TEAM 1 - BERLIN (GERMANY)

Mandy Velthuis, Marta M. Alirangues Nuñez, Susanne Stephan, Sophia Kochalski, Simone Podschun and Sonia Herrero,all from the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), and Pablo Rodríguez-Lozano from the University of California, Berkeley

TEAM 5 - BUCHAREST (ROMANIA)

Adriana Olenici from the Babes-Bolyai University, and Maria Iasmina Moza from the University of Bucharest

TEAM 6 - CAMBRIDGE (UK)

Lara Urban from the European Bioinformatics Institute, Daniel Kunz from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Cambridge and Max Stammnitz from the University of Cambridge

Twitter of the team 6

TEAM 7 - CESKE BUDEJOVICE (CZECH REPUBLIC)

Andreja Kust, Vesna Grujcic, Vinicius Silva Kavagutti from the Czech Academy of Sciences and Bruno Carreira from the University of South Bohemia

TEAM 14 - MÁLAGA (SPAIN)

Jorge Montes, Raquel Sánchez de Pedro,

Víctor Vázquez, all from the University of Málaga.

"From south to north U-algae unites us all!"

Jorge Montes-Pérez:

My PhD is about carbon cycling in mediterranean reservoirs and how changes in hydrology will modify C dynamics in these ecosystems. Also, I’m interested in phytoplankton size-abundance distribution and its relationship with metabolic theory of ecology. Main hobbies: climbing, hiking, playing guitar

Raquel Sánchez de Pedro:

I’m an Environmental Scientist and my research is focused on the ecophysiology of seaweeds. I am currently working as a postdoc in a project addressing the effects of climate change on marine kelp forests and intertidal canopy forming macrophytes. I am interested in water biogeochemistry and interactions among ecological compartments in aquatic ecosystems. I love working with GIS and learning new IC skills. Main hobbies: cooking, travelling, hiking, discover new music, reading & watching series.

TEAM 15 - MILANO (ITALY)

Martina Patelli and Veronica Nava both from the University of Milano-Bicocca

"Or probe or life"

Martina Patelli:

My main research is about zooplankton population dynamics and pelagic food web change in deep lakes, in relation to environmental perturbations. Main hobbies: trekking, reading, tv series, cooking.

Veronica Nava:

My main research is about climatic and anthropic impacts on freshwater ecosystems, with special regard to phytoplankton community and hydrological alteration. Main hobbies: dancing, photography, walking with my dog, travelling.

TEAM 16 - MOTRIL (SPAIN)

Emilio Moreno, Laura Jiménez, Marco J. Cabrerizo, all from the University of Granada

Marco J. Cabrerizo:

My research is focused on understanding how different global-change drivers could alter the plankton metabolic balance in aquatic ecosystems from both hemispheres in the future, and the underlying mechanisms underpin such responses. Main hobbies: Reading, travelling, diving, hiking, live music

Laura Jiménez:

My main research interests lie on improving the understanding of natural climate variability and anthropogenic influences upon remote freshwater

ecosystems. Specifically, I focus on biogeochemical proxies (such as subfossil cladocerans remains, sedimentary photosynthesis pigments or major and trace elements) to track long-term environmental changes on pristine alpine ecosystems. Main hobbies: Travelling, hiking, live music, photography.

TEAM 18 - REGGIO EMILIA (ITALY)

Beatrice Palmia, Edoardo Severini and Gemma Burgazzi, all from the University of Parma

"Sampling strong"

Gemma Burgazzi:

My main research is about community ecology of aquatic insects, focusing on environmental and spatial drivers and on their distribution in relation to flow intermittency. Main hobbies: go walking (or hiking) with my dog, martial arts, photography.

Beatrice Palmia:

My research is about the functioning of benthic systems, with focus the interaction between benthic communities and primary producers. Main hobbies: diving, hiking and swimming in rivers.

Edoardo Severini:

My research is about the effect of flow intermittency on macroinvertebrates. Main hobbies: cooking, motorbikes, photography.

TEAM 19 - SANTANDER (SPAIN)

Alexia María González-Ferreras, Edurne Estévez, Ignacio Pérez-Silos and Tamara Rodríguez-Castillo, all from the University of Cantabria

"Freshwater for our life"

Alexia González-Ferreras:

My main research is about spatial patterns analysis of biophysical characteristics on river networks, focusing on connectivity and spatial distribution of fish.Main hobbies: spending time with family and friends, playing handball, sports, travelling.

Edurne Estévez:

My research is about the effect of land cover changes on mountain stream ecosystems. I investigate this from a multilevel approach that includes DOM composition, food web size structure and composition and ecosystem functioning (i.e., metabolism, organic matter breakdown). Main hobbies: cooking, travelling and beach time.

Ignacio Pérez-Silos:

My main research is about modelling of mountain catchments in order to optimize the implementation of green infrastructure networks. Main hobbies: mountain climbing, travelling, reading and films.

Tamara Rodríguez-Castillo:

My main research is about freshwater ecosystems functioning, focusing on spatial and temporal drivers of primary production and ecosystem respiration at basin scale. Main hobbies: enjoying live music, gardening, hiking and spending time with friends.

TEAM 21 - SOPHIA (BULGARIA)

Biljana Rimcheska, Desislava Stoyanova, Galia Georgieva, Monika Subeva and Vladimir Stambolski, all from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

“The life is in freshwater.” 

Monika Subeva:

My main research is about zooplankton community-taxonomy, distribution and ecology. Also macrozoobenthos fauna and pelagic food web change in lakes. Main hobbies: reading, drawing and sports aktivities. 

Desislava Stoianova:

Interests: Тaxonomy, conservation, ecology and evolution of aquatic insects with special focus on aquatic bugs ( Heteroptera, Nepomorpha). 

Galia Georgieva:

Interests: Freshwater ecology, macrozoobenthos (Oligochaeta Limicola), water quality, mapping of ecosystem status and services.    

Biljana Rimcheska:

Interests: water conservation and biodiversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates- macrozoobenthos in rivers and lakes, chemical parameters of the water and implementation of water. framework directives using macroinvertebrates.    

TEAM 24 - TRENTO (ITALY)

Andrea Salvadore, Giuliano Morini, Gregorio Alejandro López Moreira Mazacotte  Luigi Hinegk and Marina Amadori, all from the Trento University

“Engineering limnology one lake at a time”

We are a team of environmental engineers working under the guidance of Prof. Marco Toffolon at UniTN. We strive to become qualified limnologists, passionately working on different projects that deal with the complex functioning of lake ecosystems.    

Gregorio Alejandro López Moreira Mazacotte:

Paraguayan Environmental and Industrial Engineer, Computer Applications Programmer and PhD Candidate in River Science at UniTN, FU Berlin and the IGB. His doctoral research project deals with the integration of hydro-thermodynamics and biogeochemistry in lake ecosystem models. Case studies include Ypacaraí Lake (Paraguay) and the IGB LakeLab, a large mesocosm facility in Lake Stechlin (Germany).

Hobbies: Singing, travelling, learning new languages, hiking and swimming  

Marina Amadori:

PhD candidate at the University of Trento (Italy), Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering. She does research in physical limnology, studying Lake Garda (Italy). Her research concerns the development of a coupled atmospheric and hydrodynamic model and the investigation of transport processes in Lake Garda. She is involved in the project 'Lake Garda Dynamics and Mixing" in collaboration with Utrecht University.

Hobbies: photography and travelling 

Andrea Salvadore:

Recently graduated from the Environmental Engineering MSc programme at UniTN. His thesis dealt with the hydro-thermodynamic modelling of Ypacaraí Lake (Paraguay). He currently holds a UniTN study grant, working on a project related to mixing and nutrients dynamics of Lake Caldonazzo (Italy).

Luigi Hinegk:

Recently graduated from the Environmental Engineering MSc programme at UniTN. His thesis dealt with the estimation of the different components of the water and nutrient balances of Ypacaraí Lake, a eutrophic shallow subtropical lake in Paraguay. He currently holds a UniTN study grant to continue his research in this field. Hobbies: playing basketball, walking, running and travelling    

Giuliano Morini:

Recently graduated from the Environmental Engineering MSc programme at UniTN. His thesis dealt with the integration of citizen science approaches to lake hydrodynamic modelling, studying the case of Lake Garda, collecting local knowledge through interviews and using this information to calibrate and validate lake circulation model results. He currently holds a UniTN study grant, working on a project related to mixing and nutrients dynamics of Lake Caldonazzo (Italy). Hobbies: rock climbing, hiking and playing football   

TEAM 25 - UMEÅ (SWEDEN)

Gerard Rocher-Ros, LluísG ómez-Gener, Marcus Klaus, Maria Myrstener and Megan Fork, all from the Umeå University

TEAM 26 - UPPSALA (SWEDEN)

Jenny Nilsson from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Karla Münzner, Máté Vass, Sophia Renes, Theresa Lumpi, all four from the Uppsala University

“It’s a walk in the park”

Sophia Renes:

My research is about ecological resilience: I study the response of aquatic microbial communities to repeated disturbances in the lab.

Main hobbies: dancing, crafts, long conversations

Máté Vass:

As a PhD student, my research interest focuses on processes that can lead to so-called legacy-effects: how historical processes shape complex meta-communities in nature. Main hobbies: traveling, Swedish ‘fika’ (having a coffee with pastries)

Theresa Lumpi:

In my PhD project I am studying priority effects in bacterial lake communities: What ecological factors influence the strength of priority effects and does this have an impact on the monopolization of certain taxa in the lake? Main hobbies: My horse, all kinds of sports, gardening

Karla Münzner:

I’m studying the nuisance algae Gonyostomum semen: why does it grow so well in Swedish lakes and what does it mean for water and ecosystem quality? Main hobbies: reading, hiking, travelling

Jenny Nilsson:

My PhD-project is about oligotrophication in alpine/Arctic lakes and if and how this affects the food web in those lakes. Main hobbies: listening to music, talking with friends, reading

TEAM 28 - VILADECANS (SPAIN)

Aida Viza from the University of Barcelona, Daniel Castro López from the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutive Biology, Ignasi Arranz, Serena Sgarzi and Zeynep Ersoy, all three from the University of Vic—Central University of Catalonia

"Sampling with enthusiasm"

Aida Viza:

I’m a biologist and naturalist interested in freshwater biodiversity. My research is focused in biodiversity patters and, specially, in effects of Climate Change in biodiversity and species distribution. Main hobbies: yoga, vegetable patch, biking, diving

Daniel Castro:

I´m an enthusiastic researcher of freshwater ecosystems and water management resources.

My research is focused in an overall evaluation of the riparian ecosystems as a bridge between science and water managers. I’m interested in urban rivers evaluation, reservation and preservation, benthic macroinvertebrates (Taxonomy and composition), riparian vegetation composition and water management programs and scientific outreach trough social media. Main hobbies: Go to de beach, photography, ecotourism.

Ignasi Arranz:

My main interest is understanding the complexity of species interactions in freshwater ecosystems, particularly using lake fish as a study group. In this sense, I tackle questions such as who eats whom or who controls whom and answer them using theoretical backgrounds and advanced statistical tools. Main hobbies: table tennis, hiking, playing guitar

Serena Sgarzi:

I’m a marine biologist, although my PhD research is about ecology of brackish Mediterranean ponds. I am studying size-based interactions between the main trophic levels (fish, zooplankton, phytoplankton), trying to assess the relative strength of top-down and bottom-up forces, as well as abiotic factors, driving the dynamics of those peculiar ecosystems. Main hobbies: Singing, dancing, pastry, diving

Zeynep Ersoy:

I'm an ecologist interested in the factors shaping body size distributions in freshwater food webs across interacting trophic levels. My research includes different approaches from experiments to monitoring in order to investigate prey-predator interactions, energy transfer and ecosystem functioning in aquatic ecosystems.

Main hobbies: birdwatching, singing, hiking

TEAM 29 - WAGENINGEN (NETHERLANDS)

Cleo Stratmann, Thijs Frenken, both from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Maira Mucci from the Wagenginen University and Pascal Bodmer from the University of Koblenz-Landau

"The water-rich-team"

Pascal Bodmer:

I am biogeochemist with a main interest in carbon dynamics in freshwater systems, mainly running waters (i.e. streams and rivers), but also in ponds and lakes. In past and current research projects my focus ranged from the water-air interface, over the water column, to the sediments. Main hobbies: bouldering, surfing

Maria Mucci:

I am a aquatic ecologist interested in eutrophication and cyanobacteria bloom. I focus on effected-oriented measures to mitigate cyanobacteria nuisance and to control phosphorus through geo-engineering approach going from lab controlled experiment to whole lake application.

Cleo N. Stratmann:

While studying environmental science and technology my master thesis led me to the fascinating science of freshwater ecology, where I have been working for a few years until now. I am an aquatic ecologist with environmental engineering background. I am interested in the effects of climatic change, protection strategies and nature conservation of (fresh)waters and sustainable development.

Thijs Frenken:

I am a phytoplankton ecologist interested in the role and flow of nutrients in food webs. Also, i am very much interested in how global change affects biological interactions in aquatic systems. Herein I focus on the interactions between phytoplankton, zooplankton, fungal parasites, viruses and bacteria.

TEAM 30 - ZAGREB (CROATIA)

Antonija Kulaš from the University of Zagreb and Katarina Kajan from the Institut Ruđer Bošković

“Hands-on science” 

Antonija Kulaš:

Iʾm biologist and ecologyst interested in taxonomy and ecology of freshwater algae, determination of algal abundance and biomass using for ecological status assessments of quality of water. My PhD research is about influence of different concentrations of nitrate on algal communities in phytoplankton and phytobenthos in surface freshwater systems of the aluvial aquifer. Main hobbies: contemporary dance and ballet  

Katarina Kajan:

I’m a biologist interested in microbial ecology, freshwater ecology and molecular microbiology. My research is mainly focused on traditional monitoring of freshwater ecosystems: evaluation of ecological status based on phytoplankton and bacterial community. My main interest is to compare data of protistan morphospecies obtained by DNA-based methods to data obtained by microscopy analyses. Main hobbies: traveling, reading    

TEAM 31 - MUNICH (GERMANY)

Anne Deininger from University of Agder, Kristiansand, and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Sara Hammerstein and Nora Kipferler, both from Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich