Daugavpils University

Institute of Systematic Biology

Contacts:

13 – 229 Vienības Street
Daugavpils LV-5401, Latvia
Phone: +371 65426719
E-mail: info@biology.lv
Homepage: www.biology.lv

Institute of Systematic Biology (ISB) was founded in 2005. The main aim of ISB is to carry out scientific research in the field of systematic biology (entomology, zoology and botany), ecology, genetics, biotechnology and parasitology. ISB research centers and labs:

• Centre of Coleopterological Research
• Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Evolution
• Laboratory of Parasitology and Histology
• Laboratory of Biotechnology
• Laboratory of Systematic Botany
• Laboratory of Systematic Zoology
• Group of Project Management and Information
• Training and Research Centre “Ilgas”

Research Topics

Centre of Coleopterological Research

• Interaction between nanoparticles and biological organisms
• Fauna of beetles (Coleoptera) in Baltic Sea Region: distribution, taxonomy and insect protection
• Fauna of beetles (Coleoptera) in Daugava River Basin: distribution, taxonomy and insect protection
• Fauna, biogeography, taxonomy and systematics of Brachininae, Broscinae, Elaphrinae, Loricerinae, Omophroninae subfamilies in Carabidae family
• Fauna, biogeography, taxonomy and systematics of rove beetles (Staphylinidae, genus Latrobium)
• Fauna of beetles (Coleoptera) in protected areas of Latvia
• Fauna of sinanthropus beetles and research of economic effect
• Effect of different types of felling on biodiversity of forest insects
• Effect of wind-fall on biodiversity of forest insects

Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Evolution

• Modernization of aquaculture technology
• Trade-offs between signalling pathways in immune defence, survival and sexual selection in a pest insect (Galleria melonella)
• Behaviour and ecology of hole-nesting birds
• Hematological parameters of birds in relation to acute and chronic stress
• Blood parasties of birds and their geographical distribution
• Relationships between blood parasties of birds and their hosts
• Adaptations of birds to northern conditions
• Ecological immunology of mealworm beetles Tenebrio molitor
• Ecological immunology of field crickets Gryllus integer
• Ecology of plant and herbivore interactions
• Effect of climate change on biological diversity of pine forests
• Ecology and distribution of endangered dragonfly Aescha viridis
• Evolution of social behaviour
• Behavioural ecology of humans

Laboratory of Parasitology and Histology

• Parasites of marine and freshwater fishes
• Parasites of wild and domestic animals

Laboratory of Biotechnology

• Plant cell and tissue cultures
• Plant molecular genetics (plant immunity)
• Molecular biodiversity research at population level
• Molecular methods in systematic biology

Laboratory of Systematic Botany

• Flora, distribution, taxonomy and plant protection in Baltic Sea Region
• Flora, distribution, taxonomy and plant protection in Daugava River Basin
• Species of genus Salix in Palearctic ecozone
• Research of cultivated taxons of genus Acer  in the Eastern Europe
• Invasive dendroflora of Latvia
• Inventory of dendrological taxons in Latvia
• Flora and ecology of macrophytes in Latvian lakes: Charophyta, Bryophyte and Tracheobionta
• Flora of the South-eastern Latvia
• Natural forests in Latvia
• Endangered and protected plants in Latvia

 Laboratory of Systematic Zoology

• Affecting factors of terrestrial snail diversity in Latvian forests
• Distribution, ecology and biology of endangered and protected snail (Gastropoda) species in Latvia
• Mollusca fauna in Latvia and Russia
• Fauna, systematics and protection of small mammals in Latvia
• Effect of climate changes on diversity of invertebrates in wet broad-leaved and black alder  forests

Research Projects

Activities

Editorial offices of journals Baltic Journal of Coleopterology and Acta Biologica Universitatis Daugavpiliensis are located in the ISB. Articles of both journals are indexed in CAB International, BIOSIS (Zoological Records u.c.), Cambridge Scientifical Abstracts. Both journals are included in the ISI Thomson Scientific Master Journal List. The academic bachelor study programme “Biology” and doctoral study programme “Biology” are implemented by the ISB. Academic staff of the ISB is participating in teaching students from the following study programmes: ABSP “Biology”, professional master study programme “Biology”, DSP “Biology”, ABSP “Environmental Science”, PMSP “Environmental planning”, ABSP “Chemistry”. ISB is organizing scientific conferences, seminars, courses and other events.