Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Germany - Austria - Switzerland - Liechtenstein (Alpenrhein - Bodensee - Hochrhein)

Date of latest update: 2024-03-25

Description

Description (EN):

The objective of the lake transformation project is to investigate the significance of the decline in nutrients, climate change, non-resident species and other stress factors for the ecosystem, its biodiversity and way of working, as well as human utilisation at Lake Constance. This contributes to being able to evaluate important questions with regard to the resilience of the Lake Constance ecosystem and potential changes in the performance of the ecosystem. Furthermore, the insights gained will make a contribution to a foundation, on which basis the scientifically substantiated decisions of water management and politics might affect the future of Lake Constance. In previous years, Lake Constance has gone through extensive changes: untreated water and intensive agriculture led to the severe pollution of the lake in the 1950s to 1980s. Lake Constance became richer in nutrients (eutrophication). Although the natural trophic status has been almost completely reinstated thanks to the introduction of countermeasures, there have been irreversible changes in the composition of the symbiotic community. A species of whitefish (kilch) died out in the eutrophication phase. Climate change and the immigration of non-resident species of fauna and flora potentially threaten the natural biodiversity. This may lead to changes in the food web and affect the way the Lake Constance ecosystem works. The fishing industry has flagged up decreasing catches, and concerns have been expressed with regard to increased maintenance costs for municipal water providers based on the proliferation of non-resident species of mussels (e.g. quagga mussels). Today there are more than 37 non-resident species in Lake Constance, e.g. three-spined stickleback (gasterosteus aculeatus), zebra mussels (dreissena polymorpha) and killer shrimps (dikerogammarus villosus). Seven institutes from the three countries are working together on various topics to understand how Lake Constance is responding to changing environmental conditions. This will involve the complex interaction between climate change, invasive species and reoligotrophication in particular, and how they affect the ecosystem. We are convinced that these research projects will help us answer important questions. We will provide the necessary insights so that water management specialists and politicians can make scientifically substantiated decisions on the future of the lake.

Description (DE):

Ziel des Projektes Seewandel ist, zu untersuchen welche Bedeutung Nährstoffrückgang, Klimawandel, gebietsfremde Arten und andere Stressfaktoren für das Ökosystem, seine Biodiversität und Funktionsweise, sowie die menschliche Nutzung am Bodensee haben. Dies trägt dazu bei, wichtige Fragen hinsichtlich der Widerstandsfähigkeit des Ökosystems Bodensee und potenzieller Veränderungen von Ökosystemleistungen evaluieren zu können. Darüber hinaus, liefern die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse einen Beitrag zu einer Basis, aufgrund derer wissenschaftlich fundierte Entscheidungen von Seite der Wasserwirtschaft und der Politik über die Zukunft des Bodensees getroffen werden können. Im vergangenen Jahrhundert durchlief der Bodensee weitreichende Veränderungen: ungereinigtes Abwasser und intensive Landwirtschaft führten zu einer starken Verschmutzung des Sees in den 50-80er Jahren. Der Bodensee wurde nährstoffreicher (Eutrophierung). Obgleich der natürliche Trophie-Zustand, dank eingeleiteter Gegenmaßnahmen, fast vollständig wiederhergestellt werden konnte, gibt es irreversible Veränderungen in der Zusammensetzung der Lebensgemeinschaft. Eine Felchenart (Kilch) ist während der Phase der Eutrophierung ausgestorben. Klimawandel und die Einwanderung gebietsfremder Tier- und Pflanzenarten gefährden potenziell die natürliche Biodiversität. Dies kann zu Änderungen im Nahrungsnetz führen und die Funktionsweise des Ökosystems Bodensee beeinflussen. Die Fischerei vermerkt sinkende Fangerträge und Bedenken hinsichtlich erhöhter Wartungskosten für kommunale Wasserversorger aufgrund der Ausbreitung gebietsfremder Muschelarten (z.B. Quagga Muschel) werden geäußert. Heute gibt es mehr als 37 gebietsfremde Arten im Bodensee, z.B. Dreistachliger Stichling (Gasterosteus aculeatus), Wandermuschel (Dreissena polymorpha) und grosser Höckerflohkrebs (Dikerogammarus villosus). Sieben Institute aus drei Ländern arbeiten zusammen an verschiedenen Themen, um zu verstehen, wie der Bodensee auf sich ändernde Umweltbedingungen reagiert. Insbesondere geht es um die komplexen Interaktionen zwischen Klimawandel, invasiven Arten und Reoligotrophierung und wie diese das Ökosystem beeinflussen. Wir sind davon überzeugt, dass diese Forschungsprojekte uns helfen werden, wichtige Fragen zu beantworten. Sie werden nötige Erkenntnisse liefern, damit Wasserwirtschaftsfachleute und Politiker wissenschaftlich fundierte Entscheidungen über die Zukunft des Sees treffen können.

Achievements (EN):

The projects “SeeWandel: Living in Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow” and “SeeWandel-Covid” deal with the stability of the Lake Constance ecosystem, biodiversity is an essential part of it. In view of new challenges, such as the proliferation of alien species and climate change, it is crucial that the links between such new developments are better known and thus better available for decision-making for the sustainable management of Lake Constance, which also contributes to the protection and preservation of biodiversity. The projects investigate the influence and interaction of various stress factors such as nutrient changes, alien species and climate change on Lake Constance ecosystem, its biodiversity and functioning, as well as human use at the lake. As one of the largest alpine lakes, Lake Constance is a unique cross-border ecosystem between Germany, Austria and Switzerland and offers the population in the catchment area and far beyond important ecosystem services, such as drinking water, fishing, recreation, tourism, nature conservation and energy production. As the project name suggests, “SeeWandel” is dedicated to the consequences of the changes that Lake Constance is going through in the past and currently. This concerns in particular high nutrient inputs during eutrophication, climate change and the invasion of alien species – factors that irreversibly alter the composition of the habitat in Lake Constance, with potential impacts on the functioning and services of the ecosystem. 13 teams of seven research institutions from the three Lake Constance countries examined the profound change on Lake Constance, important questions regarding its resilience and potential changes in ecosystem services. Some of the findings of other lakes (e.g. Lake Zurich) were also used. The considerations included the main components of the food web: Primary producers (e.g. phytoplankton, aquatic plants, burgundy blood algae) and consumers (e.g. zooplankton, quaggamuschel) and secondary consumers (e.g. fish such as stingling, rocks). Many studies have practical relevance (e.g. with regard to drinking water supply, fisheries, tourism) and therefore the cross-border exchange with stakeholders, local authorities/administration and knowledge transfer has been very important. The project results show that it is currently unlikely that the burgundy blood algae, whose metabolic products are toxic to humans and animals, will become a problem in Lake Constance. Regarding nutrient changes in Lake Constance, some groups of organisms (e.g. arm light algae, diatom algae) show an astonishing reversibility in view of the simultaneous climate changes and immigration of alien species, but other groups of organisms do not (e.g. water flea community whose genetic composition has undergone irreversible changes, and which is increasingly dominated by a new small water flea). In addition, the kilch (rock type) is extinct during eutrophication. However, it is to be feared that this recovery is short-lived, as climate change and invasive species such as quaggamuschel (expected to see a massive increase) and Stichling are likely to change Lake Constance far-reachingly. For example, the zooplankton community has changed with the immigration of the stingling into Lake Constance open water and presumably due to climate change. The Quaggamuschel eat algae – like many zooplankton species – and this with enormous efficiency. All of this can have a massive impact on final consumers, the fish community and the fishing industry of important species such as the rock. The current change is profound and is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the complex ecosystem structure and water users (see project summary). The projects have created a sound data base and procedures for additional monitoring surveys. These are essential to understand dynamics in the complex ecosystem structure. The established structures for cross-border cooperation enable the timely transfer of knowledge for scientifically sound water management of larger lakes such as Lake Constance.

Website: http://www.interreg.org/

Expected Results (DE): Das geplante Projekt trägt bei zum Erhalt des Ökosystems und verbessert die Biodiversität vom Bodensee, Walensee und Zürichsee.

Thematic information

Waterways, lakes and rivers Climate change and biodiversity

Specific Objective: Preservation and enhancement of biodiversity in the programme area

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06d) Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Eawag - Eidgenössischen Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz

Address: Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.eawag.ch/de/

Total budget: EUR 1 282 882.36

Landesanstalt für Umwelt Baden-Würtemberg

Name: Landesanstalt für Umwelt Baden-Würtemberg

Address: Argenweg 50/1, 88085 Langenargen, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: http://www4.lubw.baden-wuerttemberg.de/servlet/is/231043/

Total budget: EUR 349 862.57

ERDF budget: EUR 209 917.54

Universität Hohenheim

Name: Universität Hohenheim

Address: August von Hartmann Str. 3, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: https://ecology.uni-hohenheim.de/

Total budget: EUR 583 567.41

ERDF budget: EUR 350 140.45

Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck

Name: Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck

Address: Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 553 250.00

ERDF budget: EUR 331 950.00

Fischereiforschungsstelle Langenargen

Name: Fischereiforschungsstelle Langenargen

Address: Argenweg 50/1, 88085 Langenargen, Germany

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 863 492.50

ERDF budget: EUR 518 095.50

Universität Zürich

Name: Universität Zürich

Address: Seestrasse 187, 8802 Kilchberg, Switzerland

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.botinst.uzh.ch/en/research/limnology/pernthaler.html

Total budget: EUR 636 074.85

Universität Konstanz

Name: Universität Konstanz

Address: Mainaustraße 252, 78464 Konstanz, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: https://www.limnologie.uni-konstanz.de/

Total budget: EUR 1 397 347.50

ERDF budget: EUR 838 408.50

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Landesanstalt für Umwelt Baden-Würtemberg

Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Partners and Projects info

Hohenheim University

Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Partners and Projects info

UNIVERSITÄT INNSBRUCK

Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Partners and Projects info

Fischereiforschungsstelle Langenargen

Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Partners and Projects info

Universität Zürich

Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Partners and Projects info

Universität Konstanz

Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Partners and Projects info

Eawag - Eidgenössischen Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz

Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Project name (DE): Leben im Bodensee – gestern, heute und morgen

Project acronym: SeeWandel

Project start date: 2016-06-01

Project end date: 2023-06-30

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 5 666 477.19

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 3 016 094.87

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 248 511.99.

Third-country contribution: Switzerland: EUR 767 582.88 (ERDF equivalent only)

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Germany - Austria - Switzerland - Liechtenstein (Alpenrhein - Bodensee - Hochrhein)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2022-08-01

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

102 / 102 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

553 / 553 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.interreg.org/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-11-19, 2023-01-17 and 2024-03-11. Fields project name, description and achievement (from 107 projects) translated from German into English using the European Commission's eTranslation machine translation service.

The projects which fields do not include an eTranslation English text are the ones with the following acronyms: 5. Leistungsvereinbarung, Abbau von AAL-Barrieren, BiLeSA, BRÜCKENBAU, BTB, DigiTraG, Elektrifizierung der Hochrheinstrecke, Flüssigbiopsien, Geschäftsstelle HRK, GreenSan, HHLL, IBH Living Lab AAL, IBK-Kleinprojektefonds, IBK-Kompetenzzentrum, KPF HRK, Laufenburger Acht, Migration nach Vorarlberg und Oberschwaben, Modellanlagen für den Integrierten Pflanzenschutz, Neuer Steg Rheinfelden, Rheinuferrundweg extended, SeeWandel, Technik im Quartier, Virtuelles Geschichtsforum, 3Welten-Card, 5. Leistungsvereinbarung, Abbau von AAL-Barrieren, Bauen 4.0, BiLeSA, BODANRAIL 2040, BRÜCKENBAU, Bürger-Bienen-Biodiversität, DenkRaum Bodensee, Design-Spaces, DigiTraG, Flüssigbiopsien, Geschäftsstelle HRK, HHLL, IBH Living Lab AAL, IBH-Lab KMUdigital – Management, IBK-Kleinprojektefonds, IBK-Kompetenzzentrum, KIG, KLIMAANPASSUNG DACH+, Migration nach Vorarlberg und Oberschwaben, Modellanlagen für den Integrierten Pflanzenschutz, Museumsschiffe, Schulgärten, Seamless Learning – Management, Technik im Quartier, Vernetzung von Sporttrainern, Virtuelles Geschichtsforum and wohngesund.

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Lake transformation Life at Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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