 |
The Role of Littoral Processes in Lake Ecology
Symposium 29 to 31 January 2010 Hegne (near Konstanz), Germany |
 |
|
The Cooperative Research Centre (Sonderforschungsbereich) "Littoral Ecology of Lake Constance" invites researchers from all fields of lake ecology to contribute to a symposium on the role of littoral processes in lakes. In four thematic sessions and one round table discussion we want to present and discuss research related to the ecology of littoral zones and highlight new approaches and techniques relevant for ecological research in littoral zones. Registration deadline is December 7, 2009 (see below)
Thematic sessions and confirmed key note speakers We invite contributions to the thematic sessions:
Biological-physical interactions in the littoral zone of lakes Keynote speaker: Josef D. Ackerman, University of Guelph (Conveners: Frank Peeters, Reiner Eckmann) The littoral habitat is characterized by highly variable physical conditions and strong hydrodynamic forcing. Organisms that live in the littoral zone have to cope with oscillating velocities, shear stress and turbulence associated with surface waves, and with large fluctuations in temperature and light climate. Further, re-suspension and wave breaking affect processes such as leaf-litter decomposition, the transformation of organic material in the sediments and biofilm growth. In lakes with intense ship traffic, ship waves exert additional stress on biota that may be similar or even stronger than the effects of wind-induced waves. In this session we want to bring together research that investigates the physical conditions in the littoral zone with respect to biological processes and research on littoral biota that specifically considers the implications of the physical conditions.
Impacts of the changing environment on littoral communities Keynote speaker: David Lodge, University of Notre Dame (Conveners: Martin Mörtl, Karl O. Rothhaupt) Many ecosystems today are under external, mainly anthropogenic, pressures. At the present time and in the near future, the main stressors for lakes in Central Europe (and probably also in other parts of the world) are climate change with all its aspects, changes in the trophic conditions due to (mostly) falling nutrient levels and invasions of non-resident animal and plant species. Littoral communities can be particularly affected by these environmental changes. Alteration of water level fluctuations – in many cases a result of climate change – leads to a wide range of effects from sediment alteration to changes in the entire food web. Changing trophic conditions affect littoral primary producers by altering nutrient levels and the light field. Many invasive species are benthic invertebrates or plants and have an impact on the respective communities. In this session we want to summarize the present knowledge, show new trends and discuss the results with respect to research and management.
Littoral contact zones: Playground and battlefield for species interactions Keynote speaker: Farooq Azam, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Conveners: Jasminca Behrmann-Godel, Elisabeth Gross, Bodo Philipp) Littoral zones function as contact zones for the majority of lake organisms at least sometimes during their ontogeny. Species rich biofilms can develop on littoral substrates and serve as food source for numerous grazers. Macrophytes growing only in the littoral zone have manifold functions such as food source for herbivores, shelter for many organisms, or they are used as substrate for biofilms. Juveniles from almost every lake fish species use the shallow littoral to avoid predation. Parasites with complex life cycles profit form the spatial vicinity of their hosts. Understanding the complexity of these manifold interactions is very demanding as it can e.g. include abiotic–biotic, micro–micro, micro–macro, parasite–host and predator-prey (including plant–herbivore) interactions. In this session we aim to bring together researchers doing empirical, theoretical and experimental work in this field and welcome e.g. contributions to the following topics: a) Interactions within the biofilm and between the biofilm and the (living) substrate. - Spatio-temporal variations in biofilm community composition and the role of microstructures for interactions within the biofilm - Factors determining communication and metabolic interactions of pro- and eukaryotes b) Predator-prey and plant-herbivore interactions - Substrate composition and habitat structure as determinants of predation success - Impact of herbivory on life cycle and community composition of macrophytes c) Interactions between parasites and their hosts - Parasite host coevolution, local adaptation of parasites to their hosts or vice versa - Role of parasites in food webs and as bioindicators for environmental change
Habitat coupling in lakes - interactions across the littoral zone Keynote speaker: Yvonne Vadeboncoeur, Wright State University (Conveners: Dietmar Straile, Hans-Günther Bauer, Petra Quillfeldt) One important distinction between deep and shallow lakes is the occurrence and spatial distinctness of truly littoral and pelagic habitats. However also in deep lakes there are interactions between these habitats which will probably be important for an understanding of whole lake dynamics. Those interactions may occur for example via hydrodynamical transport of nutrients and organisms between the littoral and the pelagic zone. As a consequence littoral–pelagic habitat coupling has important consequences for biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients. Secondly, organisms with complex life cycles which use both habitats within different parts of their life will link the dynamics between both habitats. For example, the larvae and adults of certain fish species, of parasites or of the zebra mussels link both habitats. Additionally, the littoral zone is of specific importance for pelagic dynamics as it allows hatching from resting eggs of many phytoplankton and zooplankton species. Finally, larger organisms, e.g., fish species may migrate and use both habitats. Hence, there is an urgent need for understanding the type and magnitude of interactions between the littoral and pelagic in order to understand whole lake carbon and nutrient fluxes, food web dynamics and ecosystem resilience towards external disturbances and pressures. In this session we welcome novel contributions studying littoral-pelagic interactions with observational, experimental and theoretical approaches.
Round table discussion: New approaches and concepts in Lake Research Keynote speakers (incentive talks): Oliver Glöckner, MPI für Marine Mikrobiologie & Luc de Meester (University of Leuven). (conveners: Karl M. Wantzen, Peter Kroth) Lakes have been ideal models for ecological concept development. Approaches evolved from the view as a "microcosm" in the early days of limnology, the strong focus on plankton ecology in the past decades, the recent focus on biogeochemical and organismic processes in the littoral zone and the current approaches to putting the lake back together from individual studies. New technological approaches like metagenomics, and metabolomics may allow deeper insight into biochemical processes and biodiversity-ecosystem function linkages. This round table session will be introduced by several impulse/incentive talks and will provide a platform for the discussion of new conceptual and technological approaches in lake ecology.
Arrival will be preferentially on 28 January. We plan to have an inofficial get-together on 28 January, 8 p.m. The meeting is scheduled to start on 29 January, 9 a.m. Anticipated end is 31 January 4 p.m.
Registration, abstract submission and fees
To register and submit your abstract please use the registration form. Registration, abstract submission and transfer of fees is open until December 7, 2009. Only registrations which are accompagnied by fee transfer can be accepted. Registration fees will be 180,00 € (normal rate) and for students 120,00 € Conference fees include admission to conference sessions and meals for all three conference days (coffee breaks, lunches, dinners). For accomodation costs see registration form. Depending on contributions, selected results will be jointly published in a volume of a renowned scientific journal.
The meeting will take place at Kloster Hegne Haus St. Elisabeth. Konradistraße 1 D-78476 Allensbach-Hegne Tel.: (0)7533.9366-2000 Fax: (0)7533.9366-2100 Konstanz is approximately 1 hour by train from the nearest airport, Zurich in Switzerland. Travels from Konstanz train station to Kloster Hegne will be arranged.
The day after the symposium (Monday, 1 February), interested participants can either visit the Limnological Institute of the University of Konstanz or participate in an excursion to see resting places of wintering water fowl at Lake Constance.
Additional information and contact address
Further information will follow shortly on this web site
Please address all inquiries to: Silvia Berger Sekretariat SFB 454 "Bodenseelitoral" Limnologisches Institut der Universität Konstanz Mainaustr. 252 D-78457 Konstanz
Tel ++49-(0)7531-883561 Fax ++49-(0)7531-883533
|