Upstream migration is an important part of the lifecycle of aquatic invertebrates, which essentially serves the purpose of distribution and drift compensation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the migration performance of different species at different flow velocities in the waters of the young moraine landscape of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Results allow drawing conclusions on the performance of aquatic invertebrates in fish migration facilities.

In the frame of a scientific project aiming at the development of a multi-functional and strategic water body concept for the Hanseatic City of Rostock, Germany, an ecological assessment method for small urban streams was generated. The Gewasser-urbanitatsindex (urban waters index, GUI) uses integrative elements of the biocoenosis in order to derive the ecological functionality of the water body, littoral and the immediate surroundings. By bringing in nature-specific and hydraulic information, urban waters can be developed in a multifunctional manner. This includes the combination of aspects of e.g. rainwater drainage or storage, recreation, nature conservation and habitat connectivity. In this paper, the development of the index and conservational issues in the Hanseatic City of Rostock are described and evaluated in terms of their respective effects.