Changing Rhine Ecosystems: Pollution and Rehabilitation

Abstract

Over the centuries Father Rhine, the great European river draining into the North Sea, has inspired many writers, poets, painters and the like (e.g. Schmidt et al., 1995). The river Rhine has also stimulated many scientists to the writing of detailed surveys of the geography and biology of the river basin, comprising the physical, chemical and ecological characteristics of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. I only refer to the standard works of Lauterborn (1916, 1917, 1918), Kinzelbach and Friedrich (1990), Tittizer and Krebs (1996), and publications of the ICPR (1991, 1994, 1998)/IKSR (1987, 1997, 1999a, b, 2002a, b, c). In recent policy-relevant documents the eco-history of the river is often ignored or briefly summarised. Obviously it is more satisfying for policy makers to cover the successes of recent ecological restoration measures than to describe the historic failures and causes of river destruction (cf. Reeze et al., 2005). It is true, the recent rehabilitation of the water quality of the Rhine is remarkable, but habitat loss of this main European navigation route is irreversible and can never be restored.