Journal of Pollution Effects & Control
Open Access

Piotr SkubaÅa

Biography

Prof. Piotr Skubała, PhD. is employed at the University of Silesia, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Ecology (Katowice, Poland). He has been doing research on soil mites (Acari) for over 30 years. His main scientific interest is ecology and systematics of oribatid mites. Piotr Skubała is a well-known lecturer in ecology, environmental protection and environmental ethics. He is the author of 65 scientific articles, 49 chapters in books or monographs, 24 scientific communications, 80 popular scientific publications in acarology (ecology and systematics of mites), ecology, environmental philosophy, environmental education, environmental protection, sustainable development and social problems. He gave lectures at over 120 national and international conferences, organized 9 national and international conferences, festivals or educational projects. He served as the reviewer in 31 international scientific journals. Prof. Skubała is the member of the International Editorial Board in Acarologia (France) and the member of the Committee on Genetically Modified Organisms at the Ministry of the Environment. He co-operates with many environmental organisations and centres in the field of environmental education.

Research Interest

Synopsis of current research interests:

• Oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) communities along the heavy metal gradient
• Metal bioaccumulation in oribatid species (Acari, Oribatida)
• The significance of oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) in paleoecology
• The influence of invasive plant species on the communities of soil mites (Acari)
• Microarthropods in decaying wood. The significance of deadwood for the diversity of soil mites(Acari)
• Succession of mites (Acari) in deadwood
• The effects deadwood microsite for diversity in managed and natural forests
• The community of mites (Acari) in different forms of deadwood
• Mite (Acari) diversity of coarse woody debris – implications for sustainable forestry
• Influence of deadwood on density of soil microarthropods in forest ecosystems
• The role symbiotic interactions in the functioning of ecosystems

Former research interests
• Colonization and development of mite (Acari) communities on post-industrial dumps
• Communities of oribatid mites in anthropogenically transformed and natural habitats
• The role of reclamation measures in the reastablishment of soil communities on post-industrial dumps
• Pioneer oribatid mite communities (Acari, Oribatida) in newly exposed natural anthropogenic habitats