Doctorate (Ph.D.), Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 2012; basic studies (M.Sc., B.Sc.), Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 2007. Since 2011, he has been employed at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National institute of the Republic of Serbia. He works on evolutionary morphology, primarily the evolution of the cranial and postcranial skeleton of amphibians, reptiles and large Pleistocene herbivores. Another direction of his research is related to studies of faunistics, biodiversity and conservation biology. So far, he has participated in basic research projects financed by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia. In addition, he participated in several national and international projects and collaborated with researchers outside the main project, including numerous international collaborations. He has authored chapters in the Red Books of Fauna of Serbia I and II (Amphibians and Reptiles). He was employed as an expert on the projects of the Ecological Network of the Republic of Serbia. He participated in teaching at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Belgrade, for the subjects Morphometrics and the Special Course of Faunistics. He was a co-mentor for two doctoral theses. By introducing new methodological approaches, he contributed to the development of both evolutionary morphology and paleontology, while his work on faunistics and biogeography greatly improved knowledge of the distribution and diversity of amphibians and reptiles in Serbia.
Ana Kijanović was born in Belgrade in 1994, where she completed primary and secondary school. After that, in 2013, she enrolled General Biology at the Faculty of Biology in Belgrade, which she completed in 2017. She finished her master's studies in 2018. During her master's studies, she worked as a biology teacher for 4 months at the "Knez Sima Marković" Elementary School in Barajevo. She enrolled in doctoral studies at the Faculty of Biology in Belgrade in 2018, at Zoology Department. Since March 2019, she has been employed at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković". Currently, she holds the position of research associate in the Department of Evolutionary Biology. The majority of her thesis encompasses research on amphibians, particularly focusing on their ability to adapt to climate change and the consequences of climate change on their life-history and morphological traits. In her thesis, Ana investigates the effects of habitat drying on the life-history, morphological, and physiological traits of yellow-bellied toads through various desiccation experiments.
Aquatic ecology studies the ecosystems in aquatic environments including seas, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands. It examines the interaction between the physical, chemical, and biological components of aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic ecologists are also interested in human interactions with the environment, and the impact of human activity on aquatic ecosystems.
Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. It encompasses diversity at the genetic, taxonomic and ecosystem levels. Biodiversity is important in both natural and artificial ecosystems. Today, biodiversity is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable resource use, invasive species, pollution and global climate change.
Behavioural biology studies animal behaviour at a systemic level by integrating behavioural, ecological, physiological, and molecular approaches to describe how different behavioral elements have been shaped through evolution.
Biomonitoring is the process of systematically observing, measuring, and analysing the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and genetic responses of living organisms to environmental changes, thus providing qualitative or quantitative information on the state of the environment. It includes the use of various bioindicators, biomonitors, bioaccumulators, and biomarkers.
Eco-Evo-Devo combines ecology, evolutionary theory and developmental biology. Within the Eco-Evo-Devo, the influence of environmental signals (biotic and abiotic) on the structure and dynamics of populations, the formation of new phenotypes during the developmental process, and their evolution is studied on different taxa of plants, animals and fungi.
Ecophysiology studies the physiological processes in living beings that are a response to changes in the external environment and that are fundamental to understanding the mechanisms and interactions that underlie the adaptive strategies of organisms. The effect of climate change, the presence of various pollutants, the availability of nutrients, and habitat degradation are some of those influences that are studied.
The evolution of life history traits explains how evolutionary mechanisms (primarily natural selection) optimize the survival and reproduction of organisms under specific environmental conditions. Life history traits form the basis of an organism's adaptive value and include: developmental time, size, number, size and sex of offspring, survival rate at different life stages, longevity; etc. At the Institute, the evolution of life histories is studied in natural and laboratory populations.
Functional ecology focuses on the understanding of various biological phenomena (functions) at different levels of organization from organisms to ecosystems, thus enabling the understanding of the existence of certain patterns in nature. It identifies and studies the processes and/or activities that keep an organism or entire ecosystem functioning.
Climate change is an all-encompassing and growing global threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. It directly leads to phenological, physiological, morphological, and ethological changes, the spread of invasive species, and a decrease in the number of native species and their extinction. Changed climatic conditions affect habitat quality, resulting in changes in the distribution of species and communities. In order to mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment, it is necessary to predict and understand their impact on the living world.
Conservation biology aims to conserve biodiversity on Earth and is concerned with the long-term sustainability of ecosystems. With an interdisciplinary approach, conservation biology addresses conservation problems at the level of species, communities, and ecosystems that are directly or indirectly disturbed by human activities or other impacts.
Urban ecology focuses on studying fundamental ecological concepts within urban areas. It examines how ecological patterns, relations and processes differ in urban environments compared to non-urban environments, and investigates the impact of urbanisation on the ecology of organisms. Additionally, urban ecology examines the relationships and interactions between ecological and social systems within urban ecosystems that are made exclusively by anthropogenic activity.
Environmental protection comprises reduction or prevention of pollution, negative impacts on the environment, damage caused to ecosystems or natural resources caused by human activities.
Natalija Radulović was born on September 2, 1995. in Belgrade. She graduated from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Belgrade in Landscape architecture in 2019. She completed her MSc in Forestry in 2020, at the same faculty, by defending her master's thesis „Variability of mother trees and half-sib lines (Quercus pubescens Willd.) from the area of Košutnjak“. In the same year, she enrolled in PhD program at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade (study program Forestry: Forest Ecology, Protection and Improvement of the Environment). Since 2021, she has been employed in the Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković “, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade (IBISS). She was appointed as a Research Assistant since Јuly of 2023. Currently, her research is focused on the ecophysiological responses of plants as a response to the effects of pollutants in habitats within urban and industrial zones. She is a member of the Serbian Biological Society.
Biomonitoring is the process of systematically observing, measuring, and analysing the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and genetic responses of living organisms to environmental changes, thus providing qualitative or quantitative information on the state of the environment. It includes the use of various bioindicators, biomonitors, bioaccumulators, and biomarkers.
Bioremediation is the process in which living organisms (mainly plants, microorganisms, or plant and microbial enzymes) are used to reduce, degrade or detoxify contaminants, pollutants, and toxins in soil, water, and other elements of the environment.
Ecophysiology studies the physiological processes in living beings that are a response to changes in the external environment and that are fundamental to understanding the mechanisms and interactions that underlie the adaptive strategies of organisms. The effect of climate change, the presence of various pollutants, the availability of nutrients, and habitat degradation are some of those influences that are studied.
Climate change is an all-encompassing and growing global threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. It directly leads to phenological, physiological, morphological, and ethological changes, the spread of invasive species, and a decrease in the number of native species and their extinction. Changed climatic conditions affect habitat quality, resulting in changes in the distribution of species and communities. In order to mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment, it is necessary to predict and understand their impact on the living world.
Terrestrial ecology studies relationships between organisms and ecological communities (biocenoses) on the one hand and external environmental conditions on the other. It also investigates the interaction between living beings on land. This research provides a conceptual basis for understanding processes in terrestrial ecosystems and their sensitivity to environmental and biotic changes.
Urban ecology focuses on studying fundamental ecological concepts within urban areas. It examines how ecological patterns, relations and processes differ in urban environments compared to non-urban environments, and investigates the impact of urbanisation on the ecology of organisms. Additionally, urban ecology examines the relationships and interactions between ecological and social systems within urban ecosystems that are made exclusively by anthropogenic activity.
Environmental protection comprises reduction or prevention of pollution, negative impacts on the environment, damage caused to ecosystems or natural resources caused by human activities.
Dusanka Popovic graduated from the Faculty of Biology in 2009 at the Biology study program. She enrolled in doctoral studies in the academic year 2013/2014 in study program Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. She began her research journey at the Institute for Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE) in the Laboratory for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interactions. Since 2019 she has been employed at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia.
Scientific research area of Dusanka Popovic include examining the bacterial microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and skin in order to understand the role of commensals in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Investigating the mechanisms of bidirectional communication between the lungs and gut in the state of intestinal dysbiosis and lung inflammation caused by the fungus A. fumigatus. She also works on the identification and characterization of probiotic potential of natural isolates of lactic acid bacteria (LAB).
Dusanka Popovic participated in the implementation of several projects at the IMGGE in the Laboratory for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interactions: "Development of a technological process for the production of an innovative probiotic product for the prevention and treatment of intestinal infections in animals" (50075), financed by the Innovation Fund, Republic of Serbia, the project "Development of an innovative probiotic fermented product based on natural isolates of lactic acid bacteria for the treatment of dogs and cats with diabetes" (391-00-16 / 2016-16 / 19), financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, now the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, and the project "Strengthening the Research Potential of IMGGE through Reinforcement of Biomedical Science of Rare Diseases in Serbia – en route for innovation - SERBORDISinn" (EU -FP7-REGPOT, 316088, 2013-2016). She also participated in the project "Immunomodulatory effects of xenobiotics and biotic environmental factors on populations of mouse-like rodents" (173039), realized at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", financed by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia.
She is a member of the Immunological Society of Serbia and the Serbian Biological Society.
Ecotoxicology studeies the toxic effects of chemicals on the environment. The effects are studied at the level of molecules, cells, tissues, organs, individual organisms, populations or ecosystems.
Inflammation is a response to damage and danger in organisms and is an integral part of research in immunology, but also in other scientific disciplines, since inflammation occurs in numerous pathological conditions like diabetes or cancer. Immunology studies body’s defence mechanisms at cellular and molecular level in infective diseases, as well as immune system malfunctions in autoimmune diseases and allergies Modification of body’s immune system is useful in treatment of these diseases, and can be performed through pharmacological modulation or immunotherapy, where immune cells or their parts are used. Acute-phase proteins and potential biological markers of inflammation involved in the modification and integration of signalling pathways are being investigated in order to predict and intervene in diseases.
Microbiology studies the structure, function, genetics, and ecology of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Within the Institute, important areas of microbiological research include medical microbiology, environmental microbiology and industrial microbiology.
She received her PhD in Biology from the University of Belgrade in 2008. Her research interests are broad and include many aspects of plant ecology and ecophysiology in different environments as well as ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation. She has participated in a number of national and international projects, gaining experience ranging from fundamental understanding of physiological processes to synthesizing ecological determinants crucial for maintaining ecosystem resilience. Her current research focuses on analyzing plant traits and quantifying plant structure-function relationships by studying different plant species and functional types in various ecological settings, with the aim of identifying key traits relevant to plant response to multiple climate-environment changes across biomes. She was awarded a postgraduate scholarship for talented students by the Ministry of Education and Science. As a researcher, she was awarded a prestigious N. E. Borlaug Scholarship as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA (topic: Monitoring and Modeling of Plant Growth and Productivity) and an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Life Sciences and Natural Resources, Vienna, Austria (course: Soil and Plant Ecology). She is MC member and member of working groups of several COST Actions, where she contributes to interdisciplinary networking on a pan-European level. She is a long-time collaborator of the Regional Center for Talents and a member of the Regional Biology Committee. She is also a collaborator of the Center for Science Promotion and works on developing methods to educate target groups and the general public about ecology and climate change.
Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. It encompasses diversity at the genetic, taxonomic and ecosystem levels. Biodiversity is important in both natural and artificial ecosystems. Today, biodiversity is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable resource use, invasive species, pollution and global climate change.
Invasion biology studies introduced invasive species and their impact on the diversity, structure, dynamics, and functioning of the ecosystems they inhabit. Invasive species are considered one of the most significant factors that lead to a reduction in biodiversity.
Ethnobotany deals with research into specific aspects of the cultural and biological heritage of a particular region and includes research into the ways in which native plants are used in traditional and veterinary medicine, nutrition, and the production of various local products. This research contributes to the protection of biodiversity, sustainable development, and the efficient management of resources.
Ecophysiology studies the physiological processes in living beings that are a response to changes in the external environment and that are fundamental to understanding the mechanisms and interactions that underlie the adaptive strategies of organisms. The effect of climate change, the presence of various pollutants, the availability of nutrients, and habitat degradation are some of those influences that are studied.
Functional ecology focuses on the understanding of various biological phenomena (functions) at different levels of organization from organisms to ecosystems, thus enabling the understanding of the existence of certain patterns in nature. It identifies and studies the processes and/or activities that keep an organism or entire ecosystem functioning.
Climate change is an all-encompassing and growing global threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. It directly leads to phenological, physiological, morphological, and ethological changes, the spread of invasive species, and a decrease in the number of native species and their extinction. Changed climatic conditions affect habitat quality, resulting in changes in the distribution of species and communities. In order to mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment, it is necessary to predict and understand their impact on the living world.
Conservation biology aims to conserve biodiversity on Earth and is concerned with the long-term sustainability of ecosystems. With an interdisciplinary approach, conservation biology addresses conservation problems at the level of species, communities, and ecosystems that are directly or indirectly disturbed by human activities or other impacts.
Natural products are complex chemical compounds synthesised by living organisms through biochemical processes, with a specific physiological or ecological function. Researchers at the Institute study the chemical characterization and isolation of natural products, metabolic engineering, as well as the assessment of the possibility of their application in industry (as medicaments, dietary supplements and functional food, biopesticides).
Terrestrial ecology studies relationships between organisms and ecological communities (biocenoses) on the one hand and external environmental conditions on the other. It also investigates the interaction between living beings on land. This research provides a conceptual basis for understanding processes in terrestrial ecosystems and their sensitivity to environmental and biotic changes.
Urban ecology focuses on studying fundamental ecological concepts within urban areas. It examines how ecological patterns, relations and processes differ in urban environments compared to non-urban environments, and investigates the impact of urbanisation on the ecology of organisms. Additionally, urban ecology examines the relationships and interactions between ecological and social systems within urban ecosystems that are made exclusively by anthropogenic activity.
Environmental protection comprises reduction or prevention of pollution, negative impacts on the environment, damage caused to ecosystems or natural resources caused by human activities.
Zorana Miletić, Ph.D. born on February 28, 1990, in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia.
She defended her doctoral thesis entitled "Content of potentially toxic elements in selected wood species as bioindicators of pollution in the coastal zone of the Sava River" in 2021 at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade.
Employed at the Department of Ecology since March 2015.
Dr. Zorana Miletić's primary research focus is ecotoxicology and ecophysiology of plants. As part of this research, Zorana Miletić has contributed significantly to the assessment of the potential of autochthonous and allochthonous invasive plant species for bioindication and phytoremediation of soils contaminated with potentially toxic elements, including heavy metals. By participating in national and international projects, she gained valuable knowledge on solving various environmental problems in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in our country and abroad. Through her floristic and phytocenological research, Dr. Zorana Miletić made an important contribution to the understanding of the pathways and mechanisms of invasion of non-native plant species. In the field of ethnobotany, an important botanical discipline, Zorana Miletić documented and described the diversity of medicinal plants and established a connection between the types of their use in different areas of the Balkan Peninsula and especially on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.
She has been a member of the Serbian Biological Society since 2015.
For the results of her doctoral thesis, Dr. Zorana Miletić was awarded the Danubius Young Scientist Award in 2022. This prize was awarded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM).
Ethnobotany deals with research into specific aspects of the cultural and biological heritage of a particular region and includes research into the ways in which native plants are used in traditional and veterinary medicine, nutrition, and the production of various local products. This research contributes to the protection of biodiversity, sustainable development, and the efficient management of resources.
Ecophysiology studies the physiological processes in living beings that are a response to changes in the external environment and that are fundamental to understanding the mechanisms and interactions that underlie the adaptive strategies of organisms. The effect of climate change, the presence of various pollutants, the availability of nutrients, and habitat degradation are some of those influences that are studied.
Urban ecology focuses on studying fundamental ecological concepts within urban areas. It examines how ecological patterns, relations and processes differ in urban environments compared to non-urban environments, and investigates the impact of urbanisation on the ecology of organisms. Additionally, urban ecology examines the relationships and interactions between ecological and social systems within urban ecosystems that are made exclusively by anthropogenic activity.
Environmental protection comprises reduction or prevention of pollution, negative impacts on the environment, damage caused to ecosystems or natural resources caused by human activities.
Dr. Vera Vidaković obtained her undergraduate and doctoral degrees at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade. She completed her PhD at the Department of Ecology at IBISS and has been working there since 2011. Her research interests include the conservation of biodiversity in nature, sustainable development of society and the use of chemical and biochemical methods to study biodiversity. Dr. Vera Vidaković’s research focuses on investigating the chemodiversity of plants. In particular, she studies the variability of specialized metabolites in populations of plant species from natural habitats as indicators of ecological adaptations. Her research underlines the importance of chemodiversity studies for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem functioning, mitigating the effects of climate change, ensuring food and water safety.
Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. It encompasses diversity at the genetic, taxonomic and ecosystem levels. Biodiversity is important in both natural and artificial ecosystems. Today, biodiversity is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable resource use, invasive species, pollution and global climate change.
Ecophysiology studies the physiological processes in living beings that are a response to changes in the external environment and that are fundamental to understanding the mechanisms and interactions that underlie the adaptive strategies of organisms. The effect of climate change, the presence of various pollutants, the availability of nutrients, and habitat degradation are some of those influences that are studied.
Veljko Perović was born in Belgrade, on October 10, 1973, where he completed primary and secondary school and the Faculty of Agriculture (University of Belgrade). In 2015, he defended his doctoral thesis "Assessment of soil erosion potential by application of USLE and PESERA models on the territory of Prvonek catchment" at the Faculty of Forestry (University of Belgrade), under the mentorship of Ph.D. Ratko Kadović. Since 2004 he worked at the Institute of Soil Science in Belgrade and since 2017 he has been working at the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković". Veljko Perović has authored a number of articles in peer reviewed journals and participated in several national and international scientific projects. His research interests lie primarily in the field of soil/land degradation. He was the project leader in 6, and the member in the realization of 25 scientific projects and studies.
Environmental protection comprises reduction or prevention of pollution, negative impacts on the environment, damage caused to ecosystems or natural resources caused by human activities.
Environmental protection comprises reduction or prevention of pollution, negative impacts on the environment, damage caused to ecosystems or natural resources caused by human activities.
Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. It encompasses diversity at the genetic, taxonomic and ecosystem levels. Biodiversity is important in both natural and artificial ecosystems. Today, biodiversity is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable resource use, invasive species, pollution and global climate change.
Biomonitoring is the process of systematically observing, measuring, and analysing the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and genetic responses of living organisms to environmental changes, thus providing qualitative or quantitative information on the state of the environment. It includes the use of various bioindicators, biomonitors, bioaccumulators, and biomarkers.
Bioremediation is the process in which living organisms (mainly plants, microorganisms, or plant and microbial enzymes) are used to reduce, degrade or detoxify contaminants, pollutants, and toxins in soil, water, and other elements of the environment.
Ecophysiology studies the physiological processes in living beings that are a response to changes in the external environment and that are fundamental to understanding the mechanisms and interactions that underlie the adaptive strategies of organisms. The effect of climate change, the presence of various pollutants, the availability of nutrients, and habitat degradation are some of those influences that are studied.
Ecotoxicology studeies the toxic effects of chemicals on the environment. The effects are studied at the level of molecules, cells, tissues, organs, individual organisms, populations or ecosystems.
Functional ecology focuses on the understanding of various biological phenomena (functions) at different levels of organization from organisms to ecosystems, thus enabling the understanding of the existence of certain patterns in nature. It identifies and studies the processes and/or activities that keep an organism or entire ecosystem functioning.
Climate change is an all-encompassing and growing global threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. It directly leads to phenological, physiological, morphological, and ethological changes, the spread of invasive species, and a decrease in the number of native species and their extinction. Changed climatic conditions affect habitat quality, resulting in changes in the distribution of species and communities. In order to mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment, it is necessary to predict and understand their impact on the living world.
Terrestrial ecology studies relationships between organisms and ecological communities (biocenoses) on the one hand and external environmental conditions on the other. It also investigates the interaction between living beings on land. This research provides a conceptual basis for understanding processes in terrestrial ecosystems and their sensitivity to environmental and biotic changes.
Urban ecology focuses on studying fundamental ecological concepts within urban areas. It examines how ecological patterns, relations and processes differ in urban environments compared to non-urban environments, and investigates the impact of urbanisation on the ecology of organisms. Additionally, urban ecology examines the relationships and interactions between ecological and social systems within urban ecosystems that are made exclusively by anthropogenic activity.
Environmental protection comprises reduction or prevention of pollution, negative impacts on the environment, damage caused to ecosystems or natural resources caused by human activities.
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Email: ibiss@ibiss.bg.ac.rs
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Serbia
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