Aquatic plants

Head Engineer

Mass development of water plants in river and lakes causes headache for researchers and water managers all over the world. New research aims to reveal the causes of the explosive development and identify ecosystem effects of removing the water plants.

MadMacs (mass development of aquatic macrophytes; causes and consequences of macrophyte removal for ecosystem structure, function, and services) aims to determine the causes of mass development of water plants, and to study the direct and indirect consequences of their removal on ecosystem functions and services.

The purpose of the monitoring program is to provide reference data from unaffected water bodies against which impacts can be assessed, to monitor long-term changes in natural conditions and large-scale human impact, and to monitor acidification effects in freshwater in Norway as a result of atmospheric inputs of long-range transported air pollutants.

Ecosystem monitoring in large lakes (ØKOSTOR): The program consists of monitoring of large and significant water bodies and boundary waters.

NIVA's sections on Freshwater Ecology have expertise in the monitoring and restoration of freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity. We develop knowledge and understanding that provide a basis for applied, evidence-based freshwater management.