Between 20 and 24 July 2026, nine representatives of the Faculty of Biology at the University of Białystok participated in the 20th International Congress of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology (ISBE 2026), held in Turin, Italy. The conference is one of the world’s leading scientific events devoted to behavioural ecology and brought together researchers studying animal behaviour, communication, ecology, and evolution.
The University of Białystok was represented by Faculty of Biology staff members Dr Krzysztof Deoniziak, Dr Dominika Winiarska, Dr Marta Skowron-Volponi, and Dr Lorenzo Pasquali, as well as students actively involved in the Włodzimierz Chętnicki Biology Students’ Scientific Association: Aleksandra Syguła, Marta Nartowicz, Weronika Mierzejewska, Monika Supronik, and Martyna Kiewlicz.
Dr Krzysztof Deoniziak and Dr Dominika Winiarska presented results from research conducted within the National Science Centre SONATA project 2022/47/D/NZ8/00565, “A silent threat or a lure? Determining the function of low-amplitude signals used by birds during agonistic interactions.” Their presentations focused on the role of song amplitude in avian communication and on the importance of visual and acoustic signals during territorial interactions.
Dr Marta Skowron-Volponi and Dr Lorenzo Pasquali attended the conference thanks to funding from the National Science Centre SONATA project 2023/51/D/NZ8/02402, “Will global warming favour residency in migratory species? Establishing a new model to predict the impact of a changing world on migratory pollinators.” During the conference, they presented research on the biology and ecology of the hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), focusing on migration and the effects of climate change on the functioning of this species.
A particularly noteworthy achievement was the participation of five Faculty of Biology students, who presented research conducted as part of the activities of the Biology Students’ Scientific Association. Four students delivered oral presentations, while one presented her research during a poster session. The topics included, among others, the use of UV-patterned films to reduce bird collisions with windows, factors affecting song amplitude in passerine birds, assessment of birds’ exposure to microplastics, bird collisions with glass surfaces in urban environments, and mitochondrial DNA introgression in water frogs.
The students’ participation was funded through the “Young Biologists in the Anthropocene” project (MNiSW/2025/DPI/645), carried out by members of the Włodzimierz Chętnicki Biology Students’ Scientific Association. The project received funding under the programme of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education “Support for Students in Developing Their Competences and Skills” (Action 01.05 Skills in Higher Education, European Funds for Social Development Programme 2021–2027). The funding enabled the students to take an active part in one of the world’s most important scientific events in the field of behavioural ecology and to present research conducted within the Ornithological Section under the supervision of Dr Krzysztof Deoniziak and the Herpetological Section under the supervision of Dr Adam Hermaniuk.
For the young researchers, the conference provided not only an opportunity to promote the scientific achievements of the University of Białystok internationally, but also an important platform for developing academic competences. The participants were able to improve their research presentation skills, engage in scientific discussions in an international environment, establish contacts with researchers from many countries, and learn about the latest research directions in behavioural ecology. The experience gained during ISBE 2026 will provide a valuable foundation for their further scientific development and involvement in future research projects.
The participation of representatives of the Faculty of Biology at ISBE 2026 once again demonstrated the high level of scientific activity among both staff and students of the Faculty, as well as the strong presence of the University of Białystok within the international research community.
Further information about the conference and the book of abstracts is available on the organiser’s website: https://isbe2026.com/
