Department of System-Ecotoxicology
How polluted are our surface waters with toxicants such as pesticides? What are impacts on the biodiversity and the functions of the ecosystem? Can we quantify combined effects of toxicants and environmental factors such as climate change? Which remediation measures are efficient?
The Department of System-Ecotoxicology identifies relevant effect mechanisms of toxicants. We apply this knowledge to uncover the effects of chemicals on indivuduals, populations and ecosystems. From this we develop methods to monitor toxicant effects (SPEAR) and approaches to predict their ecological impact.
Our knowledge and tools support scientists, public authorities and politicians to develop a sustainable management of toxic substances.
Nationwide Monitoring of Small Streams
We manage a joint pilot study of scientist from the UFZ and the Koblenz-Landau University, the German Federal Environmental Agency and the federal states on a national monitoring of exposure and effects of plant protection products in small and medium streams.
Linking human disease and pesticide contamination in African streams
Pesticides may affect the infectivity of Schistosoma by supporting higher densities of intermediate hosts “freshwater snails”. The
SENTINEL project identifies the potential effects of freshwater
pollution by agrochemicals on the abundance of hosts for
human-pathogenic nematodes that cause schistosomiasis.
PuMa - Pesticide Protected Area Management
The entry of pesticides into the environment is also a problem for nature reserves. We are working on generating a transparent web-application for every user in order to simulate the entry of pesticides into adjacent natural reserves throughout Germany.
LanduseInformer
The landuseInformer is a
synthesis model to estimate the ecological impact of agricultural land
use. This tool allows to compare the efficiency of mitigation measures.
Ecological effect mechanisms of toxicants
Identification of relevant mechanisms and development of models for the assessment of toxicant effects in aquatic ecosystems.
Indicator system SPEAR
Development of bioindicators to assess toxicant exposure and related effects on aquatic ecosystems.
Ecosystem analysis
Analysis and modelling of the landscape related pesticide risk.
Nationwide monitoring of small streams
Joint pilot study for a German monitoring of pesticide exposure in small streams.