Department of Agricultural Zoology

Department
of Agricultural Zoology

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture
Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Pavilion III, Ground Floor

Department SecretaryPhoneE-mail (+ @agr.hr)
Vesna Brezovac, Department Secretary
Administrative Assistant
+385 1 239 3805vbrezovac
Scientific-teaching employeesPhoneE-mail (+ @agr.hr)
Prof. Aleksandar Mešić, PhD, Head of Department
Professor
+385 1 239 3858amesic
Prof. Bogdan Cvjetković, PhD, Professor Emeritus
Professor emeritus
+385 1 239 3805bcvjetkovic
Prof. Renata Bažok, PhD
Full Professor
+385 1 239 3969rbazok
Prof. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, PhD
Full Professor
+385 1 239 3968tgotlin
Prof. Dinka Grubišić, PhD
Professor
+385 1 239 3967djelinic
Assoc. Prof. Maja Čačija, PhD
Associate Professor
+385 1 239 3621mcacija
Assoc. Prof. Ivan Juran, PhD
Associate Professor
+385 98 853 621ijuran
Assoc. Prof. Darija Lemić, PhD
Associate Professor
+385 1 239 3649dlemic
Assoc. Prof. Ivana Pajač Živković, PhD
Associate Professor
+385 1 239 3948ipajac
Helena Virić Gašparić, PhD
Senior Assistant
+385 1 239 3804hviric
Sandra Skendžić, MSc. agr.
Assistant
sskendzic
Expert-technical employeesPhoneE-mail (+ @agr.hr)
Damir Bertić, MSc. agr.
Senior tehnical associate
+385 1 239 3966dbertic
Irena Dušak
Technical Assistant
+385 1 239 3966idusak

Services and products

Improvement and introduction of integrated and environmentally friendly plant protection

In cooperation with agricultural producers integrated and environmentally friendly plant protection systems against pests, nematodes, and snails are introduced. Department employees carry out training of farmers for the implementation of integrated pest management ("field schools"). Measures of biological crop protection are also introduced through the use of natural pest enemies (predatory and parasitic insects, mites, nematodes and fungi). Species of parasitic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (suppression of Codling Moth) and Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (suppression of harmful snails in gardening cultures), parasitic wasps Encarsia formosa, predatory true bugs Macrolophus caliginosus and entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium Lecanii (suppression of shield flower moth in greenhouse tomato) have been used in the field studies.

prof. dr. sc. Renata Bažok, prof. dr. sc. Božena Barić, prof. dr. sc. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić, doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić

Research in phytopharmacy

In cooperation with pesticides manufacturers, research is carried out on the effectiveness, residual effects and environmental impacts, particularly on biodiversity of registered pesticides. As a part of this research a spread of certain pests resistance to certain pesticides is being observed.

prof. dr. sc. Renata Bažok, prof. dr. sc. Božena Barić, prof. dr. sc. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić, doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić

Application of pesticides

In cooperation with producers of agricultural crops and ornamental plants and pesticide producers Department investigates the application of modern equipment and new techniques and the possibility for applying the reduced dosage and combination of individual pesticides. In the urban entomology a pest control is conducted using the endotherapeutic tehnique of treating plants by injecting insecticides into the trunk of ornamental trees.

doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić

Soil and plant sample analyses for the presence of cyst nematodes and free living nematodes

Morphological and molecular identification of harmful species of nematodes, determining the viability and number of nematode populations for making recommendations.

doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić

Soil and plant sample analyses for the presence of harmful and beneficial insects

Determination of harmful and beneficial insect fauna.

prof. dr. sc. Renata Bažok, prof. dr. sc. Božena Barić, prof. dr. sc. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić, doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić

Analysis and determination of slugs

doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić

Studies, programs, advisements

Studies, programs and advisements are made in accordance with the requesta and needs of agricultural producers, pesticide manufacturers and other organizations.

prof. dr. Božena Barić, prof. dr. Renata Bažok, prof. dr. sc. Tanja Gotlin Čuljak, doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić, doc. dr. sc. Aleksandar Mešić

Genetic research - molecular methods

Molecular identification of harmful insect species (Agriotes sp.) and nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis Woll., Mulvey & Stone and Globodera pallida Stone) based on the basic molecular methods (DNA isolation, PCR, sequencing). Genotyping and analysis of intra - and interpopulation genetic variability of major pests in agriculture (Cydia pomonella L., Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) by using molecular markers (microsatellites). Analyses of molecular phylogeny are used to define the relationship between species based on differences in DNA sequences.

dr.sc. Ivana Pajač Živković, Maja Čačija, dipl.ing, Darija Lemić, dipl.ing

Experimental stations and laboratories

Laboratory of Nematology

Laboratory is equipped with a device for extracting cyst nematodes from soil samples (Spears, 1968) and a device for extracting free living nematodes from samples of soil and plants (Oostenbrink - MECCA GmbH).

Head of the  Laboratory of Nematology: doc. dr. sc. Dinka Grubišić

Laboratory of Entomology

Laboratory is equipped with equipment for the identification, cultivation and study of the biology and ecology of harmful and beneficial insects.

Head of the  Laboratory of Entomology: dr.sc. Ivana Pajač Živković

History of the Department of Agricultural Zoology

With the founding of the Faculty for Agriculture and Forestry in 1919 zoological and entomological cabinets were created. In 1932 they were united and Department of Entomology was established. After separation of the Forestry and Agricultural Faculties, Department for Entomology expands and changes the name to the Department of Agricultural Zoology, which it still holds today. Over this period many world renowned scientists like prof. dr. A. Korlević, prof. dr. A. Langhoffer, prof. dr. B. Hergula, prof. dr. A. Kurir, prof. dr. Z. Kovačević, prof. dr. L. Schmidt, and two academics Z. Lorković and M. Maceljski worked at the Department. The first Head of the Department was prof. dr. A. Korlević.

Work at the Department began with the research of insects and other animals (dust mites, nematodes, snails, rodents) followed by research of biology and ecology and the possibility of control of the harmful species. The Department studied the methods of pesticide application and particular attention was paid to non pesticide methods in plant protection, especially biological control.

Specialists of the Department have a long cooperation with all relevant professionals and institutions worldwide. Scientific work is reflected by the 12 USDA projects, COST projects, FAO projects, SEERA NET.PLUS, IPA, CSF and numerous other foreign and domestic projects. In the field of integrated and environmentally friendly pest management Department has a leading role in this part of Europe. First in Europe (excluding the former USSR) Department introduced the insect species Zygogramma suturalis  from the United States for biological control of weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia, and in the field of biological weed and insect control significant results have been made. Department experts are researching the biology and ecology of quarantine pests in Croatia, especially corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera and Globodera rostochiensis. In the Department the fauna of Aphidina, Heteroptera, Coccinelidae, Elateridae, and nematodes are specifically studied. The results of these studies are included in a great number of published scientific papers.

Since 1962 the Department has held a postgraduate study of Phytomedicine where a number of distinguished scientists have acquired the degree of Master of Science. Employees of the Department and especially Academician Milan Maceljski were also the founders of the profile of Plant Protection at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb.

In collaboration with other Departments, the Department of Agricultural Zoology has been the organizer of the Seminar in plant protection for 57 years. The results of continuous scientific and expert work define this Department as a leading learning institution in the Republic of Croatia and a significant participant of entomological and zoological profession in the world.

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