Head of the Laboratory
Assoc. Prof. Marina Vilenica, PhD, Department of Natural Sciences, Geography and History
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bNrvIikIvsgC&hl=en
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marina-Vilenica
Associates at the Faculty of Teacher Education
Prof. Marko Ćaleta, PhD, Department of Natural Sciences, Geography and History
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=eQwDtKsAAAAJ&hl=hr
External Associates
- Assoc. Prof. Andreja Brigić, PhD, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of BiologyGoogle Scholar: https://scholar.google.hr/citations?user=JaMcC7gAAAAJ&hl=hr
- Assistant Professor Fran Rebrina, PhD, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of BiologyGoogle Scholar: https://scholar.google.hr/citations?user=rD3Nv8wAAAAJ&hl=hr
- Lecturer / Assistant Professor Francesc Múrria Farnós, PhD, Institute for Biodiversity Research (IRBio), University of Barcelona, SpainGoogle Scholar: https://scholar.google.es/citations?hl=es&user=XS40OjUAAAAJ
- Senior Researcher Geert De Knijf, INBO – Research Institute for Nature and Forest, BelgiumGoogle Scholar: https://scholar.google.es/citations?hl=es&user=VyL7xx0AAAAJ
Purpose and Objectives
The scientific focus of the Research Laboratory is on investigating ecological mechanisms and processes, as well as the diversity, ecology, and functional roles of invertebrate communities. The research aims to advance the understanding of complex interactions between communities and their environment, as well as the effects of natural factors (e.g. habitat type and physical and chemical habitat characteristics) and anthropogenic factors (e.g. habitat fragmentation and urbanisation) on invertebrates.
An additional research objective is to propose conservation measures aimed at protecting organisms and their habitats. In order to determine the dynamics of invertebrate communities and their interactions with biotic and abiotic habitat factors, the research is based on field studies, laboratory analyses, and statistical data analysis.
Research
The research aims to contribute to the understanding of the composition and structure of invertebrate communities and their ecological requirements in natural and anthropogenically influenced habitats. The research findings can be used to inform the development of conservation measures for the studied organisms and their habitats.
Scientific and Professional Projects
- Canals as Additional Habitats for Bioindicator Taxa in an Anthropogenically Modified Landscape (BIO-KANAL) (UFZG-NPOO-25-836), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, €581,000. Project leader: Marina Vilenica (Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb).
- Spatiotemporal Variability of Terrestrial and Aquatic Communities of Temporary Streams in the Dinaric Karst (DinDRY; UIP-2020-02-5385), funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. Project leader: Andreja Brigić (Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb).
- Odonates as Barometers for Global Change: Understanding the Evolution of Latitudinal Ranges to Anticipate Response Mechanisms to Climate Warming (EvoLatitude; PID2024-162136NB-I00), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the State Research Agency (AEI), Spain. Project leader: Francesc Múrria Farnós, Institute for Biodiversity Research (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Spain.
- Cohabiting with the Greek Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma elisabethae), a Critically Endangered Balkan Endemic, funded by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
- Research on Aquatic Entomofauna in Plitvice Lakes National Park, funded by Plitvice Lakes National Park. Project leader: Marija Ivković (Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb).
Scientific Publications – 2025
- Vilenica M, Schmidt B, Koren T (2025) The EU’s Habitats Directive dragonfly Cordulegaster heros Theischinger, 1979 in Croatia – distribution and habitat requirements. Insects 16(12): 1284. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16121284
- Redžović Z, Ružanović L, Šimala M, Rebrina F, Vilenica M, Hrašovec B, Brigić A (2025) Beyond pests: intermittent rivers as habitats for Thysanoptera and Scolytinae. Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems (426): 30. https://doi.org/10.1051/kmae/2025025
- Bućan D, Mičetić Stanković V, Vilenica M, Šumanović M, Miliša M (2025) Studying benthic macroinvertebrates colonisation dynamics in a karst spring: The role of artificial substrates and environment. Ecologica Montenegrina 87: 114–134. https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2025.87.6
- Vilenica M, Tubić B, Žganec K, Brigić A, Ružanović L, Popović N, Paunović M (2025) Assessment of taxonomic and functional diversity of mayfly assemblages along the course of a large European river. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 35(4): e70139. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70139
- Vilenica M, Ergović V, Alegro A, Šegota V, Rimac A, Tierno de Figueroa JM, López-Rodríguez MJ, Mihaljević Z (2025) Environmental drivers shaping mayfly assemblages in a Ramsar declared Danube floodplain. Marine and Freshwater Research 76: MF25022. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF25022
- Samways MJ, Córdoba-Aguilar A, Deacon C, Alves-Martins F, Baird IRC, Barmentlo SH, Schlemmer Brasil L, Bried JT, Clausnitzer V, Cordero-Rivera A, Datto-Liberato FH, De Knijf G, Dolný A, Futahashi R, Guillermo-Ferreira R, Hassall C, Juen L, Khelifa R, Lozano F, Muzón J, Sahlén G, Sánchez Herrera M, Simaika JP, Stoks R, Suárez-Tovar CM, Suhling F, Tsubaki Y, Vilenica M (2025) Scientists’ warning on the need for greater inclusion of dragonflies in global conservation. Insect Conservation and Diversity 18(4): 465–484. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12819
- Ružanović L, Rebrina F, Vilenica M, Medak K, Entling MH, Brigić A (2025) Terrestrial Invertebrates Strike Back: Aerial and Ground-Based Colonisation of a Dry Riverbed. Freshwater Biology 70(2): e14379, 17. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.14379
- Vilenica M, Previšić A, Vinković L, Rebrina F, Matoničkin Kepčija R, Rumišek M, Brigić A (2025) Spatial patterns of Trichoptera diversity and assemblage structure in the Mediterranean Dinaric karst intermittent rivers in the Western Balkans. Aquatic Ecology 59(2): 741–753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-025-10192-z
