About the Institute

The Institute of Ecology of Nature Research Centre, a state-financed institution, is the leader in ecological research in Lithuania. Going through the seventh decade of its operation, the Institute conducts scientific studies of international significance in ecology, zoology, animal physiology, genetics, ethology and parasitology. The staff of the Institute prepares scientists and highly qualified lecturers for universities.

In response to challenges of modern life, the Institute aims for long-term goals by integrating ecological thought and practice of sustainable development. On the basis of scientific studies, the databases of fundamental, applied and experimental research are developed and maintained.

Fundamental research conducted by the Institute is in line with priorities of the most recent global scientific trends. The latest scientific activities cover the functioning of ecosystems and their components, including their sensitivity, vulnerability, adaptation and microevolution patterns and mechanisms in the environment under global change and anthropogenic impact; physiological and ethological mechanisms of animal population control and communication as well as the role of parasites in ecosystems.

On the basis of fundamental research, the Institute performed expertise on of the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), National Strategies for Environment Protection, Fishery Development, Preservation of Biodiversity, and Environmental Education of Society. The Institute has achieved many other results of critical importance to the state.

The Institute’s scientific work is highly significant for national environmental protection policy and the development of separate branches of economy. With the participation of the Institute scientists, the assessment of the impact of heat- and hydropower industries on the environment was carried out and appropriate recommendations for the national policy submitted. Also, the Institute performed the assessment of environmental consequences arising from construction or reconstruction of such industrial holdings of national significance as the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, Būtingė Oil Terminal, Klaipėda Seaport, etc.

Institute is a major contributor when it comes to implementing a national ecological monitoring, submitting recommendations and proposals for environmental quality improvements, and mitigating anthropogenic and global climate change impacts. The Institute scientists were involved in the work of harmonizing Lithuanian legislation with EU law, performed territorial selection for the NATURA 2000 European Project, and designed administration plans and measures for selected territories. Further activities include reports on national and regional biodiversity studies, and the implementation of the UNFCCC.

Nine laboratories, a strong experimental bases (6 stationary units, experimental aquarium, two seagoing experimental ships, the GIS Centre gradually winning a wider recognition in the Baltic Sea region), and a powerful academic potential – 64 scientists (9 of them are habilitated doctors and professors, 47 – doctors and lecturers, while all in all the Institute employs 140 people) allows the performance of highly complex tasks. The list of the contractors includes not only local ministries, municipalities, companies or organizations, but also numerous international organizations and funds: NATO, PHARE, OMPO, UNESCO, US Department of State, UNDP, GEF, UNEP, etc. The Institute participates in the EU FP5 and FP6 research projects.

Many studies are carried out in cooperation with scientific institutions of foreign countries. Numerous projects are run with the neighbouring countries of Poland, Belarus, Latvia, Sweden and Russia.

A close international cooperation takes place in the following activities: the monitoring of the Baltic Sea littoral and fish; preparation of recommendations for fishing quotas; development of research in response of fish species and assemblages to various types of human pressures; selection of metrics, the most sensitive to human pressure in the rivers; development of fish based multi-metric method for assessment of ecological status of rivers; development of biomarkers to assess the environmental health of marine and freshwater ecosystems; genotoxicity research into various organic compounds found in fish and mollusk tissues; genotoxicity assessment of oil pollution in the ecosystems of the North, Baltic, Barents, Mediterranean Seas and the Atlantic Ocean; search for oil-decomposing microorganisms and their identification by DNA sequencing methods; development of new geoinformation technologies applied in ecological and landscape research; special studies into the impact of global climate change on ecosystems, habitats, communities, species and their adaptation capabilities; preparation of recommendations for mitigation measures.

The Institute is highly competitive in scientific achievements. In some scientific areas its employers have a world-wide priority. Its scientists are invited to conduct academic research and give lectures in scientific institutions of many countries (USA, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, France, etc.). They give lectures for bachelor and master students under cooperation agreements with five Lithuanian universities. The Institute has been granted the right to conduct doctorate studies in ecology, environmental research and zoology. Every year, 10-16 doctoral students continue their studies at the Institute. Since the 1990, the total of 69 theses have been defended (58 for a doctor’s degree and 11 for a habilitated doctor’s degree).

During the last decade, the Institute scientists published over 120 studies, books and other publications, 1600 scientific papers, delivered approximately 1000 conference presentations and held over 50 academic conferences (half of them international). As many as 10 scientists are the laureates of the Lithuanian Science Prize.

The Institute publishes study papers, books and other academic publications. It has already been 10 years, since the first publication of the scientific quarterly journal in English Acta Zoologica Lituanica.

The Institute scientists have good reasons to be proud of their unique collections: the largest in Europe collection of blood parasites (over 10,000 preparations), collections of insects (over 1 million pieces),small mammal skulls, etc.

Scientific Research Activity of the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University Annual Report 2008