NEWS
Visit to the Centre for GeoGenetics of the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
On 11 and 12 September 2025, a scientist from the Croatian Geological Survey (HGI), dr. Nikolina Ilijanić, visited the Centre for GeoGenetics of the Globe Institute in Copenhagen, where she was hosted by the PI of the research group, dr. Ana Prohaska, and her team. At the working meeting, dr. Ilijanić was introduced to the group's research topics - from the reconstruction of the genome of coral reefs and the extraction of fossil DNA from pollen, to the current phase of the Great Adriatic Plain Project, in which HGI collaborates with dr. Prohaska's group. The project focuses on the reconstruction of plant and animal assemblages from the Last Glacial to the present day using ancient environmental DNA preserved in sediments on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Paleoenvironmental changes, which can be traced in lake and marine sediments from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene, are the result of the interaction of geomorphological processes and paleoclimatic changes. The multi-proxy approach to sediment core analyses will enable a more detailed reconstruction of past environments. The collaboration is also being carried out through research within the internal research project PLATE (Paleolimnology of Croatian Karst Lakes: Monitoring Environmental Changes). During the visit, modern methods and laboratories in the study of modern and ancient DNA were presented, such as measurements of DNA concentration and quality (Qubit fluorometer, Bioanalyzer), as well as sample preparation. Additional sediment cores from Lake Vrana were prepared in the laboratory, which will be analyzed in the future. Additional sampling was also carried out during the visit of dr. Ana Prohaska, dr. Sara Behnamian and dr. Aikaterini Kafetzido to the HGI from 9 to 11 June 2025. This collaboration contributes to a better understanding of evolutionary processes and environmental changes in the Adriatic area and beyond, and the visit resulted in a fruitful exchange of scientific experiences and ideas for future research.
Nikolina Ilijanić and Ana Prohaska in front of the Centre for GeoGenetics in Copenhagen (left) and performing measurements in the geogenetics laboratory (right).
Radni sastanak istraživačke grupe Ane Prohaske.
Laboratory for sample preparation during the cutting of sediment cores on the device.
Working and archive halves of sediment cores prepared for further analysis and sedDNA sampling.
