The PSI Hydrobiological Institute in Ohrid, established in 1935, is a public and governmental science-research and educational organization of national interest. It covers research subjects in limnology as in natural lakes, as well in reservoirs and rivers. More specific subjects of research in the Institute are organized in the following departments: physic-chemistry, microbiology, phytoplankton, zooplankton, macro zoobenthos, macrophyte vegetation, cyprinid fishes, applied fishery and aquaculture, fish parasitology, eco-toxicology and molecular biology. Since its establishment in the institute is included a salmonid hatchery and nursery with capacity of 20 millions of eggs, alevins or fingerlings of the endemic Lake Ohrid trout species.
In 2005 the Institute has been accredited for postgraduate studies (according the Bologna Convention) in the frame of the University St. Kliment Ohridski in Bitola.
More than 1000 scientific articles and publications have been published as a result of the successful scientific work of the Institute. In the field of the international collaboration, the Institute has more than 50 bilateral agreements signed with different institutions (of similar interest) from all around the world.
Principal Investigator:
Orhideja Tasevska has a PhD in biological sciences and is Senior Research fellow at the PSI Hydrobiological Institute, Department of zooplankton. She is hydrobiologist, with 17 years of experience in the limnology, water quality monitoring, biodiversity protection, conservation and sustainable use. She has been involved as expert in many projects: Limnological investigations of the Great Natural Lakes in Macedonia I & II; The Problems of pollution of the Great Natural Lakes in Macedonia; Eutrophication problems of Lake Ohrid; Anthropogenic impact and influence of the tributaries on Lake Prespa trophic degree; Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at Lakes Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar (CSBL); Revalorisation Study and Management Plan for the ‘Lake Prespa’ Monument of Nature. Her long-term interest has been focused on: Zooplankton research (taxonomy, morphology, ecology and reproduction, temporal and spatial distribution of the zooplankton) on all natural and artificial lakes in FYR of Macedonia; Investigations on group Rotifera from pelagial and littoral zone: taxonomy, morphology, ecology and reproduction, temporal and spatial distribution on all natural and artificial lakes in FYR of Macedonia; Estimation of water quality on the basis of bioindicator species of Rotifera, Crustacea (Copepoda, Cladocera); Biological investigations of surface water quality which are used for water supply.
In Ecopotential she is involved in WP5 and WP7 activities.