黑料视频

Professor Jean-Claude Burgelman, Director of the Frontiers Planet Prize, said: 鈥濭iven the immense threats facing humanity and the planet, we need bold, transformative solutions that are evidence-based and scientifically grounded. Innovative and scalable solutions are the only way to ensure healthy lives on a healthy planet.鈥�

One such solution, falling under the category of Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystem Restoration, is presented in the study by Prof. Robert Arlinghaus and his team: revitalising lakes by creating shallow water zones and adding deadwood structures. Worldwide, millions of fish are stocked into waters every year to support natural fish populations. The Science study reveals that this practice, known as fish stocking, is not always successful 鈥� and shows how it can be done better. A particular strength of this research lies in its close link between science and application, conducting repeated, whole-lake experiments in collaboration with angling associations.

Habitat improvements work better than fish stocking

In a unique before-after control-impact experiment, the research team compared, over six years and across 20 gravel pit lakes, how fish stocking and habitat enhancement influenced fish populations.

鈥濼his was a unique outdoor experiment where, in close partnership with numerous angling clubs, we tested different management approaches at whole-ecosystem level. There has never been such a large, replicated, and controlled whole-lake experiment of this kind before. I am delighted that our work has now been recognised with the National Frontiers Planet Prize,鈥� said Professor Robert Arlinghaus, project initiator and coordinator.

鈥濷ver six years, around 160,000 fish as well as many other plant and animal species were surveyed before and after the measures, to analyse how different organism groups responded to habitat creation or the release of a total of 40,000 individually marked fish,鈥� added Prof. Johannes Radinger, lead author of the study, former member of Prof. Arlinghaus鈥� research group, and now Professor at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences.

Dr Christopher Monk, now Head of the Marine Behavioural Ecology Group at 黑料视频 Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, played a key role in analysing the extensive field data during his postdoctoral time at IGB, and also contributed to editing the manuscript.

鈥淭he study demonstrated that ecosystem-based management 鈥� particularly through the creation of shallow water zones 鈥� sustainably increased fish populations and reproductive success, while also supporting other organism groups such as dragonflies and aquatic plants,鈥� explained Dr Sven Matern, co-lead author of the award-winning study and former doctoral researcher under Prof. Arlinghaus. In contrast, the widely practised method of fish stocking, still common among many angling clubs and conservation actors globally, proved unsuccessful in this experiment. Adding deadwood structures showed positive, but species- and site-specific effects, and was generally less effective than creating shallow water areas.

Angling clubs as key partners

The BAGGERSEE research and implementation project on which the Science paper was based was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV), and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) from 2016 to 2022. It has been carried out in close cooperation with dozens of angling clubs in the Anglerverband Niedersachsen e.V. (AVN). Hundreds of anglers have been actively involved in implementing management measures and collecting data. Fisheries biologists from the AVN planned and co-ordinated the habitat enhancement work.

"These results have direct implications for how angling clubs manage their waters. A follow-up knowledge transfer project is currently underway to share these findings with angling organisations across Germany, beyond the project region of Lower Saxony,鈥� said Prof. Thomas Klefoth from Bremen University of Applied Sciences, who co-initiated and formerly coordinated the BAGGERSEE project as a fisheries biologist at AVN.

Freshwater fish under threat

Freshwater fish are among the most threatened vertebrate groups worldwide. In Germany, for example, half of all freshwater fish species are considered endangered according to the national Red List. One of the main reasons is the loss of suitable habitats. Declines in fish populations have far-reaching consequences for aquatic ecosystems as well as for commercial and recreational fisheries. Effective conservation and restoration measures are urgently needed to halt and reverse these declines.

"One promising strategy is ecosystem-based management, which aims to improve or restore key ecological processes, habitats and species interactions, rather than focusing solely on eliminating individual stressors or stocking fish,鈥� explained Robert Arlinghaus. However, this comprehensive approach is often costly and administratively complex.

Ecosystem-based management is worth it

Policymakers are therefore often hesitant to invest in ecosystem-based management without solid scientific evidence of its effectiveness. 鈥淲ith our large experimental field study, which included control lakes and thus delivered robust results, we have now provided a scientific foundation for the success of ecosystem-oriented measures. Crucially, ecosystem improvements need to target the most limiting habitats. In gravel pit lakes, that鈥檚 shallow water zones 鈥� though in other water types, restoring floodplains or other key habitats may be more important,鈥� Arlinghaus explained.

National Champions with a chance for major funding

The National Champions for scientific breakthroughs in sustainability were selected by a jury of 100 leading sustainability researchers worldwide, chaired by Professor Johan Rockstr枚m of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The National Champions now advance to the final round of the competition, in which three International Champions will be named in June 2025. Each will receive one million US dollars to further their research and expand its global impact.

Original publication:

Radinger, J., Matern, S., Klefoth, T., Wolter, C., Feldhege, F., Monk, C.T., Arlinghaus, R. (2023). Ecosystem-based management outperforms species-focused stocking for enhancing fish populations. Science, 379, 6635, 946-951.

Background: Frontiers Planet Prize

The Frontiers Planet Prize is an international science award presented annually by the Frontiers Research Foundation since 2022. It honours researchers whose pioneering work has the potential to mitigate the global environmental crisis and help stabilise Earth鈥檚 ecosystem.

Each year, one National Champion is selected in every participating country. From these, an independent jury of 100 experts selects three International Champions. Each of these outstanding researchers or research groups receives one million US dollars to advance their work and expand its global influence.

The prize aims to unite global efforts in the fight against the environmental and climate crisis 鈥� much like the worldwide mobilisation of resources and expertise seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.