Martin Tschikof

Martin Tschikof is a researcher at the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management within the Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He currently coordinates the strategic cooperation between BOKU and the Environment Agency Austria (2024), with prior roles including Research Associate at BOKU (2018), WasserCluster Lunz (2018-2019), and guest researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Germany (2022). His doctoral dissertation (2020-2024) examined floodplain restoration impacts on water purification and multifunctionality in the Danube River Basin.

His academic qualifications include:

• MSc. in Limnology and Wetland Management (2016-2018) from the joint program of BOKU University, IHE Delft, and Egerton University
• BSc. in Biology (Ecology) (2012-2016) from the University of Vienna

Tschikof specializes in floodplain and restoration ecology, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem services multifunctionality, with fieldwork spanning Austria, Germany, and Danube Basin countries. His research integrates hydrological modeling, nutrient cycling analysis (particularly nitrogen and phosphorus retention), and socio-ecological frameworks to evaluate wetland management outcomes. Recent work emphasizes quantifying restoration trade-offs between regulating services (water purification) and cultural services (recreation, biodiversity) using basin-scale assessments.

Publication trends (2020-2025) reveal consistent focus on floodplain multifunctionality indicators, denitrification modeling, and EU project applications (Restore4Life, DANUBE4all). Key themes include proxy-based assessment tools for restoration decision-making, socio-ecohydrological system evolution, and transnational prioritization of conservation areas using ecosystem service trade-off analysis.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Reinhard Liepolt-Prize for Danube Research (2024) from the Austrian Committee of the International Association for Danube Research

While no formal students or grants are documented, Tschikof has delivered 23 international lectures since 2019 across Austria (8), Germany (7), and six other nations, often as keynote speaker for Danube restoration initiatives. He actively contributes to EU Horizon projects, particularly Restore4Life's citizen science component for wetland assessment.

He operates within BOKU's Hydrobiology Institute alongside WasserCluster Lunz and Leibniz IGB collaborators, focusing on the Danube River Basin. Current efforts prioritize upscaling floodplain restoration metrics through EU-funded consortia and developing practical tools for water quality management agencies.