of the night sky by artificial light, has never before been experienced during evolutionary history. Together with another feature of global change – the brownification.
Continuous long-term records of German lakes are unique worldwide with respect to the length of the observational periods spanning several decades, due to their unique high temporal and taxonomic resolution (mostly phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrozoobenthos, macrophytes and fish) and due to the fact that different lake types with respect to morphometry, trophic state and catchment type are covered.