Department Head: Dr. Dorota Lachowska-Cierlik, Associate Professor
Address: Jagiellonian University, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (room 3.32, floor III)
Phone: +48 12 664 64 52
Fax (Institute Secretariat): +48 12 664 51 01
E-mail: Dorota.Lachowska-Cierlik@uj.edu.pl
Our research focuses on evolutionary biology, with special emphasis on phylogeny (reconstruction of relationships) in the context of taxonomy, systematics, evolution of phenotypic traits, biogeography, evolution of sex and biodiversity, as well as ecology. As models, we utilise mainly various groups of invertebrates, such as water bears (Tardigrada), insects (Insecta), e.g. beetles (Coleoptera) or butterflies (Lepidoptera), but also snails (Gastropoda) and mites (Acari). For testing our hypotheses, we use a wide range of laboratory techniques: DNA sequencing, light contrast microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, morphometry and karyotyping.
Associate Professors
Dr. Dorota Lachowska-Cierlik, Associate Professor – Department Head
room 3.32, phone: +48 12 664 64 52, email: Dorota.Lachowska-Cierlik@uj.edu.pl
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Degrees and titles: MSc (1993, JU); PhD (1998, JU); DSc (2012, JU); Associate Professor (2019, JU).
In our Department since 2008.
Other employment: Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków (1998–2008).
Associate Editor: Comparative Cytogenetics (since 2010); African Zoology (since 2019).
Functions: Member of the Scientific Council of the PAS Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals in Kraków (since 2015).
Expertise: systematics, phylogenetics, phylogeography, population genetics, invertebrate conservation genetics, cytogenetics.
Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk, Associate Professor
room 3.32, phone: +48 12 664 64 54, email: L.Michalczyk@uj.edu.pl / LM@tardigrada.net
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Degrees and titles: MSc (2004, JU); PhD (2009, UEA, UK); DSc (2017, JU); Associate Professor (2019, JU).
In our Department since 2012.
Other employment: School of Biology, University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, UK (2009–2012); Institute of Zoology, University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth, Australia (2014–2015).
Associate Editor: African Zoology (2013–2019); Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (since 2018); Zoologischer Anzeiger (since 2020); Zoosystematics & Evolution (since 2020); Zootaxa (since 2018).
Functions: Member (2013–2015) and Vice-Chair (2015–2017) of the Junior Scientists Council at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland; Member of the Committee for the Evaluation of Scientific Institutions at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland (2017–2019); Member of the Committee of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (2017–2020); Member and Chair of Expert Panels in Grant Programmes of the Polish National Science Centre (since 2018); Member of the International Organising Committee of the 14th International Symposium on Tardigrada (2015–2018); Chair of the International Organising Committee of the 15th International Symposium on Tardigrada (2018–2022); Member of the Council of the Discipline of Biological Sciences at the Jagiellonian University (2019–2022); Member of the Expert Panel for Student and Junior Scientist Stipends of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (2020–2021).
Expertise: evolutionary biology: phylogenetics, biogeography, taxonomy, systematics, speciation and evolution of water bears (Tardigrada), evolutionary ecology: sexual selection and conflict, sperm competition, inbreeding depression.
Dr. Tomasz Pyrcz, Associate Professor
room 3.31, phone +48 12 664 64 50, email: Tomasz.Pyrcz@uj.edu.pl
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Degrees and titles: MSc (1986, JU); PhD (2000, JU); DSc (2012, JU); Associate Professor (2019, JU).
In our Department since 2017.
Other employment: Zoological Museum of the Jagiellonian University (2003–2017); Jagiellonian University Nature Education Centre (2017–2020).
Functions: Director of the Jagiellonian University Nature Education Centre (from 2017).
Expertise: zoogeography, in particular island biogeography, adaptive radiations, models of speciation, spatial patterns of diversity, general entomology, Arthropod systematics, taxonomy and phylogeny of Lepidoptera, mainly Nymphalidae, faunas of tropical areas, especially of the Andes.
Dr. Stanisław Knutelski, Habilitated Adjunct
room 3.31, phone +48 12 664 64 50, email: S.Knutelski@uj.edu.pl
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Degrees and titles: MSc (1983, JU); PhD (1990, JU); DSc (2007, JU).
In our Department since 1983.
Other employment: None.
Functions: Head of the Department (2008–2020).
Expertise: entomology, biodiversity, faunistics, taxonomy, ecology, biogeography of mountain areas, with particular emphasis on weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea).
room 3.39, phone: +48 12 664 64 53, email: Joanna.Kajzer@uj.edu.pl
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Degrees and titles: MSc (2008, JU); PhD (2017, JU).
In our Department since 2017.
Other employment: Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences (2019–2021).
Expertise: Ecology of Phengaris butterflies, landscape ecology, distribution and dispersal of animals, habitat loss and fragmentation, biodiversity loss, invasive alien species.
Dr. Alejandro López-López, Adjunct
room 3.30, phone: +48 12 664 64 48, email: Alejandro.Lopez-Lopez@uj.edu.pl
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Degrees and titles: BSc (2008, UM, Spain); MSc (2009, UM, Spain); PhD (2015, UM, Spain).
In our Department since 2020.
Other employment: Imperial College in London, UK (2016); Natural History Museum in London, UK (2016); Miguel Hernández University in Elche, Spain (2017–2020); University of Murcia, Spain (2011–2015 and 2018–2020).
Expertise: animal phylogeny and evolution, phylogeography, cytogenetics, adaptation to environmental changes, population genetics, speciation and diversification of arthropods and tardigrades, metabarcoding, environmental DNA.
Assitants
Dr. Piotr Gąsiorek, Assistant
room 3.30, phone: +48 12 664 53 54, email: Piotr.Gasiorek@uj.edu.pl
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Degrees and titles: BSc (2015, JU); PhD (2022, JU).
In our Department since 2014.
Other employment: Natural History Museum of Denmark (2023–2024).
Associate Editor: Biodiversity Data Journal (since 2022), Check List (since 2022).
Expertise: phylogenetics, biogeography, taxonomy, systematics, and evolution of water bears (Tardigrada).
Magdalena Dudziak, MSc, Lab Manager
room 3.39, phone: +48 12 664 64 55, email: Magdalena.Dudziak@uj.edu.pl
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In our Department since 2013.
Justyna Pogwizd, BSc, Lab Manager
room 3.39, phone: +48 12 664 64 55, email: Justyna.Pogwizd@uj.edu.pl
GoogleScholar | ResearchGate | ORCID | Scopus | USOS
In our Department since 2019.
Maja Przybycień, MSc, Research Technician
room 3.39, phone: +48 12 664 64 55, email: Maja.Przybycien@doctoral.uj.edu.pl
GoogleScholar | ResearchGate | ORCID | Scopus | USOS
In our Department since 2020.
Janusz Krzyśko, Mountain Station Warder
Mountain Station in Ochotnica Górna, phone: +48 12 664 64 52, email: Janusz.Krzysko@uj.edu.pl
In our Department since 2017.
Dash Payal, MSc
Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Auxiliary Supervisor: Dr. Alejandro López-López
room 3.30, phone: +48 12 664 53 54, email: Payal.Dash@doctoral.uj.edu.pl
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Pritam Dey, MSc
Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Auxiliary Supervisor: Dr. Alejandro López-López
room 3.30, phone: +48 12 664 53 54, email: Pritam.Dey@doctoral.uj.edu.pl
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Maja Przybycień, MSc
Supervisor: Dr. Dorota Lachowska-Cierlik
room 3.30, phone: +48 12 664 53 55, email: Maja.Przybycien@doctoral.uj.edu.pl
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Listed are only the projects led by our Staff and PhD Students, carried out in our Department and/or in foreign host institutions.
2024
Title: Can you really make it alone? Phylogenomic deciphering of evolution of asexual reproduction. | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Maestro | Funding: 4,519,490 PLN | Timespan: 2024–2029 | Grant code: 2023/50/A/NZ8/00636 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
2023
Title: Small worlds: uncovering local and medium scale invertebrate diversity and phylogeography with environmental DNA | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Opus | Funding: 1,741,184 PLN | Timespan: 2023–2027 | Grant code: 2022/45/B/NZ8/04121 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Alejandro López-López
2020
Title: Phenotype evolution along phylogenetic lineages of Echiniscoidea | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Preludium | Funding: 210,000 PLN | Timespan: 2020–2023 | Grant code: 2019/33/N/NZ8/02777 | Principal Investigator: Piotr Gąsiorek, BSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: In search of the ancestry of the order Apochela (Tardigrada) | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Preludium | Funding: 210,000 PLN | Timespan: 2020–2023 | Grant code: 2019/35/N/NZ8/04487 | Principal Investigator: Witold Morek, BSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: The origin and biogeography of the genus Pseudechiniscus Thulin, 1911 (Heterotardigrada) | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Etiuda | Hosting Institution: Western Australian Museum, Australia | Funding: 107,584 PLN | Timespan: 2020–2022 | Grant code: 2020/36/T/NZ8/00306 | Principal Investigator: Piotr Gąsiorek, BSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: Testing species boundaries in the order Apochela (Tardigrada) with genomic data | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Etiuda | Hosting Institution: Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK | Funding: 130,104 PLN | Timespan: 2020–2022 | Grant code: 2020/36/T/NZ8/00306 | Principal Investigator: Witold Morek, BSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
2019
Title: Evolutionary biogeography and diversification of the predominantly Andean butterfly subtribe Pronophilina (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) based on phylogenetic data generated using modern molecular methods. | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Harmonia | Funding: 1,218,361 PLN | Timespan: 2019–2022 | Grant code: 2018/30/M/NZ8/00293 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Tomasz Pyrcz
Title: An integrative revision of the family Macrobiotidae (Tardigrada) – phylogeny, taxonomy and trait evolution in challenging groups of microinvertebrates | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Preludium | Funding: 209,000 PLN | Timespan: 2019–2022 | Grant code: 2018/31/N/NZ8/03096 | Principal Investigator: Daniel Stec, MSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: Taxonomy and evolution of the Macrobiotus hufelandi (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae) complex | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Etiuda | Hosting Institution: Water Research Institute IRSA, Italy | Funding: 106,112 PLN | Timespan: 2019–2021 | Grant code: 2019/32/T/NZ8/00348 | Principal Investigator: Daniel Stec, MSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
2018
Title: Impact of invasive goldenrods on behavior, morphological traits and genetic variability of Phengaris butterflies | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Miniatura | Funding: 50,000 PLN | Timespan: 2018 | Grant code: K/MNT/000036 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Joanna Kajzer-Bonk
2017
Title: Global, local or fussy? An integrative test of the 'Everything is Everywhere' hypothesis. | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Sonata Bis | Funding: 2,955,850 PLN | Timespan: 2017–2023 | Grant code: 2016/22/E/NZ8/00417 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: An integrative revision of Bryodelphax Thulin, 1928 (Tardigrada: Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) with testing the validity of Bryochoerus Marcus, 1936 | Investor: EU Commission | Programme: SYNTHESYS | Hosting Institution: University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Timespan: February 2017 | Grant code: DK-TAF-6332 | Principal Investigator: Piotr Gąsiorek, BSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: Integrative revision of Arctic Milnesiidae (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada) | Investor: EU Commission | Programme: SYNTHESYS | Hosting Institution: University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Timespan: March 2017 | Grant code: DK-TAF-6462 | Principal Investigator: Witold Morek, BSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
2016
Title: Testing Wallace using tardigrades – patterns of biodiversity and distribution of microscopic invertebrates | Investor: Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education | Programme: Diamond Grant | Funding: 220,000 PLN | Timespan: 2016–2020 | Grant code: DI2015 014945 | Principal Investigator: Piotr Gąsiorek, BSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: Reconstruction of the phylogeny of the order Apochela (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada) | Investor: Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education | Programme: Diamond Grant | Funding: 220,000 PLN | Timespan: 2016–2020 | Grant code: DI2015 016845 | Principal Investigator: Witold Morek, BSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: Revision of the central African tardigrade fauna | Investor: EU Commission | Programme: SYNTHESYS | Hosting Institution: University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Timespan: August 2016 | Grant code: DK-TAF-5609 | Principal Investigator: Daniel Stec, MSc | Supervisor: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: Species delimitation using integrative taxonomy: verification of the taxonomic status of Liophloeodes Weise, 1894 weevils. | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Preludium | Funding: 147,600 PLN | Timespan: 2016–2020 | Grant code: 2015/17/N/NZ8/01571 | Principal Investigator: Beniamin Wacławik, MSc | Supervisor: Dr. Dorota Lachowska-Cierlik
2014
Title: Genotype by environment interactions and the evolution of mate choice | Investor: Australian Group of Eight | Programme: Go8 European Fellowships | Funding: 20,000 AUD | Timespan: 2014–2015 | Hosting Institution: University of Western Australia, Australia | Grant code: Go8/2014/UWA | Principal Investigator: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
2013
Title: A comprehensive experimental test of the Conditional Strategy | Investor: Polish National Science Centre | Programme: Opus | Funding: 268,675 PLN | Timespan: 2013–2017 | Grant code: 2012/07/B/NZ8/02455 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: Effects of sexual selection on the propagation of beneficial alleles in populations affected by inbreeding depression | Investor: Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education | Programme: Iuventus Plus | Funding: 279,500 PLN | Timespan: 2013–2016 | Grant code: IP2012 001272 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Title: Revision of the Macrobiotus islandicus group with special attention to the buccal apparatus morphology | Investor: EU Commission | Programme: SYNTHESYS | Hosting Institution: University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Timespan: May 2013 | Grant code: DK-TAF-5510 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
2012
Title: Species delimitation: combining morphometric, molecular and experimental approaches | Investor: Foundation for Polish Science | Programme: Homing Plus | Funding: 328,000 PLN | Timespan: 2012–2015 | Grant code: HP/2012-5/8 | Principal Investigator: Dr. Łukasz Michalczyk
Underlined are names of the authors affiliated with our Department.
Listed are only publications in journals indexed in JCR and/or Scopus.
Publications from previous years can be found here.
2024
Brotto-Guidetti, E., Morek, W. & Garraffoni, A.R.S. (2024) Morphological and molecular evidence for a new species of the genus Milnesium Doyère, 1840 (Tardigrada: Apochela) from South America. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 309: 55–65. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2024.01.004]
Dey, P.K., Gąsiorek, P. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2024) Convergent evolution of dark, ultraviolet-absorbing cuticular pigmentation in a new Afro-Oriental Echiniscus brunus species complex (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 34–59. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad132]
Dey, P.K., López-López, A., Morek, W. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2024) Tardigrade Augean stables — a challenging phylogeny and taxonomy of the family Ramazzottiidae (Eutardigrada: Hypsibioidea). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 95–110. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad161]
Gąsiorek, P., Degma, P. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2024) Hiding in the Arctic and in mountains: A (dis)entangled classification of Claxtonia (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 60–86. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad029]
Ghamizi, M., Falniowski, A., Boudellah, A., Hofman, S., El Rharras, A., Assad, N., Moutaouakil, S. & Jaszczyńska, A. (2024) Two new genera and species of the valvatiform hydrobiid snails (Caenogastropoda: Truncatelloidea: Hydrobiidae) from Morocco. Zootaxa, 5418(3): 223–239. [https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5418.3.2]
Janelt, K. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2024) 15th International Symposium on Tardigrada – Section III: Morphology, Anatomy, Reproduction & Development. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 184–185. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad126]
Janelt, K. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2024) 15th International Symposium on Tardigrada – Section IV: Physiology, Omics, Cryptobiosis & Astrobiology. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 218–219. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad127]
Michalczyk, Ł., Gąsiorek, P., Szklarzewicz, T., Kaczmarek, Ł. & Poprawa, I. (2024) Professor Barbara Węglarska (1922–2020). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 12–17. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad181]
Michalczyk, Ł., Gross, V. & Arakawa, K. (2024) Progress in research on water bears presented at the 15th International Symposium on Tardigrada (Kraków, 22nd–26th of August 2022). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 1–11. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad199]
Michalczyk, Ł. & Janelt, K. (2024) 15th International Symposium on Tardigrada – Section I: Biodiversity, Taxonomy, Biogeography, Phylogeny & Evolution. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 18–19. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad120]
Michalczyk, Ł. & Janelt, K. (2024) 15th International Symposium on Tardigrada – Section II: Ecology, Life Histories & Behaviour. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 142–143. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad125]
Morek, W., Wałach, K., Lamond, E. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2024) Phylogenetic position, validity and diversity of the genus Milnesioides (Eutardigrada: Apochela). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 200(1): 87–94. [https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad027]
Przybycień, M., Morozov-Leonov, S., Nazarenko, V., Mezhzherin, S. & Lachowska-Cierlik, D. (2024) The relationship between Otiorhynchus ukrainicus (Korotyaev, 1984), Otiorhynchus rotundus (Marseul, 1872) and Otiorhynchus smreczynskii (Cmoluch, 1968): a hybrid speciation reconstruction. Folia Biologica, 72(1): 16–28. [https://doi.org/10.3409/fb_72-1.03]
Sapieja, M., Staniec, B. & Lachowska-Cierlik, D. (2024) First description of the immature stages of Philonthus spinipes Sharp, 1874 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) – an adventive rove beetle species in Europe with notes on its biology, ecology and zoogeography. Annales Zoologici, 74(1): 157–184. [https://doi.org/10.3161/00034541ANZ2024.74.1.010]
Publications from previous years can be found here.
Our Department offers the following courses for BSc and MSc students of the JU:
Moreover, according to needs, our Department organises and runs BSc and MSc Seminars (a minimum of eight students are needed to establish a seminar group).
Address:
Stacja Górska IZiBB UJ
Jaszcze 262
34-453 Ochotnica Górna
Poland
The Department of Invertebrate Evolution is one of the youngest organisational units in the Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research of the Jagiellonian University. The Department was created in 1999 from a part of the Department of Systematic Zoology and Zoogeography (currently Department of Invertebrate Morphology and Development). Our Department has been established by Professor Bogusław Petryszak, who was its first Head, as the Department of Entomology. In the second decade of the XXI century, the research profile of the Department has been broadened from insects to other invertebrate groups, mainly tardigrades and molluscs. Moreover, a greater emphasis was put to evolutionary research, mostly phylogenetics but also in the field of evolutionary ecology. Thus, in order to reflect the research profile, in 2021, the name of the Department has been changed to the current Department of Invertebrate Evolution.
polski
