The Faculty of Biology is a central part of a large water research cluster, the Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU). Overarching objectives of the research activities include interactions of aquatic communities with environmental factors, in particular with stressors, and to develop measures to maintain and increase functions and biodiversity. Organisms ranging from viruses to vertebrates are studied, with a focus on microalgae, benthic invertebrates and parasites. A major joint research project is the Collaborative Research Centre RESIST on the effects of multiple stressors. Other important areas of research include environmental DNA, ecotoxicology and catchment-scale management. The faculty is home to the world's largest algae culture collection, the CCAC. 

In addition to teaching in the Bachelor of Biology and the teacher training courses, we offer four specialised degree courses: The Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in Aquatic Biology; the English-language Master's degree programme in Environmental Toxicology; and the Master's degree programme in Biodiversity offered jointly with Ruhr University Bochum.

Jens Boenigk Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Research Overview
The research group of Professor Jens Boenigk focuses on the evolution and ecology of microorganisms, particularly eukaryotic algae and protists. The focus is on questions about biodiversity, systematic classification, and organismal interactions in aquatic ecosystems. The group investigates how microbial communities change under the influence of environmental changes and anthropogenic stressors and what role they play in material cycles and energy flows. Another focus is on the application of modern molecular biological methods, such as sequencing of environmental DNA, to better understand the diversity and function of microorganisms. The research also addresses biogeographical patterns and the adaptability of microorganisms to different habitats. Through the combination of field studies, laboratory analyses, and bioinformatics approaches, the group contributes to understanding fundamental processes of evolution and ecology in microbial communities.
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Bank Beszteri Phycology

Phycology

Research Overview

The research group of Professor Bank Beszteri investigates the diversity, evolution, and ecology of diatoms and their role in aquatic ecosystems. The focus is on how algae adapt to changing environmental conditions and what consequences this has for material cycles and the ecological state of waters. Modern methods such as genomics, digital microscopy, and machine learning are used to analyze and classify organisms. Another focus is on developing new approaches for environmental monitoring to detect changes in aquatic communities early on. The research contributes to a better understanding of the adaptability and ecological importance of algae in the context of global environmental changes.Learn more

Peter Haase River and Floodplain Ecology

River and Floodplain Ecology

Research Overview
The research group of Professor Peter Haase investigates the biodiversity and ecological functions of running waters, particularly in European rivers and streams. They analyze long-term changes in invertebrates such as mollusks and mayflies, which serve as indicators of water quality. The research shows that after previous pollution, species diversity initially recovered, but this trend has stagnated since about 2010. The effects of measures such as sewage treatment plants on the freshwater biodiversity are also investigated. The goal is to develop scientifically based strategies for the protection and renaturation of river ecosystems and to assess long-term changes in insect biomass in different landscapes.
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Daniel Hering Aquatic Ecology

Aquatic Ecology

Research Overview
Daniel Hering's working group has an applied focus. It develops methods for assessing water bodies and is responsible, among other things, for the PERLODES assessment system, which is widely used throughout Germany. An important basis for water body assessment is autecological data - together with another institute, the group operates a large autecological database on European freshwater organisms. Another focus is on measures for river development from the local to the catchment scale; in this context, the group has coordinated four EU-funded research projects to date, currently the MERLIN project, in which large-scale restoration measures are being implemented and evaluated across Europe. Daniel Hering is also co-spokesperson for the RESIST Collaborative Research Centre on multiple stressors.
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Florian Leese Aquatic Ecosystem Research

Aquatic Ecosystem Research

Research Overview
The research group of Professor Florian Leese investigates the effects of environmental stressors on aquatic ecosystems, with a focus on the interaction of multiple stressors such as pollutants, climate change, and habitat changes. A central focus is on biodiversity monitoring using modern genetic methods such as DNA metabarcoding and eDNA technologies to accurately capture changes in species diversity. The group develops and standardizes these genomics techniques to improve the monitoring and assessment of waters. They also investigate the genetic diversity and fragmentation of populations of invertebrates in running waters, which provides important insights into the adaptability and conservation of species. The work combines molecular ecology with applied nature conservation and provides scientific foundations for the protection and management of water resources.
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Sonja Rückert Eukaryotic Microbiology

Eukaryotic Microbiology

Research Overview
The research group of Professor Sonja Rückert investigates how single-celled eukaryotic microorganisms, particularly protists, interact with other organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Central topics include the effects of climate change on diverse communities and interactions, which protists enter as parasites, partners, or competitors with other aquatic organisms. The group investigates how rising temperatures, altered water flow, and other stress factors affect the composition of food webs, species diversity, and the health of host organisms. Modern molecular and morphological methods are used to identify parasitic eukaryotes and analyze their role as indicators of the ecological state of waters. The goal is to better understand the consequences of climate change on aquatic communities and create a foundation for the protection of biodiversity.
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Ralf Schäfer Ecotoxicology

Ecotoxicology

Research Overview
The research group led by Professor Ralf Schäfer investigates the impacts of human activities – such as pollutants, climate change, and land use – on aquatic ecosystems, particularly streams and rivers, as well as on terrestrial habitats in riparian zones. The group focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the interactions between environmental change and the health of both humans and ecosystems.
They analyze how stressors such as pesticides, rising temperatures, or altered land use affect species diversity and ecological functions in freshwater systems. Another key focus is testing ecological and ecotoxicological theories to predict changes in biodiversity across space and time and to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental protection measures.
The group employs state-of-the-art methods in chemical environmental analysis, statistical and process-based modeling, and molecular biology to better understand and assess risks to freshwater ecosystems and their organisms. In addition, they explore the links between aquatic biodiversity and human health – for example, by studying the role of agricultural chemical inputs in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The overarching goal is to provide a sound scientific basis for sustainable water protection and effective conservation measures.
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Bernd Sures Aquatic Ecology

Aquatic Ecology

Research Overview
The research of the working group of Prof. Dr. Bernd Sures focuses on the effects of environmental stressors such as pollution, climate change, and invasive species on aquatic ecosystems. A particular focus is on aquatic parasitology, where parasites are used as bioindicators of environmental changes and as important factors in the accumulation of heavy metals in aquatic food webs. Changes in the parasite community reflect the ecological state of a body of water, as parasites are closely linked to their hosts and their environment. Certain parasite species can specifically indicate environmental pollution, as they react differently to stressors.
The group analyzes the interactions between parasites, hosts, and pollutants in urban and natural waters, as well as the effects of multiple stressors on the health of aquatic organisms and the ecological functioning of running waters. As the spokesperson of the Special Research Area 1439 "RESIST", Bernd Sures investigates how running waters react to multiple stressors and how they can recover.
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