Who are we?
Riverine systems are exposed to multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors, such as changes in the hydrological regime, river regulations, inputs of nutrients, organic matter, and toxic substances from the catchment, and climate change. As a consequence, freshwater ecosystems are highly endangered.
Freshwater systems face a massive decline in biodiversity and significant changes in aquatic matter cycles.
Our research group “Biogeochemistry and Ecohydrology of Riverine Landscapes (BIGER)” studies the interactive effects of these stressors on the biogeochemical processes at the water-sediment-interface of streams, rivers, and floodplains as well as on their biodiversity at different spatial and temporal scales.
Our research focus lies on the resilience and resistance of aquatic communities and processes to both, human impacts and restoration measures, and on the development of perspectives for a sustainable use and, thus, an improved ecological state of these systems.
Our research areas and methods are:
- Nutrient and carbon cycling in aquatic ecosystems
- Ecohydrology
- Biodiversity
- Algal ecology
- Multiple stressor effects
- Interactions between river systems and societies
- Restoration ecology
- Field observation, monitoring, experiments and modelling
Where can you find us?
Our group is active at two institutions.
We are part of the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management (IHG) of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)
We are also part of the WasserCluster Lunz-Biological Station GmbH (WCL), where our laboratories and experimental facilities are located.
Biogeochemistry and Ecohydrology of Riverine Landscapes 