Post-doctorate of IES presents research results in the 10th International Shallow Lakes Conference

Today, on the 5th of March post-doctorate Katrit Karus from the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) will participate in the 10th International Shallow Lakes Conference presenting „Comparison of larval perch feeding between littoral and open-water sites of the lakes“ to introduce very first results of her post-doctoral research.

IES’s researcher Katrit Karus describes the importance of this research: “I think that we are among the few researchers who are trying to study lake food webs in comprehensive manner. This will help us to understand how food webs function. Moreover, the study results will describe the mechanisms that determine the mortality of larval fish in water bodies, which is crucial for fish stock management – fish farming, aquaculture.”

Research is carried out in 8 lakes with the intention to determine how whole planktonic community structure (all planktonic organisms as potential food items for fish larvae) and aquatic plants in lakes (as the living environment for fish) influence the development of natural fish resources – fish stock development, fish survival and their eating habits. Post-doctorate K.Karus chose 8 study lakes – 4 in Latvia (Riebinu, Auciema, Laukezers, Varzgune) and 4 in Estonia (Akste, Nohipalo Valgjärv, Kaiavere, Prossa) locating throughout both countries.

This research is still ongoing but here K.Karus offers the presentation of the first results of post-doctoral research. The presentation is dedicated to feeding habits of perch larvae during first weeks after hatching.

The 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. Programme number 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.