Research "Aquatic Stress Ecology"

Topics

We strive to understand the impacts of anthropogenic activities in aquatic environments at all levels of complexity (i.e., from molecules to ecosystems). In this context, we are particularly interested in effects on ecosystem functioning (e.g., decomposition) and organic matter dynamics in affected food webs. For the latter, our state-of-the-art Stable Isotope Lab  allows the use of a variety of applications (bulk and compound-specific) that help us to track stressor-induced changes in biological and ecological processes. The stressors we are interested in comprise chemical pollutants such as nanoparticles, pesticides (particularly fungicides and insecticides), pharmaceuticals, and wastewater but also include inter alia global climate change and differing land use patterns.