Research area and keywords of research:
Ecology, Ornitology I.
Name of the researcher(s) and research group:
Prof. Dr. Tibor Szép, DSc
Name of the Institute:
University of Nyíregyháza, Institute of Environmental Science
Research objectives:
Quantifying the effects of climate change on long distance migratory birds: A case study using Hungarian Sand Martins (Riparia riparia)
Description and results of research:
Basic research in cooperation with the MME/BirdLife Hungary, based on long-term (since 1986-), integrated monitoring field investigations of breeding Sand Martin population using individual and population level approaches to study the impact of the climate change on migratory birds. Specific, recent methods applied to study the subject (geolocators, radio transmitters, videoendoscope, stable isopote/trace element/hormonal and physical parameters of the African moulted feathers, telomere and microsatellite investigations of nestlings and parents). The study recently is donated by the Hungarian Researches Grant (NKFI/OTKA). Four colleagues from the institute contribute in the project, Dr. Mónika Molnár (genetic analysis), Dr. Ferenc Mónus (behavioural analysis), Dr. Zsolt Hörcsik (hormonal analysis) and Dr. József Jekő (hormonal and trace element analysis).
Research partners from other institutions:
- Ecological, Behavioural Ecological and Evolutionary studies: Prof. Anders Møller, Laboratoire Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution Equipe Diversité, Ecologie et Evolution Microbiennes Bâtiment 362, Párizs, since 1993
- MME/BirdLife Hungary
- Analysis of feather structure: Dr. Gareth Dyke, Babeş-Bolyai University (Romania)
- Genetic analysis: Dr. Steve Smith, Richard Wagner, Donald Blomqvist, Konrad Lorenz Institute, Vienna, Austria, since 2001
- Stable isotope studies: Prof. Dr. Keith Hobson, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Canada, since 2002
- Stable isotope studies: Jyrki Torniainen, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Other information:-
Publications (max. 5):
- Smith S, Wagner R. W., Szép T., Hoelzl F. & Molnár M. 2016. A simple and reliable medium-throughput method to measure relative telomere length in Sand Martins Riparia riparia. ACTA ORNITHOLOGICA 51: 131-136.
- Stephens P. A., Mason L. R., Green R. E., Gregory R. D., Sauer J. R., Alison J., Aunins A., Brotons L., Butchart S. H.M., Campedelli T., Chodkiewicz T., Chylarecki P., Crowe O., Elts J., Escandell V., Foppen R. P.B., Heldbjerg H., Herrando S., Husby M., Jiguet F., Lehikoinen A., Lindström Å, Noble D.G., Paquet J. Y, Reif J., Sattler T., Szép T., Teufelbauer N., Trautmann S., van Strien A. J., van Turnhout C. A.M., Vorisek P., Willis S. G. (2016) Consistent response of bird populations to climate change on two continents. SCIENCE 352: 84-87.
- Szép T, Dobránszky J, Møller AP, Dyke G, Lendvai AZ (2019) Older birds have better feathers: A longitudinal study on the long-distance migratory Sand Martin, Riparia riparia. PlosOne, January 4: 1-14
- Szép T, Hobson KA, Vallner J, Piper SE, Kovács B, Szabó DZ, Moller AP (2009) Comparison of trace element and stable isotope approaches to the study of migratory connectivity: an example using two hirundine species breeding in Europe and wintering in Africa. J ORNITHOL 150: 621-636
- Szép, T., Liechti, F., Nagy, K., Nagy, Zs., Hahn, S. (2017) Discovering the migration and non-breeding areas of Sand Martins and House Martins breeding in the Pannonian basin (central-eastern Europe). Journal of Avian Biology 48: 114-122