Ana Fortič

SHORT CV

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), 6 March 2023, University of Ljubljana. Biosciences, field: Biology. Dissertation title: Structure and succession of the marine sessile invertebrate fouling communities and its filtration efficiency. Supervisor: Prof. Lovrenc Lipej, PhD; Co-supervisor: Assist. Prof. Borut Mavrič, PhD.

MSc in Structural and Functional Biology, 16 May 2016, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty. Thesis title: Trophic ecology of the moon jelly (Aurelia aurita s.l.) and its influence on the microbial loop. Supervisor: Prof. Jasna Štrus, PhD; Co-supervisor: Prof. Valentina Turk, PhD.

BSc in Biology (UN), 28 August 2012, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty.

COLLABORATIONS

Seznam novejših projektov, v katerih sem sodelovala:

1. Non-indigenous bryozoans in the Mediterranean Sea: a threat to ecosystems or only a nuisance? Z1-60165 (ARIS; dr. Ana Fortič, 2025-2026)
2. TRECap Trezze, tegnue and the marine environments of the northern Adriatic: capitalization (Interreg Italia-Slovenija; OGS, 2023-2025)
3. Life Pinna: Conservation and re-stocking of the Pinna nobilis in the western Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea (LIFE20 NAT/IT/001122 PINNA; ARPAL, 2021-2025)
4. Solutions for the restoration of brown algal forests BI-HR/23-24-021 (ARIS, dr. Martina Orlando Bonaca, 2023-2025)
5. Research program Coastal marine research P1-0237 (ARIS; dr. Patricija Mozetič, 2015-2027)
6. fDNAaqua – Environmental DNA trapped by filter feeders (fDNA): Tool for monitoring of aquatic biodiversity J1-3015 (ARIS; dr. David Stanković, 2021-2025)
7. Monitoring biodiversity and abundance of alien species in the Slovenian coastal sea 2021–2023 (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food; dr. Borut Mavrič, 2021-2023)

FIELD OF RESEARCH

During my PhD, I studied the processes shaping the structure and succession of marine fouling communities in the northern Adriatic Sea, with a particular focus on bryozoans and non-indigenous species. I also conducted manipulative laboratory experiments to investigate filtration activity and clearance rates of fouling bryozoans and ascidians. These research components were later integrated through the estimation of clearance rates on small artificial structures with different properties and in different environmental settings.

I am currently a member of the Biodiversity research group, led by Associate Professor Martina Orlando Bonaca, PhD, where I continue to investigate fouling communities and other topics in marine ecology. I am the principal investigator of my ARIS postdoctoral project “Non-indigenous bryozoans in the Mediterranean Sea: a threat to ecosystems or only a nuisance?”«. In addition, I am involved in the ARIS research program P1-0237 (Coastal Marine Research) and several other research projects focusing on topics ranging from marine biodiversity monitoring to the restoration of the bivalve Pinna nobilis and brown algal forests, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and processes of bioinvasion. I am also the responsible person for NIB in the Interreg project TRECap, where, together with Italian partners, we study valuable marine habitats of the northern Adriatic Sea and the fan mussel (Pinna nobilis).

I am a certified diver (SSI Master Diver) with experience in scientific diving and underwater documentation techniques.

SELECTED (NEWER) PUBLICATIONS

Pitacco, Valentina, Trkov, Domen, Caracciolo, Daniela, Ciriaco, Saul, Segarich, Marco, Batistini, Edoardo, Orlando-Bonaca, Martina, Lipej, Lovrenc, Mavrič, Borut, Rogelja, Manja, Azzena, Ilenia, Locci, Chiara, Scarpa, Fabio, Sanna, Daria, Casu, Marco, Manfrin, Chiara, Pallavicini, Alberto, Fortič, Ana. Recruitment and controlled growth of juveniles of the critically endangered fan mussel Pinna nobilis in the Northern Adriatic. Diversity. Oct. 2025, vol. 17, iss. 10, [article no.] 666, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100666. 

Pitacco, Valentina, Fortič, Ana, Trkov, Domen, Mavrič, Borut, Mlinar, Ciril, Lipej, Lovrenc. Growth rates of the critically endangered fan mussel Pinna nobilis in the Slovenian sea (northern Adriatic). Endangered species research. 2025, vol. 58, 381-39. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01455. 

Fortič, Ana, Mavrič, Borut, Slavinec, Petra, Lipej, Lovrenc. The Overlooked suspension feeders: the filtering activity of the Bryozoans Schizoporella errata and Bugula neritina in the Northern Adriatic. Journal of marine science and engineering. 2025, vol. 13, no. 6, [article no.] 1052, 1-17. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/6/1052. 

Glamuzina, Branko, Vilizzi, Lorenzo, Piria, Marina, Žuljević, Ante, Lipej, Lovrenc, Fortič, Ana, Mavrič, Borut, Trkov, Domen, et al. Global Warming Scenarios for the Eastern Adriatic Sea indicate a higher risk of invasiveness of non-native marine organisms relative to current climate conditions. Marine life science & technology. 2024, vol. 6,143-154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42995-023-00196-9. 

Wolf, Marion Adelheid, Sciuto, Katia, Buosi, Alessandro, Orlando-Bonaca, Martina, Fortič, Ana, Sfriso, Adriano. Dasysiphonia adriatica sp. nov. (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta), a new red algal species from the North Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea). Mediterranean Marine Science. 2024, vol. 25, no. 3, 570-577. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.38141. 

 Link to COBISS, a Slovenian database containing all my publications