Research interests
My main area of scientific interest is the ecology of marine organisms, with a particular focus on biodiversity in seaports. In my research, I use modern molecular methods. The specific areas of my research include:
- Biodiversity of marine organisms.
- The occurrence of alien species in seaports and hydrotechnical structures, and monitoring the direction of their potential invasions.
- The impact of environmental and anthropogenic factors on marine communities in seaports.
- The use of diving techniques in scientific research.
Courses, training and additional skills
- Certified Water Rescue Lifeguard (WOPR),
- Underwater Operations Supervisor,
- Class III Commercial Diver,
- CMAS Diving Instructor M1 (1997), M2 (2010),
- CMAS Wreck Diving Instructor,
- CMAS Ecology Diving Instructor,
- CMAS Ice Diving Instructor,
- CMAS Dry Suit Diving Instructor,
- CMAS Night Diving Instructor,
- CMAS Nitrox Diving Instructor,
- HSA (Handicapped Scuba Association) / MZN-CMAS Disabled Diving Instructor,
- Motorboat Skipper,
- Driving Licence Categories A and B,
- Drone Pilot – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV/UAS),
- Rope Access Training: PZA, IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) Level 2,
- Maritime Safety Training (Basic Safety Training Certificate):
- Personal Survival Techniques,
- Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting,
- Elementary First Aid,
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities.
Selected projects
| 2026 | Development of genetic barcodes for Marenzelleria spp. and/or Hediste diversicolor (an important component of fish feed) for the modern monitoring of polychaetes using molecular methods |
| 2026 | Alien species among mobile fauna in ports and hydrotechnical structures along the Polish coast |
| 2025 | Classes with students of Oceanography at the University of Gdańsk: Fundamentals of scientific diving – introduction to the scientific diver course |
| 2001 | European Large Scale Facility programme, 2003 Benthic Ecology Group, Institute of Oceanology, 2006 Pharma Project – Scientific diving expeditions to Svalbard (Spitsbergen) |
Publications
- Witalis, B., Hegele-Drywa, J., Gromisz, S., Gruszka, P., Kraśniewski, W., Szymanek, L., & Kukliński, P. (2026). New records of a non-indigenous polychaeta species Boccardiella ligerica (Ferronnière, 1898)(Spionidae) in the southern Baltic Sea. Oceanologia, 68(1), 1-6.
- Wojdasiewicz, A., Mańko, M. K., Kwiatkowska, J., Witalis, B., Weydmann-Zwolicka, A., & Bełdowska, M. (2026). Mercury in moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 222, 118689.
- Oesterwind, D., Bartolino, V., Behrens, J. W., Erlandsson, M., Florin, A. B., Henseler, C., … & Thor, P. (2025). Disentangling the potential effects of four non-indigenous species on commercially and recreationally used fish stocks in the Baltic Sea—a review. Biological Invasions, 27(2), 76. DOI: 10.1007/s10530-025-03537-0
- Witalis,B., Hegele-Drywa, J., Gromisz, S., Nowak, A. (2024). First record of brush-clawed shore crab Hemigrapsus takanoi (Asakura and Watanabe, 2005) in the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic Sea), Oceanologia, 66(4)/2024.66409. https://doi.org/10.5697/NZTB7591
- Witalis,B., Iglikowska A., J., Ronowicz, M., Weydmann-Zwolicka, A., Kukliński, P. (2024). The zooplankton community of Baltic Sea ports: diversity and seasonal dynamics, Oceanologia 66, 353-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceano.2024.02.001
- Spich, K., Witalis, B., Gromisz, S., J., Szymanek, L., Woźniczka, A. (2024). Non-native shrimps in Polish coastal waters: first record of Palaemon longirostris H. Milne Edwards, 1837 and new sites for P. macrodactylus Rathbun, 1902, Oceanologia, 66(4)/2024,66408 https://doi.org/10.5697/DTMY8095
- Witalis, B., Iglikowska, A., Ronowicz, M., & Kukliński, P. (2021). Biodiversity of epifauna in the ports of Southern Baltic Sea revealed by study of recruitment and succession on artificial panels. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 249, 107107.DOI:10.1016/j.ecss.2020.107107
- Urban-Malinga, B., Wodzinowski, T., Witalis, B., Zalewski, M., Radtke, K., & Grygiel, W. (2018). Marine litter on the seafloor of the southern Baltic. Marine pollution bulletin, 127, 612-617.
- Warzocha, J., Szymanek, L., Witalis, B., & Wodzinowski, T. (2016). The first report on the establishment and spread of the alien clam Rangia cuneata (Mactridae) in the Polish part of the Vistula Lagoon (southern Baltic). Oceanologia, 58(1), 54-58. DOI: 1016/j.oceano.2015.10.001
- Klusek, Z., Kukliński, P., Mróz, D.,Witalis, B.(2014). Underwater noise in Gdynia Harbour during piling. Hydroacoustics, 17.
