Tom Wilke

Professor, Justus Liebig University Giessen
  • Justus Liebig University Giessen
  • Germany

Subject

Ecology

Topics

Channels contributed to:

Behind the Paper

Recent Comments

Apr 20, 2021
Replying to Tom Wilke

This is an interesting proposal. However, diverting water from one river to another is a double-edged sword. The Don is essential for the water balance of the Sea of Azov. And the Sea of Azov is also dying, mainly because of increasing eutrophication. Moreover, the Don estuary harbors some of the last relict populations of Pontocaspian fauna, such as the endemic microgastropod genus Clathrocaspia. So playing around with the Don's water regime will create a new set of problems. 

Yes, it is true that the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea were connected several times in the past. And from the technical side, such a connection should be feasible. But from the biological side, such channels are the biggest spreader of invasive species in freshwater today. If we look at the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal or the Volga-Don Canal, the biological consequences were catastrophic. So we had better not make this mistake again.

Best,

Tom Wilke

Dec 29, 2020

This is an interesting proposal. However, diverting water from one river to another is a double-edged sword. The Don is essential for the water balance of the Sea of Azov. And the Sea of Azov is also dying, mainly because of increasing eutrophication. Moreover, the Don estuary harbors some of the last relict populations of Pontocaspian fauna, such as the endemic microgastropod genus Clathrocaspia. So playing around with the Don's water regime will create a new set of problems.