Department Fish Ecology and Evolution

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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March 2, 2023 –

The updated Red List of fish documents a further endangerment. Prof. Ole Seehausen explains why.

The updated Red List of fish documents a further endangerment. Prof. Ole Seehausen explains why.

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February 2, 2023 –

Biologists at Eawag have identified ten species of whitefish in the lakes of the Reuss river system. Of these, seven have been described as distinct species for the first time – although in two cases this required inspection of...

Biologists at Eawag have identified ten species of whitefish in the lakes of the Reuss river system. Of these, seven have been described as distinct species for the first time – although in two cases this required inspection of specimens from historical collections, since eutrophication of lakes in the 20th century also led to the extinction of fish species in Central Switzerland.

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2022

October 7, 2022 –

A high fraction of the endemic biodiversity of the Alps is very old. The endemics – species found only in a confined area – have developed over the past millions of years during the cycles of glacial and interglacial periods or...

A high fraction of the endemic biodiversity of the Alps is very old. The endemics – species found only in a confined area – have developed over the past millions of years during the cycles of glacial and interglacial periods or even before these cycles began. Fish, however, are an exception: most endemic fish species emerged only after the end of the last ice age about 15,000 years ago.

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September 1, 2022 –

For a long time professional fishermen have known that there is not just one whitefish species in Switzerland, but a whole range of species each with their own specialization and local name. Researchers have now analysed the...

For a long time professional fishermen have known that there is not just one whitefish species in Switzerland, but a whole range of species each with their own specialization and local name. Researchers have now analysed the entire genome of the various whitefish and shown how specialists have all developed independently of each other in each lake region.

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August 16, 2022 –

Luiz and many colleagues from Eawag, WSL, NMBE and the IEE discuss the relative contribution of immigration, speciation and extinction to the assembly of biodiversity in island-like habitats. They detect biogeographic and genetic...

Luiz and many colleagues from Eawag, WSL, NMBE and the IEE discuss the relative contribution of immigration, speciation and extinction to the assembly of biodiversity in island-like habitats. They detect biogeographic and genetic signatures associated with two mechanisms, namely (i) a glacial species pump where isolation in glacial refugia accelerates allopatric speciation and (ii) adaptive radiation in underused adaptive zones during ice-free periods.

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August 4, 2022 –

Rishi and many colleagues from our research group recently published one of his PhD chapters in Nature Communications. They address questions revolving around the roles of the genomic architecture and hybridization in the Alpine...

Rishi and many colleagues from our research group recently published one of his PhD chapters in Nature Communications. They address questions revolving around the roles of the genomic architecture and hybridization in the Alpine whitefish radiation, using a whole-genome dataset that includes multiple individuals of each of the 22 species belonging to six ecologically distinct ecomorph classes across several lake-systems.

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June 28, 2022 –

Africa is home to a large part of the world's biodiversity. Many species are native only to this continent. So far, the genome of only a tiny proportion of them has been decoded, but this is an important prerequisite for their...

Africa is home to a large part of the world's biodiversity. Many species are native only to this continent. So far, the genome of only a tiny proportion of them has been decoded, but this is an important prerequisite for their protection. The large-scale African BioGenome Project, in which Eawag researchers are also involved, now aims to change this.

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May 13, 2022 –

As of 1 May 2022, Andrin Krähenbühl will head the FIBER fisheries advisory service at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) in Kastanienbaum. The biologist and angler brings with him experience from...

As of 1 May 2022, Andrin Krähenbühl will head the FIBER fisheries advisory service at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) in Kastanienbaum. The biologist and angler brings with him experience from research and association work. And he is convinced that it serves everyone if the institutions work well together: fisheries, research and biodiversity.

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April 5, 2022 –

Sarya, Ole and colleagues studied Mediterranean wrasses of the tribe Labrini which evolved two species radiations each harbouring several species with a brown and a green morph.

Sarya, Ole and colleagues studied Mediterranean wrasses of the tribe Labrini which evolved two species radiations each harbouring several species with a brown and a green morph.

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April 5, 2022 –

Ontogenetic diet shifts, where individuals change their resource use during development, are the rule rather than the exception in the animal world. Hanna studied the effects of competition among juveniles on the likelihood of an...

Ontogenetic diet shifts, where individuals change their resource use during development, are the rule rather than the exception in the animal world. Hanna studied the effects of competition among juveniles on the likelihood of an adaptive radiation to arise using a size-structured consumer-resource model and the adaptive dynamics approach.

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March 18, 2022 –

For her PhD thesis "On the genetic architecture of an adaptive radiation", Anna Feller has won the University of Bern's Faculty Prize 2021 in Biology. The Faculty Prizes are awarded once a year for each department. We congratulate...

For her PhD thesis "On the genetic architecture of an adaptive radiation", Anna Feller has won the University of Bern's Faculty Prize 2021 in Biology. The Faculty Prizes are awarded once a year for each department. We congratulate her warmly!

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February 28, 2022 –

Every year the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) distinguishes an outstanding young evolutionary biologist with the John Maynard Smith Prize. This year's prize goes to Catalina Chaparro-Pedraza, postdoc at the...

Every year the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) distinguishes an outstanding young evolutionary biologist with the John Maynard Smith Prize. This year's prize goes to Catalina Chaparro-Pedraza, postdoc at the aquatic research institute Eawag.

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February 24, 2022 –

Nearly a hundred year old tissue samples from Lake Constance have enabled Eawag researchers to compare genetic material of an extinct whitefish species with that of extant co-occurring species. Their investigation showed that...

Nearly a hundred year old tissue samples from Lake Constance have enabled Eawag researchers to compare genetic material of an extinct whitefish species with that of extant co-occurring species. Their investigation showed that fragments of the genome of the extinct species have survived in today’s species. This could potentially facilitate the recolonization of the currently not occupied deep-water habitat.

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February 22, 2022 –

Chlorovirus evolution is characterized by strong selection and high mutation supply.

Chlorovirus evolution is characterized by strong selection and high mutation supply.

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February 15, 2022 –

The buffet of healthy insects starts earlier, is no longer as varied, and is only half as plentiful as it once was. This is the situation faced by insectivorous birds at Northern Temperate latitudes, such as Switzerland, during...

The buffet of healthy insects starts earlier, is no longer as varied, and is only half as plentiful as it once was. This is the situation faced by insectivorous birds at Northern Temperate latitudes, such as Switzerland, during the breeding season. Ryan Shipley from the Eawag water research institute, has been investigating how climate change affects the timing and quality of the food supply for breeding birds.

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February 1, 2022 –

Scientists from 48 countries initiated the “European Reference Genome Atlas” at the start of 2021. Within this project, around 600 researchers aim to decode the genetic repertoire of all species of the continent by generating...

Scientists from 48 countries initiated the “European Reference Genome Atlas” at the start of 2021. Within this project, around 600 researchers aim to decode the genetic repertoire of all species of the continent by generating reference genomes for the roughly 200,000 eukaryotic species. The hope is to strengthen the foundations for conservation of biodiversity.

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2021

December 9, 2021 –

In the "Projet Lac" research project, 35 lakes in the Alpine region were systematically examined for their fish populations for the first time: In Switzerland alone, 106 fish species were detected. With almost 20 percent of all...

In the "Projet Lac" research project, 35 lakes in the Alpine region were systematically examined for their fish populations for the first time: In Switzerland alone, 106 fish species were detected. With almost 20 percent of all known fish species in Europe, Switzerland is one of the hotspots for fish species diversity. The results are now the basis for measures for sustainable fishing and the protection of this still preserved diversity.

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December 2, 2021 –

Researchers from 90 scientific institutions worldwide have stated that freshwater biodiversity research and conservation lag far behind the efforts carried out in terrestrial and marine environments. In a new publication in...

Researchers from 90 scientific institutions worldwide have stated that freshwater biodiversity research and conservation lag far behind the efforts carried out in terrestrial and marine environments. In a new publication in Ecology Letters, they propose a research agenda with 15 priorities aimed at improving research on biodiversity in lakes, rivers, ponds and wetlands. This is urgently needed, as biodiversity loss is taking place much faster in inland waters than on land or in the oceans.

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November 29, 2021 –

Luiz Jardim de Queiroz and Naomi Heller won the eight edition of the CEEB poster competition! The Center of Competence for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry (CEEB) in Kastanienbaum is organising this annual event in order to...

Luiz Jardim de Queiroz and Naomi Heller won the eight edition of the CEEB poster competition! The Center of Competence for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry (CEEB) in Kastanienbaum is organising this annual event in order to provide a unique opportunity for young researchers to demonstrate their scientific activity as well as their creativity and quality of work.

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November 23, 2021 –

Researchers Christoph Vorburger and Florian Altermatt talk about the importance and state of aquatic biodiversity in Switzerland and Eawag’s commitment to conserving natural biodiversity.

Researchers Christoph Vorburger and Florian Altermatt talk about the importance and state of aquatic biodiversity in Switzerland and Eawag’s commitment to conserving natural biodiversity.

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November 19, 2021 –

Rising temperatures, invasive species and other factors have changed the composition of species in Lake Constance over the last century. Researchers are trying to understand how this could have happened and what it means for the...

Rising temperatures, invasive species and other factors have changed the composition of species in Lake Constance over the last century. Researchers are trying to understand how this could have happened and what it means for the lake.

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October 12, 2021 –

Europe has relatively low biodiversity compared to most other continents because many species became extinct during the ice ages. In subterranean ecosystems, however, which were shielded from climatic turbulences, a great...

Europe has relatively low biodiversity compared to most other continents because many species became extinct during the ice ages. In subterranean ecosystems, however, which were shielded from climatic turbulences, a great diversity of ancient species were able to survive. This is the conclusion of a study on the amphipod genus Niphargus.

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October 5, 2021 –

Evolution plays a crucial role in ecosystem tipping points, as shown in two recently published studies by Eawag researchers. If this influence is taken into account, ecosystem collapses can be better predicted in the future. At...

Evolution plays a crucial role in ecosystem tipping points, as shown in two recently published studies by Eawag researchers. If this influence is taken into account, ecosystem collapses can be better predicted in the future. At the same time, the studies reveal how the risk of ecosystem collapse can be reduced and the chances of recovery increased.

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July 15, 2021 –

Open Science is an important development in science - open access to the results of research. Eawag supports these and makes a growing part of its research data, including descriptions, images and even software, available publicly...

Open Science is an important development in science - open access to the results of research. Eawag supports these and makes a growing part of its research data, including descriptions, images and even software, available publicly and free of charge on the Eawag platform ERIC or, in special cases, on discipline-specific, international databases. ERIC complements the long-standing platform DORA for scientific publications.

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June 21, 2021 –

Adaptive radiations are bursts of evolutionary species diversification that have contributed to much of the species diversity on Earth. An exception is modern Europe, where descendants of ancient adaptive radiations went extinct,...

Adaptive radiations are bursts of evolutionary species diversification that have contributed to much of the species diversity on Earth. An exception is modern Europe, where descendants of ancient adaptive radiations went extinct, and extant adaptive radiations are small, recent and narrowly confined.

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May 6, 2021 –

Science journalist Ashley Yeager has written a beautiful article in The Scientist about the paradigm shift in our understanding of the role that interspecific hybridisation plays in the evolution of biodiversity. Among other...

Science journalist Ashley Yeager has written a beautiful article in The Scientist about the paradigm shift in our understanding of the role that interspecific hybridisation plays in the evolution of biodiversity. Among other things, she describes the work of Ole Seehausen in connection with hybridisation in Lake Victoria cichlids.

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March 22, 2021 –

The motto of today’s World Water Day is “Valuing water – What means water to you?”. With this motto, the United Nations wants to raise awareness of the vital importance of water and call on people to think about the value of...

The motto of today’s World Water Day is “Valuing water – What means water to you?”. With this motto, the United Nations wants to raise awareness of the vital importance of water and call on people to think about the value of water. In an interview, Eawag Director Janet Hering explains the importance of water for the aquatic research institute Eawag and also her personally.

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March 2, 2021 –

In Lake Constance, sticklebacks are occupying increasingly varied habitat types – in recent years even including the open and deep waters of the lake. In an Eawag review undertaken as part of the “SeeWandel” project, these...

In Lake Constance, sticklebacks are occupying increasingly varied habitat types – in recent years even including the open and deep waters of the lake. In an Eawag review undertaken as part of the “SeeWandel” project, these uniquely diverse ecological adaptations are explained in terms of renewed contact between three stickleback lineages – including one originating from the Baltic region, whose genetic material is as yet rarely observed in other Swiss lakes.

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2020

December 17, 2020 –

Europe still has barely any downstream passage facilities that guide fish past the turbines of run-of-river power stations unharmed. Now, an interdisciplinary team of engineers from ETH Zurich and fish biologists from Eawag have...

Europe still has barely any downstream passage facilities that guide fish past the turbines of run-of-river power stations unharmed. Now, an interdisciplinary team of engineers from ETH Zurich and fish biologists from Eawag have developed a rack that uses pressure and flow differences to guide fish out of the main flow and into the safe fish passage. Laboratory tests have shown that the system, which works by influencing fish behaviour, is particularly effective for cyprinid fish and salmon parr.

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November 19, 2020 –

A factsheet from the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) shows: Too much nitrogen and phosphorus is released into the Swiss environment. There they damage biodiversity, forests and water bodies, exacerbate climate change and affect...

A factsheet from the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) shows: Too much nitrogen and phosphorus is released into the Swiss environment. There they damage biodiversity, forests and water bodies, exacerbate climate change and affect human health. Actually the causes are known.

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November 18, 2020 –

Researchers Juliane Hollender, Ole Seehausen, Bernhard Truffer and Urs von Gunten from the aquatic research institute Eawag are among the "highly cited researchers 2020".

Researchers Juliane Hollender, Ole Seehausen, Bernhard Truffer and Urs von Gunten from the aquatic research institute Eawag are among the "highly cited researchers 2020".

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November 12, 2020 –

In the journal ZooKeys, a group of scientists from Eawag and Bern University have described seven whitefish species endemic to the Bernese Oberland lakes – including four not previously described scientifically, two of which have...

In the journal ZooKeys, a group of scientists from Eawag and Bern University have described seven whitefish species endemic to the Bernese Oberland lakes – including four not previously described scientifically, two of which have only been identified as distinct species in the last few years. In Switzerland, the whitefish diversity of Lakes Thun and Brienz is possibly matched only by that found in Lake Lucerne; and in deep lakes of this kind further surprises cannot be ruled out.

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October 15, 2020 –

Exploration and utilisation of resources from the world’s oceans is not equally distributed across the globe. Although many of these resources originate in the Global South, they are mostly being researched by just a few countries...

Exploration and utilisation of resources from the world’s oceans is not equally distributed across the globe. Although many of these resources originate in the Global South, they are mostly being researched by just a few countries from the North. Accordingly, this is also where most of the benefits and profits are flowing to, despite the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was the finding of an analysis of literature from the last 50 years.

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August 26, 2020 –

Using genomic analyses of 100 cichlid species, scientists from Eawag and the University Bern, together with co-workers in Australia, the UK, Tanzania, Uganda and the US, have investigated the striking variation observed in cichlid...

Using genomic analyses of 100 cichlid species, scientists from Eawag and the University Bern, together with co-workers in Australia, the UK, Tanzania, Uganda and the US, have investigated the striking variation observed in cichlid fish speciation rates. Their findings show that exchanges of genetic variants between existing species dramatically accelerate the development of new species – given favourable ecological conditions.

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July 17, 2020 –

Biodiversity and thus the state of river ecosystems can now be predicted. To achieve this, researchers from the University of Zurich and Eawag (Aquatic Science and Technology) are combining environmental DNA with hydrological...

Biodiversity and thus the state of river ecosystems can now be predicted. To achieve this, researchers from the University of Zurich and Eawag (Aquatic Science and Technology) are combining environmental DNA with hydrological methods. Using the river Thur as an example, the approach allows identifying target areas for conservation and initiating protective measures.

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June 24, 2020 –

Interspecific hybrids can have transgressive phenotypes that may allow them to explore novel ecological niches.

Interspecific hybrids can have transgressive phenotypes that may allow them to explore novel ecological niches.

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May 28, 2020 –

Around 500 different cichlid species are found in Lake Victoria. According to a study by scientists at Eawag and Bern University, whether closely related species can persist within the same area depends on the effect sizes of...

Around 500 different cichlid species are found in Lake Victoria. According to a study by scientists at Eawag and Bern University, whether closely related species can persist within the same area depends on the effect sizes of individual genes underlying key mate-choice traits.

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May 25, 2020 –

126 Swiss researchers, including 6 from Eawag, want to draw the attention their Swiss compatriots to the scientific evidence showing the link between the emergence of pandemics and human disturbance of the natural environment.

126 Swiss researchers, including 6 from Eawag, want to draw the attention their Swiss compatriots to the scientific evidence showing the link between the emergence of pandemics and human disturbance of the natural environment.

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May 15, 2020 –

Drawing insights from multiple disciplines is essential for finding integrative solutions that are required to tackle complex environmental problems. Human activities are causing unprecedented influence on global ecosystems,...

Drawing insights from multiple disciplines is essential for finding integrative solutions that are required to tackle complex environmental problems. Human activities are causing unprecedented influence on global ecosystems, culminating in the loss of species and fundamental changes in the selective environments of organisms across the tree of life.

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May 13, 2020 –

To understand how specific organisms evolve, adapt to new environments, and form new species it is important to be able to compare the DNA sequences of different individuals and organisms. The best way of doing this is to have...

To understand how specific organisms evolve, adapt to new environments, and form new species it is important to be able to compare the DNA sequences of different individuals and organisms. The best way of doing this is to have species-specific genetic resources, such as a genome assembly, for the species of interest which allow us to find genetic similarities and differences between individuals. 

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April 30, 2020 –

ABCD: All continents, balanced gender, low carbon transport and diverse backgrounds. These criteria should shape the scientific conferences of the future.

ABCD: All continents, balanced gender, low carbon transport and diverse backgrounds. These criteria should shape the scientific conferences of the future.

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April 24, 2020 –

ABCD: All continents, balanced gender, low carbon transport and diverse backgrounds. These criteria should shape the scientific conferences of the future. 

 

ABCD: All continents, balanced gender, low carbon transport and diverse backgrounds. These criteria should shape the scientific conferences of the future. 

 

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April 17, 2020 –

Parasites may have strong eco-evolutionary interactions with their hosts. Consequently, they may contribute to host diversification. The radiation of cichlid fish in Lake Victoria provides a good model to study the role of...

Parasites may have strong eco-evolutionary interactions with their hosts. Consequently, they may contribute to host diversification. The radiation of cichlid fish in Lake Victoria provides a good model to study the role of parasites in the early stages of speciation. We investigated patterns of macroparasite infection in a community of 17 sympatric cichlids from a recent radiation and 2 older species from 2 nonradiating lineages, to explore the opportunity for parasite-mediated speciation.

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April 9, 2020 –

One hallmark of the East African cichlid radiations is the rapid evolution of reproductive isolation that is robust to full sympatry of many closely related species. Theory predicts that species persistence and speciation in...

One hallmark of the East African cichlid radiations is the rapid evolution of reproductive isolation that is robust to full sympatry of many closely related species. Theory predicts that species persistence and speciation in sympatry with gene flow are facilitated if loci of large effect or physical linkage (or pleiotropy) underlie traits involved in reproductive isolation. 

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2019

December 21, 2019 –

Seasonal spatio-temporal variation in habitat quality and abiotic conditions leads to animals migrating between different environments around the world. Whereas mean population timing of migration is often fairly well understood,...

Seasonal spatio-temporal variation in habitat quality and abiotic conditions leads to animals migrating between different environments around the world. Whereas mean population timing of migration is often fairly well understood, explanations for variation in migratory timing within populations are often lacking.

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December 5, 2019 –

The lakes of East Africa are home to a surprising number of different cichlid species. This level of biodiversity has developed partly due to hybrids that managed to take over new ecological niches in their habitats, according to...

The lakes of East Africa are home to a surprising number of different cichlid species. This level of biodiversity has developed partly due to hybrids that managed to take over new ecological niches in their habitats, according to recent research carried out by scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, and the University of Bern.

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November 13, 2019 –

There may be hundreds of species of char living in Greenland’s lakes and rivers, according to a team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and the University of Bern, that has discovered the...

There may be hundreds of species of char living in Greenland’s lakes and rivers, according to a team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and the University of Bern, that has discovered the largest known diversity of char species in the catchment area of the Eqaluit River.

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November 11, 2019 –

Vision plays a major role in the life of most teleosts, and is assumingly well adapted to each species ecology and behaviour.

Vision plays a major role in the life of most teleosts, and is assumingly well adapted to each species ecology and behaviour.

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October 16, 2019 –

In aquatic ecosystems, both mussels and macrophytes increase water clarity and generally help to prevent excessive algal growth. However, according to a study carried out at Eawag’s experimental pond facility, these stabilizing...

In aquatic ecosystems, both mussels and macrophytes increase water clarity and generally help to prevent excessive algal growth. However, according to a study carried out at Eawag’s experimental pond facility, these stabilizing effects can be disrupted when the co‑occurrence of species gives rise to complex interactions.

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October 2, 2019 –

Rapid changes in the genome of two closely interlinked species cannot be explained only by processes such as evolutionary pressure. Equally important is the role played by ecological processes, for example the dynamics of...

Rapid changes in the genome of two closely interlinked species cannot be explained only by processes such as evolutionary pressure. Equally important is the role played by ecological processes, for example the dynamics of population size. This has been shown for the first time experimentally by an international team of researchers under the direction of Eawag and the University of Konstanz with an alga and a virus. The study will be published today in the magazine Science Advances.

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September 23, 2019 –

New species can evolve rapidly after adapting to new niches, a process called ecological speciation. But mutations are rare, so how is such rapid ecological speciation possible? Recently evolved lake and stream ecotypes of...

New species can evolve rapidly after adapting to new niches, a process called ecological speciation. But mutations are rare, so how is such rapid ecological speciation possible? Recently evolved lake and stream ecotypes of stickleback from Lake Constance reveal an unexpected answer.

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July 28, 2019 –

An insight into her molecular neurobiologist's work and about means of visual communication between fish.

An insight into her molecular neurobiologist's work and about means of visual communication between fish.

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July 3, 2019 –

When animals migrate into an ecosystem, the ecosystem turns into a temporary land of milk and honey for predators. But novel findings from a recent study on local fish migration patterns in northern Europe indicate that even when...

When animals migrate into an ecosystem, the ecosystem turns into a temporary land of milk and honey for predators. But novel findings from a recent study on local fish migration patterns in northern Europe indicate that even when animals migrate out of an ecosystem, their absence has an effect on food webs.

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June 3, 2019 –

Since the last ice age, stickleback have managed to emerge from the sea to colonise many freshwater waterbodies. Genetic analysis by Eawag researchers and colleagues from the University of Bern and the National Institute of...

Since the last ice age, stickleback have managed to emerge from the sea to colonise many freshwater waterbodies. Genetic analysis by Eawag researchers and colleagues from the University of Bern and the National Institute of Genetics in Shizuoka, Japan, now demonstrate that they achieved this thanks to additional copies of a metabolism gene.

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May 30, 2019 –

Patterns of animal migration and the ecological forces that shape them have been studied for centuries. Yet ecological impacts caused by the migration, such as altered predator–prey interactions and effects on community structure,...

Patterns of animal migration and the ecological forces that shape them have been studied for centuries. Yet ecological impacts caused by the migration, such as altered predator–prey interactions and effects on community structure, remain poorly understood. This is to a large extent due to the scarcity of naturally replicated migration systems with negative controls, that is, ecosystems without migration. In this study, we tested whether partial migration of certain species within the overall prey community affects foraging ecology of top predators and thereby alters energy pathways in food webs.

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May 10, 2019 –

Vertebrate vision is accomplished through light-sensitive photopigments consisting of an opsin protein bound to a chromophore. In dim light, vertebrates generally rely on a single rod opsin [rhodopsin 1 (RH1)] for obtaining visual...

Vertebrate vision is accomplished through light-sensitive photopigments consisting of an opsin protein bound to a chromophore. In dim light, vertebrates generally rely on a single rod opsin [rhodopsin 1 (RH1)] for obtaining visual information. By inspecting 101 fish genomes, we found that three deep-sea teleost lineages have independently expanded their RH1 gene repertoires.

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April 17, 2019 –

By systematically collecting samples from Switzerland’s rivers, “Progetto Fiumi” has documented more than forty species of fish. In addition, within the various species, the Eawag research group has found a rich diversity that had...

By systematically collecting samples from Switzerland’s rivers, “Progetto Fiumi” has documented more than forty species of fish. In addition, within the various species, the Eawag research group has found a rich diversity that had not been fully assessed before. The project thus provides a basis for the protection of this genetic and ecological diversity.

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March 19, 2019 –

Speciation is often thought of as a slow process due to the waiting times for mutations that cause incompatibilities, and permit ecological differentiation or assortative mating. Cases of rapid speciation and particularly cases of...

Speciation is often thought of as a slow process due to the waiting times for mutations that cause incompatibilities, and permit ecological differentiation or assortative mating. Cases of rapid speciation and particularly cases of rapid adaptive radiation into multiple sympatric species have remained somewhat mysterious.

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March 5, 2019 –

The contemporary genomic diversity of viruses is a result of the continuous and dynamic interaction of past ecological and evolutionary processes. Thus, genome sequences of viruses can be a valuable source of information about...

The contemporary genomic diversity of viruses is a result of the continuous and dynamic interaction of past ecological and evolutionary processes. Thus, genome sequences of viruses can be a valuable source of information about these processes. In this review, we first describe the relevant processes shaping viral genomic variation, with a focus on the role of host–virus coevolution and its potential to give rise to eco-evolutionary feedback loops.

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February 26, 2019 –

When ecosystems tip abruptly out of balance, this can be catastrophic for humans and for biodiversity. Astonishingly little is known about the role of evolution in such processes. A research team including Eawag scientists has now...

When ecosystems tip abruptly out of balance, this can be catastrophic for humans and for biodiversity. Astonishingly little is known about the role of evolution in such processes. A research team including Eawag scientists has now published approaches to investigating such complex questions in the journal “Nature Ecology & Evolution”.

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2018

December 20, 2018 –

Rishi De-Kayne and Philine Feulner are investigating the genetic basis of the spectacular whitefish radiation in Swiss lakes. To do this, new genetic tools are essential. One such tool is the new linkage map they have published in...

Rishi De-Kayne and Philine Feulner are investigating the genetic basis of the spectacular whitefish radiation in Swiss lakes. To do this, new genetic tools are essential. One such tool is the new linkage map they have published in the journal G3.

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December 20, 2018 –

This study provides a genomic analysis (based on 16,173 RAD loci) of alpine whitefish from Lake Walensee and Lake Zurich. Philine and Ole show that with so many markers it is possible to clearly distinguish sympatric whitefish...

This study provides a genomic analysis (based on 16,173 RAD loci) of alpine whitefish from Lake Walensee and Lake Zurich. Philine and Ole show that with so many markers it is possible to clearly distinguish sympatric whitefish species. This then enabled them to show that in both lakes, populations of different, but ecologically similar, whitefish species declined after a period of eutrophication.

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September 13, 2018 –

In Lakes Thun and Brienz, evolutionary biologists from Eawag and Bern University have discovered a new whitefish species. The species, provisionally named “Balchen2”, is clearly differentiated – morphologically, ecologically and...

In Lakes Thun and Brienz, evolutionary biologists from Eawag and Bern University have discovered a new whitefish species. The species, provisionally named “Balchen2”, is clearly differentiated – morphologically, ecologically and genetically – from the five Lake Thun whitefish species previously described. The only lake known to harbour a higher number of whitefish species is the 200 times larger Russian Lake Onega.

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September 5, 2018 –

Climate warming is not the only cause of temperature changes in lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. The use of waterbodies for heating and cooling also leads to increases or decreases in water temperature. There has been...

Climate warming is not the only cause of temperature changes in lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. The use of waterbodies for heating and cooling also leads to increases or decreases in water temperature. There has been little research to date, however, on how this affects aquatic ecosystems. This lack of understanding has been highlighted by a recent literature review carried out at Eawag and the University of Bern.

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August 30, 2018 –

A long-term study of Switzerland’s major watercourses has been continuing for almost 45 years. An evaluation of the time series shows that as the climate is changing, so are geochemical processes. Most of the measuring stations...

A long-term study of Switzerland’s major watercourses has been continuing for almost 45 years. An evaluation of the time series shows that as the climate is changing, so are geochemical processes. Most of the measuring stations show an increase in the concentrations of bicarbonate. The changes are caused by increases in temperatures, the presence of nutrients in the lakes and the acidity of the soil. On the other hand, following a peak in the late 1980s, nitrogen concentrations have been decreasing. The reasons for this are a reduced input of nitrogen in agriculture and improved elimination in wastewater treatment.

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August 24, 2018 –

Cichlids belong to one of the largest fish families, with new species emerging all the time. These colourful, shimmering fish evolve so fast that Eawag researchers have now been able to practically observe them in the process of...

Cichlids belong to one of the largest fish families, with new species emerging all the time. These colourful, shimmering fish evolve so fast that Eawag researchers have now been able to practically observe them in the process of their evolution.

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July 11, 2018 –

Genetic linkage maps are essential for comparative genomics. In this study, we identified and genotyped markers via restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing to create a genetic linkage map based on 1,597 SNP markers from...

Genetic linkage maps are essential for comparative genomics. In this study, we identified and genotyped markers via restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing to create a genetic linkage map based on 1,597 SNP markers from an interspecific F2 cross of two closely related Lake Victoria cichlids (Pundamilia pundamilia and P. sp. 'red head').

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July 5, 2018 –

How quickly can organisms adapt to a new habitat? To answer this question, Tom Reimchen from the University of Victoria, Canada, set up a selection experiment in 1993 and let three-spined sticklebacks from a large lake evolve in a...

How quickly can organisms adapt to a new habitat? To answer this question, Tom Reimchen from the University of Victoria, Canada, set up a selection experiment in 1993 and let three-spined sticklebacks from a large lake evolve in a small pond for 19 years.

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July 1, 2018 –

Kay Lucek and colleagues have found that within the Aare catchment, populations from geographically distant lakes are more closely related to each other than to nearby river populations. This pattern is consistent with two...

Kay Lucek and colleagues have found that within the Aare catchment, populations from geographically distant lakes are more closely related to each other than to nearby river populations. This pattern is consistent with two distinct colonisation waves rather than parapatric ecological speciation after a single colonisation wave.

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June 7, 2018 –

Biological systems consist of ecological and evolutionary processes that interact within and across hierarchical levels. Yet quantitative frameworks to explore the complex dynamics of biological systems when interdependencies...

Biological systems consist of ecological and evolutionary processes that interact within and across hierarchical levels. Yet quantitative frameworks to explore the complex dynamics of biological systems when interdependencies among levels of the hierarchy occur are scarce.

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May 28, 2018 –

Microorganisms that live in symbiosis can sabotage biological methods of pest control by protecting their host from attackers, and host organisms can even pass on these beneficial “passengers” to their offspring. This phenomenon...

Microorganisms that live in symbiosis can sabotage biological methods of pest control by protecting their host from attackers, and host organisms can even pass on these beneficial “passengers” to their offspring. This phenomenon is one which has been paid little attention to date, but thanks to new research findings measures can now be taken to counteract it.

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May 9, 2018 –

Lake Victoria in East Africa is known for its vast biodiversity. But according to a report published recently by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to which Eawag also contributed, many species of fish,...

Lake Victoria in East Africa is known for its vast biodiversity. But according to a report published recently by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to which Eawag also contributed, many species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants are currently at risk.

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May 9, 2018 –

Moritz Muschick and colleagues searched sediment cores from Lake Victoria for fossils in layers before and after the lake dried up to test the "priority effect" hypothesis.

Moritz Muschick and colleagues searched sediment cores from Lake Victoria for fossils in layers before and after the lake dried up to test the "priority effect" hypothesis.

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May 8, 2018 –

When the unicellular alga Chloralla variablis and its deadly opponent, the chlorovirus, wrestle with each other, the same thing comes out again and again in various identical experiments: After repeated phases of collapse and...

When the unicellular alga Chloralla variablis and its deadly opponent, the chlorovirus, wrestle with each other, the same thing comes out again and again in various identical experiments: After repeated phases of collapse and recolonisation, most of the algae cells are resistant to the pathogen in each repeated experiment.

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March 8, 2018 –

Joana Meier receives the Faculty Award 2017 of the University of Bern for the best dissertation in biology. The title of the dissertation is "The role of hybridization in adaptive radiation: Genomic insights from Lake Victoria...

Joana Meier receives the Faculty Award 2017 of the University of Bern for the best dissertation in biology. The title of the dissertation is "The role of hybridization in adaptive radiation: Genomic insights from Lake Victoria cichlids".

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January 26, 2018 –

Jacco van Rijssel, Florian Moser, David Frei and Ole Seehausen have published a new paper in Proceedings of the Royal Society B on the influence of disruptive selection on gene flow in the evolutionary process. They ask whether...

Jacco van Rijssel, Florian Moser, David Frei and Ole Seehausen have published a new paper in Proceedings of the Royal Society B on the influence of disruptive selection on gene flow in the evolutionary process. They ask whether differences in current divergent ecological selection can explain differences in genetic divergence between sympatric species. They have investigated this by comparing seven species pairs at different stages of speciation.

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January 10, 2018 –

This is a very interesting blog series by theoretical ecologist Hari Sridhar. He interviews authors of well-known publications in ecology and evolution to find out about the genesis of the publication, the impact of the...

This is a very interesting blog series by theoretical ecologist Hari Sridhar. He interviews authors of well-known publications in ecology and evolution to find out about the genesis of the publication, the impact of the publication on the author's career and research, and what the author thinks about the content of the publication today.

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