Friederike Gabel

Dr. Friederike Gabel is a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, where she leads the LimnoLab and contributes to the Applied Landscape Ecology and Ecological Planning research group on a part-time basis. Her work is deeply rooted in freshwater ecology, with a focus on microplastics, aquatic invertebrates, and anthropogenic disturbances such as ship-induced waves.

• Position: Postdoc & LimnoLab Leader
• Institution: Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster
• Email: gabelf@uni-muenster.de
• Office: Room 421, Heisenbergstraße 2, 48149 Münster

Education:

• PhD in Landscape Ecology, Humboldt University of Berlin (2007–2012), dissertation at Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
• Studies in Landscape Ecology, University of Münster and Ca'Foscari University Venice (2000–2006)
• Research stays at Radboud University Nijmegen (2014) and University of Konstanz (2007)

Her research centers on freshwater ecosystems, particularly the impacts of microplastics, invasive species, and hydrodynamic disturbances on benthic communities. She employs experimental and field-based approaches to study biofilm dynamics, trophic transfer, and ecological resilience. Her work in the BMBF-funded MikroPlaTaS project investigates microplastic retention and effects in reservoirs.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in microplastic ecotoxicology, examining how different polymers affect biofilm quality, ingestion by invertebrates, and transfer through food webs. Additional themes include thermal physiology of invasive crustaceans, restoration ecology, and anthropogenic wave impacts. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges limnology, ecotoxicology, and environmental policy.

Scientific Awards:
None listed in the provided text.

Advising and Grants:
Dr. Gabel actively supervises numerous Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, covering topics such as microplastics, pharmaceutical pollution, invasive species, and river restoration. She is involved in the BMBF joint research project MikroPlaTaS, which focuses on microplastic sedimentation, distribution, and ecological effects in reservoirs. She also mentors student assistants like Juliane Baltes, Christian Lieske, and Nina Krumschmidt.

Labs and Teams:
She leads the LimnoLab at the Institute of Landscape Ecology and is a core member of the Applied Landscape Ecology and Ecological Planning working group. Her team includes PhD student Diana Michler-Kozma and student research assistants. She collaborates widely within the MikroPlaTaS project consortium.