Bachelor's and Master's Theses Opportunities

The Institute is happy to offer the opportunity to pursue exciting research topics within the framework of Bachelor's or Master's theses. We are in the process of compiling a list of possible topics in the various research areas. Initial project options are listed below.

Practical work and investigations usually take place at the Institute's site and/or at project partners' sites and are supervised by Institute scientists. At the same time, initial supervision by a chair or lecturer at a university or university of applied sciences (e.g. Humboldt University) is necessary.

Current Topic Options:

Inland Fisheries

Perch growth: Which environmental factors influence the growth of perch in a reservoir-regulated standing water body

Growth is one of the fundamental regulatory mechanisms in fish stock dynamics and has a direct impact on the production of fish biomass and thus on potential yield. For this reason, it is essential to know the environmental factors influencing growth and to understand their mechanisms of action in order to protect fish stocks. This knowledge is alsonecessary for sustainable fisheries management.
Over a period of three years scales, gill covers and length/mass information from perch (N = 300) were collected from a reservoir-regulated standingwater body for age determination. In addition, a variety of abiotic and biotic environmental factors are available for the water body (e.g. availability of prey fish and macroinvertebrates, predators, water levels, trophic and chemical parameters).

Work tasks:
- Preparation of samples (scales and gill covers).
- Age determination on the basis of the prepared samples
- Compilation of available environmental factors
- Analysis of the environmental factors influencing growth.

Objectives:
- Comparative analysis of age determination with the two hard structures used.
- Identification of key environmental factors influencing perch growth

Additional comment:
If the month of September falls within the processing period, it is possible for the student to take their own samples (field work) as part of monitoring carried out by the IfB. This gives the opportunity to expand the existing data set and to gain own experience in sampling fish stocks using multi-mesh gillnets (DIN EN 14757).

Contact:

Daniel Hühn, Inland Fisheries  Tel. 033201 406 33

Tyrell DeWeber, Inland Fisheries

If you are interested in carrying out one of these projects with us at Lake Sacrow, please contact us.  Other project ideas, suggested by you, are of course also conceivable and welcome. We look forward to receiving your application.

Fisheries Ecology

Bachelor thesis/Master thesis: Investigations of minnow and chub as host fish species of the thick-shelled river mussel 

Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) and chub (Squalius cephalus) are two typical host fish species of the thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus), although it is still unclear which other fish species play an important role for the thick-shelled river mussel. The survival rate of glochidia over time in minnows and chubs from several waters in Brandenburg is to be investigated as part of several bachelor's theses or a master's thesis. The project offers the opportunity to accompany the fieldwork, but this is not an obligation. The fish will be kept and examined at the IfB. For the subsequent evaluation of the data, a basic knowledge of the statistical software R is advantageous. In principle, there is the subsequent possibility of writing a scientific publication from the work.

Contact: Dr. Sven Matern, Fisheries Ecology, , Tel. 033201 406 69

Freshwater Ecology

1. Master thesis: Localisation and extent of sediment loads from agricultural areas as a cause of endangerment for the thick shelled river mussel in the Stepenitz system

The Stepenitz and its tributaries still harbour one of the largest populations of the endangered thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) in Central Europe. However, enormous sediment loads from the heavily agriculturally used catchment area of the river, particularly in connection with energy plant cultivation, are increasingly endangering this last Northern-German metapopulation of the species. As part of a master's thesis, the main areas of sediment discharge are to be localised using GIS and terrain mapping. In order to quantify the extent of the sediment discharge in selected sections of the Stepenitz, measurements of the bed elevations are to be carried out. For this purpose, water survey data from different years is available for selected sections of the Stepenitz. On the basis of these results, action priorities are to be derived. In principle, the subsequent possibility exists to write a scientific publication based on the work.

2. Bachelor thesis: LIFE Bachmuschel: Influence of kayaking on the Rheinsberg Rhyn on sediment transport in the stream

The Rheinsberg Rhyn is home to one of 19 remaining populations of the endangered thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) in Brandenburg and is part of the EU-funded LIFE Nature Project ‘LIFE Bachmuschel’ sponsored by the Brandenburg Nature Conservation Fund. The relatively small, near-natural watercourse is sometimes used by more than 100 kayaks during the season from 15 June to 31 October. This results in increased sediment loads due to grounding of boats and paddles as well as bank collapses. Low water levels in summer exacerbate the problem. The high sediment loads not only disturb the river mussel during filtration, but also impair the gill system of the hyporheiic interstitial as a habitat for the mussels and other endangered species of the river. In order to quantify the influence of boat traffic on sediment transport, investigations are to be carried out at selected sections to determine the extent and type of additional material transported. In principle, the subsequent possibility exists to write a scientific publication based on the work.

Contact: Michael Zauft, Naturschutzfonds Brandenburg, Potsdam. Email: / Tel: 0331-971 64 868