River floodplains form a heterogeneous mosaic of wetlands, channels, and riparian forests that host rich biodiversity. These dynamic systems provide essential ecosystem services, including water quality regulation, flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, and climate regulation. The Ecological Research Station is located at one of the largest floodplain landscapes along the River Rhinewith two large oxbow systems in close proximity. Here, we are integrating interdisciplinary research from many different research fields.

Aquatic and terrestrial systems can be very similar regarding the fundamental characteristics of function and structure. However, ecologists tend to focus on either the dry or the aquatic realm but these systems are rarely investigated under the premise of being tightly linked and being influenced by similar processes. Integrating the perspective of cross-boundary effects into the conceptional design of ecological studies could help to evaluate the consequences of biodiversity loss on the landscape level.

Together with students, colleagues and collaborators, I focus on trophic interactions and strive to understand the effects that structure food webs within and among ecosystems. We combine stable isotope and morphological techniques, fatty acid analyses and behavioral studies that include field surveys, manipulations in the field, mesocosm experiments, as well as laboratory experiments.

Due to massive anthropogenic use and engineering, the River Rhine became a hotspot for species invasion. Gobies for example, invaded the Rhine in different waves and also from different directions. Since 2010, we conduct standardized angling campaigns to monitor goby abundances in the Lower Rhine. Currently, we are focusing on the latest invasion in the River Rhine, the Caucasian Dwarf Goby Knipowitschia caucasica that was reported first in 2019. We are studying the mating tactics and population dynamics of this fish.

Mining activities for sand and gravel has created numerous gravel pit lakes in the area of the Lower Rhine. Often, these gravel pit lakes are initially fish-free and become colonized by fish only over time. Our research focuses on the population dynamics of aquatic organisms in these gravel pit lakes following the establishment of fish populations

The burbot Lota lota is a freshwater fish that has been classified as threatened with extinction in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Stiftung Wasserlauf NRW is carrying out a conservation project that was funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. The Ecological Research Station provides scientific support for this project, particularly regarding the ecology of this fish species.