A5044581236- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Helminth infection and control
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Viral Infections and Vectors
Comenius University Bratislava
2015-2025
University Library in Bratislava
2023
University of Malta
2023
Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology
2003-2016
Czech Academy of Sciences
2012
Charles University
2003-2007
Genetic architecture of a species is result historical changes in population size and extent distribution related to climatic environmental factors contemporary processes dispersal gene flow. Population-size range contractions, expansions shifts have substantial effect on genetic diversity intraspecific divergence, which further shaped by gene-flow limiting barriers. The Balkans, as one the most important sources European biodiversity, region where many temperate persisted during Pleistocene...
Abstract Polyploidization is a rare yet sometimes successful way for animals to rapidly create geno‐ and phenotypes that may colonize new habitats quickly adapt environmental changes. In this study, we use water frogs of the P elophylax esculentus complex, comprising two species ( lessonae , genotype LL ; ridibundus RR ) various diploid LR triploid LLR LRR hybrid forms, summarized as P. model studying recent hybridization polyploidization in context speciation. Specifically, compared...
Abstract One of the most frequently translocated species outside their native range in Europe are water frogs genus Pelophylax . Recently, belonging to same have also been recorded on island Gozo Malta. To trace origin, we genetically examined 17 individuals from three Gozitan localities where recently. We analysed one mitochondrial (NADH dehydrogenase 2, ND2 ) and nuclear (serum albumin intron 1, SAI-1 fragment identify geographic origin a set microsatellite markers determine...
Abstract The distribution of the neutral component genetic diversity is interplay historical and ongoing processes resulting in species‐specific structure populations, which can, however, be disrupted by interspecific hybridisation introgression. In this study, we focused on two species water frogs, Pelophylax epeiroticus P. kurtmuelleri , live sympatry southwestern Balkans, to investigate rate population using cytogenetic, mitochondrial (ND2) nuclear DNA (microsatellite) markers. overall...
The genus Oswaldocruzia represents a taxonomically diverse group of nematodes with global distribution. Although species are widespread and exhibit remarkably wide host range in some species, their genetic diversity biogeographic patterns remain poorly understood. This study investigated the variability distribution spp. nine anuran from genera Bufo , Bufotes Pelophylax Rana across Central Europe Balkans. Two were identified: filiformis O. ukrainae each exhibiting different associations....
We investigated the recent evolutionary history of Danube crested newt, Triturus dobrogicus through reconstructions of: (1) number and position refugia at last glacial maximum, (2) role major central European rivers in pattern post-glacial dispersal, (3) present-day distribution pattern. analysed sequences mitochondrial DNA (ND2, 1065 bp) six microsatellite loci 363 T. individuals from 58 populations covering range species. Our analyses suggested that survived maximum two separate positioned...
Hyalomma aegyptium ticks were collected from tortoises, Testudo graeca, at localities in northern Africa, the Balkans, and Near Middle East. The intensity of infestation ranged 1–37 per tortoise. sex ratio feeding was male-biased all tested populations. Larger tortoises carried more than did smaller tortoises. juveniles either not infested, or only a poor tick load. absent western Souss Valley Ourika Morocco, Cyrenaica Peninsula Libya, Jordan, Antilebanon Mountains Syria. Hemolivia...
The genus Pelophylax (water frogs) includes relatively common, widely distributed, and even invasive species, but also endemic taxa with small ranges limited knowledge concerning their ecology evolution. Among poorly studied species belong endemics of the southwestern Balkans, namely shqipericus , P. epeiroticus kurtmuelleri . In this study, we focused on genetic variability these aiming to reveal phylogeographic patterns Quaternary history. We used 1,088 published newly obtained sequences...
Abstract The slow-worm lizards ( Anguis ) comprise five species occurring throughout most of the Western Palearctic. Although these are relatively uniform morphologically – with exception A. cephallonica , which exhibits a quite unique morphology they genetically deeply divergent. Here, we provide detailed distribution maps for each and discuss their biogeography conservation based on updated genetic data robust database. We pay particular attention to so called ‘grey zone’, typically...
Morphology has traditionally been used to diagnose the taxa of various taxonomic ranks. However, there is growing evidence that morphology not always able reveal cryptic taxa, and pronounced morphological variation could reflect phenotypic plasticity rather than evolutionary divergence. Spur-thighed tortoises (the Testudo graeca complex), distributed in western Palaearctic region, are characterized by high variability complicated taxonomy, which under debate. Previous molecular studies using...
In temperate regions of the Earth Pleistocene, climatic fluctuations significantly influenced distribution species. However, little is known on how glacial and interglacial cycles affected range dynamics species occupying lower latitudes. this study, we investigated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation reconstructed potential current past (during mid-Holocene, 6 ka BP, Last Glacial Maximum, LGM, 21 BP) Neurergus derjugini, an endangered amphibian endemic to mid-Zagros Mountains in Iran Iraq....
We investigated the genomic constitution and reproduction mode of Rana esculenta from two pure hybrid populations found in western Slovakia, using cytomorphological, karyological allozyme electrophoretic methods. Both were composed diploid R. females triploid males. A single subadult ridibunda female was caught at one localities. The significantly outnumbered males both populations. All electro-phoretically possessed allopolyploid RLL (one “ridibunda” “lessonae” genomes). In ovaries/testes...
Abstract A complex wide‐range study on the haemoproteid parasites of chelonians was carried out for first time. Altogether, 811 samples from four tortoise species an extensive area between western Morocco and eastern Afghanistan Romania southern Syria were studied by a combination microscopic molecular‐genetic methods. Altogether 160 Haemoproteus ‐positive gathered in central Anatolia Afghanistan. According to variability cytochrome b gene, two monophyletic evolutionary lineages...
Abstract Besides several exceptions, asexual metazoans are usually viewed as ephemeral sinks for genomes, which become ‘frozen’ in clonal lineages after their emergence from ancestral sexual species. Here, we investigated whether and at what rate the asexuals able to introgress genomes back into parental population, thus more or less importantly affecting gene pools of We focused on hybridogenetic hybrids western Palaearctic water frogs ( Pelophylax esculentus ), originate through...
The western Palaearctic water frogs in the genus Pelophylax comprise several distinct species and three hybridogenetic hybrid forms. In this study, we focus on esculentus complex, which consists of two sexual species, ridibundus lessonae, their hybrid, esculentus. Specifically, investigated taxonomic composition ploidy level sampled different types wetland habitats Hortobágy National Park (HNP), eastern Hungary. Using variation serum albumin intron 1 (SAI-1) 15 microsatellite loci, detected...
Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo) is a snake fungal pathogen that causes ophidiomycosis. The disease manifests as dermatomycosis and/or systemic mycosis, and can be fatal. It occurs in free-ranging snakes Asia, Europe the USA has also been demonstrated captive snakes. We tested for presence of Oo populations Czech Slovak Republics (n = 420) between 2019 2022, focusing mainly on grass (Natrix natrix) dice tessellata), well various exotic species 207). After collecting skin swabs, we using qPCR...
The range dynamics of species distributed in temperate zones was significantly influenced by climatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene. However, little is known on how glacial and interglacial cycles affected distribution occupying lower latitudes. aim this study to assess Quaternary spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) Iran Transcaucasia infer species' genetic diversity. We analysed mitochondrial DNA variation samples from reconstructed palaeogeography projecting models (SDMs) onto...
Coexistence of sperm-dependent asexual hybrids with their sexual progenitors depends on genetic and ecological interactions between forms. In this study, we investigate genotypic composition, modes hybridogenetic gametogenesis habitat preferences European water frogs (Pelophylax esculentus complex) in a region sympatric occurrence. Pelophylax complex comprises parental species P. ridibundus lessonae, whose primary hybridization leads to lineages esculentus. Hybrids clonally transmit one...
Abstract The scarcity of parthenogenetic vertebrates is often attributed to their ‘inferior’ mode clonal reproduction, which restricts them self‐reproduce own genotype lineage and leaves little evolutionary potential with regard speciation evolution sexual reproduction. Here, we show that for some taxa, such uniformity does not hold. Using hybridogenetic water frogs ( Pelophylax esculentus ) as a model system, demonstrate triploid hybrid males from two geographic regions exhibit very...