Mechanisms and consequences of aquatic invasion in European Rivers

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Carola Winkelmann
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2011 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 206709566

The phenomenon of alien species’ invasion is attracting a growing attention worldwide. Invasion of alien benthic invertebrates is a global and important feature of large rivers and is assumed to pose a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. While changes of invertebrate communities have been described in detail, it is still unknown whether these structural changes translate into functional changes. The aim of this project is to understand the underlying key mechanisms of invasion and its consequences for ecosystem functioning and water–quality relevant processes. As a model the invasive amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus and its impacts are studied on multiple levels of complexity (individual, population, and community level) with ecological and physiological methods. Field mesocosm experiments will be conducted in three European rivers which differ in their invasion history (dominated by natives, invader-dominated, and invader’s home range). Thereby the effects of different D. villosus densities on biotic interactions and important ecosystem functions are compared among those rivers. This offers the unique opportunity to study invader traits and community features and their importance for the success of a biological invasion over different spatial and temporal scales. In addition it allows to estimate the large scale effect of D. villosus invasion.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups
• Major Instrumentation: Mesokosmen (9 Rinnen und 63 Körbe, Bau + Material)
• Instrumentation Group: 2490 Sonstige Luft- und Wasserfahrzeuge und Zubehör