Dr. Diego Tonolla

Work at ZHAW

Position

Deputy Head Ecohydrology

Focus

• Ecological consequences of hydropower on rivers as well as evaluation of restoration measures, especially concerning hydropeaking
• Spatial and temporal analysis of temperature distribution in aquatic ecosystems, especially using thermal infrared (TIR)
• Spatial analysis of flow and bedload dynamic using passive (hydrophones) and active (ADP) acoustic measurements
• Ecology of streams, rivers and floodplains, hydromorphology
• Restoration and conservation of streams, rivers and floodplains

Teaching

Lecturer (Bachelor & Master)

Experience

• Senior researcher and lecturer, deputy head reserach group ecohydrology
  ZHAW-IUNR
  01 / 2019 - today
• Reseracher and lecturer, deputy head research group ecohydrology
  ZHAW-IUNR
  04 / 2015 - 12 / 2018
• Faculty Affiliate
  Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS), Montana, USA
  05 / 2013 - 12 / 2015
• Guest scientist
  Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Department of Shallow Lakes and Lowland Rivers, Berlin, Germany
  03 / 2012 - 12 / 2015
• Researcher and project leader for a program focused on mitigating negative ecological impacts due to hydropeaking
  Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Water Division
  03 / 2012 - 03 / 2015
• Scientific research assistant
  Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Department of Shallow Lakes and Lowland Rivers, Berlin, Germany
  01 / 2009 - 12 / 2011
• Scientific research assistant
  Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology
  11 / 2005 - 12 / 2008
• nternship for the analysis of biodiversity in big, old chestnut trees
  WSL, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape
  08 / 2003 - 11 / 2003

Education and Continuing education

Education

• Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) / Watercourses
  Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), & Freie Universität Berlin (FUB) & Eawag
  02 / 2007 - 06 / 2011
• Diploma (equivalent to a M. Sc.) in Environmental Sciences / Environmental Sciences
  Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)
  10 / 2000 - 11 / 2005

Continuing Education

• CAS in "University Didactics"
  Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH)
  04 / 2019
• CAS in River Restoration
  College of Engineering and Architecture, Fribourg
  06 / 2013

Network

Membership of networks

• Swiss Society for Hydrology and Limnology (SSHL)
• German Limnological Society (DGL)
• Platform "morphological river restoration" of WA21
• "Focus group hydropower" of WA21
• Association "River Pearl Plus" of WWF
• "Core group" International network on hydropeaking
• Expert-group hydropeaking of WA21

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1172-0033

Awards

• River-Restoration prize for the outstanding CAS thesis on river restoration
  Canton of Fribourg & Hochschule für Technik und Architektur (HEIA)
  12 / 2013
• European award for the best PhD Dissertation in Freshwater Sciences
  European Federation for Freshwater Sciences (EFFS)
  07 / 2013
• Schwoerbel – Benndorf „Young Talent Prize”, Award for outstanding publication
  German Limnological Society (DGL)
  09 / 2012
• Award for the best student poster
  International Society for River Science (ISRS)
  07 / 2009

Social media

• LinkedIn
• ResearchGate

Projects

• Effects of hydropower exploitation on spatio-temporal variability of temperature in downstream rivers / Team member / completed
• Aquatic-terrestrial floodplain monitoring using remote sensing / Team member / completed
• Success control of a reservoir flushing using remote sensing and photogrammetry / Team member / completed
• Hydroecology and Floodplain Sustainability in Application / Team member / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Friese, N., Mathers, K. L., Weber, C., Tonolla, D., & Bätz, N. (2025). Habitat‐specific response of macroinvertebrate drift to flow pulses : implications for hydropeaking management. Freshwater Biology, 70(10), e70103. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.70103
• Venus, T. E., Ola, O., Alp, M., Bätz, N., Bejarano, M. D., Boavida, I., Bruno, M. C., Casas-Mulet, R., Carolli, M., Chiogna, G., Gosselin, M.-P., Hallerakerl, J. H., Noack, M., Tonolla, D., Vanzo, D., & Hayes, D. S. (2025). The power of hydropeaking : trade-offs between flexible hydropower and river ecosystem services in Europe. Ecological Economics, 233(108583). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108583
• Hayes, D. S., Bätz, N., Tonolla, D., Merl, K., Auer, S., Gorla, L., Weber, C., Naudascher, R., Silva, L. G. M., Schmutz, S., Unfer, G., Führer, S., Zeiringer, B., & Greimel, F. (2024). Why hydropeaking frequency matters : effects of recurring stranding on fish. Journal of Ecohydraulics, 10(3), 302–318. https://doi.org/10.1080/24705357.2024.2426820
• Hayes, D. S., Bruno, M. C., Alp, M., Boavida, I., Batalla, R. J., Bejarano, M. D., Noack, M., Vanzo, D., Casas-Mulet, R., Vericat, D., Carolli, M., Tonolla, D., Halleraker, J. H., Gosselin, M.-P., Chiogna, G., Zolezzi, G., & Venus, T. E. (2023). 100 key questions to guide hydropeaking research and policy. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 187(113729). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113729
• Kowal, J. L., Auer, S., Schmutz, S., Graf, W., Wimmer, R., Tonolla, D., & Meulenbroek, P. (2023). Does soundpeaking affect the behavior of chub (Squalius cephalus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta)? : an experimental approach. Fishes, 8(12), 581. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8120581
• Mejia, F. H., Ouellet, V., Briggs, M. A., Carlson, S. M., Casas-Mulet, R., Chapman, M., Collins, M. J., Dugdale, S. J., Ebersole, J. L., Frechette, D. M., Fullerton, A. H., Gillis, C.-A., Johnson, Z. C., Kelleher, C., Kurylyk, B. L., Lave, R., Letcher, B. H., Myrvold, K. M., Nadeau, T.-L., et al. (2023). Closing the gap between science and management of cold-water refuges in rivers and streams. Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16844
• Alp, M., Batalla, R. J., Bejarano, M. D., Boavida, I., Capra, H., Carolli, M., Casas‐Mulet, R., Costa, M. J., Halleraker, J. H., Hauer, C., Hayes, D. S., Harby, A., Noack, M., Palau, A., Schneider, M., Schönfelder, L., Tonolla, D., Vanzo, D., Venus, T., et al. (2022). Introducing HyPeak : an international network on hydropeaking research, practice, and policy. River Research and Applications, 39(3), 283–291. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3996
• Tonolla, D., Dossi, F., Kastenhofer, O., Döring, M., Hauer, C., Graf, W., & Schülting, L. (2022). Effects of hydropeaking on drift, stranding and community composition of macroinvertebrates : a field experimental approach in three regulated Swiss rivers. River Research and Applications, 39(3), 427–443. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.4019
• Schülting, L., Dossi, F., Graf, W., & Tonolla, D. (2022). Flow amplitude or up‐ramping rate? : quantifying single and combined effects on macroinvertebrate drift during hydropeaking simulations, considering sensitive traits. River Research and Applications, 39(3), 412–426. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3963
• Antonetti, M., Hoppler, L., Tonolla, D., Vanzo, D., Schmid, M., & Doering, M. (2022). Integrating two‐dimensional water temperature simulations into a fish habitat model to improve hydro‐ and thermopeaking impact assessment. River Research and Applications, 39(3), 501–521. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.4043
• Doering, M., Freimann, R., Antenen, N., Roschi, A., Robinson, C. T., Rezzonico, F., Smits, T., & Tonolla, D. (2021). Microbial communities in floodplain ecosystems in relation to altered flow regimes and experimental flooding. Science of the Total Environment, 788(147497). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147497
• Torgersen, C. E., Le Pichon, C., Fullerton, A. H., Dugdale, S. J., Duda, J. J., Giovannini, F., Tales, É., Belliard, J., Branco, P., Bergeron, N. E., Roy, M. L., Tonolla, D., Lamouroux, N., Capra, H., & Baxter, C. V. (2021). Riverscape approaches in practice : perspectives and applications. Biological Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12810
• Tonolla, D., Geilhausen, M., & Döring, M. (2020). Seven decades of hydrogeomorphological changes in a near‐natural (Sense River) and a hydropower‐regulated (Sarine River) pre‐Alpine river floodplain in Western Switzerland. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 46(1), 252–266. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5017
• Milani, G., Kneubühler, M., Tonolla, D., Döring, M., & Schaepman, M. (2020). Characterizing flood impact on Swiss floodplains using inter-annual time series of satellite imagery. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 13, 1479–1493. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2020.2980381
• Hauer, C., Holzapfel, P., Tonolla, D., Habersack, H., & Zolezzi, G. (2019). In situ measurements of fine sediment infiltration (FSI) in gravel-bed rivers with a hydropeaking flow regime. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 44(2), 433–448. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4505
• Milani, G., Volpi, M., Tonolla, D., Döring, M., Robinson, C. T., Kneubühler, M., & Schaepman, M. (2018). Robust quantification of riverine land cover dynamics by high-resolution remote sensing. Remote Sensing of Environment, 217, 491–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2018.08.035
• Linke, S., Gifford, T., Desjonquères, C., Tonolla, D., Aubin, T., Barclay, L., Karaconstantis, C., Kennard, M. J., Rybak, F., & Sueur, J. (2018). Freshwater ecoacoustics as a tool for continuous ecosystem monitoring. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(4), 231–238. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1779
• Lumsdon, A. E., Artamonov, I., Bruno, M. C., Righetti, M., Tockner, K., Tonolla, D., & Zarfl, C. (2018). Soundpeaking : hydropeaking induced changes in river soundscapes. River Research and Applications, 34(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3229
• Tonolla, D., Bruder, A., & Schweizer, S. (2017). Evaluation of mitigation measures to reduce hydropeaking impacts on river ecosystems a a case study from the Swiss Alps. Science of the Total Environment, 574, 594–604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.101
• Auer, S., Zeiringer, B., Führer, S., Tonolla, D., & Schmutz, S. (2017). Effects of river bank heterogeneity and time of day on drift and stranding of juvenile European grayling (Thymallus thymallus L.) caused by hydropeaking. Science of the Total Environment, 575, 1515–1521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.029
• Bruder, A., Tonolla, D., Schweizer, S. P., Vollenweider, S., Langhans, S. D., & Wüest, A. (2016). A conceptual framework for hydropeaking mitigation. Science of the Total Environment, 568, 1204–1212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.032
• Robinson, C. T., Tonolla, D., Imhof, B., Vukelic, R., & Uehlinger, U. (2015). Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment. Aquatic Sciences, 78(2), 327–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-015-0434-3

Other publications

• Tonolla, D., Auhser, A., Antonetti, M., Kastenhofer, O., Wirth, S., Stucki, P., & Leitner, P. (2025). Aquatic macroinvertebrates as indicators for hydropeaking : development and validation of specific multimetric indices. ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-34591
• Stäheli, T., Bösiger, R., Antonetti, M., & Tonolla, D. (2025). Gewässermorphologische Analyse nach den Hochwasserereignissen vom Sommer 2024 : Pilotprojekt an der Borgne (VS). Wasser Energie Luft, 117(2), 55–59. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-33627
• Friese, N., Tonolla, D., Weber, C., Mathers, K., & Bätz, N. (2024). Feldexperiment zur Drift von Makroinvertebraten unter Schwall-Sunk : der Einfluss von Hydraulik und Habitattyp. Wasser Energie Luft, 116(1), 31–39. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-30587
• Döring, M., Tonolla, D., & Antonetti, M. (2023, May). Adaptive management and restoration of a complex floodplain system using artificial flooding (Sarine floodplain, Western Switzerland). Slovenian Water Days, Rimske Toplice, Slovenia, 24-25 May 2023. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-27937
• Tockner, K., Tonolla, D., Bremerich, V., Jähnig, S. C., Robinson, C. T., & Zarfl, C. (2022). Introduction to European rivers. In K. Tockner, C. T. Robinson, & C. Zarfl (Eds.), Rivers of Europe (pp. 1–26). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102612-0.00001-8
• Stähli, S., Tonolla, D., Franca, M. J., Robinson, C. T., Döring, M., & Schleiss, A. J. (2021). Künstliche Hochwasser in Restwasserstrecken unter Berücksichtigung von Geschiebevorkommen, hydromorphologischer und ökologischer Indikatoren. Korrespondenz Wasserwirtschaft, 14(8), 492–502.
• Herold, T., Tonolla, D., Junghardt, J., Helbling, A., Thommen, M., & Ninck, L. (2019). Bestockung und Beschattung : Erfassung an Fliessgewässern. Aqua & Gas, 2019(4), 52–57. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-19442
• Tonolla, D., Junghardt, J., Antonetti, M., & Döring, M. (2019). Drohnen-gestützte und terrestrische Wärmebilder zur Beurteilung der Fliessgewässer-Temperatur. Aqua & Gas, 2019(4), 44–50. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-19443
• Döring, M., Tonolla, D., Robinson, C. T., Schleiss, A., Stähly, S., Gufler, C., Geilhausen, M., & Di Cugno, N. (2018). Künstliches Hochwasser an der Saane : eine Massnahme zum nachhaltigen Auenmanagement. Wasser Energie Luft, 110(2), 119–127. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2040
• Gufler, C., Döring, M., & Tonolla, D. (2018). Künstliches Hochwasser an der Saane : eine Massnahme zur Förderung eines nachhaltigen Auenmanagements. IUNR Magazin, 2018(2), 32–33. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-13237
• Tonolla, D., Chaix, O., Meile, T., Zurwerra, A., Büsser, P., Oppliger, S., & Essyad, K. (2017). Schwall-Sunk – Massnahmen : ein Modul der Vollzugshilfe Renaturierung der Gewässer. Bundesamt für Umwelt. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3715
• Schweizer, S., Schmidlin, S., Bieri, M., Büsser, P., Meyer, M., Money, J., Schläppi, S., Schneider, M., Tonolla, D., Tuhtan, J., & Wächter, K. (2016). Die erste Schwall-Sanierung der Schweiz : die Hasliaare als Fallbeispiel. WasserWirtschaft, 2016(1), 10–15.
• Hauer, C., Holzapfel, P., Tonolla, D., & Habersack, H. (2016). Diskussion hydrologischer, morphologischer und sedimentologischer Kriterien für die Implementierung möglicher Schwall-Sunk-Massnahmen. WasserWirtschaft, 2016(1), 23–28.
• Hauer, C., Zeiringer, B., Holzapfel, P., Greimel, F., Schmutz, S., Habersack, H., & Tonolla, D. (2016). Analysen von Sunk und Schwall in Bezug auf das Strandungsrisiko bestimmter Zeigerarten unter Berücksichtigung experimenteller Ergebnisse, numerischer Modellierung und Naturmessungen : Fallbeispiel Alpenrhein [Conference paper]. Schwall und Sunk: Forschungsstand und Ausblick: Sonderband, 83–116.
• Hauer, C., Holzapfel, P., Tonolla, D., & Habersack, H. (2016). Hydrologische, morphologische und sedimentologische Analysen als Grundlage für die Konzipierung von Schwall-Sunk-Massnahmen : Fallbeispiel Alpenrhein. WasserWirtschaft, 2016(1), 16–22.
• Schweizer, S., Tonolla, D., Bruder, A., & Vollenweider, S. (2015). Schwall und Sunk : ein kurzer Überblick. WasserWirtschaft, 2015(6), 15–20.

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Doering, M., Antonetti, M., Tonolla, D., & Brandenberg, M. (2026, March 10). Multi-year artificial flooding to restore a hydropower-regulated floodplain system : balancing biodiversity needs and hydropower requirements [Conference presentation]. https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-467
• Schülting, L., Dossi, F., Graf, W., & Tonolla, D. (2018). Macroinvertebrate drift response to hydropeaking simulations with varying peak discharge and ramping velocities. 12th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics (ISE 2018), Tokyo, Japan, 19-24 August 2018.

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

• Lorang MS, Tonolla D. 2014. Combining active and passive hydroacoustic techniques during flood events for rapid spatial mapping of bedload transport patterns in gravel-bed rivers. Fundamental and Applied Limnology 184: 321-246
• Tonolla D, Wolter C, Ruhtz T, Tockner K. 2012. Linking fish assemblages and spatiotemporal thermal heterogeneity in a river-floodplain landscape using high-resolution airborne thermal infrared remote sensing and in-situ measurements. Remote Sensing of Environment 125: 134-146
• Tonolla D, Lorang MS, Heutschi K, Gotschalk CC, Tockner K. 2011. Characterization of spatial heterogeneity in underwater soundscapes at the river segment scale. Limnology and Oceanography 56: 2319-2333
• Tonolla D, Acuña V, Uehlinger U, Frank T, Tockner K. 2010. Thermal heterogeneity in river floodplains. Ecosystems 13: 727-740
• Tonolla D, Acuña V, Lorang MS, Heutschi K, Tockner K. 2010. A field-based investigation to examine underwater soundscapes of five common river habitats. Hydrological Processes 24: 3146-3156
• Tonolla D, Lorang MS, Heutschi K, Tockner K. 2009. A flume experiment to examine underwater sound generation by flowing water. Aquatic Sciences 71: 449-462
• Duelli P, Moretti M, Tonolla D, Barbalat S. 2006. Scented traps yield two large lacewing species (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) new to Switzerland. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 79: 25-28
• Tockner K, Uehlinger U, Robinson CT, Siber R, Tonolla D, Peter FD. 2010. European Rivers. In River Ecosystem Ecology, Likens GE (ed). Elsevier Publisher: Oxford; 340-351.
• Tockner K, Uehlinger U, Robinson CT, Tonolla D, Siber R, Peter FD. 2009. Introduction to European Rivers. In Rivers of Europe, Tockner K, Uehlinger, U, Robinson CT (eds). Elsevier Publisher: London; 1-21.
• Tockner K, Uehlinger U, Robinson CT, Siber R, Tonolla D, Peter FD. 2009. European Rivers. In Encyclopedia of Inland Waters, Likens GE (ed). Elsevier Publisher: Oxford; 366-377
• Schweizer S, Tonolla D, Bruder A, Vollenweider S. 2015. Schwall und Sunk – ein kurzer Überblick. WasserWirtschaft 6: 15-20
• Tonolla D, Acuña V, Uehlinger U, Wolter C, Frank T, Ruhtz T, Tockner K. 2013. Quantification of the spatial thermal heterogeneity of river-floodplain using thermal infrared remote sensing. Extended abstracts of the annual conference of the German Limnological Society (DGL), 2012 (Koblenz). DGL Publisher: Hardegsen; 7-11
• Schweizer S, Schmidlin S, Tonolla D, Büsser P, Meyer M, Monney J, Schläppi S, Wächter K. 2013. Schwall/Sunk-Sanierung in der Hasliaare – Phase 1a: Gewässerökologische Bestandsaufnahme. Wasser Energie Luft 105: 191-199
• Schweizer S, Schmidlin S, Tonolla D, Büsser P, Meyer M, Monney J, Schläppi S, Schneider M, Tuhtan J, Wächter K. 2013. Schwall/Sunk-Sanierung in der Hasliaare – Phase 1b: Ökologische Bewertung des Ist-Zustands anhand der 12 Indikatoren der aktuellen BAFU-Vollzugshilfe. Wasser Energie Luft 105: 200-207
• Schweizer S, Bieri M, Tonolla D, Monney J, Rouge M, Stalder P. 2013. Schwall/Sunk-Sanierung in der Hasliaare – Phase 2a: Konstruktion repräsentativer Abflussganglinien für künftige Zustände. Wasser Energie Luft 105: 269-276
• Schweizer S, Schmidlin S, Tonolla D, Büsser P, Maire A, Meyer M, Monney J, Schläppi S, Schneider M, Theiler Q, Tuhtan J, Wächter K. 2013. Schwall/Sunk-Sanierung in der Hasliaare – Phase 2b: Ökologische Bewertung von künftigen Zuständen. Wasser Energie Luft 105: 277-287
• Bruder A, Vollenweider S, Schweizer S, Tonolla D, Meile T. 2012. Schwall und Sunk: Planung und Bewertung von Sanierungsmassnahmen. Möglichkeiten und Empfehlungen aus wissenschaftlicher Sicht. Wasser Energie Luft 104: 265-272
• Bruder A, Schweizer S, Vollenweider S, Tonolla D, Meile T. 2012. Schwall und Sunk: Auswirkungen auf die Gewässerökologie und mögliche Sanierungsmassnahmen. Wasser Energie Luft 104: 257-264
• Tonolla D. 2011. Acoustic and thermal characterization of river landscapes. Dissertation, Freie Universität Berlin (FUB), Germany.
• Tockner K, Tonolla D, Junker B, Heutschi K. 2009. Der Klang der Flüsse. Nationalpark 1: 20-21
• Tonolla D, Tockner K, Junker B, Heutschi K. 2008. The sound of rivers. EAWAG Annual Report: 29
• Tockner K, Uehlinger U, Robinson CT, Tonolla D, Siber R, Peter FD. 2008. European rivers under pressure. EAWAG Annual Report: 31
• Tonolla D. 2005. Characterization of the temporary hydro-system of a high alpine catchment (Val Roseg, Switzerland) by GIS mapping and assessment of morphological features. Diploma thesis in Environmental Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich, Switzerland
• Moretti M, Tonolla D, Altenburger I, Duelli P. 2004. Biodiversità delle selve castanili del Mont Grand (Soazza, Grigioni). Quaderni Grigionitaliani 73: 355-362

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