Ruiwen Wu | Aquatic Zoology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Ruiwen Wu | Aquatic Zoology | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor | Shanxi Normal University | China

Dr. Ruiwen Wu is a researcher at Shanxi Normal University whose work centers on the taxonomy, phylogeny, biodiversity, and conservation of freshwater mussels and other bivalves. Her research integrates morphological, molecular, and phylogenomic approaches to uncover hidden diversity, describe new species, and refine the systematic classification of Unionidae and related taxa. She has significantly contributed to understanding the evolutionary relationships and biogeography of endemic Chinese freshwater mussels, advancing knowledge on their genetic diversity, population structure, and ecological adaptations. Her publications in high impact journals such as Invertebrate Systematics, ZooKeys, Zoologica Scripta, Freshwater Biology, and BMC Genomics demonstrate her expertise in combining integrative taxonomy with conservation biology. Dr. Wu’s studies have also addressed broader ecological issues, including biodiversity loss due to habitat alteration and dam construction. Her research outputs include detailed phylogenetic reconstructions, mitochondrial genome analyses, and biogeographic assessments that inform species conservation strategies and contribute to global freshwater biodiversity studies. As an active reviewer for several international journals, she supports the advancement of rigorous scientific scholarship in evolutionary biology and aquatic ecology. Through her extensive body of work, Dr. Wu has established herself as a leading figure in freshwater mollusk systematics, contributing valuable insights into species diversity, evolutionary history, and conservation priorities within aquatic ecosystems.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Wu, R., (2025). Diversity, phylogeny and distribution of the subtribe Cristariina (Bivalvia: Unionidae: Unioninae) from China, with description of a new genus and species. Invertebrate Systematics.

Wu, R., (2025). Underestimated diversity: A new species of the genus Cuneopsis (Bivalvia, Unionidae, Unioninae) from Henan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution.

Wu, R., (2025). Revisiting the genus Nodularia (Bivalvia, Unionidae): Mitochondrial phylogenomics and the description of a new species. Zoosystematics and Evolution.

Wu, R., (2025). Corrigendum to: Cryptic species, mitochondrial phylogenomics and historical biogeography in the endemic genus Schistodesmus (Bivalvia, Unionidae) from China.

Petr Znachor | Limnology | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Petr Znachor | Limnology | Best Researcher Award

Senior Scientist | Biology Centre Of The Czech Academy Of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology | Czech Republic

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Petr Znachor is a distinguished limnologist and hydrobiologist whose research focuses on phytoplankton ecology, reservoir limnology, and the biogeochemical cycling of methane in aquatic systems. His work integrates field studies, long-term ecological data, and advanced time-series analyses to understand how climate change, weather extremes, and anthropogenic pressures influence the functioning and water quality of lentic ecosystems. He has led and contributed to numerous national and international research projects addressing the ecological dynamics of plankton communities and the development of biomanipulation techniques to improve water quality in reservoirs. His expertise spans a wide range of topics, including diatom ecophysiology, microbial interactions, fluorescence-based methods, and the spatial-temporal variability of phytoplankton. As an accomplished researcher and academic, he has published extensively in high-impact international journals and has made significant contributions to the advancement of freshwater ecology. His scientific leadership is reflected in his roles within the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and in professional societies such as the Czech Limnological Society and the Czech Long-Term Ecological Research network. With a strong interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Znachor’s research continues to enhance understanding of freshwater ecosystem responses to environmental change and to inform sustainable water management strategies.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Znachor, P., Kosour, D., Rederer, L., Koza, V., Kolář, V., & Nedoma, J. (2025). Tracking reservoir warming in a changing climate: A 31-year study from Czechia. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, Article 100631.

Mukherjee, I., Grujčić, V., Salcher, M. M., Znachor, P., Seďa, J., Devetter, M., Rychtecký, P., Šimek, K., & Shabarova, T. (2024). Depth-dependent dynamics of protist communities as an integral part of spring succession in a freshwater reservoir. bioRxiv.

Boukheloua, R., Mukherjee, I., Park, H., Šimek, K., Kasalický, V., Ngochera, M., Grossart, H.-P., Picazo-Mozo, A., Camacho, A., Cabello-Yeves, P. J., Znachor, P. (2024). Global freshwater distribution of Telonemia protists. ISME Journal.

Mukherjee, I., Grujčić, V., Salcher, M. M., Znachor, P., Seďa, J., Devetter, M., Rychtecký, P., Šimek, K., & Shabarova, T. (2024). Integrating depth-dependent protist dynamics and microbial interactions in spring succession of a freshwater reservoir. Environmental Microbiome, 19(1), Article 574.

Vieira, H. H., Bulzu, P.-A., Kasalický, V., Haber, M., Znachor, P., Piwosz, K., & Ghai, R. (2024). Isolation of a widespread giant virus implicated in cryptophyte bloom collapse. ISME Journal.