dr Anna Cichy

Researcher
Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Building C, room C104
e-mail: annacichy@umk.pl
Phone +48 (56) 611 26 43

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RESEARCH AREA

My current research focuses on the parasitological consequences of biological invasions using molluscs and trematodes as a research model. In particular, I’m interested in ecological relationships between native and non-native hosts and their parasites in the context of climate change and biological invasions.

My research includes the following issues :

• • parasite acquisition and introduction, dilution effect, enemy release hypothesis
  • influence of thermal pollution of lakes (resembling the model of global warming considered in local‐scale) on host-parasite interactions
  • morphology of digenean and aspidogastrean trematodes in native and alien species of snails and mussels from natural and thermally polluted lakes

Keywords: biological invasions, thermal pollution, parasite acquisition and introduction, dilution effect, enemy release hypothesis, Trematoda, molluscs, alien species, community structure

GRANTS and PROJECTS

• 2023 r., IDUB Research Group, Human-invertebrates interactions: Benefits and risks in the face of global warming (BENRISK). Investigator (leader prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Żbikowska)
• 2019-2023 r., COST Action, CA18239 – Conservation of freshwater mussels: a pan-European approach. The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST).
• 2019 r., Miniatura 2, NCN nr 2018/02/X/NZ8/02716, “The impact of Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray, 1843) on the infection of native lymnaeids (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) with echinostome metacercariae (Digenea: Echinostomatidae)”. Principal investigator.
• 2018-2021 r., Preludium 13, NCN nr 2017/25/N/NZ8/01345, “Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray, 1843) as a potential biological control factor for “swimmer’s itch”. Investigator (PI: mgr Anna Marszewska, NCU).
• 2016 r., WBiOŚ Individual Research Grant # 2557-B, “The diversity and the role of small species of snails from the thermally polluted lakes and neighbouring peat pits in the transmission of Digenea”. Principal investigator.
• 2015 r., WBiOŚ Individual Research Grant # 2237-B, “Environmental determinants of invasion of digenetic trematodes to freshwater snails and bivalves”. Principal investigator.
• 2014 r., WBiOŚ Individual Research Grant # 1917-B, “The diversity of digenetic trematodes in unionid clams and dreissenid mussels colonizing surfaces of their shells”. Principal investigator.
• 2012, Nicolaus Copernicus University Grant # 1367-B “One parasite species – Diplodiscus subclavatus (Pallas, 1760) – two life cycle strategies in molluscan hosts.” Principal investigator.
• 2010, Supervisor’s grant of the N. Copernicus University # 314-B “Larval stages of digenetic trematodes in freshwater snails from Brodnickie Lakeland – community structure and seasonal dynamics of invasion.” Investigator (PI: dr hab. Elżbieta Żbikowska, prof. UMK, N. Copernicus University in Toruń
• 2007-2009, Grant of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education # N N304 1176 33 “The influence of trophic conditions and mortality on life-history variation among populations of Anodonta anatina: development and testing of optimization models.” Investigator (PI: dr Tomasz Muller, Institute of Environmental Protection of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków).
• 2008-2009, PhD student grant 2008/2009 – ZPORR “The diversity of digenetic trematodes in various species of freshwater snails from Brodnickie Lakeland.” Principal investigator.

CV

MSc Student 2001 – 2006: Biology at the Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

• • MSc thesis 2006: “The distribution of digenetic trematode larvae with special emphasis to the presence of Fasciola hepatica in populations of freshwater snails from the area of cattle fasciolosis”
  • Supervisor: prof. dr hab. Lech Jacuński

PhD Student 2007 – 2011: Biology at the Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

• • PhD thesis 2013: “The distribution and diversity of digenetic trematodes (Trematoda: Digenea) in populations of freshwater snails (Gastropoda: Mollusca) from Brodnickie Lakeland”
  • Supervisor: dr hab. Elżbieta Żbikowska, prof. of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
  • Reviewers: dr hab. Ewa Dzika, prof. of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, prof. dr hab. Andrzej Piechocki, University of Łódź

Professional career:

• • 2006 – 2007: District Sanitary-Epidemiological Station in Toruń, Disease Prevention Section
  • 2011 – now: Researcher in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Membership in scientific organizations:

• • Polish Parasitological Society
  • Association of Polish Malacologists

Awards and prizes:

• • 2022 r. Rector’s Team Distinction for achievements in organizational activities
  • 2017: Individual Distinction Award of the Rector of N. Copernicus University for Scientific Achievements in 2016
  • 2014: Individual Distinction Award of the Rector of N. Copernicus University for Scientific Achievements in 2013

Others:

• • Training for persons working with laboratory animals, Collegium MEdicum UMK, Bydgoszcz, 2015
  • Training in the identification of freshwater snail species, Polish Bentological Workshop, Zacisze, 2012
  • Work experience: Department of Veterinary Hygiene in Bydgoszcz, Laboratory of Fish Diseases and Mycological and Parasitological Research
  • Work experience: Versita Publishing – Electronic publishing of scientific journals “Versita”
  • “An advanced training in Adobe Photoshop””, project “GROWTH”, UMK Toruń
  • “English for Academic Purposes – step 1”, project “GROWTH”, UMK Toruń
  • “English for Academic Purposes – step 2”, project “GROWTH”, UMK Toruń