This may be a case of omnivory in a detritus based food web, with Gammarus and chironomids competing for a shared resource and Gammarus preying on chironomids. Our research objective is to study the interactions involved in this food web (e.g., seasonal patterns of biodeposition, food quality of deposited material for Gammarus, influence of Gammarus on chironomid densities, influence of enrichment on the relative densities of both main taxa). During this work, we will always keep in mind that the invasion by Dikerogammarus may severely disturb the Dreissena-biodeposition based community.

In summer 2006, the Ponto-Caspian mysid L. benedeni invaded into Lake Constance and colonized the place of discovery very fast. Although the mysid is common in the Rhine and Danube river system, only little is known about the ecology of L. benedeni and the ecological consequences of the invasion into Lake Constance are still unknown.
We want to investigate and compare the life cycle and ecology of the mysid in Lake Constance with known data from rivers. In doing so, it is essential to do a routine sampling program. By measuring population parameters and additionally laboratory experiments, we are able to describe the life cycle of L. benedeni. Laboratory experiments to further aspects of the syn- and autecology are also planned for the future. These are preparatory work to assess the influence of the new species to the benthic community in the littoral of Lake Constance.