Details zur Publikation |
| Kategorie | Textpublikation |
| Referenztyp | Zeitschriften |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100401 |
Lizenz  |
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| Titel (primär) | Sustainable valorisation of aquatic macrophytes in German rivers for biomass utilisation and ecosystem management. |
| Autor | Ziemah, J.; Ninkuu, V.; Veltel, S.; Agyekum, M.K.
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| Quelle | Resources, Environment and Sustainability |
| Erscheinungsjahr | 2026 |
| Department | FLOEK |
| Seite von | art. 100401 |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Topic | T5 Future Landscapes |
| Supplements | Supplement 1 Supplement 2 Supplement 3 |
| Keywords | Aquatic macrophytes; Circular bioeconomy; Biomass valorisation; River ecosystems; Invasive species; Nutrient recovery; Hydromorphology; Life cycle assessment |
| Abstract | Aquatic macrophytes are fundamental components of river ecosystems, regulating primary production, nutrient cycling and habitat structure. In human-impacted rivers, native and non-native aquatic species, particularly submerged and free-floating taxa, form dense stands that alter hydraulics, deplete oxygen, displace native vegetation and restrict water use, a phenomenon termed aquatic weed proliferation. German rivers, shaped by long histories of hydromorphological alteration, eutrophication and biological monitoring, provide a well-resolved model system for examining these dynamics. Despite extensive research, disciplinary fragmentation limits integrated understanding of macrophyte proliferation, ecosystem functioning, bioresource utilisation and management. This synthesis shows that proliferating macrophytes in German rivers function simultaneously as drivers of ecological change, regulators of ecosystem processes and potential biomass resources. Their dominance arises from interacting pressures, including nutrient enrichment, hydromorphological modification and climatic variability. In north-west German lowland rivers, regional species richness and the number of red-listed species have declined substantially since the mid-twentieth century, whereas the non-native Elodea nuttallii has increased. In the thermally altered River Erft, non-native submerged and free-floating species have become dominant. Large quantities of aquatic plant biomass are removed annually from German flowing and standing waters, yet more than 90% was not used for bioenergy or phytochemical production. Proliferating macrophytes should be managed as both indicators of catchment degradation and potentially recoverable resources. Harvesting and valorisation, supported by assessment of biomass and phytochemical potential, may offset management costs and remove nutrients from rivers, but deliver lasting benefits only when combined with nutrient reduction, habitat restoration, invasive species control and predictive modelling to target interventions. |
| Ziemah, J., Ninkuu, V., Veltel, S., Agyekum, M.K. (2026): Sustainable valorisation of aquatic macrophytes in German rivers for biomass utilisation and ecosystem management. Resour. Environ. Sustain. , art. 100401 10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100401 |
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