The aquatic environment - what it provides and what it needs
Eawag News 72e, June 2012
complete issue [pdf, 4.4MB]
complete issue as leaf-through catalogue
Editorial
Water for ecosystem function
Janet Hering
How aquatic ecosystems are altered by nutrients
Piet Spaak
The
reduction of phosphorus loads in Swiss lakes is a positive outcome of water
pollution control efforts. But now, in order to increase fish yields on Lake
Brienz and other waterbodies, members of the fishing community have called for
phosphorus elimination to be reduced at local wastewater treatment plants.
However, increases in phosphorus inputs to nutrient-poor lakes can lead to the
extinction or merging of species,
producing irreversible changes in aquatic ecosystems. [...]
Endocrine disruptors: measurement, assessment and reduction
Inge Werner
Endocrine-disrupting
compounds, which enter surface waters mainly via wastewater discharges, can
have adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Ecotoxicological test methods
improve the measurement of these substances and the assessment of water
quality, providing valuable decision support for reduction measures. For
example, these methods can be used to evaluate additional treatment steps at
wastewater treatment plants. [...]
Time-zero data - the key to detecting changes
Interview (Andri Bryner) with
Pascal Vonlanthen and Florian Altermatt
Eawag
researchers Pascal Vonlanthen and Florian Altermatt are convinced that
long-term monitoring programmes are an essential tool for the conservation of
biodiversity and the protection of ecosystem services. Vonlanthen studies the
evolution of fish in Swiss lakes and is currently coordinating a survey of fish
biodiversity (“Projet Lac”). Altermatt is particularly interested in the
dispersal and differentiation of macroinvertebrates along surface waters. [...]
Predicting the occurrence of macroinvertebrates
Nele Schuwirth
The
habitat requirements of macroinvertebrates vary widely. Eawag is developing a
model for the prediction of benthic community composition in surface waters. In
the future, the model could be used to support integrated river management and
to predict the possible consequences of different management options or climate
change. [...]
Water resource management: balancing protection and use
Michael Döring
Freshwater
ecosystems provide socioeconomic services, but their function is dependent on
certain ecological requirements being met. Sustainable water resource
management should therefore consider the needs of both humans and the
environment. What this kind of approach could involve is shown by two research
projects carried out on the Spöl and in the Sandey floodplain. [...]
Hydropower: potential for and limits to expansion
Alfred Wüest
Switzerland’s
hydropower sector is facing billion-franc challenges. What is required to meet
these challenges are economically and ecologically acceptable ways of
optimizing peak-load production and storing surplus electricity from new
renewable sources of energy. In both
cases, the interests of Switzerland and Europe would be served – and ideally
there could be benefits for aquatic ecosystems as well as the electricity
sector. [...]
Researchers and practitioners need to work hand in hand
Interview (Andres Jordi) with Bernhard Wehrli
In
Switzerland, water researchers and practitioners are facing major challenges.
According to Bernhard Wehrli, a member of the Eawag Directorate, these challenges
can only be met in the coming years if researchers and water professionals join
forces. By launching the “Swiss Rivers” applied research programme, Eawag
intends to strengthen its links with partners across the water sector. [...]