Armin Mešić

Dr. Armin Mešić is a prominent mycologist serving as Head of the Laboratory for Biological Diversity within the Division for Marine and Environmental Research at Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia. With over two decades of research experience, he has established himself as a leading expert in fungal taxonomy, biodiversity, and systematics, particularly focusing on Croatian and Balkan fungal species.

Dr. Mešić earned his BSc in Biology (Ecology) from the University of Zagreb in 1999, followed by a PhD in Biology (Mycology) from the same institution in 2006. His doctoral research focused on "Agaricales fungi with white spores in Croatia," establishing the foundation for his extensive career in fungal taxonomy.

Dr. Mešić's primary research interests center on mycology, with specific focus on fungal biodiversity, biogeography, and systematics. His work spans various aspects of fungal science, including:

• Taxonomic studies of Agaricales and other fungal groups
• DNA barcoding applications for fungal identification
• Conservation of threatened fungal species
• Ecosystem services provided by fungi in forest environments
• Biogeographical patterns of fungal distribution in the Balkan region

Analysis of Dr. Mešić's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on integrative taxonomy approaches combining morphological and molecular techniques. His research increasingly focuses on applying DNA barcoding to assess fungal diversity and its role in forest ecosystem services. There's also a growing interest in understanding how climate change impacts fungal communities and their interactions with plant systems.

Dr. Mešić has been actively involved in mentoring the next generation of mycologists, supervising numerous graduate students through their thesis work. He has led significant research projects including the CSF scientific research project "Enhancement of Croatian forest ecosystem services through assessment of fungal diversity based on DNA barcoding" (2018-2022), which demonstrates his commitment to applying mycological research to practical environmental challenges.

The Laboratory for Biological Diversity under Dr. Mešić's leadership serves as a hub for mycological research in Croatia, focusing on fungal taxonomy, biodiversity assessment, and conservation. The laboratory maintains strong collaborations with international mycological communities and contributes significantly to global fungal databases and classification efforts.