01.07.2008
An Animal Invasion
Whether they arrive as stowaways aboard ships, are abandoned from aquariums, or even deliberately introduced, more and more foreign animal species are arriving in German waterways from around the world. The result is that exotic animals that have almost no natural enemies are threatening native species. Researchers are studying this phenomenon, taking Lake Constance as an example to find out how the ecosystem is affected by the new arrivals.
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An Animal Invasion: Episode 02, 22/04/2008
Scientific Diving
The experiment begins. Today John Hesselschwerdt and Stefan Werner are going to position experimental cages on the lake bed. To find the right plots, densely populated with mussels and shrimps, and set everything up they have to spend several hours in the bitterly cold water. They wear drysuits to avoid getting hypothermia....
24.06.2008
A Lost Cause?
Is the native freshwater shrimp doomed? Today the researchers are taking their final samples from the lake. The wind and the currents are ideal for the dive. They’re finished in an hour: all the samples have been collected....
17.06.2008
Fighting the Current
It’s time for the final dive, and there are strong winds forecast for today. The researchers decide to risk it. Underwater there is a strong current; Stefan Werner and John Hesselschwerdt can barely hold their position....
10.06.2008
Remnants of the Past in Peril
As scientific divers, John and Stefan are also interested in the lake’s past. Today they are going to visit an archaeological dig at the Orkopf.
03.06.2008
Fleeing Into the Depths
Do the native freshwater shrimp stand a chance against the killer shrimp? If so, what is their survival strategy? John starts a new experiment.
27.05.2008
Dangerous Coexistence
Today, John and Stefan are going out to the experimental plots for the second time, to take stock of the native shrimp and the invaders half way through the experiment.
20.05.2008
All for the Birds?
Coots, diving ducks and Dikerogammarus villosus share one thing in common: they all love zebra mussels. The more mussel eaters there are on Lake Constance, the faster the habitat for the "killer shrimp" shrinks.
13.05.2008
Counting, Counting, Counting
Back in the lab the researchers have still got their work cut out. They need to evaluate the samples they collected, and that means counting.
06.05.2008
Washing Up for Science
The first stage was successful: The samples that the researchers brought back from their dive are densely populated with mussels, the preferred habitat of the killer shrimp. Now it’s time for the laborious work....
29.04.2008
The Status Quo
The researchers heave hundreds of kilos of equipment, including diving gear, tubes, buckets and an underwater suction sampler, onto their research boat. Today they want to find out how many mussels and shrimp currently live in Lake Constance....
22.04.2008
Scientific Diving
The experiment begins. Today John Hesselschwerdt and Stefan Werner are going to position experimental cages on the lake bed.
15.04.2008
Hungry Predators?
The habitat of Lake Constance: The amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus recently arrived from the Black Sea region. Its voracious hunger has led to it becoming known as the "killer shrimp".2008
The first series: The research diaries and interesting background information on the projects and the researchers themselves. Find out about humanoid robots, sinking coasts, and an animal invasion.-
An Animal Invasion
The "killer shrimp" & Co.: Is globalisation a threat to Lake Constance? -
The City of 5 Million
Are megacities mankind's future? How do people live and survive in them? -
Blue Wonder
Getting to the bottom of the deep blue sea: The role of the oceans. -
Textile Concrete
How can you make something heavy light? Textile concrete opens up new prospects. -
Sinking Coasts
Around 10,000 years ago, people lived where now there are crashing waves. -
The Human Machine
Can a robot learn how to see, hear or feel from humans? -
Rainforest
Between Nature and exploi- tation: Is it possible to re- concile the needs of man- kind with those of nature? -
Temple Restoration
Stone doesn't last forever. Can the temple complex of Angkor still be rescued? -
Run, Lola, Run
Seeking the perfect two-legged robot. -
Giant Dinosaurs
Why did the sauropods grow to be the largest land-dwelling creatures that ever lived?
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