A5050844225- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Hungarian Social, Economic and Educational Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Evolution and Science Education
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Coccidia and coccidiosis research
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Study of Mite Species
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
University of Debrecen
2016-2025
Babeș-Bolyai University
2015-2025
Casa de Velázquez
2025
University of Colorado Boulder
2018-2019
Université Paris-Sud
2012
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2012
University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca
2008
Invasive species can displace natives, and thus identifying the traits that make aliens successful is crucial for predicting preventing biodiversity loss. Pathogens may play an important role in invasive process, facilitating colonization of their hosts new continents islands. According to Novel Weapon Hypothesis, colonizers out-compete local native by bringing with them novel pathogens which are not adapted. In contrast, Enemy Release Hypothesis suggests flourishing because they have left...
Innovative behaviors such as exploiting novel food sources can grant significant fitness benefits for animals, yet little is known about the mechanisms driving phenomena, and role of physiology virtually unexplored in wild species. Two hypotheses predict opposing effects physiological state on innovation success. On one hand, poor condition may promote innovations by forcing individuals with competitive abilities to invent alternative solutions. other superior ensure greater cognitive...
Background The trade-off between current and residual reproductive values is central to life history theory, although the possible mechanisms underlying this are largely unknown. 'molt constraint' hypothesis suggests that molt plumage functionality compromised by preceding breeding event, yet candidate mechanism remains insufficiently explored. Methodology/Principal Findings seasonal change in photoperiod was manipulated accelerate rate. This treatment simulates case of naturally...
Abstract The mechanisms that underpin the evolution of ageing and life histories remain elusive. Oxidative stress, which results in accumulated cellular damages, is one suggested to play a role. In this paper, we set out test “oxidative stress theory ageing” hypothesis histories” using comprehensive phylogenetic comparison based on an unprecedented dataset oxidative physiology 88 free‐living bird species. We show for first time species with longer lifespan have higher non‐enzymatic...
We investigated the effects of nutritional limitation, humoral immune activation, and their interaction on postnuptial molting aviary-kept house sparrows ( Passer domesticus (L., 1758)). In a 2 × experimental design, we measured progress quality feathers produced during by exposed to different diet qualities (high low) activation with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Food quality, but not immunity, affected significantly body mass process molting. Sparrows feeding low-quality food had decreased...
Summary The functional significance of intra‐ and interspecific structural variations in the flight feathers birds is poorly understood. Here, a phylogenetic comparative analysis four features (rachis width, barb barbule density porosity) proximal distal primary 137 European bird species was conducted. Flight type (flapping soaring, flapping gliding, continuous or passerine type), habitat (terrestrial, riparian aquatic), wing characteristics (wing area, S aspect ratio, AR ) moult strategy...
Abstract Population divergence in geographic isolation is due to a combination of factors. Natural and sexual selection may be important shaping patterns population differentiation, pattern referred as ‘isolation by adaptation’ ( IBA ). can complementary the well‐known distance’ IBD ), which closely related populations (via any evolutionary process) associated with isolation. The barn swallow Hirundo rustica complex comprises six subspecies, where divergent phenotypic differentiation among...
Symbionts are key elements of ecosystems, by playing important roles in shaping the biology and ecology their hosts. However, factors determining symbiont loads across host species still unclear. Nowadays, we know that intensity prevalence feather mites, most diverse group avian ectosymbionts, differ strongly between species. To understand those differences, studied 17 bird traits two mite community features (species richness composition species) potentially related to interspecific...
Sexual differences in physiology are widely regarded as potential proximate mechanisms that underlie sex mortality, life history and disease risk of vertebrates. However, little is known about the causes sex-specific variation physiology. selection parental workload two key components suggested to play a role. Theory predicts that, within males, species with stronger male sexual (greater dichromatism more frequent social polygyny) higher effort should have lower immune capacity oxidative...
The seasonal change, i.e. the marked differences between seasons of low and high productivity, in abundance ectosymbionts defence intensity host against pathogens is a well defined characteristic temperate zone organisms. Here we investigate variation uropygial gland size Proctophyllodes feather mites on wing feathers house sparrows Passer domesticus two breeding populations. varied significantly male female over annual cycle. was small during non‐breeding mating season, after that it...
Background Climate change potentially has important effects on distribution, abundance, transmission and virulence of parasites in wild populations animals. Methodology/Principal Finding Here we analyzed paired information 89 parasite for 24 species bird hosts some years ago again 2010 with an average interval 10 years. The taxa included protozoa, feather parasites, diptera, ticks, mites fleas. We investigated whether abundance prevalence was related to body condition, reproduction...
Defence mechanisms against parasites and pathogens are some of the most elaborate biological systems in animals. The oily secretion avian uropygial gland has been suggested to serve as a chemical defence feather eggshell bacteria. Yet, traits associated with oil production not well understood. We conducted phylogenetic analysis comprising 132 European bird species aiming test: (1) whether life-history ecological drive size evolution by potentially promoting microbial infestation (2) how...
Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones are significant regulators of homeostasis. The physiological effects GCs critically depend on the time exposure (short vs. long) as well their circulating levels (baseline stress-induced). Previous experiments, in which chronic and high elevation GC was induced, indicate that impair both activity immune system oxidative balance. Nonetheless, our knowledge how mildly elevated levels, a situation much more common nature, might influence homeostasis is limited....
Abstract Background Investigations of evolution knowledge and acceptance their relation are central to education research. Ambiguous results in this field study demonstrate a variety measuring issues, for instance differently theorized constructs, or lack standardized methods, especially cross-country comparisons. In particular, meaningful comparisons across European countries, with varying cultural backgrounds systems, rare, often include only few standardization. To address these deficits,...
ABSTRACT Chronically high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) can compromise healthy ageing and lifespan at the individual level. Elevated oxidative stress play a central role in hyperglycaemia-induced pathologies. Nevertheless, of birds shows no species-level association with glucose. This suggests that potential pathologies be avoided by adaptations physiology macroevolutionary scale. However, this hypothesis remains unexplored. Here, we examined using comparative analyses controlled for...
Abstract Patterns of selection are widely believed to differ geographically, causing adaptation local environmental conditions. However, few studies have investigated patterns phenotypic across large spatial scales. We quantified the intensity on morphology in a monogamous passerine bird, barn swallow Hirundo rustica, using 6495 adults from 22 populations distributed Europe and North Africa. According classical Darwin-Fisher mechanism sexual species, two important components fitness due...
In some hosts of avian brood parasites, several populations apparently escape parasitism, while others are parasitized. Many migratory specialist parasites like common cuckoos, Cuculus canorus, experience a short breeding season, and in order to maintain local parasite host densities should be sufficiently high allow efficient nest search. However, no studies have investigated the possible effect density on presence cuckoo parasitism among single species. Here, we predictors 16 reed...
We investigated seasonal variation in haematological indices and immune function the non-migratory Great Tit Parus major over a complete annual cycle. The haematocrit value showed marked reduction spring summer, reaching lowest during moult, after which it increased to reach maximum winter spring. peak heterophil lymphocyte ratio (H/L) July indicated that Tits were most stressed first half of moulting period. increase heterophils H/L ratio, concurrent with reduced number lymphocytes breeding...
Feather mites are arthropods that live on or in the feathers of birds, and among commonest avian ectosymbionts. However, nature ecological interaction between feather birds remains unclear, some studies reporting negative effects their hosts others positive no effects. Here we use a large dataset comprising 20 189 measurements taken from 83 species collected during 22 yr 151 localities seven countries Europe North Africa to explore correlation mite abundance body condition hosts. We...
Parasites usurp indispensable resources for birds during a moult, and this is particularly relevant those parasites residing in host intestines. This might compromise the nutritionally demanding moult and, thus, feather functionality. Although lower quality has profound multifaceted adverse effects on residual fitness, surprisingly, little known about parasites' effect traits, especially over longer term. We conducted an aviary experiment by medicating half of group naturally infested house...