Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin

Fakultät für Biologie
Aquatische Ökologie
Universitätsstr. 5
D-45141 Essen

Raum S05T03B08
Tel: +49.201.18.33046
Fax: +49.201.18.32179

pia.knobloch@uni-due.de
 

Recovery processes of riverine organisms from different modes and severities of degradation

Freshwater ecosystems are under pressure globally due to a variety of anthropogenic stressors. However, there is an increasing effort to restore and improve these ecosystems. In my doctoral thesis, I examine how benthic macroinvertebrates recolonise streams upon the removal of stressors. My research uses a combination of time-series modelling and metacommunity analysis to increase our understanding of recovery dynamics following restoration measures. 

I use the Asymmetric Response Concept (ARC) to examine how dispersal, biotic interactions and species' ecological tolerances and traits  influence the process of recolonisation over time. I analyse trends and patterns across different riverine organism groups, with a special emphasis on benthic macroinvertebrates, using both catchment-scale data from the highly anthropogenized Emscher River in the Ruhr area and a German-wide long-term dataset.

My goal is to link metacommunity theory with key environmental factors in order to reveal the processes behind stream recovery. This will provide valuable insights into effective restoration strategies and the resilience of aquatic biodiversity.