We are thrilled to announce that MSc. Vedrana Šlipogor, Ph.D., from the FSC Department of Zoology, has been selected to participate in the prestigious 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Physiology/Medicine on 25–30 June 2023. This remarkable achievement highlights the exceptional talent and dedication of Dr. Šlipogor in her field of expertise.

MSc. Vedrana Šlipogor, Ph.D., is a USB postdoctoral fellow of Dr. Martina Konečná, with research interests centred around evolutionary questions in behavioural ecology, ethology and comparative cognition, and particularly animal personality and its links with learning in primates (common marmosets) and subterranean rodents (naked mole-rats). Dr. Šlipogor conducted her undergraduate studies in Molecular Biology at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, interned in France and Austria, spent two field seasons in Brazil, and completed her doctoral dissertation in Biology and first postdoctoral post at the University of Vienna, before moving to the Czech Republic for her postdoctoral fellowship at USB, where she is involved in research, student supervision and teaching. For her research, Dr. Šlipogor was awarded several very competitive fellowships and grants, including L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Austria Fellowship ‘For Women in Science’.

The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, established in 1951, serve as a globally renowned platform for fostering exchange between Nobel Laureates and young scientists. These meetings have become a symbol of scientific inspiration, nurturing the next generation of researchers, and building enduring networks of young scientists from around the world.

The success of Dr. Šlipogor´s application to participate in this event is a testament to her outstanding contributions and potential as a rising star in the field of Physiology/Medicine. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will allow her to engage with 30–40 Nobel Laureates and join the esteemed gathering of 600 young scientists from across the globe. The Lindau Meetings provide a unique environment where knowledge is shared, perspectives are broadened, and collaborations are forged.

The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice takes great pride in Dr. Šlipogor's achievement, as it not only showcases her individual excellence but also reflects the University's commitment to fostering a culture of research and innovation. Her participation in this prestigious event will undoubtedly enhance USB’s reputation as a hub of scientific talent and excellence.

We extend our warmest congratulations to MSc. Vedrana Šlipogor, Ph.D., for this exceptional achievement. We are confident that her participation in the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting will be an invaluable experience, offering her unique opportunities for personal and professional growth. We eagerly anticipate the insights and inspiration she will bring back to USB and its scientific community.

For more information about the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting and its participants see this link. 

Centre for Polar Ecology

Research groups

• Algology and biotechnology

  Phycology:

  • Molecular diversity, ecology and biogeography of cyanobacteria and algae of the polar regions
  • Functional characteristics of the cyanobacteria and algae of the polar regions
  • Role of cyanobacteria and algae in individual biotopes and the relations among individual ecosystem components
  • Biotechnological exploitations of cyanobacteria and algae of the polar regions

  The research of the algological group begins with a description of the species diversity of cyanobacteria and algae, which are studied in all types of terrestrial biotopes. Basic environmental factors are then measured in the given biotopes (physico-chemical parameters of soil and water, daily temperature, radiation, transparency, pH, oxygen concentration, conductivity, etc.).

  For the taxonomic determination of individual species of algae and cyanobacteria, classic microscopic observation is combined with data obtained from DNA sequences. The ecophysiological properties of polar cyanobacteria and algae are determined using field measurements and laboratory experiments. Field experiments in Svalbard are focused, for example, on monitoring photosynthetic activity, nitrogen fixation, studying the formation of dormant stages of cyanobacteria and algae, or studying photochemical processes in different types of biotopes. Laboratory experiments focus on the determination of the ecophysiological requirements of individual species and the detailed study of their reactions to various ecological factors.

  Since 2009, experiments with open top chambers (OTC) have been taking place on Svalbard at several locations, where the effect of mild warming and changes in soil moisture on the communities of cyanobacteria and algae and on the rate of decomposition of selected biotopes is monitored. As a result of increasing temperatures in the Arctic, the use of natural resources in the polar regions and the development of human settlements are developing. To reduce the consequences of human activity on polar ecosystems (e.g. eutrophication of waters) and increase the efficiency of local resource use (e.g. fish farming), a number of new technologies will need to be developed, some of which will be based on the use of native microorganisms. The algal group has already carried out the first tests for the selection of biotechnologically interesting strains and tested the possibility of cultivation at low temperatures.

  The algology group cooperates with a number of workplaces, for example with the institutes of the Biological Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Charles University and the University of Cologne in Germany.

  Team members: Josef Elster, Jana Kvíderová, Eva Hejduková, Oleksandr Bren, Anastasiia Kolomiiets

  

  

  

  

• Polar microbial ecology

  Our group focuses on study of carbon and nitrogen cycles in relation to the composition and functioning of microbial communities and their relationships with other organisms in ecosystems such as tundra, taiga, continental glaciers, lakes.

  The main objective of our group is to:

  • improve estimates of organic carbon in cryosols (soils affected by permafrost) with a focus on the Eurasian Arctic.
  • understand the vulnerability of these carbon stocks in future climate
  • improve existing models to better predict the response of permafrost soils, glacies, lakes to future climate conditions
  • describe the functioning of microbial communities under extreme Arctic conditions

  We are primarily interested in how natural forcing (permafrost thaw) is changing the functioning of these ecosystems, i.e. rates of carbon and nutrient transformation and loss from the ecosystem, species and functional diversity of the soil microbial community, and soil-vegetation relationships.

  Our research focuses primarily on describing microorganisms in terms of both diversity and function. Microbial communities include all three domains of life (bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes), which implies that the study of such a complex system is poses a considerable challenge to scientists. In the last decade, new genetic and molecular biological techniques (PCR, sequencing, etc.) have been increasingly applied to study complex microbial communities. It is these that allow us to better describe the processes and the microorganisms responsible for them in complex terestrial and aquatic environments. Last but not least, they allow us to study the interactions between organisms. These new methods are the focus of our molecular biology laboratory.

  Knowledge of the chemical and microbiological composition of organic matter and the processes by which carbon, nitrogen and nutrients are stabilized is essential to predict the extent and timescale at which SOC will be remobilized from thawing permafrost under climate change.

  We have long-standing collaborations with institutes at the Biological Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and with foreign universities in Helsinki, Hannover, Vienna and Uppsala. These collaborations open up the possibility for our students to travel abroad on a placement at a friendly university.

  Team members: Jiří Bárta, Muhammad Waqas, Marria Dimova, Monika Strejckova, Simona Zelenkova, Annika Schmidinger, Laura Noskova, Jonas Proger, Sára Turková, Marie Šabacká

  

  

  

• Parasitology

  Parasitology and Infection Biology

  1. The study of life cycle of trematodes from the family Opecoelidae occurring in gastropods Buccinium spp.and family Gymnophalidae from bivalves Mya truncata and Hiatella arctica.
  2. Study of other helminths found in fish and selected invertebrate hosts.
  3. Examination of tissues and organs if selected vertebrate and invertebrate hosts with the aim of the histological studies of parasites from the groups Apicomplexa, Myxozoa, Microsporidia, Ciliata and the isolation of amphizoic amoebas.
  4. Mapping of biodiversity of littoral biocenoses
  5. Intestinal parasites of mammals and birds
     Examination of feces using classical coprological methods and molecular analyses. Special attention is paid to parasites of Polar Fox (Vulpes lagopus) and Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus), as well as to parasites of introduced mammals (vole Microtus levis and dog).
  6. Searching for arboviruses and influenza viruses
     Using molecular analyses, the mosquitoes Aedes nigripes (larvae and adult females) and ticks Ixodes uriae are examined for arboviruses. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs as well as droppings of selected species birds are screened for influenza viruses. Antibodies against bird influenza have been already recorded in serum samples of Black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla).

  Team members: Oleg Ditrich

  

  

  

• Zoology

  Ornithology

  Ornithology group focuses mainly on:

  • evolutionary ecology, life histories, global comparative insights
  • climate change and human pressure impacts and adaptations
  • population dynamics, demography, latitudinal gradients
  • predation, predator-prey interactions, parasites
  • migration, behavioral ecology, breeding associations
  • sex roles, mating systems and parental investment
  • camouflage and plumage colouration
  • Important Bird Areas, conservation implications

  When asking important scientific questions, we are often effectively combining independent data at three different levels: i) data directly collected by our team – individual in-depth field studies using a detailed methodology and experimental design; ii) data collected according to unified protocols across an extensive network of 40+ collaborating teams worldwide; iii) data extracted from published and online sources, enabling broad comparative insights.

  Our investigations have several important implications. First, we are identifying key climate change, human pressure, and life-history factors affecting breeding performance and survival rates as well as global population trends of wild animals with the use of recently developed demographic models adopting an explicit phylogenetic framework. Second, the exploration of spatial and temporal changes in life-history traits, population dynamics, and social behavior is enabling us to track historic patterns and recent impacts of climate change and human pressure on wild animals in a rapidly changing world. Third, we do care for the outreach and conservation implications of our research, our scientific outputs are being disseminated among conservationists, policymakers, and the wide public in various countries to promote and advocate new specific conservation applications mitigating the impact of recent environmental changes.

  We look forward working with highly motivated researchers from all over the world. This may include scientists, conservationists, post-docs, students at various levels, interns, and volunteers. Get in touch with us.

  Team members: Vojtěch Kubelka, Guillaume Dillenseger, Miguel Angelo Silva Monteiro, Kateřina Kubelková and Andreas Rimoldi

  

  

Department of Physics

• Publications

• Grants

• Laboratories

Centre for Polar Ecology

Projects

• International projects

  2022 – 2025, Origin of resistance to desiccation and cryoinjuries in biological soil crust microalgae of High Arctic.
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and GAČR.
  22-08680L

  2021 – 2023   The terrestrial Ecology Flagship in Ny-Ålesund: reinforcement and futher development – activities for 2021-2023.
  Norwegian Polar Institute (NO),  Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (NL), Ghent University (BE), University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway (NO), National Institute of Polar Research (JP) National Research Council of Italy (IT), JU (CZ) a Adam Mickiewicz University (PL)
  Svalbard Science Forum – ES610235.

  2021 – 2024  EU-PolarNet 2 Co-ordinating and Co-designing the European Polar Research Area 
  H2020-LC-CLA-2020-1

  2018 - 2022   Sex role evolution: testing the impacts of ecology, demography and genes.
  ÉLVONAL Shorebird Science project

  2015-2027   Nutrient Network Petunia site
  JU (CZ) a Estonian University of Life Sciences (EE)
  (RiS ID 10812)

• National projects

  2023–2027 Animal migrations in a changing world – Movements for reproduction to higher latitudes: still advantageous strategy or maladaptive behaviour?
  University of South Bohemia (CZ)
  GAČR Junior Star 23-07692M
  

  2023–2025 SoWaFUN - Fungal ecology at the soil-water interface
  University of South Bohemia (CZ) and Institute of Soil Biology BC CAS (CZ)
  GAČR 23-06429S

  2022–2025 Glacial ecosystems: from tropics to the poles
  University of South Bohemia (CZ)
  GAČR 22-26348S

  2022-2024 Unique community of ice-bound tardigrades and rotifers in evolutionary, physiological and ecological context
  Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics CAS (CZ), Institute of Soil Biology BC CAS (CZ) and University of South Bohemia (CZ)
  GAČR 22-28778S

• Finished projects

  List of finished international projects

  List of finished national projects