VEGA Projects

National

Mezostigmátne roztoče so vzťahom k podkôrnym habitatom a drevokaznému hmyzu na Slovensku – taxonómia, ekológia a chorológia druhov čeľade Digamasellidae (Acari: Parasitiformes).
Mesostigmatic mites associated with subcorticolous habitats and wood-destroying insects in Slovakia – taxonomy, ecology and chorology of the species of Digamasellidae (Acari: Parasitiformes).
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Mašán Peter, PhD.
Duration: 1.1.2022 – 31.12.2025
Význam jašteríc, ježov a ixodových kliešťov v ekológii nebezpečných, vektormi prenášaných bakteriálnych a protozoárnych patogénov v urbánnych a suburbánnych podmienkach Slovenska
The role of lizards, hedgehogs and hard ticks in the ecology of dangerous bacterial and protozoan vector borne pathogens in urban and suburban conditions of Slovakia
Program: VEGA
Project leader: MVDr. Didyk Yuliya, PhD.
Annotation: Species interactions within ecological communities are the main reason for the emergence of new infectious diseases that an increasingly changing due to anthropogenic influences and climate change (1,2). These changes seen in most city areas, which are characterized by an urban environment. In most modern epidemics, environmental factors play a more important role in the development of the disease than the evolutionary changes of pathogens or hosts (3). It is very important to understand the ecology of vectors and host reservoirs, which play an important role in the emergence and success of parasite transmission (4,5). We propose to investigate the circulation of medically and veterinary important tick-borne pathogens, with the focus on the role of vector and host ecology in urban and suburban conditions in Slovakia. Lizards and hedgehogs as model groups from city agglomerates in association with hard ticks and tick-borne pathogens are of paramount importance to public health and wildlife protection (6,7).
Duration: 1.1.2022 – 31.12.2025
Zraniteľnosť vybraných prírodne a antropogénne narušených ekosystémov vo vzťahu k prebiehajúcej zmene klímy
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Ing. Šustek Zbyšek, CSc.
Duration: 1.1.2022 – 31.12.2025
Invázny švábik Planuncus tingitanus (Blattaria) na Slovensku – šírenie, ekológia a etológia.
Invasive cockroach Planuncus tingitanus (Blattaria) in Slovakia – expansion of species, ecology and ethology.
Program: VEGA
Project leader: doc. RNDr. Vidlička Ľubomír, CSc.
Duration: 1.1.2021 – 31.12.2024
Výskyt bežných ako aj netypických druhov kliešťov na Slovensku a ich úloha v cirkulácii kliešťami prenášaných patogénov.
The occurrence of common as well as atypical tick species in Slovakia, and their role in the circulation of tick-borne agents.
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Mgr. Rusňáková Tarageľová Veronika, PhD.
Annotation: Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick in Central Europe, that transmits wide range of pathogenic agents. In Slovakia, many studies were carried out regarding the circulation of pathogens for which the Ixodes ricinus is the main vector.Recently the occurrence of newly described species Ixodes inopinatus, that is morphologically almost identical with the I. ricinus, was confirmed in Europe. Based on the preliminary studies this tick species is competent vector of infectious disease agents. So it is essential to know whether this tick species is present in Slovakia. Moreover, it is important to find out its vector competence. Due to climating changes, in Slovakia we can observe and expect the occurrence of tick species that are usually common in warmer habitats and southern regions of Europe. Some of these ticks are an important vectors of dangerous pathogens. That is why in our research we will also study the occurrence and possible spread of exotic ticks that can be introduced to Slovakia by various hosts.
Duration: 1.1.2021 – 31.12.2024
Bentický život v krasových prameňoch: Ekologická izolovanosť pramenného habitatu, funkčné zloženie a fylogenetická diverzita bentických organizmov
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Mgr. Kokavec Igor, PhD.
Duration: 1.1.2020 – 31.12.2023
Metabolické účinky pohlavných hormónov hmyzu
Metabolic functions of insect gonad-derived hormones
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Mgr. Gáliková Martina, PhD.
Duration: 1.1.2020 – 31.12.2023
reprodukcia – Reprodukčné stratégie vo vzťahu k akustickým parametrom a migračným stratégiám: štúdie na trsteniarikovi bahennom (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) a strakošovi kolesárovi (Lanius minor).
Reproductive strategies and relation to acoustics and migration: case studies on Reed Warbler and Lesser Grey Shrike
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Darolová Alžbeta, CSc.
Annotation: Song of passerines have several functions, like territory defense and mate attraction. By using of reproducedsong of higher and lower quality in the Reed Warbler we will simulate occupied territories by males of differentquality. We will determine the male strategy of territory choice affected by simulating quality of neighbor song, thefemale mate choice in relation to quality of neighbor song and evaluate the maternal investment of females intoeggs in terms of clutch size, egg yolk testosterone and egg white lysozyme, in dependence on quality of neighborsong. Long-distance migrant songbirds are among the most endangered species. Their migration strategies arealmost unknown and their relation to reproductive strategy, population trend and endangering factors is being notexplained sufficiently. Using geolocators we will study the migration strategies and routes of selected individualsof the Lesser Grey Shrike and analyze their breeding success as well local and global factors of endangerement.
Duration: 1.1.2020 – 31.12.2023
Štúdium evolúcie mitochondriálneho genómu pomocou kvasinky Kluyveromyces lactis
Study of mitochondrial genome evolution using yeast Kluyveromyces lactis
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Mgr. Procházka Emanuel, PhD.
Duration: 1.1.2020 – 31.12.2023
Význam interakcií medzi ektoparazitmi pre prenos vektormi-prenášaných patogénov
The role of ectoparasite-ectoparasite interactions in the transmission of vector-borne parasites
Program: VEGA
Project leader: Mgr. Václav Radovan, PhD.
Annotation: One of the biggest challenges faced by ecologists is to understand how and to what extent interspecific interactions within and between different guilds influence community structure, abundance of specific species or biodiversity of organisms of interest such as pathogens. In spite of a general acceptance of the existence of such a complex system, most ecological interactions are studied in relative isolation. The goal of this project is to see how the interactions between a certain host and a certain vector-borne parasite are affected by the complexity of ectoparasite-ectoparasite interactions. We specifically aim to establish if the interactions among multiple blood-feeding dipteran ectoparasites can influence the susceptibility of an avian host to some of the ectoparasites and/or pathogens that they vector. Namely, we plan to reveal if host susceptibility to haemosporidians can be mediated by 1) ectoparasite-ectoparasite interference or 2) modulation of host immunity by background ectoparasite pressure.
Duration: 1.1.2020 – 31.12.2023