Research and expertise

 

Research:

 

- Research on the ecology, structure, and functioning of plankton communities (primarily phytoplankton) and their changes driven by climate change and other anthropogenic pressures

- The role of phytoplankton in nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration in coastal marine ecosystems

- Ecology of Harmful algal blooms - HABs

- Understanding the functional ecology of phytoplankton species based on their functional traits

- Research on the diversity of phytoplankton viruses, particularly diatom viruses, and the impact of viral infections on biogeochemical cycling

- Research on the genetic traits of ecologically important species (including HABs) and the development of new methods in environmental diagnostics

- Maintenance of long-term biological and chemical datasets

- Investigation of long-term changes and trends in plankton communities using statistical analyses and modelling

- Development of methods for assessing the environmental status of the sea based on phytoplankton

 

Ekspertise:

 

- Integrative taxonomy of phytoplankton (light and electron microscopy, cultivation and phylogenetic barcoding of individual strains, metabarcoding of phytoplankton communities)

- Determination of the structure and function of phytoplankton communities using cultivation-independent and next-generation sequencing methods, as well as advanced bioinformatics and computational biology tools

- Cultivation, taxonomic identification and investigation of the physiology and biochemistry of selected microalgal strains from the MBP culture collection

- Classical virology and metagenomic analysis of viral communities

- Measurement of primary production using radioactively labelled isotope (¹⁴C)

- Chemotaxonomy (HPLC pigment analysis)

- Scanning electron microscopy – SEM (biological samples)

- Determination of phytoplankton toxins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA))

- Time series analysis

 

Staff members

 

 

Assoc. Prof Dr Patricija Mozetič, Scientific Councillor, Head of WG

http://www.nib.si/mbp/sl/cv/patricija-mozetic

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0KzXa2gAAAAJ&hl=sl

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Dr Vesna Flander-Putrle, Senior Research Associate

https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0001-8718-9819

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8vpGnJ4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

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Dr Janja Francé, Research Councillor, Deputy head of WG

https://www.nib.si/mbp/sl/cv/janja-france

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Petra Slavinec, PhD student

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Petra-Slavinec-2

https://www.nib.si/mbp/sl/cv/petra-slavinec

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Dr. Timotej Turk Dermastia, Scientific Associate

https://www.nib.si/mbp/sl/cv/timotej-turk-dermastia

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Slavica Nastić, Senior Professional Associate, also member of WG Infrastructure center MBP

http://www.nib.si/mbp/sl/cv/slavica-nastic 

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Projects

 

 

Coastal Sea Research, ARIS research programme P1-0237

1.1.2020-31.12.2027

Head: Patricija Mozetič

http://www.nib.si/eng/index.php/projects?view=project&id=166

 

Viral infection-driven changes in phytoplankton aggregates and their microbial processing, ARIS J7-70251

1.3.2026-28.2.2029

Head: Timotej Turk Dermastia

https://projects.nib.si/diavir/

 

The science of Rhythms in our lives HORIZON-CSA

2026-2028

Coordinator for MBP: Vesna Flander Putrle

 

Development of a draft methodology and guidelines for the assessment of the impact of an intervention on the status of marine waters (CRP project) V1-24035

1.10.2024-30.9.2026

Head: Vesna Flander Putrle

https://www.nib.si/projektinib?view=project&id=504

 

Impact of climate change on the onset of phytoplankton blooms and consequences for food web dynamics: comparison between northern and southern Adriatic Bilateral collaboration between Slovenia and Croatia 2023-2024

1.4.2023-31.3.2025

Head: Patricija Mozetič

http://www.nib.si/eng/index.php/projects?view=project&id=354

 

DIAVIR - Diatom viruses and their role in organic matter cycling in the coastal seas ARIS Z1-4396

1.10.2022-1.10.2024

Head: Timotej Turk Dermastia

https://projects.nib.si/diavir/

 

ABIOMMED - Support Coherent and Coordinated Assessment of Biodiversity and Measures Across Mediterranean for the Next 6-year Cycle of MSFD Implementation

2021-2023

WP leader: Janja Francé

https://www.abiommed.eu/

 

MEDREGION - Support Mediterranean Member States towards the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive new GES Decision and programmes of measures and contribute to regional/subregional cooperation

2019-2021

https://medregion.eu/

 

Monitoring of biological quality elements of the ecological status of the sea in accordance with applicable methodologies – annual contract

Slovenian Environment Agency

Coordinator: Janja Francé

https://www.arso.gov.si/vode/morje/

 

Monitoring of toxic phytoplankton in mussel farming areas in Strunjan Bay, Seča, and Debeli Rtič – annual contract

MKGP, Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection

Coordinator: Patricija Mozetič

 

Co-financing of activities under the National Committee for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) – annual contract

MVZI, UNESCO office

Coordinator: Patricija Mozetič

 

 

 

Selected publications

 

2026

Montali, G., Neri, F., Banchi, E., Cerino, F., Turk Dermastia, T., Francé, J., Mozetič, P., et al. 2026. Phytoplankton diversity in the Northern Adriatic Sea : insights and inconsistencies from microscopy and metabarcoding. Biology. DOI: 10.3390/biology15060487.

 

Puc, U., Abina, A., Salvi, E., Malačič, V., Francé, J., Zanelli, R., Zidanšek, A. 2026. Development and field testing of a cavitation-based robotic platform for sustainable in-water hull cleaning. Journal of marine science and engineering. DOI: 10.3390/jmse14020227.

 

Slavinec, P., Francé, J., Fortič, A., Mozetič, P. 2026. Unveiling microalgal diversity in Slovenian transitional waters (Adriatic Sea): a first step toward ecological status assessment. Diversity. DOI: 10.3390/d18010021.

 

Ubaldi, M., Neri, F., Montali, G., Romagnoli, T., Tomasini, A., Cerino, F., Turk Dermastia, T., Mozetič, P., Fancé, J., Spoto, C., Accoroni, S., Totti, C. 2026. Microalgal communities in mucilage aggregates (Northern Adriatic Sea, summer 2024) based on microscopy and metabarcoding. Phycology. DOI: 10.3390/phycology6010005.

 

2025

Mager, S., Manfellotto, F., Ruggiero, A., Di Tuccio, V., Cerino, F., Accoroni, S., Nishimura, T., Mikhno, M., Fattorini, N., Turk Dermastia, T., et al. Genomic diversity in time and space in the toxic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. Harmful algae. DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2024.102791.

 

Turk Dermastia, T., Francé, J., Arapov, J., Neri, F., Accoroni, S., Totti, C., Cerino, F., Ferrante, M.I., Bernardi Aubry, F., Finotto, S., Godrijan, J., Drakulović, D., Mozetič, P. 2025. Comprehensive Insights into Pseudo-nitzschia Research in the Adriatic Sea: Diverse Perspectives and Emerging Discoveries.Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109283.

 

2024

Buchan, P.M., Glithero, L.D., Mckinley, E., Strand, M., Champion, G., Flander-Putrle, V., et al. 2024. A transdisciplinary co-conceptualisation of marine identity. People and nature. DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10715.

 

Giani, M., Pavlidou, A., Kralj, M., Varkitzi, J., Borja, Á., Menchaca, I., Lipizer, M., Partescano, E., Urbini, L., Francé, J., et al. 2024. Assessment of the eutrophication status at Mediterranean sub-basin scale, within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Science of the total environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173876.

 

Henigman, U., Mozetič, P., Francé, J., Knific, T., Grebenc, S., Dolenc, J., Kirbiš, A., Biasizzo, M. 2024. Okadaic acid as a major problem for the seafood safety (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and the dynamics of toxic phytoplankton in the Slovenian coastal sea (Gulf of Trieste, Adriatic Sea). Harmful algae. DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2024.102632.

 

Marzidovšek, M., Francé, J., Podpečan, V., Grebenc, S., Dolenc, J., Mozetič, P. 2024. Explainable machine learning for predicting diarrhetic shellfish poisoning events in the Adriatic Sea using long-term monitoring data. Harmful algae. DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2024.102728.

 

Turk Dermastia, T., Kutnjak, D., Gutiérrez-Aguirre, I., Brussaard, C. P. D., Bačnik, K. 2024. Discovery of novel and known viruses associated with toxigenic and non-toxigenic bloom forming diatoms from the Northern Adriatic Sea. Harmful algae. DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2024.102737.

 

Vascotto, I., Bernardi Aubry, F., Bastianini, M., Mozetič, P., Finotto, S., Francé, J. 2024. Exploring the mesoscale connectivity of phytoplankton periodic assemblages' succession in northern Adriatic pelagic habitats. Science of the total environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169814.

 

Vascotto, I., Mozetič, P., Francé, J. 2024. Phytoplankton morphological traits and biomass outline community dynamics in a coastal ecosystem (Gulf of Trieste, Adriatic Sea). Community ecology: an official organ of the Hungarian Ecological Society. DOI: 10.1007/s42974-024-00215-4.

 

2023

Turk Dermastia, T., Vascotto, I., Francé, J., Stanković, D., Mozetič, P., 2023. Evaluation of the rbcL marker for metabarcoding of marine diatoms and inference of population structure of selected genera. Front. Microbiol. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1071379

 

2022

Flander-Putrle, V., Francé, J., Mozetič, P. 2022. Phytoplankton Pigments Reveal Size Structure and Interannual Variability of the Coastal Phytoplankton Community (Adriatic Sea). Water. DOI: 10.3390/w14010023

 

Turk Dermastia, T., Dall’Ara, S., Dolenc, J., Mozetič, P. 2022. Toxicity of the Diatom Genus Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae) : insights from toxicity tests and genetic screening in the Northern Adriatic Sea.Toxins. DOI: 10.3390/toxins14010060.

 

2021

Brush, M.J., Mozetič, P., Francé, J., Bernardi Aubry, F., Djakovac, T., Faganeli, J., Harris, L.A., Niesen, M. 2021. Phytoplankton dynamics in a changing environment. In: Malone, T.C., Malej, A., Faganeli, J. (eds.). Coastal ecosystems in transition: a comparative analysis of the northern Adriatic and Chesapeake Bay, (Geophysical monograph series). AGU: Wiley. DOI: 10.1002/9781119543626.ch4.

 

Francé, J., Varkitzi, I., Stanca, E., Cozzoli, F., Skejić, S., Ungaro, N., Vascotto, I., Mozetič, P., Ninčević Gladan, Ž., Assimakopoulou, G., Pavlidou, A., Zervoudaki, S., Pagou, K., Basset, A., 2021. Large-scale testing of phytoplankton diversity indices for environmental assessment in Mediterranean sub-regions (Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Seas). Ecological Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107630.

 

Zingone, A., Escalera, L., Aligizaki, K., Fernandez-Tejedor, M., Ismael, A., Montresor, M., Mozetič, P., Taş, S., Totti, C. 2021. Toxic marine microalgae and noxious blooms in the Mediterranean Sea: a contribution to the Global HAB status report. Harmful algae. DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2020.101843.

 

 

Collaborations 

 

University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty https://www.uni-lj.si/university/

Institute “Jožef Stefan” https://www.ijs.si/ijsw/JSI

National Institute of Chemistry https://www.ki.si/en/

National Veterinary Institute https://www.vf.uni-lj.si/en/nvi

Inštitut za vode RS https://www.izvrs.si/

OGS https://www.ogs.trieste.it/

ISMAR http://www.ismar.cnr.it/

CMR Rovinj https://www.irb.hr/eng/Divisions/Center-for-Marine-Research

University of Zagreb http://www.unizg.hr/homepage/

Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IOR), Split, Croatia https://galijula.izor.hr/en/

Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia https://www.imp-du.com/en

Fondazione Centro Ricerche Marine – Laboratoro Nazionale di riferimento per le Biotossine Marine, Cesenatico, Italy https://www.centroricerchemarine.it/it-IT/index-index/

Microbia Environnement https://www.microbia-environnement.com/

Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Greece, https://www.hcmr.gr/

University of Salento, Lecce, Italy https://www.unisalento.it/

Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy https://www.univpm.it/Entra/

Agenzia regionale per la protezione dell'ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA FVG), Italy, https://www.arpa.fvg.it/

IRB zagreb https://www.irb.hr/eng/

ICM-CSIC Barcelona https://icmdivulga.icm.csic.es/

Rutgers University, USA https://marine.rutgers.edu/

NIOZ https://www.nioz.nl/en

 

 

 

Other activities

 

Education and outreach:

 

Members of the group hold teaching positions or are actively involved in teaching activities at:

- University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, Faculty of Education

- University of Ljubljana: Interdisciplinary Doctoral Study Programme in Environmental Protection

- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School

 

We are committed to human resource development, not only through the programme for young researchers, but also as tutors of domestic and international students during compulsory internships and as supervisors of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral theses. Through regular outreach activities (e.g. open-door events, researcher nights) and other dissemination strategies, we contribute to society’s ocean literacy.

 

National appointments:

 

- National Representative of UNESCO-IOC Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) (P. Mozetič)

- Chair of National Committee of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (NO IOC) of the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO (P. Mozetič)

- Vice Chair and Secretary of the National Committee for the Ocean Decade of the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO (P. Mozetič, V. Flander Putrle)

- National Representative for the Ocean (V. Flander Putrle)

- Member of the SPA-RAC Working Group on Pelagic Habitats in support of the Barcelona Convention (J. Francé)

- Representative in the Interministerial Working Group on Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (V. Flander Putrle)

- President of the Slovenian Natural History Society (T. Turk Dermastia)

 

Awards, Recognition, Fellowships:

 

- FEMS Fellowship, ICM-CSIC Barcelona, Spain, 2025 (P. Slavinec)

- Euromarine OYSTER ECR Cooperation Project “Diversity and Responses of Plankton: Tracking Microbial Community Structure in the Mediterranean Sea - from Satellite to DNA (DROPTHEMIC-MED)”, 2025 (P. Slavinec)

- ARIS Award “Excellence in Science 2024” in the field of biotechnology for the article 10.1016/j.hal.2024.102632, produced in collaboration with the Veterinary Faculty (P. Mozetič, J. Francé)

- Prometheus of Science Award for Excellence in Communication for 2019 to the editorial board of the publication Half a Century Long Path of the Marine Biology Station Piran 1969-2019 (J. Francé, N. Kovač, P. Mozetič)

- Prometheus of Science Award for Excellence in Communication for 2018 to young researcher Timotej Turk Dermastia

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