Water worlds teeming with life – Why biodiversity in and around our waters is important for us all!
Our lakes and reservoirs are not only reservoirs of drinking water, but also living ecosystems. They are teeming with countless microorganisms, plants and animals – many of which perform functions that we do not even notice at first glance. This biological diversity – or biodiversity – ensures that the water can purify itself naturally. It contributes to the stability of the ecosystem and acts as a buffer against external influences.
The greater the diversity of a body of water, the better it can regulate itself – for example, by curbing algal growth or breaking down pollutants. Biodiversity is therefore not a luxury, but a crucial factor for our health and our supply of clean drinking water.
Biodiversity out of balance: when environmental changes disrupt
the equilibrium of our lakes and reservoirs Our lakes and reservoirs are habitats with a delicate balance – yet it is precisely this balance that is increasingly being disrupted. Rising temperatures, new pollutants and introduced species (neobiota) interact in complex ways and alter the natural processes in the water.
Climate change: Warmer temperatures are altering habitats – algal blooms and oxygen depletion are on the rise.
Invasive species: Introduced animals and plants, known as neobiota, are displacing native species and disrupting the ecological balance.
Pollution: Nutrients enter the water via agriculture and sewage – this promotes excessive algal growth.
Some of these developments occur gradually and remain hidden for a long time. Others, such as sudden algal blooms or the disappearance of certain species, are immediately visible – with tangible consequences for people and nature. Our aim is to identify these changes at an early stage, to understand them and, working together, to find ways to shape this transition.
Our aim
Understanding biodiversity before it is
lost How can we assess biodiversity in water – and what role does it play in our future? This is precisely what our interdisciplinary project, IQ-Wasser, is investigating. Using modern methods such as environmental DNA analysis, metagenomics and artificial intelligence, we are investigating how microorganisms in reservoirs are changing – and what this means for water quality.
In doing so, we combine traditional aquatic research with new technologies. At the same time, we also aim to involve the public: through citizen science, where local people can observe and report changes. After all, clean water and healthy ecosystems concern us all – and together we can protect them better.
Our tools
How we make biodiversity visible
From water samples to forecasts – our toolkit ranges from molecular biological analyses to artificial intelligence.
Sensors provide us with data directly from the water. In the laboratory, we analyse samples for microorganisms and genetic traces. And you can help: with your on-the-ground observations, you provide valuable insights from the natural world. All this information comes together to paint as complete a picture as possible of biodiversity – and, with the help of AI, to detect at an early stage when a body of water is becoming unbalanced.
Our study areas
Diversity of water bodies – different conditions, shared goals
In our project, we are studying a selection of reservoirs and lakes that are of great importance for drinking water supply. These water bodies differ in size, trophic status and the challenges they face. Some are particularly close to their natural state, whilst others are more heavily impacted by human activities.
Through these comparative studies, we aim to understand how various environmental factors – such as climate change, invasive species or water use – affect ecosystems in different regions, and how we can protect water quality in the long term
Get involved
Do you enjoy spending time in nature and are you interested in biodiversity? If so, we warmly invite you to take part in the hands-on project ‘IQ Wasser – Exploring Biodiversity Together’! The aim of the project is to record biodiversity at selected reservoirs in Germany, thereby making an important contribution to the research and protection of these special habitats.
As part of this participatory project (citizen science), biodiversity will be recorded in and around selected reservoirs in Germany, such as the Wahnbach Reservoir. The aim is to collect data on the occurrence of wild animal, plant and fungal species, thereby helping to document biodiversity and to improve our understanding and the long-term protection of these special habitats.
Which species live in and around the reservoirs? Which species are rare or particularly worthy of protection? Where are non-native or invasive species spreading? When do algal blooms occur? Where do algal blooms occur?
Get involved – here’s how it works:
Taking part in the project is easy and requires no prior knowledge.
1. Download the app and register
Download, register for and use the iNaturalist app free of charge from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store
2. Carry out observations in the study area Discover and observe
wild plants, animals and fungi in and around the reservoirs. You must always adhere to the rules of conduct and legal regulations in the study area.
3. Document
your observations: Using the free iNaturalist app, you can document your observations quickly and easily. A built-in, modern identification tool helps you to identify the species. Please always record observations with the location and date.
Observations made in the respective study area are automatically posted on the iNaturalist project website for ‘IQ Wasser – Exploring Biodiversity Together’. We would be delighted if you joined the collective project on iNaturalist.
4. Make your observations available for research
All submitted observations are incorporated directly into the project’s scientific analysis and provide important information about biodiversity around the reservoirs. "
Project partners
Behind IQ-Wasser is an interdisciplinary team drawing on expertise from research, technology, practical experience and communication. Together, we are developing new ways to highlight biodiversity and safeguard water quality in the long term. What unites us is the conviction that we can only solve the challenges of our time by working together – with openness, expertise and collaboration on an equal footing.
- Project Coordination – TZW DVGW Technology Centre for Water
- Museum of Natural History – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity
Research IdentMe GmbH - Species identification using eDNA – precise, efficient and sustainable
Fraunhofer IOSB - University of Duisburg-Essen (Probst Lab)
- bbe Moldaenke GmbH
The project is funded by the BMFTR and FeDA