Steinbeis Transfer Center Ecotoxicology and Ecophysiology

• Project management and coordination
• Scientific testing in the field of ecology, limnology, aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicology, molecular ecotoxicology, histology, and electron microscopy in close collaboration with the Department of Animal Physiological Ecology at the University of Tübingen
• Scientific reports for industry and public authorities (consulting)
• Staff development and training
• Ecology, hydrology for children (kindergarten, school)
• Organization of end-to-end solutions for chemical analysis
• Testing according to Directive 98/8/EC (Biocidal Products Directive/BPD) and REACH in collaboration with the Steinbeis Transfer Center for Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Reutlingen

• Effects of environmental pollutants (pharmaceuticals, pesticides, temperature, microplastics) on aquatic and terrestrial organisms
• Limnological and ecotoxicological characterization of freshwater ecosystems
• Effects and side effects of pesticides in targeted and non-targeted organisms
• Biomarkers used as environmental diagnostic tools in fish, terrestrial invertebrates (gastropods, isopods, myriapods, annelids), and aquatic invertebrates (gastropods, amphipods)
• Ultrastructural studies on the influence of environmental stress in fish and invertebrates (snails, woodlice, millipedes, shrimps)
• Efficiency and effect of molluscicides (slug and snail bait)
• Efficiency checks on feed supplements, particularly for fish (aquatic culture, aquatic pets)
• Success checks on renaturation measures
• Effectiveness testing of individual substances and substance mixtures in lab settings, natural and controlled conditions, and outdoor conditions

• Ecotoxicology:
  • Coordination of the Valimar project network: establishment of biomarkers for the ecotoxicological characterization of chemical pollutants in small flowing water bodies with environmental chemicals (Federal Ministry of Education and Research/BMBF)
  • Coordination of the joint SchussenAktivplus project looking at the efficiency of the fourth stage of sewage treatment (BMBF)
  • Coordination of the EffPharm project (German Environment Agency) on the impact of pharmaceuticals on aquatic ecosystems
  • Partner of the MiWa project (BMBF) on the impact of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems
  • Expert report on the causes of fish, mussel, and crayfish mortality (commissioned by public authorities)
• Ecophysiology:
  • Testing of the efficiency of various formulations of new molluscicides (commissioned by companies in the free economy)
  • Study on the efficiency of various animal feeds used to rear endangered fish species (commissioned by public authority)
  • Studies on the efficacy of feed supplements in animal husbandry (e.g. aquatic pets) (commissioned by companies in the free economy)
  • Root cause analysis: Health status of fish populations in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg (commissioned by authorities)

Steinbeis Transfer Magazine

• Does Bringing Benefit to Humanity Justify Doing Harm to the Environment? (Transfer 3/2022)
  An interview with Professor Dr. habil. Rita Triebskorn, Steinbeis expert at the Steinbeis Transfer Center for Ecotoxicology and Ecophysiology
• Turning the Spotlight on Surface Water (Transfer 2/2017)
  Researchers quantify the ecotoxicological impact of pharmaceuticals in real time