Department Fish Ecology and Evolution

Fish Ecology & Evolution (FishEc)

We study ecology, evolution and biodiversity of fishes and other aquatic organisms. We are interested in the mechanisms that drive the origins, the maintenance and the loss of species, genetic and functional diversity.

 

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News

October 4, 2023 –

In just 16,000 years, more than 500 cichlid species, distributed throughout the entire food web, have evolved in Lake Victoria. This explosion of biodiversity was made possible by repeated cycles of fusion and diversification in...

In just 16,000 years, more than 500 cichlid species, distributed throughout the entire food web, have evolved in Lake Victoria. This explosion of biodiversity was made possible by repeated cycles of fusion and diversification in evolutionary lineages, as researchers from Eawag and the University of Bern have described in the “Science” and “Nature” journals. The results underscore that it is not just species that need protection, but entire “species swarms”.

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June 7, 2023 –

Nutrient changes, invasive species and climate change have a major impact on the ecosystem of Lake Constance. This is the conclusion of a large-scale project conducted by seven institutions in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. At...

Nutrient changes, invasive species and climate change have a major impact on the ecosystem of Lake Constance. This is the conclusion of a large-scale project conducted by seven institutions in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. At the close of the project, the results will be presented at two events.

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May 11, 2023 –

The aquatic research institute Eawag has published its latest annual report and looks back on the year 2022. Water is at the heart of the most important environmental issues.

The aquatic research institute Eawag has published its latest annual report and looks back on the year 2022. Water is at the heart of the most important environmental issues.

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March 28, 2023 –

In a survey of Swiss rivers and streams, more than 50 different fish species were recorded. For the first time, more than one species was also found in the case of smaller types of fish such as the bullhead.

In a survey of Swiss rivers and streams, more than 50 different fish species were recorded. For the first time, more than one species was also found in the case of smaller types of fish such as the bullhead.

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Seminars

Latest Publications

Ahi, E. P., Verta, J. P., Kurko, J., Ruokolainen, A., Singh, P., Debes, P. V., … Primmer, C. R. (2024). Gene co-expression patterns in Atlantic salmon adipose tissue provide a molecular link among seasonal changes, energy balance and age at maturity. Molecular Ecology. doi:10.1111/mec.17313, Institutional Repository
Alila, D. O., ten Brink, H., Haesler, M., & Seehausen, O. (2024). Ecological character displacement among Nothobranchius annual killifishes in Tanzania. Evolution, International Journal of Organic Evolution. doi:10.1093/evolut/qpae005, Institutional Repository

Research Projects

Establishing a framework for conservation genomics of freshwater biodiversity
We study the biodiversity of Swiss freshwaters and design data-driven conservation strategies that take climate change and human impacts into account.
In this project we are interested in which traits govern the efficiency of stickleback foraging in different ecological contexts.
This project contributes to the Blue Green Biodiversity Research Initiative