Projects

The overall research aim of the Research Institute for Limnology, Mondsee is entitled:

"Evolutionary adaptations of aquatic organisms and consequences for ecosystem integrity under anthropogenic pressure and conditions of climate change "

The names of the projects or their leaders -given in brackets- serve as a link to the project pages or personal homepages. In case of fellowships the name of the supervisor is mentioned additionally.

Lists of projects:

• Rare and common freshwater ciliates, their hosts, and their symbionts from Southeast Asia, OeAD ASEA UNINET (Oct 2025-Sept 2027) (Sonntag, Potekhin)
• Balancing Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihoods in the Satellite Lakes of Lake Victoria in Kenya in the Face of the Changing Climate (BICOLIVE), OeAD (Sept 2025 - Aug 2027) (Kurmayer)
• Routineuntersuchungen FG Kurmayer (ab 10/2024)
  
• Rettung für den Wetterfisch (Jan 2024 - Dez 2027) (PI Wanzenböck, J., Rund, Fuxjäger)
• Transnational Network for Linking Digital Earth Observation to Freshwater Markers for Better Understanding of Water-connected Climate Change Adaptation and Risk Prevention in Alpine Region, DiMark, Interreg Alpine Space, lead partner National Institute of Biology Slovenia, co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Alpine Space programme, Project website: DiMark - Alpine Space Programme (Sept 2024 - Aug 2027) (Kurmayer)
• Sustainability of Flood Plains Supported Livelihoods in the Face of Climate Change in East Africa (Kenya and Rwanda), PRO-SFP-EA, OEAD APPEAR (Juni 2024 - Mai 2026) (Kurmayer)
• Consequences of water level fluctuations on eutrophication of Lake Tana, Ethiopia and implications for management PhD Programm, Flipos Engdaw WOLDEAB (Mai 2024 – Apr 2027), OEAD APPEAR (Kurmayer)
• Fishes of the genus Carassius as a unique evolutionary model in relation to biological invasion and interaction with native endangered species, FWF Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung/GACR Czech Science Foundation (2024-2026) (Lamatsch, in Kooperation mit L. Kalous, Universität Prag, CZ)

• Genomik und Geschlechtsbestimmung bei polyploiden Fischen, Universität Wuhan, China (Jan 2024-Dez 2026) (Lamatsch, Ding)

• Charakterisierung des Ciliaten Stentor, FWF Österreichischer Forschungsfonds (Jan 2024-Nov 2027) (Sonntag, Hahn, Wanzenböck, J., Potekhin, Pröschold)
• SeeWandel-Klima: Modellierung der Folgen von Klimawandel und Neobiota für den Bodensee, Europäischer Fonds für regionale Entwicklung (Interreg), Projektmanagement EAWAG, (Jul 2023- Dez 2027) (Möst)
• FWF START-Exzellenzförderung (Y 1442) Eco-evolutionary dynamics - admixture and global change, 3+3 Jahre, FWF Österreichischer Forschungsfonds (2022-2028) (Möst)
• Aquirufa: biodiversity and ecology of freshwater bacteria/Aquirufa: Biodiversität und Ökologie von Süßwasserbakterien, Sparkling Science, OeAD (Sept 2022 - März 2026) (Hahn, Pitt)
  Weitere Informationen auf der Projektwebseite, informations about the project in english
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• Genomgrößenvariation und Adaptation bei Rädertieren, FWF P 35916 (Jul 2022 - Jun 2026) (Stelzer)

• Next Generation Taxonomy: Ciliophora and their bacterial symbionts as a proof of concept (NGTax) - EU - Horizon 2020 Marie Curie Actions - Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) University of Pisa, Italy, PI Giulio Petroni (Jul 2021-Apr 2026) (Sonntag)
• Evolution von Süßwasserschnecken bei steigenden Temperaturen - FWF P 34687 (Jun 2021 - Sept 2026) (Seppälä)
• Aquatic Symbiosis Genome Project, Subhub of PI P. Keeling (University of British Columbia) ‘Ciliates as models for symbiosis: using genomic analyses of functionally diverse symbiotic associations with parallel origins to gain insights into basic evolutionary principles of symbiosis’ – Wellcome Sanger Institute and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Start Okt 2020) (Sonntag) 

Completed projects: since 2008

• , Sparkling Science, OeAD (Okt 2022 - Okt 2025) (Wanzenböck, J., Rund, Wanzenböck, S.) - cooperation with A. Palandacic, NHM Vienna Projektdetails

• Bestimmung des DNA-Gehaltes durch Flow-Zytometrie (Universität Würzburg, Kooperation mit Prof. M. Schartl) (2022-2025) (Lamatsch)
• Süßwasser-Ulvophyceae: Biodiversität, Ökologie und Evolution - FWF P34416 (Jun 2021 - Jul 2025) (Pröschold, Darienko)
• Clearing coloured waters by community breeding, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions-EU Horizon Europe (2023-2025)(Scheuerl)
• Pan-European Lake Sampling - Microbial Eco-genomics, Biology Centre CAS, Budweis, Czech Republic; PI Rohit Ghai, Michaela Salcher (Jan 2020 – Dez 2024) (Sonntag)
• Cyanotoxin-Analysen in Gewässern FG Kurmayer (2024)
• Hydroakustische Fischbestandserhebung Traunsee 2024 (Oct-Dec 2024) Fischereirevier Traunsee (Auftragsforschung)(Wanzenböck, J.)
• Patterns of genome rediploidization in neopolyploids of cobitids, botids, and cyprinids (CYPREDIPL) (2024) MERIT,(Lamatsch, Kooperationsprojekt  mit Tschechischer Akademie der Wissenschaften, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics CAS, Libechov,  K. Janko, V. Trifonov) 
• Aufbau einer inklusiven MINT Wissenregion Fuschlsee Mondseeland, Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH (FFG) (in Kooperation mit dem Technologiezentrum Mondseeland) (März 2024 - Nov 2025) (Wanzenböck, S.)
• Durchführung von Experimenten für Artbeschreibungen von Gewässerbakterien, FFG-Praktika (Juni 2024-Sept 2024) (Hahn)
• Öko-evolutionäre Dynamiken: Genotyp zu Phänotyp, FFG-Praktikum (Juni 2024-Sept 2024) (Möst)
• Daphnien, FFG-Praktikum (Juni 2024-Sept 2024) (Möst)
• Wissenschaftliche Beschreibung von Gewässerbakterien , FFG-Praktika (Juni 2024-Sept 2024) (Hahn)
• Zytogenetik bei Giebeln FFG-Praktikum (Juni 2024-Sept 2024) (Lamatsch)
• Tracking of Exposure to clickable Microcystins in Daphnia sp. (Tiroler Nachwuchsforscher*innenförderung-TNF, Jan 2024- Jun 2024), (PhD thesis, Morón Asensio)
• Surveillance and removal of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin potential and antibiotic resistant bacteria from drinking water sources (AfricaUniNet-Appear)(Mai 2022 - April 2024) (Kurmayer)
• Subcellular localization of toxin production in cyanobacteria (SLOT) - FWF (Okt 2019 - März 2024) (Kurmayer)
• Long-Term Ecological Data provided by the Research Department for Limnology Mondsee, ÖAW, ESFRI/eLTER Data call (Jan 2023 - Dec 2023) (Wanzenböck, J.)
• Taste and Odor in early diagnosis of source and drinking Water Problems (WaterTOP COST Action)(Sept 2019 - Aug 2023) (Kurmayer) LINK
• Metagenomische Charakterisierung des Bakterioplanktons des Brettersees als Startpunkt für Langzeituntersuchungen zum Einfluss von Umweltveränderungen auf die Evolution der Bakterien in hochalpinen Seen - Glockner-Öko-Fonds (Aug 2021 - Okt 2023) (Hahn)
• A qPCR based workflow designed to process and quantify target eDNA for fish metabarcoding, Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung-TWF (Feb 2022- Jan 2023) (Rund, Kurmayer, Wanzenböck, J.)
• De novo whole genome sequencing of the invasive asexual Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) and its threatened native European relative, C. carassius - EASI Genomics (Jul 2020 - Jan 2023) (Lamatsch)
• geniALGE - Algentechnologie als Zukunftshoffnung - FFG Talente regional (Jul 2020 - Dec 2022) (Wanzenböck, S., Pröschold)
• CLimate response of Alpine lakes: resistance variability and Management consequences for Ecosystem Services (CLAIMES) - Earth System Sciences (ESS), Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW) (Jul 2019 - Dez 2022) (Kurmayer, R., Wanzenböck, S.)
• Anpassung an neue Umweltbedingungen in bakteriellen Gemeinschaften - Nachwuchsförderung der Universität Innsbruck (Nov 2020 - Okt 2022) (Scheuerl, Seppälä)
• Funktionelle Diversität planktischer Ciliaten - FWF P32714 (Nov 2019 - Dec 2022) (Weisse)
• Microbial life in the city: Compositional differences between urban and rural bacterial communities - Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung (TWF)(Jan 2021 -  Dez 2022) (Scheuerl)
• Diversity of aquatic microsystem metacommunities along an urbanization gradient, LFU-Early Stage Funding (Okt 2021 - Sept 2022) (Lukic)
• Bioinformatics Centre Hradec Kralove - EU – Erasmus+, Physalia courses (Sept 2019 – Aug 2022) (Lamatsch, Pröschold)
• Untersuchung von Phagen-Bakterien-Beziehungen mittels Metagenomik (Jul 2019 - Jun 2022) (Hötzinger)
• Hydroakustischer Methodenvergleich - Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL) (Okt 2021 - Jun 2022) (Wanzenböck)
• Sensitivität des eDNA-Nachweises von Zerkarien-Dermatitis-Erregern in oberösterreichischen Gewässern - Kooperationspartner in ABOL-Projekt (Leitung NHM Wien) (Seppälä) Kooperation, follow-up zur Pilotstudie  zum Nachweis von Zerkarien-Dermatitis-Erregern in oberösterreichischen Badeseen mittels DNA-Barcoding
• Eco-AlpsWater (Projektbeschreibung national) - Innovative Ecological Assessment and Water Management Strategy for the Protection of Ecosystem Services in Alpine Lakes and Rivers (Eco-AlpsWater Webseite). Interreg Alpine Space - Europäischer Fonds für regionale Entwicklung (EFRE) - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (Mai 2018 - Dez 2021) (Kurmayer, Wanzenböck, J.)
• Freshwater endosymbiotic algae and their ciliate hosts: morphology, phylogeny, ecology. Ciliates and their algal symbionts/Endosymbiontische Algen und deren Ciliaten-Wirte: Morphologie, Phylogenie, Ökologie FWF P 28333-B25 (Apr 2016 - März 2021) (Sonntag, Pröschold, Wanzenböck, S.)
• The effect of hydrological changes on the spatial phytoplankton composition and microcystin concentration in Nyanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya. OEAD-APPEAR (Nov 2016 - März 2021) (Simiyu, Kurmayer)
• Species and functional diversity of planktonic ciliates: Does connectivity make a difference? Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung (TWF), (März 2019 – Dez 2020) (Lu, Weisse)
• Co-occurrence networks in aquatic food webs: ciliates as models, D-A-CH Finanzierung durch den FWF = Lead Agency, I22380-B25 (Sept 2015 - Sept 2020) (Sonntag, Kammerlander, Wanzenböck, S.)
• The hidden world of bacteria: Exploring the diversity of bacteria in Austrian inland waters, isolation and description of new species. Sparkling Science Project 06/065 (Sept 2017 - Jun 2020) (Hahn, Pitt) Sparkling Bacteria
• Exploring eDNA methods to assess potamodromous fish reproduction. Aktion D. Swarovski (März 2018 - Mai 2020) (Wanzenböck, J.)
• Top-down control of the planktonic peritrich ciliate Pelagovorticella natans. Aktion D. Swarovski (Jan 2019 - Dec 2019) (Lu, Weisse)
• Toward an understanding of secondary metabolic diversity among algal bloom-forming cyanobacteria DOC-fellowship (Jan 2016 - 2021) (Entfellner)
• Mechanisms and significance of genome size variation in rotifers FWF P26256 (Nov 2013 - Oct 2018) (Stelzer)
• Bestandserhebungen alpiner Fischarten mittels eDNA. Bridge 1 FFG-Projekt, Projektleitung: Traugott, Institut für Ökologie(März 2016 - Aug 2018) (Wanzenböck, J.)
• Wachstum von Betaproteobakterienstämmen bei unterschiedlichen Temperaturen FFG Talente (Jul 2018 - Aug 2018) (Hahn, Pitt, Sparkling Science)
• Wachstum von Betaproteobakterienstämmen bei unterschiedlichen Salzkonzentrationen FFG Talente (Jul 2018 - Aug 2018) (Hahn, Pitt, Sparkling Science)
• Wachstum von Betaproteobakterienstämmen mit unterschiedlichen Substraten FFG Talente (Jul 2018 - Aug 2018) (Hahn, Pitt, Sparkling Science)
• Mikroskopische Analyse der Goldalge Dinobryon FFG Talente (Jul 2018 - Aug 2018) (Limberger)
• Anpassungen der Goldalge Dynobrion an Umweltveränderung FFG Talente (Jul 2018 - Auf 2018) (Limberger)
• Temperaturabhängigkeit des Stoffwechsels bei Fischen FFG Talente (Jul 2018 - Aug 2018) (Wanzenböck, J.)
• Versuchstierhaltung (Fische) und Bestimmung des Grundstoffwechsels FFG Talente (Jul  2018 - Aug 2018) (Wanzenböck, J.)
• Experimentelle ökophysiologische Untersuchungen an Einzellern FFG Talente (Jul 2018 - Aug 2018) (Weisse)
• Durchflußzytometrie zur ermittlung der Genom-Kopien bei invasiven Giebeln FFG Talente (Jun 2018 - Jul 2018) (Lamatsch)
• Mechanismen und Auswirkungen von Genomgrößenunterschieden bei Rädertieren FFG Talente (Jul 2018) (Stelzer)
• Wachstum von Actinobakterienstämmen bei verschiedenen Salzkonzentrationen FFG Talente (Jul 2018) (Hahn, Pitt, Sparkling Science)
• Wachstum von Actinobakterienstämmen mit unterschiedlichen Substraten FFG Talente (Jul 2018) (Hahn, Pitt, Sparkling Science)
• Wachstum von Actinobakterienstämmen bei unterschiedlichen Temperaturen FFG Talente (Jul 2018) (Hahn, Pitt, Sparkling Science)
• Hospital effluents and their effect on microbial communities in environmental biofilms. DOC-fellowship (Jun 2018 - Nov 2018) (Chonova)
• Fate and effect of waste water-borne manufactured nanomaterials in the aquatic food chain (FENOMENO) ERA-NET SIINN (Apr 2015- Mai 2018) (Wanzenböck J., Lamatsch)
• Evolutionary importance and dynamics of multiplied rDNA sites in fish genomes, Tiroler Wissenschaftsfonds (TWF) (Feb 2017 - Apr 2018) (Symonová)
• Microevolution of a planktonic freshwater bacterium studied along a 3000 km latitudinal gradient: role of local adaptation and the gene pool of the flexible genome FWF P 27160 (Dec 2014 - Nov 2017) (Hahn)
• Epigenetik der Fische als ein Werkzeug in der Genomforschung (Nachwuchsförderung der LFU, Sept 2015 - May 2017) (Symonová)
• Phytoplankton response due to short-term environmental changes in Lake Mondsee – analysed by advanced optical methods. TWF-project (Mar 2016 - Apr 2017) (Bergkemper, Weisse)
• zahlreiche FFG Talente Praktika zwischen 2011 und 2017 (Lamatsch, Sonntag, Wanzenböck, J., Kurmayer, Weisse, Stelzer)
• Wasserleben-Wimpertierchen und Plattwürmer als Bioindikatoren für die Gewässergüte FFG Talente regional Ciliatenspiel (Jul 2015- Dec 2016) (Wanzenböck, S., Sonntag)
• Sensitivität der Protistengemeinschaften in Seen auf meterologische Extremereignisse - Verbesserte Analyse mittels halbautomatischer optischer Messverfahren. DOC-Stipendium (Sept 2016 - Feb 2017) (Bergkemper, Weisse)
• Invasive Fische, FFG-Talente entdecken Projekt (Aug 2016 - Sept 2016) (Lamatsch)
• Cyanobacterial blooms and toxins in water resources: Occurrence, impacts and management. ESSEM COST Action ES1105 (Apr 2012 - Oct 2016). This new COST Action will establish a European network in order to address the issues of cyanobacterial blooms, their toxicity, monitoring, risk assessment, treatment and management and has been approved for involving >30 partners from 24 countries (Apr 2012 - Mar 2016) (Kurmayer)
• Mobilomics of toxin production in cyanobacteria FWF (Mar 2012 - July 2016) (Kurmayer)
• Sensitivität der Protistengemeinschaften in Seen auf meterologische Extremereignisse - Verbesserte Analyse mittels halbautomatischer optischer Messverfahren (Nov 2014- Dec 2015) UIBK Doc fellowship (Kremser, Weisse)
• Molecular Cytogenetics in Teleost Fishes (Coregoninae and Cyprinidae) (2014-2015) (Lamatsch, Wanzenböck) - OEAD
• Characterization of Genomic and Ecophysiological Diversity within the Species Polynucleobacter necessarius and the Genus Limnohabitans. Forschungsstipendium der Universität Innsbruck (Jul 2015 - Sept 2015) (Hötzinger, Hahn)
• Identification of ecophysiological differences facilitating the coexistence of strains within the species Polynucleobacter necessarius and the genus Limnohabitans in freshwater habitats (Jan 2013 - Jun 2015) (Hötzinger, Hahn)
• Impact of early thermal experience on coregonid body and muscle growth: How much environment is at play in phenotypic diversification of fish ecotypes? FWF (Nov 2011 - Oct 2015) (in co-operation with University of Salzburg: Wanzenböck)
• Characterization of planktonic communities of alpine lakes using high throughput sequencing (Dec 2013 - May 2015) UIBK Doc fellowship (Blank, Kurmayer)
• Bewusstseinsbildende Maßnahme zur Sensibilisierung - Mein Mondsee-Schützenswerte Region Mondseeland Mondsee LEADER (Jun 2013 - Dec 2014) (Wanzenböck, S.)
• A transcriptome derived sex-specific marker in the invasive Western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis Sexing of Western mosquitofish (Apr 2013 - Jul 2014) - Marsden Fund, NZ (Lamatsch)
• Ecological diversification within the subspecies Polynucleobacter necessarius ssp. asymbioticus and environmental ecotype sorting, ESF project FREDI. FWF (Jun 2010 - May 2014) (Hahn)
• Diversity of Mycobacteria associated with tropical ornamental fishes and indigenous fishes in aquaculture systems or natural habitats: risk of invasion of non-indigenous pathogenic Mycobacteria? ILIMN (Apr 2010 - Dec 2013) (Hahn, Wanzenböck)
• Rhodoluna Genome Project (Jan 2010 - Dec 2013) (Hahn)
• DETECTIVE (Decadal detection of biodiversity in Alpine lakes)-Global warming threatens biodiversity in (ultra)-sensitive high Alpine lakes: an assessment of past, present and future scenarios Nationalkommitee Alpenforschung (Dec 2009 - Dec 2013) (Kurmayer)
• Ultraviolet radiation effects on planktonic freshwater ciliates: an assessment of photoprotection and repair strategies FWF P21013-B03 (Feb 2009 - Nov 2013) (Sonntag)
• Morphology and ecology of endemic ciliates from bromeliads FWF (Nov 2009 - May 2013) (Weisse)
• Risk Analysis of Direct and Indirect Climate effects on deep Austrian Lake Ecosystems (RADICAL) Austrian Climate Research Program (Jan 2010 - Apr 2013) (Wanzenböck,Kurmayer)
• Evolution of asexuality in experimental rotifer populations FWF (May 2008 - April 2013) (Stelzer)
• Polyzyklischer Peptid Phagen Display, Tech2B (Feb 2011 - Jan 2013) (Christiansen)
• Gynogenesis as a dispersal strategy - parasite communities vs. genetic structure of clonal stocks of invasive prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) in Finland, Germany and Austria (Jul 2008 - Dec 2012) - EAWAG, Aquatic Ecology (J. Jokkela) (Lamatsch)

• Adaptation of Active Fisheries Methods: Pair trawling (Apr 2009 - Dec 2012) - ILIM, co-operation with Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, CZ (Wanzenböck)
• Quantifying Individual Fitness with Trojan Sex Chromosomes: an Ultimate Conservation Tool (Mar 2011 - Dec 2012) - Marsden Fund, NZ (Lamatsch) 
• Development of Educational and Research CAPacity in Eastern Africa for the Sustainable Management of AQUAatic Ecosystems (CAPAQUA) ADA (Oct 2009 - Dec 2012) (Winkler; www.ipgl.at)
• Time in Microevolution of Microcystin Synthesis, Doc-fFORTE, ÖAW (Apr 2009 - Mar 2012) (Ostermaier, Kurmayer)
• Patterns and processes of adaptation and tolerance to low pH of freshwater plankton FWF (Jul 2007 - Mar 2011) (Weisse) (Summary and publications)
• Genotype determined toxin content in cyanobacteria FWF (Jul 2008 - Dec 2011) (Kurmayer)
• Biogeography and within-taxon ecological differentiation of Polynucleobacter necessarius subsp. Asymbioticus and Limnohabitans planctonicus (Betaproteobacteria) (Jan 2009 - Dec 2010) (Hahn)
• Changing prospects in eukaryotic microbiology: implications of acclimatization, microevolution and population turnover of microeukaryotes for protist species, population dynamics and diversity estimates FWF (Mar 2007 - Sept 2010) (Boenigk)
• Diversity and population heterogeneity of chrysomonad flagellates within an alpine gradient FWF (Sept 2009 - Sep 2010) (Boenigk)
• Conservation of natural biological resources in Austria: Identification of indigenous whitefish species and extent of potential hybridization with a Baltic species FWF (Jan 2006 - Sept 2009) (Wanzenböck)
• Ecological Diversity of Polynucleobacter Bacteria FWF (Hahn)
• Exploiting bioactive compounds in cyanobacteria Cyano Biotech GmbH (Dec 2008 - Nov 2009) (Kurmayer)
• Niche separation and coexistance of chrysophytes in an alpine gradient FWF (2007 - 2009) Abstract-PDF (Boenigk)
• Reduced plankton diversity in extremely acidic mining lakes ILIMN (Apr 2007 - Jan 2008) (Weisse)
• Chrysophyte diversity and encystment pattern in alpine lakes:Merging molecular microbiology, recent and palaeoecology in C32# FWF (2005 - 2008) (Boenigk)