AQUASCALE
Aquatic Biodiversity across temporal and spatial scales
Group leader: Robert Ptacnik
AquaScale studies biodiversity of aquatic communities across temporal and spatial scales. AquaScale addresses teh factors governing biodiversity, and the relationship between diversity and functioning of communities. We combine long-term research with experiments to better understand the consequences of global change on our natural resources.
Research topics:
• Experimental plankton ecology
• Biodiversity research
• Spatial ecology & Conservation
Link: AquaScale Lab
BIGER
Biogeochemistry and Ecohydrology of Riverine Landscapes
Group leader: Gabriele Weigelhofer
Riverine systems are exposed to multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors, such as changes in the hydrological regime, river regulations, nutrients and organic matter inputs from the catchment, and climate change. BIGER studies the interactive effects of these stressors on the biogeochemical processes at the water-sediment-interface of streams, rivers, and floodplains as well as on their biodiversity. Our research focus lies on the resilience and resistance of these aquatic ecosystems to both, human impacts and restoration measures, and on the development of perspectives for a sustainable use and, thus, an improved ecological state of these systems.
Research topics:
• Aquatic Biogeochemistry
• Ecohydrology
• Riverine landscape - Human Society Interactions
• Biodiversity
Link: https://biger-science.group/
CARBOCROBE
Carbon cycling and the role of microbes from source to sea
Group leader: Katrin Attermeyer
Carbocrobe is dedicated to better understand and unravel the mysteries of the smallest organisms involved in the turnover of carbon in freshwaters from source to sea. We use experimental and field studies to uncover the role of microbes in carbon and other nutrient cycles in aquatic ecosystems.
Research topics:
• Aquatic Microbial Ecology
• Carbon Cycling from Source to Sea
• Environmental Change Research
Link: https://carbocrobe.jimdosite.com
LIPTOX
Aquatic Lipid Research and Ecotoxicology
Group leader: Martin Kainz
Aquatic organisms acquire dietary nutrients, but also toxic substances. LIPTOX investigates the origin and composition of nutrition in different waters. Questions of special interest are, which diet delivers the most nutritious and physiologically required compounds, in particular lipids and their fatty acids, and which diets convey the least toxic substances. That is not only important for aquatic organisms, but also for humans as ultimate consumers at the top of the food chain.
Research topics:
• Aquatic food webs
• Ecotoxicology
• Trophic lipid research
QUIVER
aquatic biodiversity and entomology research
Group leader: Simon Vitecek
Insects arguably contribute a significant portion of macrospcopic biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems. Focus of the working group is on diversity of aquatic insects, their evolutionary ecology and the constraining factors controlling local and regional biodiversity patterns in this group. Further, the importance of diversity as source of ecosystem function and connectivity shall be examined.
Research topics:
• Taxonomy and Systematics of Trichoptera and Plecoptera
• Aquatic biodiversity
• Evolutionary ecology of aquatic invertebrates models
RESEARCH GROUP
ECOCATCH
Stream Ecology and Catchment Biogeochemistry
Research Group leader: Jakob Schelker
Small streams connect terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They are subject to dynamic inputs of water, solutes and organisms from their catchments. The EcoCatch Group investigates how small streams receive, transform and pass-on these inputs and how these processes may be modified by changing environmental conditions, such as, for example warmer temperatures. This is relevant because small streams predetermine water quality in downstream rivers, lakes and groundwater aquifers, but also because they play a vital role in the global carbon cycle.
Research topics:
• Stream ecology
• Cycling of carbon and dissolved gasses
• Microbial ecology