Laboratory of Marine Ecology

The main research trends – the structure and productivity of zoocenozes of the Baltic Sea coastal zone, Curonian Lagoon and Kaunas Water Reservoir, the regularities of biological diversity and fish stock under the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors. The regular investigations of stock and monitoring of zoobenthos and fish in these waterbodies are implemented. The Laboratory participates in the programmes of investigations and rehabilitation of rare fish species and in different environmental projects for development of Klaipëda Port, Bûtingë Oil Terminal, Kruonis Hydroaccumulation Power Plant and other industrial objects.

Since 2003, the Laboratory of Marine Ecology has been using a new experimental vessel ‘Ecologist’ in the littoral of the Baltic Sea and in the Curonian Lagoon.

In 1949, the Sector of Hydrobiology (headed by I.Gasiûnas up to 1952 and A.Gediminas up to 1959) was established at the Institute of Biology of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, and the Hydrobiological Station in Ventë Cape. After the foundation of the Institute of Zoology and Parasitology in 1959, the Sector of Hydrobiology remained under its auspices (headed by J.Maniukas). Due to the reorganisation of the hydrobiological departments of the institute, the Ichthyological Sector (headed by J.Maniukas up to 1984 and A.Gerulaitis up to 1994), and the Laboratory of Hydrobiology were established in 1962. The Ichthyological Station was set up in Rusnë in 1965. Expanding research on species productivity in an area, the Hydrobiology Laboratory was reorganised into the Laboratory of Species Biology in 1979  (headed by R.Volskis from 1966 to1984), the latter being renamed the Laboratory of Marine Ecology in 1991.

At present, the staff of the laboratory consists of 10 employees. Since 1991, 5 doctoral theses have been maintained. Plenty of ordered research is being carried out; the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture are constantly being provided with recommendations for applying fishery regulation measures, and for setting limits of catches in separate water bodies. Performing research in the Baltic littoral and the Curonian Lagoon, the laboratory is in close cooperation with the Coastal Research Institute in Sweden, and with Kaliningrad AtlantNIRO Research Institute in the Russian Federation.

Fish ageing and otolith research group

Linas Ložys, Dr – Head of Laboratory, Senior Researcher

Tel. +370 5 272 92 84, e-mail: lozys@ekoi.lt

Ecology of Percid and Anguillidae fish species, stock assessment and monitoring, physiological influence of salinity to the fish, cormorants influence for fishery

Rimantas Repečka, Dr – Senior Researcher

Tel. +370 5 272 92 84, e-mail: repecka@ekoi.lt

The ecology of migratory fish species, evaluation of fish stock, abundance and biomass in coastal aquatories, dynamics of biochemical composition of different fish species

Algis Bubinas, Dr – Researcher

Tel. +370 5 272 92 84, e-mail: bubinas@ekoi.lt

Feeding of fish and bottom fauna in the Kaunas water reservoir, Nemunas river, Curonian Lagoon and Baltic Sea, ecology of the acclimatized Crustacea of the Caspian complex

Valdemaras Žiliukas, Dr – Senior Researcher

Tel. +370 5 272 92 84, e-mail: ziliukas@ekoi.lt

Ichthyology, ecology, aquaculture: investigations of the juvenile fish communities in Lithuanian water bodies, fish stock assessment, the artificial reproduction of various fish species, evaluation of efficiency of fish passes

Vida Žiliukienė, Dr. – Senior Researcher

Tel. +370 5 272 92 84, e-mail: v.ziliukiene@one.lt

Ichthyology, ecology, aquaculture: investigations of ichthyoplankton, zooplankton and fish larvae feeding, fish stock assessment, the artificial reproduction of various fish species, evaluation of efficiency of fish passes

Gintautas Vaitonis, Dr – Researcher

Tel. +370 5 272 92 84, e-mail: gintas@ekoi.lt

Feeding of fish and investigations of bottom fauna in the Kaunas water reservoir, Nemunas river, Curonian Lagoon and Baltic Sea, ecology of the acclimatized Crustacea of the Caspian complex, ecoengineer problems

Svajūnas Stankus, Dr – Researcher

Tel. +370 5 272 92 84, e-mail: stankus@ekoi.lt

Ichthyology, ecology, aquaculture: investigations of fishes in Lithuanian water, fish stock assessment, fish feeding, reproduction and growth

Dalia Levickienė – Senior Engineer

Tel. +370 5 272 92 84, e-mail: dale@ekoi.lt

Ichthyology, fish population structure, estimate of fish age and investigation of biochemical parameters of fish

Remigijus Rimkus – Captain

Tel. +370 441 44 511, mob. tel. +370 682 57219

The captain and mechanic of R/V „Ekologas“ and „Ventvëjas“, the head of field stations in Ventë and Rusnė

Žilvinas Pūtys - doctoral student

Research Services

Projects

Monitoring of Structure and Abundance of Commercial Fish Populations in the Curonian Lagoon and the Nemunas River Delta (R.Repečka)

Structure and Abundance of Ichthyocenozis in the Baltic Sea Coast near Palanga (R.Repečka)

Fish Migration Monitoring (R.Repečka)

Assessment of Natural Diversity of Fish Populations in Inland Waters and Biological Substantiation of Fish Artificial Reproduction (L.Ložys)

The Marking of Turbots and Assessment of their Population Conditions (S.Stankus)

Publications

Repečka, R., Bukelskis E., Kesminas V. Fish of Lithuania [P. 2]: Fish of the Baltic Sea. Vilnius: Dexma, 1998. 112 p. (in Lithuanian).

Žiliukas V. 1999. Ecological analysis of shore-zone fish fry communities of the Nemunas river basin. Hydrobiological research in the Baltic countries (Rivers and lakes, part 1). Vilnius: 37-65.

Žiliukienë V., Žiliukas V. 2000. Ecological characteristics of the ichthyoplankton of the Curonian Lagoon. Acta Zoologica Lituanica 10(4): 32-55.

Stankus S. 2002. Growth, sex structure and commercial significance of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) in the Lithuanian EEZ. Bulletin of the Sea Fisheries Institute 1 (155): 53-60.

Bubinas A., Repečka R. (eds) 2003. Hydrobiological studies of the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. Acta Zoologica Lituanica. Vilnius: Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, 13(2): 95-250.

Ložys L. 2004. The growth of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca L.) and perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) under different water temperature and salinity conditions in the Curonian Lagoon and Lithuanian coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. Hydrobiologia, The International Journal of Aquatic Sciences 514(1): 105-113.