Academic CentreLABORATORY OF BIOINDICATION
Head of Laboratory: Prof., Dr. biol. Viesturs Melecis,
phone: +371 67944988, +371 67945431
e-mail: vmelecis@email.lubi.edu.lv
Research in the Laboratory is focused on the assessment of anthropogenic impacts on communities and ecosystems. The Laboratory tackles methodological problems of impact assessment based on biological indicators. Methods of environmental assessment by phytoindicators, communities of soil organisms and insects are being developed. The Laboratory is involved in the International Long-term Ecological Research (ILTER) Network and in Europe Long Term Ecological Research subnetwork. The Laboratory coordinates long-term ecological research projects of the National LTER Network of Latvia. Long-term changes of pine forest ecosystems and coastal meadow ecosystems on the background of climate warming and human influence have been investigated since 1992. The platform of Long Term Socioecological Research (LT(S)ER platform) has been founded in 2003. The Laboratory also works on taxonomy, ecology, distribution, and biodiversity of several groups of insects and soil organisms – earthworms, enchytraeids, springtails, soil mites, and Diptera. The Laboratory provides expertise in the field of biodiversity conservation, taxonomy of selected groups of organisms, environmental assessment.
Laboratory staff:
H2020 projects:
- HORIZON 2020 projekts eLTER - "European Long-Term Ecosystem and Socio-Ecological Research Infrastructure", (2015. - 2019. g.) (project leader Viesturs Melecis).
- HORIZON2020 projekts Advance-LTER „Advancing the European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological Research Infrastructure towards ESFRI”, (2016.-2018. g.) (project leader Viesturs Melecis).
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HORIZON 2020 projekts eLTER PPP, “eLTER Preparatory Phase Project” (2020.-2025. g.) (project leader Viesturs Melecis).
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HORIZON 2020 projekts eLTER PLUS “European long-term ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological systems research infrastructure PLUS”, (2020.-2025. g.) (project leader Viesturs Melecis)..
Collections of invertebrate etalon collections
Staff
Name | Academic degree, position | Field of research | e-mail address |
Viesturs Melecis | Dr.biol., Prof. leading researcher | Vides zinātne: bioindikcation, soil ecology, | viesturs.melecis@lu.lv |
Aina Karpa | Dr.biol. consultant | entomology: Diptera, Fitoindication | aina.karpa@lu.lv |
Ineta Salmane | Dr.biol., leading researcher | Zoology: Acari, Gamasina, taksonomy, ecology | ineta.salmane@lu.lv |
Edīte Juceviča | M.Sc., researcher | Zoology: soil ecology, Collembola, taksonomy, ecology | edite.jucevica@lu.lv |
Uģis Kagainis | Dr.biol., researcher | Zoology: Oribatid mites, taxonomy, ecology | ugis.kagainis@lu.lv oribatida@inbox.lv |
Inese Cera | Dr.biol., researcher | Zoology: Spiders, Aranea, ecology | inese.cera@lu.lv inese.cera@gmail.com |
| Ināra Melece | M. Sc., scientific researcher | Ecology | inara.melece@lu.lv |
DICK, J., ORENSTEIN, D. E., HOLZER, J. M., WOHNER, C., CHARD, A.L., ANDREWS,C., AVRIEL-ANNI, N., BEJA,P., BLOND,N., CABELLO, J., CHEN,C., DIAZ-DELGADO, R., GIANNIKIS, G. V., GINGRICH, S., IZAKOVICA, Z., KRAUZE, K., LAMOUROUX, N., LECA, S., MELECIS, V., MIKLOS, K., MIMIKOU,M., NIEDRIST, G., PISCARD, C., POSTOLACHE, C., PSOMAS, A., SANTO-REIS, M., TAPPEINER, U., VANDERBILT, K., and VAN RYCKEGEM, G., 2018 , What is socio-ecological research delivering? A literature survey across 25 international LTSER platforms. Science of The Total Environment, 622-623, pp. 1225–1240.
KAGAINIS U., JUCEVIČA E., SALMANE I., VENTIŅŠ J. and MELECIS V. 2017. Does climate warming affect soil mesofauna. In: Shen R., Zhu Y., Wall D.H (Eds.), 2nd Global Soil Biodiversity Conference; Nanjing,(China); 15 -19 October, 2017, Program and information book. Nanjing: Institute of Soil Science (CAS), 375 pp.
MELECIS, V., KARPA, A., RŪSIŅA, S., GAVRILOVA, Ģ. and VILKS, K., 2017. Long-term changes in species richnes of flies (Diptera, Brachycera) in grasland comunities of Engure Nature Park, Latvia. In: Rūsiņa, S. (Ed.),14th Eurasian Grassland Conference “Semi-natural Grasslands Across Borders”, 4-11 July, 2017, Riga (Latvia) and Western Lithuania, Book of Abstracts, pp. 41.
ANGELSTAM, P., ELBAKIDZE, M., LAWRENCE, A., MANTON, M., MELECIS, V.and PERERA, A. 2017. Barriers and bridges for landscape stewardship and knowledge production to sustain functional green infrastructure. In: Perera A., Peterson U., Pastur, G., Iverson, L.(eds.) Sustaining Ecosystem Services in Forest Landscapes, Springer. PRESS
GRAUDA, D., BELOGRUDOVA, I., SALMANE, I., KRASŅEVSKA, N., AVOTIŅŠ, K., KOLODINSKA - BRANTESTAM, A., BOIKO, D., FOKINA, O. and RASHALl, I. 2017. Ecological aspect of the investigations of genetic diversity of species. Abstract of the 75th Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia. Environmental and Experimental Biology, 15, pp. 85
DIRILGEN, T., JUCEVIČA, E., MELECIS, V., QUERNER, P. and BOLGER, T., 2018. Analysis of spatial patterns informs community assembly and sampling requirements for Collembola in forest soils. Acta Oecologica, 86, pp.23-30.
DICK, J., ORENSTEIN, D. E., HOLZER, J., WOHNER, Ch., ACHARD, A.-L., ANDREWS, Ch., AVRIEL-AVNI, N., BEJA, P., BLOND, N., CABELLO, J., CHEN, Ch., DíIAZ-DELGADO, R., GIANNAKIS, G.V., GINGRICH, S., IZAKOVICOVA, Z., KRAUZE, K., LAMOUROUX, N., LECA, St., MELECIS, V., MIKLÓS, K., MIMIKOU, M., NIEDRIST, G., PISCART, Ch., POSTOLACHE, C., PSOMAS, A., SANTOS-REIS, M., TAPPEINER, U., VANDERBILT, K. and VAN RYCKEGEM, G., 2017. What is socio-ecological research delivering? A literature survey across 25 international LTSER platforms. Science of the Total Environment. PRESS
BLUMBERGA, D., BRIEDE, A., BRIZGA, J., DIMANTE, DŽ., KALVĀNE, G., KĻAVIŅŠ, M., MELECIS, V., PRŪSE, I., VINCEVIČA-GAILE, Z., ZAĻOKSNIS, J. un GRID-ARENDAL, 2016. Klimats un ilgtspējīga attīstība. Kļaviņš, M., Zaļoksnis, J. (red.) Rīga: Latvijas Universitāte
KAGAINIS, U., 2016. Carabodes CL Koch, 1835 ģints bruņērču (Acari: Oribatida: Carabodidae) morfoloģijas mainība dažādu faktoru iedarbībā.
SALMANE, I., 2016. Argasid ticks (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae) in Latvia. Latvijas Entomologs, 53, pp.125-126.
CAPLIGINA, V., BERZINA, I., BORMANE, A., SALMANE, I., VILKS, K., KAZARINA, A., BANDERE, D., BAUMANIS, V. and RANKA, R., 2016. Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia spp. in Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Latvia. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 68(3), pp. 325-336.
TELNOV, D. and SALMANE, I., 2015. Ecology and diversity of urban pine forest soil invertebrates in Riga, Latvia. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences, 69(3), pp. 120-131.
MINOVA, S., JANKEVICA, L., SALMANE, I. and ČEKSTERE, G., 2015. Preliminary studies on microbial biomass and the microarthropod community as soil health and quality indicators in Urban Grasslands, Riga as an example. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences, 69(3), pp. 140-144.
SALMANE, I. and SPUŅĢIS, V. (2015). Factors Influencing Mesostigmata Mites (Acari, Parasitiformes) In The Alkaline Fen Habitats. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences. 69(1/2), pp. 50-56.
CAPLIGINA, V., BERZINA, I., BORMANE, A., SALMANE, I., VILKS, K., KAZARINA, A., BANDERE, D., BAUMANIS, V. and RANKA, R., 2015. Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia spp. in Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Latvia. Experimental and Applied Acarology, IN PRESS.
KAGAINIS, U., 2014. A morphometrical study of oribatid mites (acari: Oribatida) of the genus carabodes C.L. koch, 1835 (carabodidae) using a confocal laser scanning microscope: An alternative approach to quantitative analysis of various features. Zoomorphology, 133(2), 227-236. doi:10.1007/s00435-014-0216-9
ZARIŅŠ, M., BLUMBERGA, A., KĻAVIŅŠ, M. and MELECIS, V., 2014. Dynamic Modeling for Environmental Processes: A Case Study of Lake Engure. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Sect. B. 68(1/2),pp. 20-30.
MELECIS, V., KARPA, A. and VILKS, K., 2014. Increase in abundance and species richness of flies (Diptera, Brachycera) in the Lake Engure Nature Park, Latvia: Effects of climate warming? Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences, 68(1-2), pp. 46-67.
MELECIS, V., KĻAVIŅŠ, M., RŪSIŅA, S., SPRIŅĢE, G., VĪKSNE, J., KRIŠJĀNE Z. and STRĀĶE, S., 2014. Conceptual model of the Long-term SocioEcological Research Platform of Engure ecoregion, Latvia. Proc. Latvian Academy of Sciences, Sect.B, 68(1/2), pp 1-19.
KAZARINA, A., JAPIŅA, K., KEIŠS, O., SALMANE, I., BANDERE, D., CAPLIGINA, V. and RANKA, R., 2015. Detection of tick-b encephalitis virus in I. ricinus ticks collected from autumn migratory birds in Latvia. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 6(2), pp. 178-180.
CAPLIGINA, V., SALMANE, I., KEIŠS, O., VILKS, K., JAPINA, K., BAUMANIS, V. and RANKA, R., 2014. Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from migratory birds in Latvia. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 5(1), pp. 75-81.
DICK, J., AL-ASSAF, A., ANDREWS, C., DÍAZ-DELGADO, R., GRONER, E., HALADA, L., IZAKOVIČOVÁ, Z., KERTÉSZ, M., KHOURY, F., KRASIĆ, D., KRAUZE, K., MATTEUCCI, G., MELECIS, V., MIRTL, M., ORENSTEIN, D.E., PREDA, E., SANTOS-REIS, M., SMITH, R.I., VADINEANU, A., VESELIĆ, S. and VIHERVAARA, P., 2014. Ecosytem services: A rapid assessment method tested at 35 sites of the LTER-Europe network. Ekologia Bratislava, 33(3), pp. 217-231.
MELECIS, V. and KĻAVINŠ, M. 2013. Socioecological Solutions to the Problem of Biodiversity Decline. Kļaviņš, M., Melecis, V. (red.), Grām.: Cilvēks un Daba: Engures Ekoreģions. LU Akad. apgāds, pp. 18-28.
MELECIS, V. and KĻAVINŠ, M. 2013. Biodaudzveidības samazināšanās: problēmas sociālekoloģiskie risinājumi. Kļaviņš, M., Melecis, V. (red.), Grām: Cilvēks un Daba: Engures Ekoreģions. LU Akad. apgāds, pp. 7- 17.
MELECIS, V. and KĻAVINŠ, M., (red.) 2013 .Cilvēks un Daba: Engures Ekoreģions. LU Akad.apgāds, 423 p.
MELECIS, V., KARPA, A. and VILKS, K., 2013. Divspārņu (Diptera, Bracycera) skaita un sugu bagātības izmaiņas Engures ezera dabas parkā uz antriopogēno faktoru un klimata pasiltināšanās fona. Kļaviņš, M., Melecis, V. (red.), Grām.: Cilvēks un Daba: Engures Ekoreģions. LU Akad. apgāds, 223-248.
CERA, I. and SPUŅĢIS, V., 2013 Fauna and seasonal activity of spiders (Araneae) in coastal dune habitats at Akmensrags, Ziemupe Nature restricted territory, Latvia. Latvijas Entomologs, (52), pp. 84–95.
CERA, I., 2013. Fauna and distribution of spiders at Randu meadows, Baltic Sea coast of the Gulf of Riga, Latvia. Latvijas Entomologs, (52), pp. 68–83.
SALMANE, I., APENĪTE, I. and CIEMATNIEKS, R., 2013. Environmentally friendly organic products and onion pests in Latvia. Acta biologica universitartis Daugavpiliensis, 13(1), pp. 101-108.
WIHERVAARA, P. D’AMATO, D. FORSIUS, M. ANGELSTAM, P. BAESSLER, C.BALVANERA, P. BAZLTSEREN, B. BOURGERON, P. DICK. J. KANKA, R. KLOTZ, S. MAASS, M. MELECIS, V. PETRIK, P. SHIBD, H. TANG, J. THOMPSON, J. and ZACHARIAS, S., 2013. Using long-term ecosystem service and biodiversity data to study the impacts and adaptation options in response to climate change: insights from the global ILTER sites network. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 5(1), 53-66.
KAGAINIS, U., 2012. Revision and renovation of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) specimen collection of Institute of Biology, Latvia. Environmental and Experimental Biology, 10, pp. 67-75.
SALMANE, I., 2012.Ticks (Acari, Ixodida: Ixodidae, Amblyommidae) of Latvia. Latvijas Entomologs, 51, pp. 153-155.
MELECIS, V., KRIŠJĀNE, Z., KĻAVIŅŠ, M., AIGARS, J., ELFERTS, D. and VĪKSNE, J., 2011. Preliminary Characteristics of Ecological and Socioeconomic Components and its Interactions within the Long Term Socioecological Research Platform of Latvia, The Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University, 13 (7), pp.87-91.
MELECIS, V., 2011. Development of conceptual integrated model of socioeconomic biodiversity pressures, drivers and impacts for the long-term socioecological research platform of Latvia. Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., Sect. B, 65(5/6), pp. 206-212.
MELECE, I., KARPA, A., LAIVIŅŠ, M. and MELECIS, V., 2011. Environmental quality assessment of the drainage basin of lake Engure by using Scots pine as bioindicator. Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., Sect. B, 65, (5/6), pp.178-185.
KAGAINIS, U., 2011. Revision of the Checklist of Latvian Oribatid Mites (Acari: Oribatida), with Notes on Previous Studies and New Species for the Fauna of Latvia. Latvijas Entomologs 50, pp. 31-40.
KARPA, A., 2011. New Species for the fauna of Latvia (Diptera, Brachycera). Latvijas Entomologs , 50, pp. 61-62.
CERA, I. and SPUŅĢIS, V., 2011. Seasonal activity of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) in coastal dune habitats at Akmensrags – Ziemupe Nature Reserve, Latvia). Experimental and Environmental Biology 9, pp. 91–97.
KOEHLER, H. and MELECIS, V., 2010. Long-term observations of soil mesofauna. In: Müller F., Baessler C., Schubert H., Klotz S. (Eds.), Long-Term Ecological Research. Between Theory and Application. Springer, pp. 203-220
CERA, I., SPUNĢIS, V. and MELECIS, V., 2010. Occurrence of grass-dwelling spiders in habitats of Lake Engure Nature Park. Environmental and Experimental Biology 8: 59-69
KAGAINIS, U., 2010. Carabodes rugosior Berlese, 1916 and subarcticus Trägardh, 1902 – new species of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida: Carabodidae) for fauna of Latvia with brief discussion of their microscoping. – Latvijas Entomologs, 48, pp. 115-117.