Biotic and abiotic drivers of macroinvertebrate dispersal (A16)

• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426547801

A16 will investigate the dispersal of macroinvertebrates and its biotic and abiotic drivers. Local dispersal will be estimated by mark-and-capture experiments using stable isotope enrichment in the Biber/Kinzig catchment and complement the data obtained during Phase I. Regional dispersal will be measured by means of gene flow analyses in three catchments (Boye/Emscher, Rotbach and Biber/Kinzig). Dispersal estimates will be contrasted against biological (e.g., competition) and abiotic drivers (e.g., migration barriers). All results will feed into Species Dispersal Models to predict the species-specific and catchment-specific dispersal conditional on different environmental conditions reflecting degradation and recovery.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1439: Multilevel response to stressor increase and release in stream ecosystems (RESIST)
• Applicant Institution: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Project Head: Privatdozent Dr. Christian K. Feld