Multiple Stressor Ecology - mStress

We address the combined effects of chemical & non-chemical stressors in complex ecosystems (‘the lab to field gap’). This includes the following challenges:

·       evaluation of different types of chemical mixtures in the environment

·       combined effects with other stressors such as climate-change or plastic pollution

·       diversity of species sensitivities towards chemicals, particles and non-chemical stressors

·       address natural community complexity (the ecotoxicology of macrozoobenthos and microphytobenthos) and species interactions (intra-/interspecific competition, trophic interactions)

vision mission

 

To address these gaps and scientific challenges we focus on the following vision and mission: 

Vision:
Protecting aquatic communities from chemical threats by understanding of chemical/non-chemical stressor effects and interactions in complex field conditions under climate change

Mission:
Provide a Multiple Line of Evidence (MLoE) approach and mechanistic understanding to evidence chemical effects in ecologically relevant systems (such as communities and ecosystems) across biological scales.

Approach:
We use the Multiple Lines of Evidence approach which combines effect-based and community-based strategies. Resting upon the monitoring strategies of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) we combine a ‘green BQE’ (microphytobenthos) and a ‘red BQE’ (macrozoobenthos) and address the linkage of the two BQEs from an ecological/mechanistic perspective. We focus on the trophic transfer and indirect effects by top-down and bottom-up control between the primary producers and the next trophic level(s). These community-level approaches are rooted in an effect-based screening strategy using single-species as model organisms for the both BQEs (in vivo-testing using daphnia, snails and algae). This simplification guarantees high-throughput screening of chemicals and hazard assessment of environmental mixtures.

mStress Group Leader

Dr. Mechthild Schmitt- Jansen
Phone: +49 341 6025 1523
E-Mail

mStress Group Members

Matthias Gesing
Master student
Phone: +49 341 6025 1021
E-Mail

Dr. Dana Kühnel
Scientist
Phone: +49 341 6025 1515
E-Mail 

Dr. Eberhard Küster
Scientist
Phone: +49 341 6025 1525
E-Mail

Dr. Stefan Lips
Postdoctoral Scientist
Phone: +49 341 6025 2858
E-Mail 

Dr. Andreas Mattern
Scientist
Phone: +49 341 6025 2859
E-Mail

Peggy Wellner
Technician
Phone: +49 341 6025 1483
E-Mail 

Johanna Werner
Research assistant
Phone: +49 341 6025 4736
E-Mail

René Willenberg
Master student
Phone: +49 341 6025 1861
E-Mail 

Alumni

Lisa Gollot, master student (2022)

Maximilian Pataki, master student (2020), current working place: Synlab

Bastian Herbert Polst, PhD student (2018-2020), current working place: Uni Wageningen

Afolarin Ogungbemi, PhD student (2018-2021), current working place: Currenta.de

Christoph Rummel, (PhD student, co- supervision - 2021), current working place: UBA

Floriane Larras, (2016- 2021), PostDoc, current working place: KREATiS.eu
 

Publications

Index:

You could use our publication index for further requests.

2024 (1)

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2023 (15)

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2022 (12)

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2021 (8)

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2020 (7)

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2019 (9)

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2018 (8)

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2017 (10)

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2016 (9)

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2015 (10)

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