Jelka Crnobrnja Isailović works at the Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš (Serbia).
Abstract:
The possible answer on question how to motivate humans to actively participate in the nature conservation is presented in the short overview of important sequences of the lecturer’s professional life, from classical herpetology via population biology, population genetics and evolutionary biology to conservation science. The second part of the seminary represents main research topics of the lecturer’s team, where certain aspects of conservation biology are studied through participation in projects focused on genetic diversity in various species, hidden conservation priorities, comparison of selected traits between marginal and central populations within the species, recognition of stress in marginal populations, comparison of the stress level between undisturbed and disturbed population groups, etc. Model species are mostly common European amphibians and reptiles, from two reasons: first, they are more economic for studying;  second, they also should be studied and regularly monitored in order not to disappear silently.