Work Package 3 - Ecosystem Analysis

In this WP processes and cause-effect relationships in aquatic ecosystems are analysed. The main focus is on the quantitative analysis of processes (e. g. secondary production, self-purification), their relationship to ecosystem structures (e. g. biodiversity) and effect-based analysis of stressors. We focus on common important stressors such as eutrophication, hydromorphological alterations and complex chemical contamination. Using state-of-the-art chemical analysis, a multitude of bioassays, an mechanistic investigation of modes-of-action the chemical contamination is analysed with high spatial and temporal resolution and assessed for its contribution to multiple stress on aquatic biota and functioning. Detailed effect relationships are studied at an intensive test site within the UFZ observatory TERENO Central Germany. This provides the basis for the development of new indicators and diagnostic tools in WP 4 and WP 5. Simultaneously, management measures are tested for their effectiveness in the field and conclusions for an optimisation are drawn.

Key publications

Altenburger, R., Ait-Aissa, S., Antczak, P., Backhaus, T., Barceló, D., Seiler, T.B. Brion, F., Busch, W., Chipman, K., López de Alda, M., de Aragão Umbuzeiro, G., Escher, B.I., Falciani, F., Faust, M., Focks, A., Hilscherova, K., Hollender, J., Hollert, H., Jäger, F., Jahnke, A., Kortenkamp, A., Krauss, M., Lemkine, G.F., Munthe, J., Neumann, S., Schymanski, E.L., Scrimshaw, M., Segner, H., Slobodnik, J., Smedes, F., Kughathas, S., Teodorovic, I., Tindall, A.J., Tollefsen, K.E., Walz, K.H., Williams, T.D., Van den Brink, P.J., van Gils, J., Vrana, B., Zhang, X. and Brack, W. (2015). Future water quality monitoring — Adapting tools to deal with mixtures of pollutants in water resource management. Sci. Total Environ. 512-513: 540-551.

Brauns, M., Gücker, B., Wagner, C., Garcia, X.-F., Walz, N. and Pusch, M. T. (2011). Human lakeshore development alters the structure and trophic basis of littoral food webs. J. Appl. Ecol. 48 (4): 916-925.

Kamjunke, H., Brauns, M., Baborowski, M., Wild, R., Borchardt, D. and Weitere, M. (2013). Biogeochemical patterns in a river network along a land use gradient. Environ. Monit. Assess. 185 (11): 9221-9236.