Together with our cooperation partner – the Federal State Institute of Agriculture and Fishery MV – we installed the first two floating islands in the aquaculture research station in Born at the Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain (Germany).
The two floating wetlands, made out of stainless steel and reed stems, were planted with a variety of native emergent macrophytes: Typha latifolia, Schoenoplectus lacustris, Iris pseudacorus, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Lythrum salicaria, Butomus umbellatus, Carex acutiformis and Juncus effesus. In this first year we want to find out which plants can adapt best to the special site conditions, grow well and remove most efficiently phosphorus and nitrogen from the eutrophicated waters. The islands are installed at the outlet of the aquaculture pond (sturgeon cultivation) and we will monitor the water quality as well as nutrient removal in the plant biomass. Besides fighting eutrohication, these floating wetlands create diverse habitats for microbes, birds and insects and can also be an aesthetic “eye-catcher” for residents and tourists in coastal regions once the flowering starts. We will keep you updated!
