Effrosyni Fatira

About

Research

My research is focused in fish physiology and reproduction, with applications in aquaculture, fisheries, and conservation. My research spans a diverse range of species—from model organisms such as zebrafish, goldfish, and medaka, to critically endangered species like sturgeon, and commercially valuable aquaculture species including sea bass, Atlantic cod, and meagre.

Academic background

2026 - 2029 Postdoctoral fellow, NTNU Ocean and Coast, Norway

2023 - 2025 ERA postdoctoral fellow, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

2022 - 2023 Project Manager of European Project, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

2018 - 2019 Research Assistant, Hiroshima University, Japan

2014 - 2018 Ph.D. in Zootechnics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czechia

2011 - 2014 M.Sc. in Biology, University of Crete, Greece

2006 - 2011 B.Sc. in Biology, University of Crete, Greece

Projects as Principal Investigator

Integrated assessment of cod under environmental stress - STRESSCOD. Postdoctoral fellowship. PI: Fatira, E. (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway). 2 139 000 NOK. 01/01/2026 - 31/12/2028.
Impact of climate change in twilight zone fishes during early stage development - PLEASE, Ref. No 101090322. HORIZONWIDERA- 2022 under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Postdoctoral fellowship. PI: Fatira, E. (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain). 226 441.20 EUR (2 612 832,55 NOK). 01/03/2023 - 31/08/2025.
Single somatic cell vs multi cells nuclear transfer as cloning techniques in the most endangered species in the world, sturgeon. Ref. No 068/2017/Z Fatira. One-year individual grant project from the Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, GAJU. PI: Fatira, E. (University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czechia). 180 000 CZK (83 864,43 NOK). 01/02/2017- 31/01/2018.
Multiple somatic cells nuclear transplantation in sturgeon’s oocyte: a promising cloning technique. Ref. No 079/2016/Z Fatira. One-year individual grant project from the Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, GAJU. PI: Fatira, E. (University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czechia). 180 000 CZK (83 864,43 NOK). 01/02/2016- 31/01/2017.
Nuclear transplantation in sturgeon eggs. Ref. No 126/2015/Z Fatira. One-year individual grant project from the Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, GAJU. PI: Fatira, E. (University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czechia). 180 000 CZK (83 864,43 NOK). 02/03/2015- 31/12/2015.

Grants and international awards

Registration-grant to participate in the “Fourth World Congress of Reproductive Biology, Okinawa, Japan, (WCRB2017). 38 000 JPY (2 645,92 NOK). 27/09/2017-29/09/2017.
Travel grant from Developmental Project of the University of South Bohemia, Czechia for foreign internship in Ehime University, Ainan, Japan. Ηistology in sturgeon embryos using plastic sections. 40 000 CZK (18 640,44 NOK). 01/10/2016-30/11/2016.
The Czech Science Foundation (P502/13/26952 S) funded the trip and attendance of the 6th Aquagamete Training School of INRA, France. Use of genomic tools and evaluation of fish gamete’s quality. 500 EUR (5 771,63 NOK). 06/06/2016-10/06/2016.
Travel grant from Developmental Project of the University of South Bohemia, Czechia for foreign internship in Ehime University, Ainan, Japan. Fish microinjection experiments. 20 000 CZK (9 324,21 NOK). 01/11/2015-30/11/2015.
International award prize for the best Ph.D. student’s poster presentation in the 5th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes in Ancona, Italy. 100 EUR (1 154,58 NOK). 07/09/2015-11/09/2015.
Grant from the EU COST Action for attending the Epiconcept Training School in Epigenetics in Reproductive Biology, Murcia, Spain. Understanding the epigenetic factors involved in the biology of reproduction. 500 EUR (5 772,92 NOK). 18/05/2015- 21/05/2015.
Grant from the EU COST Action for participating in the 5th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes, Ancona, Italy. 500 EUR (5 772,92 NOK). 07/09/2015-11/09/2015.
Grant from EU COST Action for Short-Term-Scientific-Mission (STSM) in INRA, France. Learning the animal cloning technique in goldfish. 500 EUR (5 772,92 NOK). 10/02/2015-31/03/2015.
Grant from the EU COST Action for participating in the 4th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes in Faro, Portugal. 500 EUR (5 772,92 NOK). 17/09/2013-20/09/2013.
Grant from the EU COST Action for attending the 1st Aquagamete Training School in Cryogenesis, Institute of Marine Science of Andalucía, Spain. 500 EUR (5 772,92 NOK). 13/05/2013-17/05/2013.
Academic Excellence Studentship (Competitive State Scholarship Foundation) from Government of Greece. Funding the second year of my master studies. 5 400 EUR (62 347,54 NOK). 01/10/2012-30/09/2013.
Grant as a master student in the Laboratory of Fish Reproduction of Hellenic Center of Marine Research, Greece under the project “GnRHa-implants”. 1 200 EUR (13 855,01 NOK). 15/04/2012-31/10/2012.
Grant for biology students from the special account of University of Crete, Greece in collaboration with the Hellenic Center of Marine Research, Crete, Greece. 1 155.85 EUR (13 345,26 NOK). 01/11/2010-15/02/11.

Research Internships

Research internship at the University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain. 30/06/2024 - 30/07/2024 (under Dr. Covadonga Rodríguez González). “Protein and lipid contents’ analysis as well as lipid profiles (lipid classes and fatty acids) of mesopelagic crustacean embryos. Gained experience in techniques such as protein analysis, lipid extraction, and the characterization of lipid classes using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). In addition, identification and quantification of fatty acids using the TRACE-GC Ultra Gas Chromatograph has been learnt.”
Industry research collaboration at the "Poema del Mar" Aquarium, the non-academic partner of my postdoctoral Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions project, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. 01/03/2023 - 01/09/2023 (under Dr. Javier Almunia). “Application and evaluation of various climate change scenarios in communities of different twilight-zone species kept in maintained land-based tanks with recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)”.
Project Intern at the South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ainan, Japan. 01/10/2017 - 31/01/2018 (under Dr. Rie Goto). “Transplantation of somatic cells (fins harvested from adult) in allogenic 2-cell stage medaka embryos and monitored their fate”.
Project Intern at the South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ainan, Japan. 08/10/2017 - 30/01/2018 (under Dr. Taiju Saito). “Participation on experiments with Mackerel tuna kept on conventional sea-based farming”.
Ph.D. Practice at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czechia. 1/11/2015 - 1/11/2018 (under Dr. David Gela). “Participation in experiments with catfish and sturgeons in land-based ponds and carp harvesting in ponds (RAS)”.
Internship Trainee at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan. 01/09/2017 - 31/11/2017 (under Dr. Goro Yoshizaki). “Spermatogonia type A transplantation in medaka and bitterling fish, and Immunohistochemistry in testes section from transgenic rainbow trout".
Internship Trainee at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan. 10/09/2017 - 15/11/2017 (under Dr. Goro Yoshizaki). “"Land-based salmon farming and embryo culture".
Internship Trainee at the Hokkaido University, Hakodate, Japan. 01/10/2016 - 30/11/2016 (under Dr. Katsutoshi Arai). “Molecular genetic techniques to analyse sturgeon embryos. Use of micro-satellite primers, to detect and assess paternity investment”.
Internship Trainee at the Hokkaido University, Hakodate, Japan. 12/10/2016 - 20/11/2016 (under Dr. Takafumi Fujimoto). “Conducting work on land-based medaka and zebrafish farming in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)”.
Internship Trainee at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research - INRA, Rennes, France. 01/02/2016 - 29/04/2016(under Dr. Catherine Labbé). “Embryonic and somatic cell nuclear transfer in goldfish unfertilised eggs”.
Research Intern at the Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Heraklion, Greece. 01/04/2013 - 28/02/2014 (under Dr. Constantinos C. Mylonas). “Unfertilised meagre eggs’ histology, injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in meagre, monitor and compare the embryonic and larvae development between implants or injections of GnRHa”.
Research Intern at the Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Heraklion, Greece. 01/04/2013 - 28/02/2014 (under Dr. Constantinos C. Mylonas). “Focusing on land-based fish farming operations (RAS) at a broodstock facility”.
Summer Internship at the Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Heraklion, Greece. 01/05/2011 - 30/09/2011 (under Dr. Nikos Papandroulakis). “Mesocosm and intensive system experiments’ participation on tuna and sea bream”.

Presentations to internationally established conferences

Production of Twilight-zone fishes in vitro. 24th annual meeting of the Japanese Society for Marine Biotechnology, Tsukuba, Japan. 25/05/2024 - 26/05/2024. (Oral presentation).
Somatic cell nuclear transfer in a real endangered species, Sturgeon. 4th World Congress of Reproductive Biology, Okinawa, Japan. 27/09/2017 - 29/09/2017. (Oral presentation).
Somatic cell nuclear transfer in a real endangered species, Sturgeon. 4th World Congress of Reproductive Biology, Okinawa, Japan. 27/09/2017 - 29/09/2017. (Poster presentation).
Interspecies single somatic cell nuclear transplantation technique in Sturgeon. International Symposium in “Fisheries Science for Future Generations”, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, Tokyo, Japan. 22/09/2017 - 24/09/2017. (Oral presentation).
Single and multiple somatic cells nuclear transfer in critically endangered species, Sturgeon. The 6th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes, České Budějovice, Czechia. 04/09/2017 - 07/09/2017. (Oral presentation).
Single or multi-intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection techniques among Sturgeon species. The 6th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes, České Budějovice, Czechia. 04/09/2017 - 07/09/2017. (Poster presentation).
Nuclear transfer in sterlet eggs: a first attempt. The 5th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes, in Ancona, Italy. 07/09/2015 - 11/09/2015. (Poster presentation). Best PhD student’s poster award.
Comparative induction of spawning success in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) using GnRHa injections or implants, and monitoring of egg quality. The 4th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes, in Faro, Portugal. 17/09/2013 - 20/09/2013. (Poster presentation).

Invited speaker to popular science activities

Life in the deep ocean. Presentation and observation of twilight-zone species under stereomicroscope. Kindergarden CEIP Chano Sanchez, Carrizal, Gran Canaria, Spain. 15/10/2024. (Oral presentation).
The secrets of twilight zone; how the future climate change scenarios affect the mesopelagic fishes. MACARONIGHT, Macaronesia’s Researchers’ Night, EU Missions in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. 29/09/2023. (Oral presentation).
Animal cloning; From the worldwide famous sheep Dolly to critically endangered and extinct species. High school students of South Bohemia, Vodňany, Czechia. 13/11/2017. (Oral presentation).

Organisation of conferences, including membership in the steering and/or programme committee

Chairman and member of the organising team in the Japanese Society for Marine Biotechnology, session “Advances in Reproductive Biotechnology of Aquatic Species”, in Tsukuba Campus Kasuga Area, University of Tsukuba, Japan. 25/05/2024-26/05/2024.
Member of the organizing team in the 6th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes, in České Budějovice, Czechia. 04/09/2017-07/09/2017.

Research

SeaLab

Integrated assessment of cod under environmental stress - STRESSCOD

STRESSCOD is an interdisciplinary project exploring how climate change and human activities will shape the resilience and vulnerability of Atlantic cod during their critical early life stages in the Subarctic Northeast Atlantic.

Publications

Diel changes in plasma cortisol and effects of size and stress duration on the cortisol response in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

D. labrax show high basal cortisol. Under a 12L:12D cycle, cortisol varied daily and peaked at dusk (18h), with high individual variability. Stress responses depended on fish size and stress duration, peaking at 1–2h in small fish and 0.5h in large fish.

Reproduction of hatchery-produced meagre Argyrosomus regius in captivity III. Comparison between GnRHa implants and injections on spawning kinetics and egg/larval performance parameters

In meagre, GnRHa implants and injections produced similar ovulation, fecundity, and egg quality. However, injections offered better control, more consistent batch fecundity, and could achieve higher annual fecundity.

Application of interspecific Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (iSCNT) in sturgeons and an unexpectedly produced gynogenetic sterlet with homozygous quadruple haploid

iSCNT in sturgeons produced one feeding larva (0.5%) from Russian sturgeon cells transferred into sterlet eggs. The tetraploid larva carried only recipient DNA, providing an important first step toward sturgeon cloning.

A newly developed cloning technique in sturgeons; an important step towards recovering endangered species

Using multiple donor cells in sturgeon SCNT improved embryo development and enabled donor DNA integration, supporting cloning as a promising tool for sturgeon conservation.

Energetic Implications of Morphological Changes between Fish Larval and Juvenile Stages Using Geometric Morphometrics of Body Shape

In Chelon auratus, morphology–metabolism links were assessed during development. Shape changes from larvae to juveniles were identified, and ETS activity correlated with body size and posterior morphology.

Development of cryopreservation media for the slow-freezing of cultured primordial germ cells in chicken

Chicken germplasm is preserved by PGC cryopreservation. New DMSO/PG media with trehalose and serum achieved >50% recovery and retained germline function, enabling offspring production.

Short-term handling stress affects the humoral immune responses of juvenile Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua

Atlantic cod juveniles exposed to short air stress showed a brief cortisol peak at 1 h and altered metabolism, while immune defenses were temporarily reduced, indicating stress affects physiology and immunity.

Cortisol levels and expression of selected stress- and apoptosis-related genes in the embryos of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua following short-term exposure to air

Cod embryos exposed to brief air stress showed no cortisol change but increased stress- and apoptosis-related gene expression, revealing molecular stress responses independent of cortisol activity.

Blastomeres derived from the vegetal pole provide extra-embryonic nutrition to sturgeon (Acipenser) embryos: Transition from holoblastic to meroblastic cleavage

In sturgeon embryos, vegetal blastomeres form germ cells and yolk cells that become inactive after the mid-blastula transition. Yolk can be used acellularly, indicating a shift toward meroblastic cleavage in ray-finned fishes.

Seasonality of zooplankton active flux in subtropical waters

The biological carbon pump exports carbon to depth via sinking particles and zooplankton. In the Canary Current System, spring showed higher zooplankton respiration and a fourfold increase in active flux driven by biomass and body size.

The multifaceted diversification of the sagitta otolith across the fish tree of life

Otolith shape in actinopterygians varies mainly in sulcus, elongation, and curvature, is strongly integrated with function, shows low phylogenetic signal, and reflects complex, multifactorial evolution across fishes.

Diversification of cephalic shield shape and antenna in phyllosoma I of slipper and spiny lobsters (Decapoda: Achelata)

Phyllosoma larvae in Achelata show conserved early forms and more specialized later shapes. Their evolution includes two diversification bursts, mainly reflecting nonadaptive radiation with some adaptive components.

Applying geometric morphometrics in megalopa larval stages: relevance for species distribution and biological invasion studies

Megalopa morphology differed among three brachyuran crabs, with strong species-level variation in Cronius ruber and high population similarity in Percnon gibbesi, suggesting roles in invasiveness and connectivity.

Larval dynamics suggest phenological strategies and positive effect of marine protected areas controlling indigenous and non-indigenous crab populations

Megalopa abundance varied across Canary Islands and seasons, higher in warmer El Hierro. MPAs increased native crabs but reduced Cronius ruber, indicating effects on crab distribution and usefulness for monitoring.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection in sturgeon species: A promising reproductive technology of selected genitors

ICSI in endangered sturgeons produced embryos and feeding larvae across sperm types and species combinations, with mixed parental genomes, showing potential for conservation of valuable genetic diversity.

Feasibility of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in activated sturgeon eggs

A 5–15 min activation window improved sturgeon ICSI, with non-activated eggs performing best. Fresh and cryopreserved sperm both produced normal embryos and hatchlings.

Modelling the alpha and beta diversity of copepods across tropical and subtropical Atlantic ecoregions

Copepod diversity in the Atlantic varied with space and depth, with taxonomic patterns mainly spatial and functional patterns depth-driven, showing contrasting turnover and nestedness dynamics.

Linking fish ecology to otolith diversity at a broad phylogenetic scale

Otolith shape in teleosts varies mainly with elongation, sulcus form, and curvature, and is influenced by habitat, light, and mobility, reflecting multiple interacting life-history traits rather than a single ecological driver.

From fish ecology to sagitta disparity: how fish life history traits drive the morphological diversification of otoliths

Fish otolith shape is mainly driven by size, with minor effects of depth and mobility, and reflects multiple life-history trade-offs rather than a single ecological factor.

Decapod larvae collected in the Canary Islands using light traps

Light-trap data from the Canary Islands shows seasonal and spatial variation in brachyuran megalopa abundance across protected and non-protected areas, informing decapod larval dynamics.

Seasonality of zooplankton active flux in the Canary Current System during COCA I and COCA II cruises in 2002 and 2003

dataset

Decapod larvae collected in the Canary Islands using light traps

dataset

The diversity of otolith shapes: an ecomorphological study at a large phylogenetic scale

This study examines otolith shape diversity in 697 fish species, linking ecological traits and phylogeny to morphology and comparing morphological and evolutionary clusters across teleosts.

Global macroecological patterns of larval size in decapods are governed by temperature and dissolved oxygen

Using the largest dataset of decapod crustaceans to date, we show that larval size increases with latitude and depth, supporting Thorson's Rule. Temperature, oxygen, and developmental constraints appear to drive these macroecological patterns.

2026

Fatira, Effrosyni; Sotnikov, Anatolii; Dzyuba, Borys; Landeira Sanchez, Jose Maria; Vazačová, Michaela; Rodina, Marek; Gela, David; Saito, Taiju; Pšenička, Martin. (2026) Feasibility of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in activated sturgeon eggs. Aquaculture
Academic article

Journal publications

Fatira, Effrosyni; Sotnikov, Anatolii; Dzyuba, Borys; Landeira Sanchez, Jose Maria; Vazačová, Michaela; Rodina, Marek; Gela, David; Saito, Taiju; Pšenička, Martin. (2026) Feasibility of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in activated sturgeon eggs. Aquaculture
Academic article

Outreach

Application of interspecific Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (iSCNT) in sturgeons and an unexpectedly produced gynogenetic sterlet with homozygous quadruple haploid. Fatira et al (2018), Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24376-1

SCNT was tested in sturgeons by transferring Russian sturgeon cells into sterlet eggs, producing one larva. The larva showed only recipient DNA despite being tetraploid, likely due to genome duplication during development.

Språkvelger

Effrosyni Fatira