Aktueller Vortrag

13.01.2026:  Joanna SENDER (Poland): Polesie – a mystical landscape under pressure: threats to aquatic ecosystems in a unique wetland region, HS 31.11, Institut für Biologie, Bereich Pflanzenwissenschaften, Schubertstraße 51, 17:00 Uhr

Polesie is one of the most unique wetland regions in Europe, known for its lakes, peat bogs, marshes, and rich biodiversity. These ecosystems play a key role in water retention, climate regulation, and providing habitats for rare and protected species. Although large parts of Polesie are legally protected, its aquatic ecosystems are increasingly affected by human activity and climate change. This presentation introduces the main natural and anthropogenic threats to aquatic ecosystems in the Polesie region, with particular attention to lakes and peatlands. Key pressures include wetland drainage, peat extraction, agriculture, mining activity, tourism, and extreme weather events. Using examples from long-term ecological studies, the talk shows how changes in water conditions and vegetation structure lead to lake degradation, peatland drying, and biodiversity loss. Special emphasis is placed on the role of macrophytes and peatland plants as simple and effective indicators of environmental change. The presentation highlights why protecting water ecosystems in valuable natural areas like Polesie requires not only legal protection but also active management and environmental awareness.