NON-POLL team member Dr. sc. Jan Hinkelman, during the week of 19.-25.10.2025, participated in a hands-on scientific education under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Oliver Heiri, leader of the Geoecology research group at the Department of Environmental Sciences (University of Basel, Switzerland). The focus was on past lake environments and its rich zoological fauna as important palaeoenvironmental indicators. 

The Department of Environmental Sciences (DUW), with its five sites and four external locations, covers two major research areas: Integrative Biology and Geosciences. The department offers degree programs in Biology, Geosciences, and Prehistoric–Natural Science Archaeology, as well as Sustainable Development. 

The highly interdisciplinary Geolecology research group studies environmental influences on biotic systems in the past, present, and future by investigating the ecology and biogeography of specialized groups of organisms (macroinvertebrates in spring ecosystems), the long-term development of ecosystems, and changing species distributions in both historical and modern contexts. Environmental and climate reconstruction based on microscopic and geochemical analyses of microfossils in environmental archives represents another key focus of the group.

Jan was involved in learning up to date laboratory sample preparation techniques, including deffloculation in KOH and sieving, wet sample scanning under microscope, extracting zoological remains such as chironomids, rhabdocoela cocoons, testate amoeba, and diverse insect fragments. Mounting chironomid heads on glass slides with Euparal proved to be the most challenging of tasks, together with taxonomic recognition. This experience was a chance to learn from one of the top paleoecological research groups in the world, equiped with modern laboratories and high-end equipment.

The goal of this research trip was for Jan to gain valuable knowledge which can be directly applied to the research done as part of the NON-POLL project.

This research stay was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ IP-2024-05- 1687)

Network on Cenozoic Climate and Ecosystems (NECLIME, https://www.neclime.de/) is an open international network of scientists that study the evolution of climate in Cenozoic and the connected changes of continental ecosystems. NECLIME was founded in 1999. with the goal of understanding neogene trends throughout Eurasia. That core idea is spreading fast geographicaly and stratigraphicaly, and currently includes members from 39 countries. Majority of European and Asian countries are involved, alongside USA and Brazil. 

The annual meeting this year took place in Zagreb, Croatia, from 15–17 September 2025 partly supported by the Croatian Science Foundation under the project „Non-pollen palynomorphs and palynofacies in paleoenvironmental reconstruction (Non-Poll)“, number HRZZ-IP-2024-05-1687.

It was jointly organized by the Croatian Geological Survey (HGI-CGS), the Croatian Geological Society (HGD), and the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb (Department of Biology and the Botanical Garden).

A total of 36 participants from nine countries—Croatia, Germany, China, India, Poland, Belarus, Italy, Ukraine, and Slovakia—attended the meeting, with 25 on site and 11 online. The online attendance was available through MS Teams.

The conference opened with a welcome address by Dr. Koraljka Bakrač (Chair). Keynote lectures included:

• Prof. Marijan Kovačić – “Stratigraphic and sedimentary evolution of the Neogene in the Croatian part of the Pannonian Basin System,” 

•       Prof. Jasenka Sremac –  “Neogene fossil floras of Croatia,” 

(both from the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb).

Scientific sessions were held over two days and featured 19 in-person talks, 5 virtual presentations, and 8 posters, covering global climate change, palaeoenvironmental dynamics, and the evolution and distribution of fossil plants worldwide.

Non-Poll team members also presented their work as part of the scientific sessions, including "Cyanobacteria and Algae as non-pollen palynomorphs from Croatia" presented by Dr. Koraljka Bakrač, "Coastal vegetation shift during the 8.2 ka event in the Eastern Adriatic (Kornati Islands)" presented by Mag. Ivona Baniček, "Non-Pollen Palynomorphs: Insights from animal remains in the fossil record" presented by Dr. Jan Hinkelman and an abstract titled "ZAG - three letters that denote a new era of Croatian palynology" presented by Dr. Dario Hruševar. 

On the first day, participants joined a guided tour of the Zagreb Botanical Garden led by Dr. Dario Hruševar, an expert in geobotany, plant morphology, invasive plants, and palynology. The final discussion and closing remarks were delivered on the second day by Dr. Angela A. Bruch (Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut). Participants were invited to the next NECLIME conference, scheduled for 2026 at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, China.

A post-Conference Excursion (17–19 September 2025) was organized, consisting of a three-day field excursion that explored the Papuk UNESCO Global Geopark, guided by geologists Goran Radović and Goran Pavić, and the Bilogora area guided by Dr. Koraljka Bakrač and geologist Martin Mahović.

Day 1 included visits to key geological sites, including the Trešnjevica quarry with prominent volcanic veins, Rupnica—Croatia’s oldest protected geosite featuring striking columnar basalt—plus the Geopark Visitor Centre, Jankovac Spring, and the Skakavac Waterfall, where tufa has accumulated over the past 6,000 years.

Day 2 started with a stop at the House of the Pannonian Sea for an overview of regional geological history, followed by a hike to Poljanska locality, known for its well preserved Early–Middle Miocene plant fossils.

The third and final day included the exploration of the Cabuna locality, rich in fossils and composed of gravels, sands, silts, clays, and marls originating from a pliocene alluvial fan, and a visit to Đurđevački Peski (“the Croatian Sahara”), a unique sandy ecosystem with dunes, grasslands, and rich endemic flora. The excursion ended at the Đurđevački pijesci visitors centre in the town of Đurđevac.

The 2025 NECLIME meeting provided a vibrant forum for specialists in Cenozoic climate and ecosystems to exchange ideas, present new research, and foster collaborations for future projects.

From June 02–06, 2025, PhD Koraljka Bakrač and PhD Jan Hinkelman took part in the 10th NPP Workshop held in Göttingen, Germany. The event was organized by PhD Lyudmila S. Shumilovskikh, PhD Lionello Morandi, and PhD Vlada Batalova, and provided a platform to present our current research as part of the “Non-poll” project.

The workshop opened with a keynote lecture by Thomas Giesecke titled “Open Palaeoecological Data – analysing the past, building foresight (PalaeOpen)”, which set the tone for a week of collaboration and scientific exchange focused on advancing palaeoecological research.

On the second day, PhD Bakrač presented her research on Palynofacies, dinoflagellate cysts and other non-pollen palynomorphs from Baćina lakes (Croatia), while PhD Hinkelman discussed Chironomidae and other zoo-palynomorphs from the same region. Both talks were well-received and sparked engaging discussions among participants.

The program continued with a visit to the renowned Göttingen Amber Collection and the university’s extensive paleontological exhibits. The third day featured practical workshops on extant algae, fungi, and laboratory preparation techniques, led by Dr. Maike Lorenz and Dr. Ines Teichert. Open microscopy sessions allowed participants to share expertise and deepen their knowledge of both modern and fossil taxa.

On the fourth day, attendees explored the Göttingen Old Botanical Garden and engaged in productive conversations about NPP nomenclature and harmonization efforts. The workshop concluded with an excursion to the Harz Mountains, including visits to the historic Rammelsberg copper mine and the Rauder Born near the Torfhaus peat bog.

Participation in the 10th NPP Workshop offered a valuable opportunity to present ongoing research, gain practical experience, and engage in insightful scientific exchange. It fostered international collaboration, strengthened professional relationships, and enriched participants' knowledge of palynology and related disciplines.

On April 03, 2025, at 18 PM, in the Stara Skula Gallery in Goveđari (Mljet island), lectures were held on microfossil remains that can be found in sedimentary records, with a special focus on the latest paleobotanical research at Spila nad Procjepom.

The introductory part, covering previous research of the cave, was presented by PhD Ankica Oros Sršen, a research associate at the Institute for Quaternary Paleontology and Geology of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

PhD Koraljka Bakrač, a senior research advisor from the Croatian Geological Institute, presented methods of palynological research and examples of how pollen analysis has led to various discoveries in Croatia and around the world. The pollen found so far in Spila nad Procjepom has given us insight that around 3,500 years ago, the vegetation near the cave was more open and corresponded to the subzone Quercus illex – Erica (JAHNS, 2002).

PhD Jan Hinkelman, a senior assistant at the Croatian Geological Institute, gave a presentation titled “Chironomidae and other zoo-palynomorph remains in the sediments of the Baćina Lakes”, in which he revealed the variety of microscopic invertebrate remains that can be found in lake and cave sediments and their importance for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

On March 20, 2025, at 9 AM, the kick-off meeting of the Non-Poll project, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ IP-2024-05-1687), was held at the Croatian Geological Institute (HGI). The project leader PhD Koraljka Bakrač presented the goals and timeline of the project to all team members, in person and online.

The project's main goal is to explore the potential of non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) and palynofacies in paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions, as well as their application in the analysis of archaeological materials.

During the meeting, the research objectives were presented, along with the members of the interdisciplinary research team, which includes palynologists, botanists, geologists, paleontologists, archaeologists, zoologists, and physicists. Each team member will contribute their expertise to the success of the project. A three-year research plan was also outlined, including analyses of archived sediments and investigations at two key sites—Vela Spila Cave (Korčula) and the Vučedol archaeological site.

The project integrates palynological, mineralogical, petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological analyses, with a particular focus on taphonomy and potential recent contamination, which may affect the interpretation of past environmental changes. The expected results will significantly improve the ecological and taxonomic classification of NPPs and enhance their application in studying past environmental changes and human-nature interactions throughout the Holocene.

The research findings will culminate in numerous scientific publications in high-impact Q1 and Q2 international journals, greatly contributing to the visibility and advancement of NPP research in paleoecological and archaeological contexts in Croatia.

The Non-Poll project represents a significant contribution to interdisciplinary collaboration between geology, biology, and archaeology, with potential applications across a wide range of scientific disciplines.

On March 17 and 18, 2025, the Open Days of the Laboratory for Palynology and Nannoplankton were held at the Croatian Geological Institute (HGI). The event began with opening speeches by the Director of HGI, PhD Slobodan Miko, and the Head of the Department of Geology and Project Leader of ZG-LAB, PhD Anita Grizelj.

As part of the event, the new Laboratory for Palynology and Nannoplankton was presented. The laboratory was renovated with funds from the Department of Geology (HGI) and equipped as part of the ZG-LAB project of the Croatian Geological Institute. The project is overseen by the Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth of the Republic of Croatia and funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021–2026 – NextGenerationEU.

Additionally, over the two days, a series of scientific lectures on palynology and nannoplankton were held, also available online via MS Teams:

March 17:

"Palynological Research – Introductory Lecture" (PhD Koraljka Bakrač)

"Palynology in Deep Time: Tracing Early Jurassic Climatic and Environmental Perturbations with the Help of Palynology" (PhD Viktoria Baranyi)

"Vegetation Signal in Sediments – Lipid Biomarkers and Ancient DNA" (Ivona Baniček)

March 18:

"Palynological Research – Application in Archaeology" (PhD Koraljka Bakrač)

"Coccolithophores as Paleoceanographic Indicators" (PhD Ines Galović)

"Unexpected Pollinators: Cockroaches from the Age of Dinosaurs" (PhD Jan Hinkelman)

"Presentation of the HRZZ Project Non-Poll" (PhD Koraljka Bakrač)

In addition to the lectures, participants had the opportunity to visit the new palynological laboratory, where modern methods for analyzing palynological and nannoplankton samples were demonstrated.

The Open Days facilitated knowledge and experience exchange among researchers and students, highlighting the key role of palynology and nannoplankton in paleoecological and geoarchaeological research.