Evolution in heterogeneous environments: mechanisms of adaptation, biomonitoring and conservation biodiversity

Heterogeneity of abiotic and biotic environments influences variability (at molecular, cytological and morphological levels, as well as the variability in life history traits and behaviour), poplulation structure and evolutionary processes (genetic specialization, phenotypic plasticity, speciation process) in various groups of biota (invertebrates, vertebrates and plants), affecting the status of biodiversity and dispersal of indigenous species and those that are introduced, especially when they are considered invasive. The research will be accomplished mainly on organisms in natural populations and their native habitats, as well as on organisms in native and anthropogenous habitats and those taken from nature to be reared in experimental conditions. The results obtained at different organizational levels (eg., molecular and morphological) in populations belonging to same species in similar and different environments, closely related but ecologically different species, different taxa from the same geographic region and exotic species, especially those with the invasive history in other recipient areas, will be compared. They will serve for phylogeographic analyses and give an insight into the validity of particular indicators of the environment disturbance level, as well as into the status of ecosystems in both the region and Europe.