Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

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.

Out and about with the electric fishing boat: the fish are caught, briefly stunned, fitted with a transmitter, and then released back into the water.

October 24, 2025 –

In this report, SRF Regionaljournal Aargau Solothurn provides information about our project ‘Climate Change and Fish Movement Patterns’. This relatively new research project in the major rivers of Aargau is attracting widespread...

In this report, SRF Regionaljournal Aargau Solothurn provides information about our project ‘Climate Change and Fish Movement Patterns’. This relatively new research project in the major rivers of Aargau is attracting widespread public interest.

Pair of whitefish (C. lavaretus) spawning near the shore in Lac d'Aiguebelette (Photo: Alamy).

May 9, 2025 –

The diversity of whitefish species in Swiss lakes is unique and plays a central role in lake ecosystems. A comprehensive Eawag report now summarises the results of 150 years of research on these fish. They make it clear that the...

The diversity of whitefish species in Swiss lakes is unique and plays a central role in lake ecosystems. A comprehensive Eawag report now summarises the results of 150 years of research on these fish. They make it clear that the mechanisms and environmental conditions that have contributed to their development must be taken into account in order to preserve this species diversity. Last but not least, protecting whitefish diversity helps to preserve the natural yield potential of lakes as a source of food for humans.

Research team taking fish samples in the Langete river using the electrofishing method (Photo: Dario Josi).

February 11, 2025 –

The public can take part in a survey to decide on the names of two fish species discovered by Bárbara Calegari and her colleagues. In this interview, the biologist explains where they live and how to make the diversity of our...

The public can take part in a survey to decide on the names of two fish species discovered by Bárbara Calegari and her colleagues. In this interview, the biologist explains where they live and how to make the diversity of our waters visible.

Figure 1. in Dr. Alexus Roberts-Hugghis publication "A classic key innovation constrains oral jaw functional diversification in fishes"

January 27, 2025 –

Another paper from Alexus showing that the modified pharyngeal jaw, while undoubtedly a functional innovation, at the same time also restricts the diversification of the feeding system.

More News from the Department of Fish ecology and evolution

Eawag News

Postdoctoral position in Aquatic Ecology

31.01.2026,

9.15 am

Hotel ARTE Olten

FIBER Seminar 2026

"Laichzeit! – Monitoring, Besatz & Aufwertungen – Wo sollen wir ansetzen?"

18.02.2026,

9.00 am

Eawag Kastanienbaum, Seeheim

Enhancing coral heat tolerance using artificial selection

20.05.2026,

9.00 am

Eawag Kastanienbaum, Seeheim

Feeling the Heat: The Role of Thermal Tolerance in Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability

Ahi, E. P., Sturmbauer, C., Albertson, R. C., & Singh, P. (2026). Molecular basis of variations in facial soft tissues: insights from cichlid fishes. Developmental Biology, 529, 200-212. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2025.10.014, Institutional Repository

The human face serves as a crucial component of attractiveness and identity, playing a pivotal role in social interactions. Teleost fish models, particularly zebrafish, have offered valuable insights into the developmental and molecular mechanisms governing craniofacial skeletogenesis, owing to the molecular conservation in these processes. However, knowledge regarding the morphogenic processes shaping facial soft tissues remains surprisingly sparse. On the human side, most causal evidence comes from gene–phenotype associations in clinical genetics; however, these studies rarely provide cellular-resolution analyses of facial soft tissues, leaving tissue- and cell-type–specific mechanisms unresolved. The diverse family of Cichlidae constitute ∼10 % of teleost fish species and represent an exceptional opportunity for evolutionary biology research due to their extensive ecological diversity and rapid speciation rates. Cichlid fishes also exhibit remarkable craniofacial morphological diversity, making them excellent models for studying both craniofacial skeletal and soft tissue morphogenesis. Utilizing the wealth of natural mutants within cichlid populations, this short review pitches cichlid fish models as valuable tools for investigating the genetic regulators and interactions underlying facial soft tissue formation. At present, most cichlid studies rely on comparative transcriptomics between closely related species with and without pronounced traits; these data are associative, and the regulatory hierarchy and primary drivers remain to be established through functional tests (e.g., genome editing). By synthesising developmental and regulatory mechanisms that influence morphological variations in facial soft tissues in cichlids and other model organisms, we create a blueprint for future molecular genetic investigations into facial diversity. Accordingly, we highlight the need for (i) causative functional studies in cichlids and (ii) cellular-resolution analyses of human facial soft tissues to bridge correlative and mechanistic evidence across systems.

Luetzenburg, G., Ngoepe, N., Farnsworth, W. R., Rosenberg, A., Lewis, E., Brodersen, J., … Larsen, N. K. (2026). Relative sea-level changes and evidence for a Holocene low stand in southern Greenland. Quaternary Science Reviews, 374, 109787 (14 pp.). doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109787, Institutional Repository