Mirco Bundschuh

My research interests include topics related to the anthropogenic impact in ecosystems functioning – using the leaf litter decomposition as model system. Thereby, the major focus is on the implications of chemical stressors in the structure and function of the leaf associated microbial communities including their role for the nutrition of higher trophic levels (bottom-up directed effect cascades). In addition, I am interested in the mechanisms and processes modulating the effects of emerging chemicals (i.e., nanoparticles), the potential impact of genetically modified crops as well as the consequences of land-uses for the integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Also the role of cryptic invertebrate species in aquatic ecosystems and their implications for the environmental risk assessment have attracted my attention recently.

Moreover, I am a reviewer for a broad range of journals and serve as Associate Editor at the Board of „Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology“. I am currently the co-chair of the Publication Advisory Council of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), a member of the SETAC Europe Council and was recently elected as treasurer of the society.

Environmental Sciences
Univariate Statistics
Applied Experimental Ecology

Current PhD Students

Dominic Englert (since 11/2013; PhD): Effects of systemic insecticides on aquatic decomposers; supervisor

Alexander Feckler (since 02/2014; PhD): BIOfilms under stress: Do anthropogenic stressors affect the ecosystem FUNCtions they provide? (BIOFUNC); co-supervisor

Marco Konschak (since 01/2016; PhD): Bottom-up effects of antimicrobial substances on detritus based foodwebs; co-supervisor

Simon Lüderwald (since 01/2016; PhD): Environmental factors triggering the biological effects of engineered nanoparticles in freshwater ecosystems; co-supervisor

Patrick Baudy (since 03/2016; PhD): Antimicrobials affect the structure and function of leaf associated biofilms; co-supervisor

Past PhD Students

Jochen P. Zubrod (2011-2016): Impact of fungicides on an aquatic decomposer-detritivore system; Main supervision

Diego Fernandez Gonzalez (2012-2016): Effects of fungicides on decomposer communities and litter decomposition in streams; Co-supervision

Ricki R. Rosenfeldt (2012-2015): Combined toxicity of nanoparticulate titanium dioxide products and heavy metals considering various environmental parameters; Main supervision

Frank Seitz (2012-2015): Factors triggering the ecotoxicity of metal-based nanoparticles towards aquatic invertebrates; Main supervision

Current Project

“Is the pesticide registration in Sweden PROtective for AQUAtic life? (PRO-AQUA)” Main applicant: Bundschuh; Co-applicants: Ahrens, Angeler, Goedkoop, Kahlert, Kreuger, Schäfer; funded by FORMAS (2016-2018)

IMPROVE: Towards an IMPROVEd framework for the ecological risk assessment of pesticide mixtures; Main applicant: Goedkoop; Co-applicants: Backhaus, Bundschuh, Arrhenius, Kreuger; funded by FORMAS (2015-2017)

„Neonicotinoids influence on trophic relations and ecosystem functioning in freshwater ecosystems (NITRO)”; Main applicant: Schäfer; Co-applicants: Schulz, Bundschuh; funded by German Research Foundation (DFG; 2014-2016) 

 “Restoration of nutrient rich lakes: Improving methods to reduce internal phosphorus loading”; Main applicant: Köhler; Co-applicants: Huser, Stabo, Bundschuh; funded by Oscar and Lili Lamms Foundation (2015-2017) 

„Engineered inorganic nanoparticles transformed by environmental processes: Biological effects on aquatic invertebrates (IMPACT)” as part of the research group “INTERNANO; Mobility, aging and functioning of engineered inorganic nanoparticles at the aquatic-terrestrial interface“; Main applicant: Schulz; Co-applicants: Bundschuh; funded by German Research Foundation (DFG; 2014-2016)

“Effects of antimicrobial compounds on aquatic macroinvertebrates via bottom-up regulation (AQUA-REG)” Main applicant: Schulz; Co-applicants: Bundschuh; funded by German Research Foundation (DFG; 2015-2017)

“Afterlife of GM trees: the response of saproxylic (wood living) communities to dead wood from GM trees” Main applicant: Hjälten; Co-applicants: Bundschuh; Dahlberg; Whitham; Axelsson; Olsson, funded by FORMAS (2016-2018)

“Acute toxicity of EO/PO products in Daphnia magna” Main applicant: Schulz; Co-applicant: Bundschuh; Industry project funded by Sasol

Former Projects

“Assessment of GMO effects on aquatic ecosystems”; Main applicant: Schulz; Co-applicants: Bundschuh, Hilbeck, Hofmann; funded by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (2012-2015)

 “Bottom-up effects of Agriculturally used fungicides in Swedish freshwater Ecosystems (BASE)”; Main applicant: Bundschuh; Co-applicants: Goedkoop, Kreuger; funded by Carl Tryggers Foundation (2014-2016)

Selected publications (full list can be viewed here)

Bundschuh, M., Pierstorf, R., Schreiber, W.H., Schulz, R., 2011: Positive effects of wastewater ozonation can be displayed by in situ bioassays in the receiving stream. Environmental Science & Technology 45(8), 3774-3780.

Bundschuh, M., Hahn, T., Gessner, M.O., Schulz, R., 2009: Antibiotics as a chemical stressor affecting an aquatic decomposer-detritivore system. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28(1) 197-203.

Bundschuh, M., Schulz, R., 2011: Ozonation of secondary treated wastewater reduces ecotoxicity to Gammarus fossarum (Crustacea; Amphipoda): are loads of (micro)pollutants responsible? Water Research 45(13) 3999-4007.

Feckler, A., Thielsch, A., Schwenk, K., Schulz, R., Bundschuh, M. 2012: Differences in the sensitivity among cryptic lineages of the Gammarus fossarum complex. Science of the Total Environment 439, 158-164.

Bundschuh, M., Seitz, F., Rosenfeldt, R.R., Schulz, R. 2012: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles increase sensitivity in the next generation of the water flea Daphnia magna. PLoS One 7 (11), e48956.

Rosenfeldt, R.R., Seitz, F., Schulz, R., Bundschuh, M. 2014: Heavy metal uptake and toxicity in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles: A factorial approach using Daphnia magna. Environmental Science & Technology 48, 6965-6972.

Zubrod, J.P., Englert, D., Feckler, A., Koksharova, N., Konschak, M., Bundschuh, R., Schnetzer, N., Englert, K., Schulz, R., Bundschuh M. 2015: Does the current fungicide risk assessment provide sufficient protection for key drivers in aquatic ecosystem functioning? Environmental Science & Technology, 49, 1173-1181.

Schulz R., Bundschuh M., Gergs R., Brühl, C.A., Diehl D., Entling M., Fahse L., Frör O., Jungkunst H.F., Lorke A., Schäfer R.B., Schaumann G.E., Schwenk K. 2015: Review on environmental alterations propagating from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment, 538, 246-261

Schirmel J., Bundschuh M., Entling M., Kowarik I., Buchholz S. 2016: Impacts of invasive plants on resident animals across ecosystems, taxa, and feeding types: A global assessment. Global Change Biology, 22:594-603.

Bundschuh M., Seitz F., Rosenfeldt R.R., Schulz R. 2016: Effects of nanoparticles in fresh waters – risks, mechanisms and interactions. Freshwater Biology, in press.

Bundschuh M., Mckie B.G. 2016: An ecological and ecotoxicological perspective on fine particulate organic matter in streams. Freshwater Biology, in press.