Evolution in the dark
- Start date: May 1st 2019
- End date: April 30th 2024
- Value: 1,000,000 EUR
The project is funded by the program “Research Excellence Program in Science and Higher Education - the Tenure Track Pilot Program” (TTPP) designed to support excellent young researchers to establish their own independent research groups. Program is administered by Croatian Science Foundation and Swiss partner École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
This project enabled us to form an independent research group in the Department of Molecular Biology, and fully equip laboratory for experimental biology and animal facilities for maintenance of cave organisms.
Fauna of aquatic subterranean ecosystems in Plitvice lakes National Park
- Start date: February 2nd 2020
- End date: November 31st 2020
The Plitvice Lakes National Park is famous for its crystal clear waters and travertine waterfalls that connect a series of lakes. None of the springs feeding this system are accessible for research, so its underground fauna is completely unknown.
We are developing the methodology to sample and sequence eDNA to identify the taxa that inhabit the subterranean waters of the National Park. The project is funded by Plitvice Lakes National Park.