Matija Gogala
Encyclopedia
Matija Gogala is a Slovene entomologist, working mainly in the fields of insect
bioacoustics
, physiology
and taxonomy
.
He studied biology
at the University of Ljubljana
where he graduated in 1960 and became an assistant at the Department of biology (Biotechnical faculty). He received his doctorate in 1964. Later, he became a docent at the department and began teaching animal physiology. He obtained full professor
ship in 1981.
In the meantime, he worked at the National Institute of Biology in Ljubljana, where he served as a director between 1976 and 1979. In 1987, he began working at Slovenian Museum of Natural History
and served also as its director between 1992 and 2001. In 1991, he became an associate, and in 1999 a full member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
, currently serving as its vice president. Dr. Gogala is also a member of several international scientific committees and boards and the president of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
board for Slovenia.
His son, Andrej Gogala, is also an entomologist.
and behaviour of different insect groups. At the University of Ljubljana, he researched seasonal pigmentation
and physiology of insect sensory organs. After that, he began working on vibrational communication of bugs
. His current work focuses on sound production in cicada
s and its use in the group's taxonomy.
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
bioacoustics
Bioacoustics
Bioacoustics is a cross-disciplinary science that combines biology and acoustics. Usually it refers to the investigation of sound production, dispersion through elastic media, and reception in animals, including humans. This involves neurophysiological and anatomical basis of sound production and...
, physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
and taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
.
He studied biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
where he graduated in 1960 and became an assistant at the Department of biology (Biotechnical faculty). He received his doctorate in 1964. Later, he became a docent at the department and began teaching animal physiology. He obtained full professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
ship in 1981.
In the meantime, he worked at the National Institute of Biology in Ljubljana, where he served as a director between 1976 and 1979. In 1987, he began working at Slovenian Museum of Natural History
Slovenian Museum of Natural History
The Slovenian Museum of Natural History is a Slovenian national museum with natural history, scientific, and educational contents. It is the oldest cultural and scientific Slovenian institution stemming from the Carniolian Museum founded in 1821...
and served also as its director between 1992 and 2001. In 1991, he became an associate, and in 1999 a full member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Slovenia, which encompasses science and the arts and brings together the top Slovene researchers and artists as members of the academy....
, currently serving as its vice president. Dr. Gogala is also a member of several international scientific committees and boards and the president of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility is an international organisation that focuses on making scientific data on biodiversity available via the Internet using web services. The data are provided by many institutions from around the world; GBIF's information architecture makes these data...
board for Slovenia.
His son, Andrej Gogala, is also an entomologist.
Scientific work
Dr. Gogala's work focuses mainly on physiologyPhysiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
and behaviour of different insect groups. At the University of Ljubljana, he researched seasonal pigmentation
Biological pigment
Biological pigments, also known simply as pigments or biochromes are substances produced by living organisms that have a color resulting from selective color absorption. Biological pigments include plant pigments and flower pigments...
and physiology of insect sensory organs. After that, he began working on vibrational communication of bugs
Heteroptera
Heteroptera is a group of about 40,000 species of insects in the Hemiptera. Sometimes called "true bugs", that name more commonly refers to Hemiptera as a whole, and "typical bugs" might be used as a more unequivocal alternative since among the Hemiptera the heteropterans are most consistently and...
. His current work focuses on sound production in cicada
Cicada
A cicada is an insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha , in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. There are about 2,500 species of cicada around the world, and many of them remain unclassified...
s and its use in the group's taxonomy.
External links
- Matija's bioacoustic pages
- Personal bibliography in Slovene bibliographical system (COBISS)