Ecosystem
How fungi promote bacterial diversity
Research
Eawag
In theory, the genetic diversity of populations should decrease as they expand across space. But this is not true for bacteria. Researchers at Eawag are now showing that fungi play an important role in this context. They make it easier for bacteria to spread and thus also promote genetic exchange between different bacteria.
Global Warming Causes Changes in Swiss Insect Fauna
Research
WSL
How has the distribution of insects in Switzerland changed over the past 40 years? The range of many species has expanded, while that of a similar number has contracted. In particular, cold-adapted species have lost ground. These are the findings published in the journal Nature Communications.
Accurately tracking how plastic biodegrades
Research
Eawag ETH Zurich
Researchers at ETH Zurich and Eawag have developed an approach to accurately record and fully track the biodegradation of plastics in soils.  
Heat and drought threaten the truffle harvest
Research
WSL
The truffle yield in Switzerland and southern Germany is declining. This is shown by a monitoring programme led by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL. The increase in extremely hot and dry summers best explains this decline. This is not only a culinary problem, but also an ecological one.
How nanoplastics enter the aquatic food web
Research
Eawag
The smallest of all plastic particles have remained largely unexplored until now, because they could not be detected in the environment. Now researchers at Eawag show: Nanoplastics stick to slimy biofilms, which can for example be found on stones in streams or rivers. When freshwater snails feed on the slime, the nanoplastics are taken up.
Phylogenetic tree reveals: new species of whitefish have emerged in every lake
Research
Eawag
For a long time professional fishermen have known that there is not just one whitefish species in Switzerland, but a whole range of species each with their own specialization and local name. Researchers have now analysed the entire genome of the various whitefish and shown how specialists have all developed independently of each other in each lake region.
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