II. Biodiversity and Evolution Group

Head: Prof. Lucyna Śliwa

Scientific Staff: Dr. Paweł Czachura, Dr. Valerii Darmostuk, Dr. Adam Flakus, Dr. Katarzyna Izworska, Dr. Paulina Janik, Dr. Beata Krzewicka, Dr. Joanna Lenarczyk, Dr. Edyta Mazur, Dr. Barbara Pawełek, Dr. Marcin Piątek, Dr. Pamela Rodriguez-Flakus, Prof. Anna Ronikier, Dr. Michał Ronikier, Monika Stryjak-Bogacka, Dr. Tomasz Suchan, Professor Lucyna Śliwa, Dr. Karina Wilk

Technical Staff: Wiktoria Kędzior, Dr. Natalia Matura, Dr. Wojciech Paul, Barbara Skoczek

Research profile

The aim of the group is to combine studies on the different aspects of evolution and biodiversity of fungi (with lichens) and algae, and to understand how these organisms interact with each other, with other organisms and with their abiotic environment. Research is conducted on both organismal level (analyses of phenotypic traits) and molecular level (analyses of genetic and chemical properties). In addition, ecological analyses are carried out. It is anticipated that the findings of our research activity, encompassing the phylogeny, genomics, systematics, taxonomy, morphology and diversity of the studied organisms, will add significantly to knowledge about their evolution. The addressed research problems, related to fungi and algae living on or co-occurring with other organisms (e.g. bryophytes, or vascular plants) and their co-evolutionary relationships, will allow to know their interactions with biotic environment. The aim of ecological analyses of selected organisms in selected habitats is to determine their interactions with abiotic environment.

Research teams and topics

Team II.1

Leader: Dr. Marcin Piątek

Research topic: Biological diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of fungi from the subkingdom Dikarya (P. Czachura, M. Piątek, M. Stryjak-Bogacka)

Team II.2

Leader: Professor Lucyna Śliwa

Research topic: Variability and speciation of lecanoroid lichens, particularly in neotropical regions (E. Mazur, L. Śliwa)

Team II.3

Leader: Dr. Adam Flakus

Research topic: Phylogenetic relationships and systematics of lichenicolous fungi and associated microbiomes in poorly studied tropical habitats of the Andes (V. Darmostuk, A. Flakus, P. Rodriguez-Flakus)

Team II.4

Leader: Dr. Beata Krzewicka

Research topic: Taxonomy and biodiversity of algae and lichens in natural and anthropogenic habitats and their adaptation to the environment (B. Krzewicka, J. Lenarczyk, K. Wilk)

Team II.5

Leader: Prof. Anna Ronikier

Research topic: Taxonomy, phylogeny, and phylogeography of of nivicolous myxomycetes (Myxomycetes) (P. Janik, A. Ronikier)

Team II.6

Leader: Dr. Tomasz Suchan

Research topic: Factors shaping biodiversity in mountain and polar habitats – analyses using next-generation-sequencing-based techniques (K. Izworska, B. Pawełek, M. Ronikier, T. Suchan)