Ecological state of the lake during restoration measures (RESTLAKE)

The Restlake summer school was started in 2009 thanks to the cooperation of AMU with CAU in Kiel (Germany), and in 2011-2013 also with UAIC in Iasi (Romania).

It takes place every year at the turn of June and July. The exception was 2020, when it was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Usually 20 to 30 students from many countries around the world take part in it. The classes last two weeks, with the first week taking place in Wągrowiec and the second in Poznań. In Wągrowiec, the activities consist in collecting data necessary to determine the ecological state of Lake Durowskie, which is subject to restoration.

Students are divided into groups and each day they are engaged in different topics, concerning the state of the lake and the river inflow and outflow. These are phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrophytes, microphytobenthos (periphytic diatoms), macrobenthic invertebrates, physico-chemical indicators of water quality and the influence of the direct catchment area. In the second week, classes are held at the Faculty of Biology of the Adam Mickiewicz University.

They consist in analyzing the composition and abundance of individual groups of organisms from samples collected in the field, preparing maps of the range of plant communities, preparing questionnaires collected in the field, calculating indicators characterizing the ecological state of the lake.

Based on the obtained results, students in groups elaborate the state of the lake within each of the studied issues. Finally, they prepare a presentation and give lectures in front of representatives of the local authority in Wągrowiec. In this way, they gain theoretical and practical knowledge in lake ecological state assessment, train teamwork, and by presenting the results in an open forum, they contribute to the local community's understanding of changes taking place in the lake as a result of restoration.

More information on the website www.restlake.amu.edu.pl