As water is becoming one of the key resources in future, an improved understanding of aquatic ecosystem is an important aspect for the future development. In an article in the Austrian weekly magazine “Format” we presented our core topics in aquatic ecosystem research and highlighted examples how our research results are contributing to global and regional issues of concern and how they will provide also new insights in future.
HIGH QUALITY WATER AND FISH FROM PRE-ALPINE AUSTRIA
Supported by the provincial government of Lower Austria, we report about research on water quality and fish from aquaculture as well as rivers of pre-Alpine Austria. Our research clearly shows that cold pre-alpine water, rich in oxygen and low in nutrients provides an excellent basis for local aquaculture. Current research investigates how to maintain high quality of water and fish by partly replacing marine-based feeds with locally grown substitutes.
The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna and the WasserCluster Lunzinvestigated the effects of residual water caused by the operation of the hydropower plant Opponitz onthe ecological state of the Ybbs and made recommendations regarding an ecological compatibleresidual water discharge. An informative meeting about the revitalisation of the hydropower plant tookplace in Opponitz on Friday, 11th May.
(Photo from left to right: Univ.Prof. Dr. Mathias Jungwirth, Universität für Bodenkultur (BOKU Wien), DI Dr. Susanna Zapreva, Managment Wien Energie, Ing Leopold Hofbauer, Mayor of Opponitz
On Friday, April 27th the "Long Night of Science" took place in Austria from 4:00 p.m. to 12 p.m. Research institutions in Lower Austria provided an insight into their research work. More than 200 people visited the Bundesamt für Wasserwirtschaft in Petzenkirchen where the WasserCluster Lunz presented current research projects. In three stations, visitors learned about nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems, lipids in food chains, and aquatic organisms.
Nina Welti successfully defended her Phd-thesis " Nitrogen cycling in restored and disturbed riverine floodplains". We congratulate Nina and wish the best for her future time at University of Queensland.
WasserCluster Lunz joined "Vienna City Marathon" relay on 15th april with a women team (4 people). Each member of the team had to run a part of the Marathon (42,195 km).
Congratulations to the 5th place (of 246 women teams) to Maren Striebel, Karoline Wagner, Iris Hödl and Marion Kapuscinski.
"Focus of my four week visit at WCL is to analyze Baltic Sea salmon (Salmo salar L.) muscle and eggs for fatty acids as a collaborator in the group of LIPTOX led by Dr. Martin Kainz. Fatty acids should help me reveal the last feeding areas of returning salmon in the Baltic Sea. The second purpose for FA analysis is to assess the main prey species proportions (herring and sprat) in salmon diet: is there a dietary effect on female salmon reproduction success? Also separation of reared and wild salmon using fatty acid profiles is strongly considered."
Christina Gaitzenauer successfully defended her MSc-thesis "Nutrient retention along stream banks of different morphology". We congratulate Mrs. Gaitzenauer