IES’s researcher presents results of lake food web research

Post-doctorate Katrit Karus from the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) presents results of the research on Estonian and Latvian food web function in the popular science journal "Fish! In the wild" (“Kalale! Looduses”) and at the Finnish symposium “Lahti Lakes 2021”.

Since January 2019, IES has been carrying a comprehensive research on Estonian and Latvian lake food webs. It is implemented in 8 lakes – 4 in Latvia (lake Riebinu, lake Auciema, lake Laukezers, lake Varzgune) and 4 in Estonia (lake Akste, lake Nohipalo Valgjärv, lake Kaiavere, lake Prossa). IES’s researchers stress that this research approach helps to understand how lakes’ food webs function. It showcases how the eating habits of fish correlate to presence of aquatic plants that are the living environment for fish, as well as plankton organisms that are the main food resources for larval fish. The knowledge gained in this research will enable the development of research and data-based decision making for the management of lakes.

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The research on Estonian and Latvian lake food webs is coming to an end, but its’ results will be used further as an important input for communication with stakeholders, as well as for future lake research studies. Estonia's popular science journal "Fish! In the wild" (“Kalale! Looduses”) has already showed the interest in the research results and published two articles.

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On June 7 – 9, 2021 IES’s post-doctorate Katrit Karus will present the research results in Finnish online symposium “Lahti Lakes 2021”. She will introduce the participants with larval and juvenile perch feeding habits in Estonian and Latvian lakes (event language English).

More about the online symposium "Lahti Lakes 2021" registration and agenda here.

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The Latvian and Estonian lake food web research is a part of the project „Fish feeding conditions in lakes with different planktonic food web structure and microvegetation “(MICROFISH), No.1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/18/301. Agreement with State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia No. 1.1.1.2/16/I/001. The project is financed by the European Regional Development Fund, the State budget of the Republic of Latvia and the foundation „Institute for Environmental Solutions”.

Find out more about the project here.