300234 UE Biodiversität und Ökologie des Hyporheals am Beispiel der Vjosa in Albanien (2025S)

The Vjosa River system in Albania is the last free-flowing river network in Europe. Anchored in Tepelena at the Fritz Schiemer Research Station we will explore the hyporheic zone (= bed sediments which are an interface between the river and the groundwater system below) of the Vjosa and selected tributaries for Invertebrate fauna diversity, microbial activity and diversity, carbon and nutrient conditions, water chemistry, sediment properties, and hydrology. We will do intensive field work, and most samples will be analyzed on-site. The data obtained will be evaluated with regard to established concepts and principles in aquatic ecology.