Projet Lac

In Projet Lac  we collect and compile quantitative baseline data for most large lakes of Switzerland and neighboring countries. We designed methods for a full quantitative sampling design and applied them to twenty six medium to large and deep to very deep lakes. Our aim is to document and assess fish diversity at all its fundamental levels. This includes individual genetic and phenotypic diversity for key taxa, species diversity and abundance, community diversity by habitats and whole lake diversity. A large state-of-the-art collection of pre-alpine fish is being established at the Natural History Museum in Bern. We are now analyzing the species distribution and abundance data and are beginning to collect phenotypic and genetic data. Eventually we will use the data to try and explain some of the large changes in species diversity and distribution observed over the last decades, and we want to understand if these changes affect ecosystem functions. Progetto Fiumi is built to achieve the same for many streams and rivers in Switzerland.