Experimental aquatic ecology

Joint research group of the departments
Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis and Management
and
River Ecology
and
affiliated research group to the
Institute for Zoology
of
the
University of Cologne
.
Research interests
We investigate the ecology of aquatic organisms in response to environmental change and heterogeneity. In particular, we are interested in adaptations of these organisms on the levels of behaviour, physiology, phenotypic plasticity and evolution. We use a broad spectrum of methods ranging from molecular biology, analytical chemistry, stable isotope analysis, physiology and behaviour. In particular, we use the UFZ’s MOBile aquatic mesoCOSm facility (MOBICOS) to perform controlled, multifactorial experiments on the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on stream ecosystems. Thereby, we aim to relate the organisms and their adaptive response to properties of the whole ecosystem such as biodiversity, food web structure, trophic transfer or matter and energy to gain a better understanding of ecosystems' structure and functions.
Our multi-disciplinary work is connected with many national and international colleagues and collaborators, and across all of
UFZ's research units
. National collaborators include the University of Cologne
(Prof. Eric von Elert)
and University of Munich
(Prof. Herwig Stibor)
. Internationally, we work with colleagues from all over the world, including Chile
(Prof. Chris Harrod)
, Italy
(Dr. Valerio Zupo)
, France
(Dr. Philippe Pondaven)
and Sweden
(Dr. Maria Kahlert)
.
Current Projects
Head
Scientists
PhD Students
Devanshi Pathak
(Postdoc, UFZ)
MSc- and BSc candidates
Technicians & Assistants
Felix Bischoff
(BSc student, U. Cologne)
Lea Teltsch
(Student assistant, U. Leipzig)