SeeWandel-Covid, supplementary project to cushion the Covid19 caused project impairments in “SeeWandel — Life in Lake Constance yesterday, today and tomorrow”

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Germany - Austria - Switzerland - Liechtenstein (Alpenrhein - Bodensee - Hochrhein)

Date of latest update: 2024-03-25

Description

Description (EN):

Lake Constance is one of the largest alpine lakes on the border between Germany, Austria and Switzerland — an important drinking water reservoir and ecosystem, important for tourism, recreation, fishing, nature conservation and energy production. In the past century, Lake Constance underwent a phase of eutrophication due to over-fertilisation and, after nutrient-reducing countermeasures were initiated, a phase of re-oligotrophication, with irreversible changes in the composition of the community, including the invasion of alien species. The consequences of climate change are equally unpredictable. Changes in the food web are the result, natural biodiversity in Lake Constance is highly endangered and affects the ecosystem in its functioning and provision of ecosystem services. Our existing project “SeeWandel: Living in Lake Constance — yesterday, today and tomorrow” (www.seewandel.org) examines the influence and importance of nutrient decline, climate change, alien species and other stress factors for the ecosystem, its biodiversity and functioning, as well as human use at the lake. We have established a cross-border cooperation between seven research institutions to evaluate these important issues regarding Lake Constance’s resilience, potential changes in ecosystem services and future problems. SeeWandel creates basic knowledge on the basis of which scientifically sound decisions can be made on the part of water management and politics about the future of Lake Constance. “SeeWandel-Covid” cushions the impairments caused by COVID-19 in SeeWandel. For SeeWandel, for which cross-border cooperation is a central and essential engine, the measures and regulations implemented have resulted in massive restrictions. Access to research facilities and their infrastructure was not possible in spring 2020 and only limited since then. Central project work (e.g. field/laboratory work, computer-aided data processing, public relations) could not be carried out as planned, cooperation/interaction with external service providers, practice, stakeholders and other project participants was/is significantly difficult. The development of flexible alternatives to ensure cross-border cooperation and its continuous adaptation means additional work for the project management team, which affects, among other things, the preparation of research results for practice. In balance, the researchers have intensified other aspects of their work. A cost-neutral extension of SeeWandel for all sub-projects until the end of June 2023 has been decided and is requested from the Joint Interreg Secretariat. SeeWandel-Covid enables a longer employment of the employees concerned and thus contributes decisively to the achievement of the SeeWandel goals. In addition, a central goal of SeeWandel-Covid is to intensify the integration and preparation of research results and target group-oriented knowledge transfer. To this end, we aim to work closely with the HYDRA environmental office, which has a wealth of experience in preparing research results for different target groups. The transfer of knowledge into practice is ensured, among other things, in the form of reports bringing together different research aspects, addressing key key questions or further deepening individual thematic areas, as well as in the form of fact sheets on selected topics. The preparation of the SeeWandel results for the general public is also planned. SeeWandel-Covid thus contributes decisively to the implementation of project work of central importance for science, practice, administrations and stakeholders around the lake.

Description (DE):

Der Bodensee ist einer der größten Alpenseen an der Grenze zwischen Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz – ein wichtiger Trinkwasserspeicher und Ökosystem, bedeutend für Tourismus, Erholung, Fischerei, Naturschutz und Energiegewinnung. Im vergangenen Jahrhundert durchlief der Bodensee aufgrund der Überdüngung eine Phase von Eutrophierung und, nachdem nährstoffreduzierende Gegenmaßnahmen eingeleitet wurden, eine Phase der Re-Oligotrophierung, mit irreversiblen Veränderungen in der Zusammensetzung der Lebensgemeinschaft, auch durch die Invasion von gebietsfremden Arten. Die Folgen des Klimawandels sind ebenso unübersehbar. Änderungen im Nahrungsnetz sind die Folge, die natürliche Biodiversität im Bodensee ist stark gefährdet und das Ökosystem in seiner Funktionsweise und Gewährleistung von Ökosystemdienstleistungen beeinflusst. Unser bestehendes Projekt „SeeWandel: Leben im Bodensee – gestern, heute und morgen“ (www.seewandel.org) untersucht den Einfluss und die Bedeutung von Nährstoffrückgang, Klimawandel, gebietsfremder Arten und anderer Stressfaktoren für das Ökosystem, seine Biodiversität und Funktionsweise, sowie die menschliche Nutzung am See. Wir haben eine grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit zwischen sieben Forschungseinrichtungen aufgebaut, um diese wichtigen Fragen hinsichtlich der Widerstandsfähigkeit des Bodensees, potenzieller Veränderungen von Ökosystemleistungen sowie zukünftiger Probleme evaluieren zu können. SeeWandel schafft Basiswissen, auf dessen Grundlage wissenschaftlich fundierte Entscheidungen seitens der Wasserwirtschaft und der Politik über die Zukunft des Bodensees getroffen werden können. Mit „SeeWandel-Covid“ werden die von COVID-19 verursachten Beeinträchtigungen in SeeWandel abgefedert. Für SeeWandel, für welches die grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit ein zentraler und wesentlicher Motor ist, führten/führen die implementierten Maßnahmen und Verordnungen zu massiven Einschränkungen. Zugang zu den Forschungseinrichtungen und deren Infrastruktur war im Frühjahr 2020 nicht und seither nur eingeschränkt möglich. Zentrale Projektarbeiten (wie z.B. Freiland-/Laborarbeiten, computergestützte Datenverarbeitung, Öffentlichkeitsarbeit) konnten nicht wie geplant durchgeführt werden, die Zusammenarbeit/Interaktion mit externen Dienstleistern, der Praxis, Stakeholdern und anderen Projektbeteiligten war/ist signifikant erschwert. Die Erarbeitung von flexiblen Alternativen zur Gewährleistung der grenzüberschreitenden Zusammenarbeit und deren fortlaufende Anpassung bedeutet zusätzliche Arbeit für das Projektmanagement Team, was u.a. die Aufbereitung der Forschungsergebnisse für die Praxis beeinträchtigt. Im Ausgleich haben die Forschenden andere Aspekte ihrer Arbeiten intensiviert. Eine kostenneutrale Verlängerung von SeeWandel für alle Teilprojekte bis Ende Juni 2023 ist beschlossen und wird beim Gemeinsamen Interreg Sekretariat beantragt. SeeWandel-Covid ermöglicht eine längere Anstellung der betroffenen Mitarbeitenden und trägt somit entscheidend zur Erreichung der SeeWandel-Ziele bei. Zudem ist ein zentrales Ziel von SeeWandel-Covid, die Integration und Aufbereitung der Forschungsergebnisse und den zielgruppenorientierten Wissenstransfer zu intensivieren. Dafür streben wir eine enge Zusammenarbeit mit dem Umweltbüro HYDRA an, welches über einen großen Erfahrungsschatz im Aufbereiten von Forschungsergebnissen für verschiedene Zielgruppen verfügt. Der Wissenstransfer in die Praxis wird u.a. in Form von Berichten, welche verschiedene Forschungsaspekte zusammenführen, zentrale Leitfragen adressieren oder einzelne Themenbereiche weiter vertiefen, sowie in Form von Faktenblättern zu ausgewählten Themen gewährleistet. Auch die Aufbereitung der SeeWandel-Ergebnisse für die breite Öffentlichkeit ist geplant. SeeWandel-Covid trägt somit entscheidend zur Umsetzung von Projektarbeiten von zentraler Bedeutung für die Wissenschaft, für die Praxis, die Verwaltungen und die Akteure rund um den See bei.

Achievements (EN):

The projects “SeeWandel: Living in Lake Constance – yesterday, today and tomorrow” and “SeeWandel-Covid” deal with the stability of the Lake Constance ecosystem, biodiversity is an essential part of it. In view of new challenges, such as the proliferation of alien species and climate change, it is crucial that the links between such new developments are better known and thus better available for decision-making for the sustainable management of Lake Constance, which also contributes to the protection and preservation of biodiversity. The projects investigate the influence and interaction of various stress factors such as nutrient changes, alien species and climate change on Lake Constance ecosystem, its biodiversity and functioning, as well as human use at the lake. As one of the largest alpine lakes, Lake Constance is a unique cross-border ecosystem between Germany, Austria and Switzerland and offers the population in the catchment area and far beyond important ecosystem services, such as drinking water, fishing, recreation, tourism, nature conservation and energy production. As the project name suggests, “SeeWandel” is dedicated to the consequences of the changes that Lake Constance is going through in the past and currently. This concerns in particular high nutrient inputs during eutrophication, climate change and the invasion of alien species – factors that irreversibly alter the composition of the habitat in Lake Constance, with potential impacts on the functioning and services of the ecosystem. 13 teams of seven research institutions from the three Lake Constance countries examined the profound change on Lake Constance, important questions regarding its resilience and potential changes in ecosystem services. Some of the findings of other lakes (e.g. Lake Zurich) were also used. The considerations included the main components of the food web: Primary producers (e.g. phytoplankton, aquatic plants, burgundy blood algae) and consumers (e.g. zooplankton, quaggamuschel) and secondary consumers (e.g. fish such as stingling, rocks). Many studies have practical relevance (e.g. with regard to drinking water supply, fisheries, tourism) and therefore the cross-border exchange with stakeholders, local authorities/administration and knowledge transfer has been very important. The project results show that it is currently unlikely that the burgundy blood algae, whose metabolic products are toxic to humans and animals, will become a problem in Lake Constance. Regarding nutrient changes in Lake Constance, some groups of organisms (e.g. arm light algae, diatom algae) show an astonishing reversibility in view of the simultaneous climate changes and immigration of alien species, but other groups of organisms do not (e.g. water flea community whose genetic composition has undergone irreversible changes, and which is increasingly dominated by a new small water flea). In addition, the kilch (rock type) is extinct during eutrophication. However, it is to be feared that this recovery is short-lived, as climate change and invasive species such as quaggamuschel (expected to see a massive increase) and Stichling are likely to change Lake Constance far-reachingly. For example, the zooplankton community has changed with the immigration of the stingling into Lake Constance open water and presumably due to climate change. The Quaggamuschel eat algae – like many zooplankton species – and this with enormous efficiency. All of this can have a massive impact on final consumers, the fish community and the fishing industry of important species such as the rock. The current change is profound and is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the complex ecosystem structure and water users (see project summary). The projects have created a sound data base and procedures for additional monitoring surveys. These are essential to understand dynamics in the complex ecosystem structure. The established structures for cross-border cooperation enable the timely transfer of knowledge for scientifically sound water management of larger lakes such as Lake Constance.

Website: http://www.interreg.org/

Expected Results (DE): Fläche der Habitate, die dem Erhalt und der Verbesserung der Biodiversität dienen.

Expected Outputs (DE): Die Projekte SeeWandel und SeeWandel-Covid tragen zum Erhalt des Ökosystems bei und verbessern die Biodiversität vom Bodensee, Walensee und Zürichsee.

Thematic information

Waterways, lakes and rivers Climate change and biodiversity

Specific Objective: Preservation and enhancement of biodiversity in the programme area

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06d) Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Eawag - Eidgenössischen Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz

Address: Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.eawag.ch

Total budget: EUR 111 375.43

Universität Konstanz

Name: Universität Konstanz

Address: Mainaustrasse 252, 78464 Konstanz, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: https://www.limnologie.uni-konstanz.de/

Total budget: EUR 108 712.24

ERDF budget: EUR 65 227.34

Universität Hohenheim

Name: Universität Hohenheim

Address: August von Hartmann Strasse 3, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: https://ecology.uni-hohenheim.de/

Total budget: EUR 57 936.81

ERDF budget: EUR 34 762.09

Universität Innsbruck

Name: Universität Innsbruck

Address: Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 47 087.27

ERDF budget: EUR 28 252.36

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Eawag - Eidgenössischen Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz

SeeWandel-Covid, supplementary project to cushion the Covid19 caused project impairments in “SeeWandel — Life in Lake Constance yesterday, today and tomorrow”

Partners and Projects info

University of Konstanz

SeeWandel-Covid, supplementary project to cushion the Covid19 caused project impairments in “SeeWandel — Life in Lake Constance yesterday, today and tomorrow”

Partners and Projects info

Hohenheim University

SeeWandel-Covid, supplementary project to cushion the Covid19 caused project impairments in “SeeWandel — Life in Lake Constance yesterday, today and tomorrow”

Partners and Projects info

UNIVERSITÄT INNSBRUCK

SeeWandel-Covid, supplementary project to cushion the Covid19 caused project impairments in “SeeWandel — Life in Lake Constance yesterday, today and tomorrow”

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): SeeWandel-Covid, supplementary project to cushion the Covid19 caused project impairments in “SeeWandel — Life in Lake Constance yesterday, today and tomorrow”

Project name (DE): SeeWandel-Covid, Ergänzungsprojekt zur Abfederung der Covid19 verursachten Projektbeeinträchtigungen in «SeeWandel - Leben im Bodensee gestern, heute und morgen»

Project acronym: Seewandel-Covid

Project start date: 2022-01-01

Project end date: 2023-06-30

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 325 111.75

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 172 791.96

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 128 241.79.

Third-country contribution: Switzerland: EUR 44 550.17 (ERDF equivalent only)

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Germany - Austria - Switzerland - Liechtenstein (Alpenrhein - Bodensee - Hochrhein)

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2022-08

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

102 / 102 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

553 / 553 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.interreg.org/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-11-19, 2023-01-17 and 2024-03-11. Fields project name, description and achievement (from 107 projects) translated from German into English using the European Commission's eTranslation machine translation service.

The projects which fields do not include an eTranslation English text are the ones with the following acronyms: 5. Leistungsvereinbarung, Abbau von AAL-Barrieren, BiLeSA, BRÜCKENBAU, BTB, DigiTraG, Elektrifizierung der Hochrheinstrecke, Flüssigbiopsien, Geschäftsstelle HRK, GreenSan, HHLL, IBH Living Lab AAL, IBK-Kleinprojektefonds, IBK-Kompetenzzentrum, KPF HRK, Laufenburger Acht, Migration nach Vorarlberg und Oberschwaben, Modellanlagen für den Integrierten Pflanzenschutz, Neuer Steg Rheinfelden, Rheinuferrundweg extended, SeeWandel, Technik im Quartier, Virtuelles Geschichtsforum, 3Welten-Card, 5. Leistungsvereinbarung, Abbau von AAL-Barrieren, Bauen 4.0, BiLeSA, BODANRAIL 2040, BRÜCKENBAU, Bürger-Bienen-Biodiversität, DenkRaum Bodensee, Design-Spaces, DigiTraG, Flüssigbiopsien, Geschäftsstelle HRK, HHLL, IBH Living Lab AAL, IBH-Lab KMUdigital – Management, IBK-Kleinprojektefonds, IBK-Kompetenzzentrum, KIG, KLIMAANPASSUNG DACH+, Migration nach Vorarlberg und Oberschwaben, Modellanlagen für den Integrierten Pflanzenschutz, Museumsschiffe, Schulgärten, Seamless Learning – Management, Technik im Quartier, Vernetzung von Sporttrainern, Virtuelles Geschichtsforum and wohngesund.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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SeeWandel-Covid, supplementary project to cushion the Covid19 caused project impairments in “SeeWandel — Life in Lake Constance yesterday, today and tomorrow”

Description

Thematic information

Partners (4)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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