Our scientific activities are mainly focused on biodiversity of particular groups of invertebrates, their taxonomy, ecology, evolution, biology and biogeography. We are the team of experts working on identifications, descriptions and classifications of subject organisms based on their affinity relationships. We use traditional morphological methods as well as those based on molecular biology tools.
Results of our studies, besides cognitive aspect, bear also practical applications like nature protection, agriculture, forestry, biodiversity and ecosystem assessments in various regions of the World, causes of organism distribution patterns, assessment of negative impact onto environment, biomonitoring and forensic studies. The research we conduct are often interdisciplinary in character, and realized in co-operation with several foreign scientific institutions.
The rank of the Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology is well attested by its output produced by researches and PhD students alike, successful grant acquisition policies, research expeditions and substantial share in workforce by undergraduate students, as well as multiple ties with other research centers.
Our main subject taxonomical groups are mites (Acari), spiders (Araneae), hairybacks (Gastrotricha), insects (Insecta) and water bears (Tardigrada). We work on extant faunas on all continents as well as on those of past geological epochs.