Murat ÖZBEK

Professor Murat ÖZBEK is a distinguished faculty member at Ege University's Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Fisheries Sciences, specializing in the Department of Inland Water Biology. With over 30 years of experience at the university, he has developed an extensive collection of freshwater invertebrates spanning diverse habitats across Türkiye, from mountain lakes to lowland rivers.

Professor Özbek's primary research focuses on the taxonomy of freshwater amphipod species of Turkey, particularly within the Gammarus and Echinogammarus genera. He and his colleagues also conduct significant research on the ecological characteristics of macrobenthic invertebrates inhabiting Turkish freshwaters. His work has led to the discovery and description of numerous new amphipod species, contributing substantially to our understanding of Anatolian freshwater biodiversity.

His publication record demonstrates consistent research output across multiple decades, with recent work (2022-2023) continuing to describe new species and analyze freshwater ecosystems. The research spans various subfields including cave biology, stream ecology, morphometrics, and biogeography, with particular emphasis on Anatolian endemism and species differentiation. His studies often incorporate both morphological and molecular approaches to species identification and phylogenetic analysis.

Professor Özek has made significant contributions to documenting Turkey's freshwater biodiversity, with numerous publications in international journals including Turkish Journal of Zoology, Zoology in the Middle East, Zootaxa, and Crustaceana. His work provides critical baseline data for conservation efforts and environmental monitoring programs across Anatolian freshwater ecosystems.

His research methodology involves extensive field sampling across diverse freshwater habitats, detailed morphological examinations, and increasingly sophisticated molecular analyses. He has conducted studies throughout Turkey's major biogeographic regions, contributing to comprehensive understanding of freshwater invertebrate distribution patterns and ecological requirements.