A5033181528- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Plant and animal studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Coccidia and coccidiosis research
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
- Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
- Study of Mite Species
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Dye analysis and toxicity
Babeș-Bolyai University
2016-2025
Institute of Ecology and Botany
2024
University of Debrecen
2012-2021
Zero to Three
2020
Université Paris-Sud
2012
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2012
University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca
2008
A major aim of evolutionary biology is to understand why patterns genomic diversity vary within taxa and space. Large-scale studies widespread species are useful for studying how environment demography shape divergence. Here, we describe one the most geographically comprehensive surveys variation in a wild vertebrate date; great tit (Parus major) HapMap project. We screened ca 500,000 SNP markers across 647 individuals from 29 populations, spanning ~30 degrees latitude 40 longitude - almost...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
Feather molt is recognized as an energetically costly activity for birds, and parasite infestation during has the potential to reduce host fitness because parasites sequester essential nutrients stimulate immune system. We manipulated coccidian load of captive male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) by suppressing natural infection control birds with anticoccidial drug infecting experimental oocysts. Following infestation, effect chronic on individual condition, 12 indices physiological...
Long-distance migratory birds have relatively smaller brains than short-distance migrants or residents. Here, we test whether reduction in brain size with migration distance can be generalized across the different regions suggested to play key roles orientation during migration. Based on 152 bird species, belonging 61 avian families from six continents, show that sizes of both telencephalon and whole decrease, relative optic lobe increases, while cerebellum does not change increasing...
Summary Body feathers ensure both waterproofing and insulation in waterbirds, but how natural variation the morphological properties of these appendages relates to environmental constraints remains largely unexplored. Here, we test habitat thermal condition affect morphology body feathers, using a phylogenetic comparative analysis five structural traits [i.e., total feather length, lengths pennaceous (distal) plumulaceous (proximal) sections, barb density, barbule density] from sample 194...
Abstract Studies modelling heat transfer of bird plumage design suggest that insulative properties can be attributed to the density and structure downy layer, whereas waterproofing is result outer comprised contour feathers. In this study, we test how habitat thermal condition affect feather mass body feathers (contour, semiplume feathers) measured on ventral dorsal sides body, using a phylogenetic comparative analysis 152 species. Our results demonstrate are higher in species inhabit colder...