Laboratory of Animal Evolution and Zoonotic Diseases

The Laboratory of Animal Evolution and Zoonotic Diseases was established in 2016 as a result of the transformation of the previously functioning Laboratory of Zoology.

The primary research areas of the laboratory include:

1. Reticulate evolution research in vertebrates

2. Impact of climate change on distribution and ecology of animals

3. Identification and risk assessment of non-native and invasive animals

4. Study of diversity and ecology of mollusks, spiders, and select insect groups

5. Monitoring and conservation of endangered species of animals:

6. Surveillance of emerging zoonotic diseases in wildlife

The main scientific directions operating in the laboratory:

• Investigating hybridization and parthenogenetic reproduction mechanisms in Darevskia lizards and their evolutionary consequences. Studying interspecific hybridization between bat species.

• Modeling selected species distributions under different climate scenarios and assessing ecosystem vulnerability, conservation issues, and risks of invasions. Using remote sensing and ecological modeling to assess threats to large mammals and develop conservation strategies.

• Identification of non-native animals and risk assessment of invasive species across different animal groups.

• Expanding taxonomic research on mollusks, spiders, moths, ants, flies, ladybirds, and cicadas in Armenia.

• DNA barcoding of vertebrates, mollusks, spiders, and insects within the CaBOL (Caucasus Barcode of Life) initiative.

• Monitoring vector-borne diseases in birds, wild boars, bats, rodents, and other wildlife.

• Studying blood parasites, viruses, and fungal diseases in amphibians, reptiles, and birds.

• Evaluating human impact on endangered and threatened species.

The laboratory cooperates with the following institutions: 

RA NAS Institute of Zoology of the Scientific Center for Zoology and Hydroecology

RA NAS Institute of Botany after A.L. Takhtajyan 

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria

University of Medicine, Vienna, Austria

University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria       

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, Institute of Geography, Germany

University Bonn    , Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Germany

Tartu University, Chair of Zoology, Estonia

Turku University, Biodiversity Unit, Finland

Perugia University, Department of Veterany, Italy

Charles University in Prague, Ethology and Ecology Unit, Czech Republic 

Ostrava University,  Department of Biology and Ecology, Czech Republic

Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland

Lodz University, Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Biology, Poland

Hakim Sabzevari University, Faculty of Science, Iran

Natural History Museum in Belgrade, Department of Biology, Serbia

Museum Alexander Koenig, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Germany

Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Ecosystem Restoration: Adaptation to Global Change, Spain

Institute of ecology and Evolution, Bioinformatics and Modeling Biological Process, Russia

Institute of Gene Biology, Lab. of Genome Organization, Russia

Institute of Zoology St. Peter, sburg, Laboratory of Herpetology, Russia

Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology, Georgia

Laboratory members:

1. Marine Arakelyan

2. Aghayan Sargis

3. Georgy Papov

4. Meri Arzumanyan

5. Ruzanna Petrosyan

6. Kosyan Armine

7. Hasmik Torosyan

8. Arevik Chrmkjyan

9. Smbat Maghakyan

Top 5 publications (Scopus, Web of Science 2019-2025):

Arakelyan, M., Spangenberg, V., Petrosyan, V., Ryskov, A., Kolomiets, O., & Galoyan, E. (2023). Evolution of parthenogenetic reproduction in Caucasian rock lizards: a review. Current Zoology, 69(2), 128-135.

Arakelyan, M., Petrosyan, V., Pipoyan, S., Karagyan, G., Ghrejyan, T., Ghazaryan, A., ... & Kalashian, M. (2024). Invasive alien species of animals in Armenia. BioInvasions Record, 13(2).

Kosyan, A., Zamani, A., & Marusik, Y. M. (2023). Notes on Dysderidae (Arachnida, Araneae) of Armenia and Iran, with new species and records. ZooKeys, 1172, 117.

Ghazaryan, S., Arakelyan, M., Ghazaryan, A., Romanowski, J., Turlejski, K., & Ceryngier, P. (2024). State of knowledge of the ladybird beetle (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) fauna of Armenia and other Transcaucasian countries, including two new country records. ZooKeys, 1221, 71

Fayvush, G. (Ed.). (2023). Biodiversity of Armenia. Springer Nature.