Pristupačnost
Participating CSF project PHOTOCLIM workshop „Meausuring primary production“ 14.-18. 10. 2024
Zrinka Ljubešić has participated in the PHOTOCLIM project workshop that took place place in Split in from 14 to 18 October. The theme of the workshop was the creation of a database of quality-checked in situ primary production time series along with programming tools for handling such data sets.
Participation in the 43rd CIESM (Mediterranean Science Commission) congress, Palermo, Italy
From 13.10. – 18.10.2024. PhD student Antonija Matek and post-doctoral researcher Maja Mucko participated in the 43rd CIESM Congress in Palermo, Italy. Antonija and Maja presented the results of the project ISLAND in the form of two short scientific papers accompanied by poster and oral presentations. Doctoral student Matek had a presentation on the topic "Optical properties of the Adriatic Sea: Light the way to the preservation of coastal island ecosystem", and postdoctoral student Mucko on the topic "Plankton community composition in South Adriatic Sea during summer stratification period".
The congress gathered more than 250 exhibitors and 400 participants from countries around the Mediterranean with interesting topics from various fields: physical and biological oceanography, biology, chemistry and geology of the sea, genomics, protection and management of protected areas. The Congress also held important and interesting panel discussions on the importance of open science, straits and passages in the Mediterranean Sea, protection of marine areas, and research of red coral. The doctoral and postdoctoral students discussed their results with colleagues from other countries, gained important knowledge and experience, and realized future collaborations.
Participation in the Ocean Optics XXVI at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Professor Zrinka Ljubešić and her PhD student Antonija Matek participated in the international symposium Ocean Optics XXVI from 6th to 11th October in Las Palmas de Gran Canara, Spain where they presented posters on findings from the ISLAND project, specifically addressing the drivers of primary production on the island of Lastovo and the application of an inverse numerical model to determine photosynthetic parameters. Professor Ljubešić presented topic titled “Defining drivers of net primary production in a stratified oligotrophic ecosystem impacted by island-trapped waves (Lastovo, Adriatic Sea),” and discussed results recently published in the scientific journal Heliyon, especially with other similar research presented at the symposium. Doctoral student Matek presented her research on “Photosynthetic parameters estimated from in situ primary production profiles using bootstrapping of optical data,” and the exchange of knowledge contributed to a clearer understanding of the topic and further development of her analyses.
The symposium brought together 400 participants from 33 countries, featuring over 50 oral presentations and 285 poster presentations covering the theory and application of optical science in lakes, seas, and oceans, with a particular focus on new products from NASA’s satellite mission Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE). In addition to scientific discussions and new insights, there were many memorable moments reconnecting with old friends, along with social gatherings, entertainment, and dancing, where new connections were formed, paving the way for future collaborations.
From September 26 to 29, 2024, the project team participated in the 5th scientific-expert conference "Climate Change and the Preservation of Marine Ecosystems in the Adriatic Sea," held at the University of Zadar. The conference was organized by the Department of Ecology, Agronomy, and Aquaculture at the University of Zadar, the Marine Educational Center Pula, Aquarium Pula, and the Ruđer Bošković Institute. For five consecutive years, this conference has been held to raise awareness within the wider community about the impact of climate change, combined with other human activities, on the Adriatic Sea, within the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). The aim is to inspire participants to exchange ideas, knowledge, and experiences, fostering collaboration on existing projects and the initiation of new multi- and interdisciplinary projects, while sharing knowledge with the broader community, especially with local and national governance bodies.
During the conference, project leader Dr. Zrinka Ljubešić gave a lecture titled " Recognizing the importance and proposal for additional protection of the area under the influence of island trapped waves – Lastovsko otočje Nature Park" In her presentation, she highlighted key project results that emphasize the importance of declaring the area as a "No Take" zone. The project team also had the opportunity to visit the newly designed facilities at the University of Zadar, dedicated to the cultivation of microalgae for biotechnological research and utilization. The team continued its successful collaborations and even initiated potential new agreements for future partnerships. A project meeting was held on September 28, with collaborators from Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and Zagreb in attendance.
From September 23 to 27, 2024, postdoctoral researcher Dr. Maja Mucko participated in the week-long online school "Metagenomics Bioinformatics at MGnify 2024", organized by the EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute. The school hosted 20 participants from various scientific research groups worldwide. It covered topics such as the processing and analysis of short and long-read sequencing across entire genomes using the "shotgun" method: quality control (QC), metagenome assembly, sequence or contig clustering, genome binning, data storage (European Nucleotide Archive, ENA), and statistical post-analysis of microbiomes using the R platform's "Orchestrating Microbiome Analysis – OMA" package MIA, R. The school also featured numerous networking activities among participants, including a mini symposium with poster presentations and other interactive games.
From 13.-14. September 2024, in the organization of the Jelsa Art Biennale in cooperation with the Anatomy of Island, Institute of Ethnology and Folklore and Faculty of Science University of Zagreb and, a workshop "Making invisible visible" was held in Jelsa for high school students, project participants and the general public. The activities took place within the EU project Co-Vision, in which partners from 11 EU countries participate.
https://deskkultura.hr/hr/projekti/2021-2027/europski-projekti-suradnje-veci/co-vision
As part of the workshop, Zrinka Ljubešić held a lecture "Phytoplankton and island trapped waves", and held hands on workshop for students. Students were microscoping algae, making microphographs and learned from arstists how to further processed these photos. A new collaboration has started and the ISLAND project will be an inspiration for artists to prepare for the Jelsa Art Biennale.
A workshop „Analysis of continuous measurements in biological oceanography“ was held under ISLAND project IP-2020-02-9524 on 14th June 2024 in Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb.
It was the first time such one-day program was held for Croatian students, professors, and scientists. The lecture topics included the theory of time-series analysis, aliasing and its implications for field sampling campaigns, and a practical session that covered an introduction to the R programming language and its application in analyzing time-series light intensity data acquired during the project's field experiments and field campaign organized by Biology Students Association – BIUS.
We are very happy with the feedback from participants and hope to repeat it and introduce the topic into the undergraduate program of Biology at the Faculty of Science in Zagreb.
A Training Event on In situ Ocean Colour Above-Water Radiometry towards Satellite Validation in CNR-ISMAR and Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower in Venice, Italy.
PhD student Antonija Matek attended the FICE (Field Inter-comparison Calibration Exercise) workshop on In Situ Ocean Colour Above-Water Radiometry towards Satellite Validation, held at CNR-ISMAR, Venice, Italy, from May 6th to 17th, 2024. The workshop was part of the FRM4SOC (Fiducial Reference Measurements for Satellite Ocean Colour) project funded by EUMETSAT.
The training event comprised three blocks:
- Block 1 featured lectures on radiometry, specifically above-water radiometry, with a smaller focus on on-water and underwater radiometry. The lectures were delivered by experts with long careers in the field, providing essential information on performing fiducial reference measurements with radiometry instruments. Topics included calibration and characterization of ocean colour radiometers, in situ measurement procedures, different methods of radiometry measurements, training on the Copernicus OCDB (Ocean Colour Data Base), etc.
- Block 2 involved fieldwork on the Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower. This hands-on experience allowed Antonija to work with above-water instruments on the platform, specifically TriOS. She gained an understanding of the main principles of working with instruments in the field and the importance of qualitative characterization of external conditions (sky and sea conditions, air temperature, instrument ambient temperature, etc). She learned the importance of adjusting the instrument to the correct angle towards the sun and positioning it properly in relation to the platform, buoy, or boat.
- Block 3 introduced HyperCP and ThoMas. HyperCP (Hyperspectral In Situ Support for PACE Community Processor) is designed with purpose of standardized processing of above-water ocean colour radiometry dana within ocean colour community. During the workshop, Antonija learned how to process data acquired during the fieldwork. She also learned to use ThoMas (the Tool to generate Matchups of OC products with Sentinel-3/OLCI) and implemented the procedure to match in situ chlorophyll a data obtained during the ISLAND project fieldwork.
This course provided both theoretical and practical experience, but communication and networking with the ocean colour community helped Antonija to delve deep into the field. Each working day ended with engaging conversations over evening drinks, and the immersion in the community left a significant impact on her during the two-week program.
Participation on SRCE-DEI2024
The annual conference SRCE Days of e-Infrastructure 2024 was held from 16-19 April in the Rectorate of the University of Zagreb and at the University Computing Center. Meeting brought together professors, assistants, professional staff and employees in the science and higher education.
Our collaborator on the project, Maja Mucko, Ph.D., was a lecturer in the thematic block "Supercomputers in research and teaching: How can SRCE help you?", and she presented examples from the practice of the workshops she previously held at the University of Zagreb and the University of Sarajevo in cooperation with SRCE, using the high performance computing services. The lecture "Unix in education for biologists: practical examples" is available on the conference website. Previously held workshops presented in the lecture disseminated the Croatian Science Foundation projects "AmphiAdriPlant" (UIP-2017-05-2882), "Island" (IP-2020-02-9524) and the COST action "Ocean4Biotech" (CA18238).
During third day of the Conference, Maja Mucko, Ph.D., also held a 180-minute workshop "NGS data processing with the QIIME2 software package: examples from practice". A total of 10 participants of the workshop from various institutions (University of Zagreb, Institute of Sea and Coasts of the University of Dubrovnik and Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split) learned to use the QIIME2 software package in the processing of NGS data provided by the TurtleBIOME project (Caretta caretta endozoic and spizoic microbiome). The workshop was interactive, dynamic and fully based on SRCE high performance computing resources, with technical support from e-scientists, mag. Marko Hrženjak.
15. European Diatom Meeting
Maja Mucko, Ph.D., presented the results of the project at the international conference 15th European Diatom Meeting, held in Ohrid, North Macedonia from 7-9. May 2024. The results of the project included the diversity of diatoms during the research in July 2022, and were presented in a poster presentation. The poster is available in the project repository - Mucko-15EDM.
Workshop POLYP BioInfoW: Ocean4Biotech
Organisms Repository - From habitat through species identification to natural product discovery
Professor Zrinka Ljubešić, Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellow Maja Mucko, Ph.D. participated in the two-day COST action CA 18238 "Ocean4Biotech" workshop held in the premises of the Holiday Hotel and the University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on January 17 and 18, 2024.
During the first day of the workshop, Prof. Zrinka Ljubešić held an invited lecture entitled "Representative sampling for biodiscovery: sampling design and methodology", while Maja Mucko held an invited lecture entitled "Introduction to bioinformatics: from experimental design to pretty plots".
During the second day of the workshop, Maja Mucko led a practical workshop for students and members of the COST action in the computer laboratory of the Mathematical Department, Faculty of Science, Sarajevo. Participants were working on adjusted data from the ISLAND IP-2020-02-9524 and AmphiAdriPlant UIP-2017-05-2882 projects, on which Maja Mucko works as an associate. The workshop was fully supported by the University Computing Center "SRCE", which provided a virtual server and modules for bioinformatics analyses.
Public lecture at Dubrovnik Natural History Museum, 22nd November 2023
Natural History Museum Dubrovnik and Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (ICMR), University of Dubrovnik organized a lecture on the topic: „Recent research on plankton at the Adriatic Sea“. Projects currently done in the Adriatic Sea were introduced: ISLAND project (Prof. Zrinka Ljubešić, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb), DIVMAD project (Mirna Batistić, PhD, ICMR), and SPATEGEN project (Rade Garić, PhD, ICMR). ISLAND project preliminary results were delivered by PhD student Antonija Matek in a lecture „Primary production in the Adriatic Sea“. Results of other projects were presented as well, followed by a discussion on challenges the scientific community encounters while doing marine research, and specifically emphasizing the importance of connection and collaboration between institutions implementing research on marine plankton communities in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea.
Project Meeting at the Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 25th October 2023
The project meeting organized by Prof. Zrinka Ljubešić on 25th October 2023, was held with the ISLAND project collaborators from the Faculties of Science at the University of Zagreb and the University of Split, and the University of Santa Cruz California. Project activities were presented and goals for future workflow were set. Preliminary results analysis on the light intensity that was discussed, corrected, and the next steps were defined.
Before the meeting Jasen Jacobsen had a seminar entitle: „Baroclinic Drivers of Marine Productivity Compared in Two Case Studies: Internal Tides and Island Trapped Waves“
New equipment for molecular research
We have acquired new equipment for our Laboratory for algology for environmental DNA research. For more than 10 years, we have been working intensively on this type of research, but as guests in the laboratories of our colleagues at the Biology Department of the Faculty of Science and at the Ruđer Bošković Institute. So far, we have published around 50 papers and under our mentorship four doctorates were defended in which we extended our classic taxonomic research to genetics with over 15 newly described species and founded the Croatian National Collection of Diatoms. Although we are not currently in our premises (until we return after the reconstruction from the earthquake), we have our Laboratory for algology and environmental DNA research! Many thanks to the colleagues whose guests we have been so far and we will be happy to return the favour!
Until we return to Roosevelt trg, you can find us at Horvatovac 🙂
Invited lecture at CBIOMES e-meeting
Zrinka Ljubešić held invited lecture entitled „Net primary production and plankton community response to internal-wave forcing in a stratified oligotrophic system“ at the CBIOMES e-meeting.
The e-DNA Collaborative Microgrant Meet-Up
Maja Mucko, PhD, microgrant fellow of Physalia Courses in collaboration with The eDNA Collaborative, presented project results at the Microgrant Meet-Up on 13th September
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Presentations on international symposium InspireAdriatic2023
Results of the ISLAND project were presented at the symposium InspireAdriatic2023 https://inspireadriatic2023.irb.hr/
Invited lectures:
Mihanović, H. : Measurements in physical oceanography, an important aspect of interdisciplinary marine research
Ljubešić, Z.: Chasing the Holy Grail – representative marine plankton sample – myth or truth?
Oral presentations:
Mucko et al. : Fine-scale changes in plankton community in oligotrophic stratified waters of Lastovo Island (Adriatic Sea) during ITW forcings
Jacobsen J.: Ecosystem response to island trapped waves around the island of Lastovo in an idealized numerical model
MEETING at the Faculty of Science, University of Split
On September 6 and 7, 2023, meetings, organized by Assoc. Ph.D. Žarka Kovača, were held whith ISLAND project collaborators and colleagues from the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, University of Santa Cruz California and University of Rijeka. All previous project activities were presented, PhD student presented the topic of her PhD, and we had an excellent discussion and agreement about the current work, next steps and collaboration.
FIELDTRIP 2023
2. – 23. July 2023.
Measurements on Station Struga (S1) nad S0 (ADCP and experiment position)
measurements during two ITW phenomena
85 CTD casts
three in situ incubation net primary production experiments
as support data during the incubation experiments Chla, nutrient and net phytoplankton samples were collected
in the time of the Sentinel overpasses – radiometry measurements (SVC)
in situ community production measurements (PIGI system)
hyperspectral measurements of the water column with hyperpro
moored PAR measurements
On Friday, March 3, 2023, Zrinka Ljubešić held an invited lecture as part of the Faculty Seminars of the Faculty of Science, University of Split - where she has presented the project.
https://www.pmfst.unist.hr/64-fakultetski-seminar-prirodoslovno-matematickog-fakulteta-fizika-okolisa/
Project workshop Bio-physical Interactions in the Adriatic Sea – presentation of ongoing CSF projects
On February 7 and 8, 2023, in the organization of five projects financed by the Croatian Science Foundation, the project workshop "Bio-physical Interactions in the Adriatic Sea - presentation of ongoing CSF projects“ was held in Dubrovnik. Five ongoing and one submitted project were presented. The projects are involved in the research of: upwelling and downwelling processes in Central Adriatic (PI Mirko Orlić, PMF, University of Zagreb), daily vertical migration of zooplankton in the southern Adriatic (PI Mirna Batistić, Institute for Sea and Coasts, University of Dubrovnik) , the genetic diversity of zooplankton in the Adriatic (PI Rade Garić, Institute for the Sea and Coasts of the University of Dubrovnik), the molecular life of phytoplankton (PI Daniela Marić Pfannkuchen, CIM Rovinj Institute Ruđer Bošković), the oceanographic phenomenon of island trapped waves and its impact on primary production (PI Zrinka Ljubešić, University of Zagreb and the sensitivity of primary production due to climate change (PI Žarko Kovač, University in Split).
A round table was organized and the topics of Changes in the Adriatic Sea ecosystem and Challenges of field research - optimization of methodology were discussed. Total of 9 invited lectures were held. The workshop attended total of 50 participants from Department of Geophysics and Biology of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries Split, Institute of Marine and Coastal Research of the University of Dubrovnik, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale from Trieste, Society of Marine Researchers - 20000 miles, CIM Rovinj of the Ruđer Bošković Institute, Faculty of Physics, University of Rijeka and Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka.
The list of participants and program of the workshop can be found here.
Fieldtrip III 2022
participation on the symposium: 10th ANATOMY OF ISLANDS CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURES OF ISLANDS
Lastovo 26. -28. September 2022
Fieldtrip on Stations: Struga, Maslovnjak i Prižba
Recovery/deployment of temperature loggers
Benthos photographed
ADCP recovery
Fieldtrip II 2022
8. - 27. July 2022.
Working on Station Struga
sampling during two ITW phenomena
69 CTD casts
total of 177 phytoplankton, nutrient, bacteria and Chl a samples
total of 88 zooplankton net samples
sea water filtrated for NGS analyses during, before and after ITW phenomena generation
live samples of dominant zooplankton species collected for their gut analyses
tested Wire Walker
in situ with PAR, nitrates and oxygen sensors
PARTICIPATION ON INTRENATIONAL CONGRESS
13. – 18. June 2022. oral presentation on „18th Islands of the World conference ISLANDS: NATURE AND CULTURE“ in Zadar:
Z. Ljubešić, H. Mihanović, M. Orlić, D. Viličić, H. Čižmek, B. Čolić, D. Lučić, R. Garić: Observing Island-Trapped Waves Around Lastovo Island, Adriatic Sea
Presentation: Ljubešić ISISA
FIELD TRIP I 2022.
5. – 12. June 2022.
Working on Stations Struga, Maslovnjak and Prižba
Recovery/deployment of temperature loggers
in situ NPP measurement
Benthos photographed
ADCP deployment
9 CTD casts
14. - 18. February 2022. participation with poster presentation on on workshop „Ocean Carbon from Space 2022“ (https://oceancarbonfromspace2022.esa.int/agenda/):
Z. Ljubešić, Ž. Kovač, M., Orlić, H. Mihanović , D. Lučić , H. Čižmek , B. Čolić, D. Viličić „Island trapped waves (ITWs) as a driver of primary production at Lastovo island (Adriatic Sea)“
Presentation: Ljubešić ESA
Project meeting
16. October 2021. Project meeting and public seminar assoc. prof. Žarko Kovač „Fragility of primary production“ Project meeting was in hybrid mode on Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb ad via Microsoft Teams. Project results achieved so far were presented and we agreed on new sampling design for the next grant period.
Fieldtrip III
22. September – 3. October 2021.
22.-24. September 2021. CTD Probe tested on Prokljan lake, new calibration files integrated in the program
26.-29. September 2021. Participation on symposium 9. Anatomy of Islands with invited lecture „Lastovo Island -unique oceanographic phenomena“
26. September – 2. October 2021. Sampling campaigns at Lastovo and Korčula archipelago – temperature dana loggers recovered, new mounted, oximeter tested, CTD profiles measured, ADCO recovered, benthos photographed
Fieldtrip II
11.- 23. July 2021
Total of 59 water samples (phytoplankton, bacterioplankton, nutrients, NGS, Chla) collected; 52 zooplankton nets samples, 71 CTD casts
Fieldtrip1
1. – 6. June 2021.
Temperature loggers mounted on the cliffs, CTD measurements done, benthos photographed
Kick off meeting was held on 15 - 16 February 2021 at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb and via the Microsoft Teams application.
Collaborators had the opportunity to meet, partly live and partly through Microsoft Teams. We agreed on activities for the first project period, decided on sampling design and analysis methods, as well as the laboratories and RV set up,. Due to the current epidemiological situation, and the uncertainty of the next few months, two separate plans have been agreed. One plan when we all can participate on the field trip as it was originaly planned and the other where only croatian team will be able to work on the field due to the travel ban.
