In April 2026, research was conducted as part of the project “Bioindicators and Anthropogenic Pressures in the Aquatic Systems of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve” (AQUA-BIOPRESS), funded by the European Union under the Next Generation EU programme. Project team members carried out research at selected sites on the Drava, Danube and Mura rivers, Lake Halaševo, Sakadaš Lake, and the Stara Mura channel in Podturen. The research involved determining ecological conditions (physical and chemical parameters of water), collecting samples for the analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, sampling various planktonic and fouling communities, and collecting water samples for further molecular analyses and assessment of their diversity. The collected samples will be processed in the laboratories of the Institute of Water Ecology, Department of Biology, and field research will continue in May. Professional assistance and support for the project team were provided by the expert services of the Public Institution Kopački rit Nature Park, the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Values of Osijek-Baranja County, the Public Institution for Nature Protection – Međimurje Nature, and the Sports and Fishing Association “Šaran” from Podturen.

As part of the Erasmus+ programme for professional development, Matej Šag and Nikolina Bek, PhD, presented the AQUA-BIOPRESS project to the teaching staff and students of the Faculty of Biotechnical Sciences at the University “St Kliment Ohridski” – Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia. The presentation of the project goals, research activities, and expression of interest for further cooperation took place on 26 February 2026.

As part of the inter-county expert conference entitled “Scientific Achievements in Biology”, Tanja Žuna Pfeiffer, PhD, Full Professor presented the project “Bioindicators and anthropogenic pressures in aquatic systems of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve (AQUA-BIOPRESS)”. The conference was held on 7 January 2026 at the Department of Biology and brought together scientists, teachers and lecturers to exchange knowledge about modern research in various fields of biology, with an emphasis on ecology, neurobiology, microbiology and applied biological research. The participants were informed about the project’s goals, planned activities and potential opportunities for involvement in its implementation.

From 1 to 14 March 2026, assistant Fran Prašnikar, a member of the AQUA-BIOPRESS project research team, visited the Institute for Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy, Department of Freshwater Biology (Krakow, Poland). The professional training, conducted under the mentorship of Dr Wojciech Krzton, focused on acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary for sampling and preparing samples for stable isotope analysis, which will be carried out as part of the AQUA-BIOPRESS project.

To establish international cooperation, facilitate knowledge exchange, and implement the AQUA-BIOPRESS project, a cooperation agreement was signed on 24 February 2026 between the Department of Biology and the Institute for Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Krakow, Poland).

To implement research activities and establish international cooperation within the framework of the AQUA-BIOPRESS project, from 18 to 20 February 2026, Prof. Maciej Kamaszewski and doctoral student Kacper Kawalski from the University of Life Sciences in Warsaw (Faculty of Animal Breeding, Bioengineering and Conservation, Department of Animal Environment Biology, Institute of Animal Sciences), Poland, will participate. In the Kopački rit area, research stations have been designated, and a visit to the Presentation and Education Centre Tikveš has been organised, with professional guidance provided by Kopački rit employee, Ph.D. Ivančica Agić.