Published on 16 February 2012

Loss of fish species caused by lake eutrophication

Dübendorf, 16.2.2012 - Within a relatively short period, eutrophication has led to a reduction of almost 40% in the number of endemic whitefish species in Swiss lakes. Only in deep perialpine lakes least exposed to high nutrient inputs – such as Lakes Thun, Brienz and Lucerne – has the original diversity of endemic species been able to survive. But even these species have become less genetically distinctive. These findings are reported in a study by Eawag and Bern University researchers, published in Nature today.