Doctoral students Kacper Kawalski and Rafal Wild (Doctoral School of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland) stayed at the Sub-Department of Water Ecology (Department of Biology), as part of short-term academic mobility from 15 to 24 July 2026. The aim of the professional training was to acquire practical knowledge about the ecology of freshwater ecosystems through field and laboratory work, to learn methods of sampling plankton communities and accompanying limnological factors, processing biological material, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of plankton organisms. The doctoral students also presented their previous research and the results obtained in the course of their doctoral dissertation work, and offered suggestions for applying the acquired knowledge in new research activities.
Academic mobility was carried out as part of international cooperation on the project “Bioindicators and anthropogenic pressures in the water systems of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve” (AQUA-BIOPRESS), financed by the European Union within the Next Generation EU programme. Academic mobility is financed through the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA; PROM 2025 Agreement no. BPI/PRO/2025/1/00009/U/00001; “Prom – Short-Term Academic Exchange”).

In July 2026, field research was carried out as part of the project ‘Bioindicators and anthropogenic pressures in the water systems of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve’ (AQUA-BIOPRESS). The condition of water bodies and the dynamics of periphyton and plankton communities were monitored. Samples were also collected for further ex situ research to evaluate how polluting compounds impact affect planktonic organisms. Mgr. ing. Bogumił Łosiewicz (Doctoral School of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences; Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences) and students from the Department of Biology took part in the research as part of their professional practice and diploma thesis preparation. The project was funded by the European Union under the Next Generation EU programme.

On 15 June 2026, the ninth meeting was held as part of the project “Bioindicators and Anthropogenic Pressures in Aquatic Systems of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve” (AQUA-BIOPRESS). Prof. Tanja Žuna Pfeiffer chaired the meeting. The team discussed the field research conducted in May, planned further field and laboratory research for July, and noted that the research would be presented at the Kopački rit symposium – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, 2026. Team members received promotional materials and T-shirts. The project is funded by the European Union under the Next Generation EU programme.

In June 2026, field research continued as part of the project “Bioindicators and Anthropogenic Pressures in Aquatic Systems of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve” (AQUA-BIOPRESS), funded by the European Union under the Next Generation EU programme. Research on environmental conditions and biotic communities was carried out on the Drava, Danube and Mura rivers, Lake Halaševo, Lake Sakadaški, and the Stara Mura morass in Podturen. Students also participated in the field research and will take part in processing the collected samples.

Within the framework of the project “Bioindicators and Anthropogenic Pressures in Aquatic Systems of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve” (AQUA-BIOPRESS), laboratory research on the impact of polluting compounds on planktonic and periphytic communities has begun. The research is being conducted under controlled conditions in a growth chamber equipped with European Union funds from the Next Generation EU programme. The research will also include a final thesis.

On 15 May 2026, following the completion of field research, the eighth meeting of the team members of the project “Bioindicators and Anthropogenic Pressures in Aquatic Systems of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve” (AQUA-BIOPRESS) was held. The project is funded by the European Union under the Next Generation EU programme. The meeting addressed the field research conducted, the further processing of collected samples and data, and the preparation of publications. Additional research is planned for June and the summer months.