Department of Freshwater Fish Ecology

Last modified: 24. October 2022

The main focus of the department is to study the complex hydro-ecology of surface waters. Our main study areas are: 

• spatio-temporal dynamics of assemblage structure development of aquatic organisms and the effect of environmental and anthropogenic variables; 
• ecological impact assessment of aquaculture facilities (enhancing sustainable aquaculture management); 
• potential effects of urbanization and other anthropogenic activities; 
• temporal changes of the distribution patterns of aquatic, non-indigenous species; 
• ex situ conservation biology studies of endangered species; 
• environmental toxicology studies on fish and macroinvertebrate model organisms; 
• applied ecological and fishery management developments. 

Our team has recently developed a “benthic spawning nest” useful for native fish species and a new method of artificial fish spawning called sperm-ovarium lavage. The effects of personal healthcare products on the phenotype of fish were determined by our department. We have participated in a worldwide study on the potential effects of land use changes and climate change on fishery management of large lakes; also, we have carried out studies on the potential effects of antibiotics on aquaculture. The department is mainly based at the Agárd sub-office of the Institute, the staff consists of five senior scientists, a post-doc and five PhD students. We manage national and international level research projects. The department has all of the necessary equipment required for the sampling of surface freshwaters (electro fishers, gillnets, electric benthic trawl, water quality measuring kits, etc.) and its flora and fauna.