About project

Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) microbiome: insight into endozoic and epizoic communities

(Mikrobiom glavate želve (Caretta caretta): uvid u epizoičke i endozoičke zajednice)

TurtleBIOME project contribution is to provide a clear, complete and detailed image of the microbial composition of the surface biofilm and the gut microbiome of loggerhead sea turtles. from the Mediterranean Sea. We plan to achieve this goal by pairing state-of-the-art culture-independent molecular approach, e.g. new generation sequencing (NGS) of prokaryotic and eukaryotic components of the micro-community with classical approach of microorganism cultivation, experiments  and light and electronic microscope observations of biofilm components.  

Morphological analyses of turtle-associated surface biofilms

Light and electron microscopy

Cultivation of microorganisms

Establishment and characterization of monocultures and experiments of co-cultivation

Culture-independent molecular characterization

Prokaryotic & eukaryotic microorganisms: amplicon based and metagenomic approach

 

ABOUT US

TurtleBIOME installation research project aims to combine efforts of young and competent scientists in a single cohesive group that will set out the foundation for an interdisciplinary research approach in fields of marine ecology, marine biology and conservation. Within our research group we combined expert knowledge on turtle biology, diatom taxonomy, microbial ecology and bioinformatics. Furthermore, we aim to develop Croatian research skills and expertise through focus on training of young scientists in cutting edge methodology combined with national and international network building.

Project Leader

UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB
FACULTY OF SCIENCE 
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Researcher

UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB
FACULTY OF SCIENCE 
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Postdoctoral researcher

UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB
FACULTY OF SCIENCE 
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

PhD student

UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB
FACULTY OF SCIENCE 
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY


Marine Microbial ecology group

During the pandemic and lockdown period, our group meetings were happening  in a safe virtual environment.

So here we are, TurtleBIOME group in an online meeting in our third year of the project!

MME