DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ETHOLOGY

D E P A R T M E N T O F E C O L O G Y
Head: Prof. Jozef Halgoš, DSc.
Telephone: (+421-2) 602 96 422; Fax: (+421-2) 602 96 064
e-mail: halgos@fns.uniba.sk
www: http://www.fns.uniba.sk/index.php?id=kek
Professor Emeritus:
Full Professors:
Associate Professors:
Assistant Professors:
Research Associates:
PhD Students:
Technical Staff:
Zora Feriancová-Masárová
Jozef Halgoš
Eva Bulánková, Jozef Klembara, Vladimír Kováč, Iľja Krno
Bystrík Ambruš, Tomáš Derka
Jozef Lukáš, Karol Pachinger
Pavel Beracko, Kvetoslava Bottová, Jana Ciceková, Mária
Čápová (Plachá), Daniel Gruľa, Michaela Kolesárová, Lucia
Kozubová, Jarmila Lešková, Andrea Novomeská, Lucia
Strelková, Andrej Štangler, Barbora Števove, Eva
Záhorská, Matej Ţiak
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Awards
Silver medal for Prof. J. Halgoš, from Slovak Zoological Society, on 1. December 2008,
Smolenice.
Rector´s Award for the excellent Master thesis: "Reproductive parameters of black
bullhead Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) in terms of its invasive potential", Andrea
Novomeská, Comenius University, Bratislava.
Research and education projects
VEGA 1/4353/07 Long-term changes of hydrobionts communities of Carpathian and
Pannonian regions, Jozef Halgoš, 2007-2009
VEGA, 1/0226/08, Invasive fishes in the Danube catchment: from morphology, ontogeny
and epigenesis towards ecology and evolution; Vladimír Kováč, 2008-2010
VEGA, 1/3285/06, Ontogeny and phylogeny of selected taxa of amniote clade, Jozef
Klembara, 2006-2008
VEGA, 1/4355/07, Autecology, production and taxonomy of selected groups of
macrozoobenthos, Iľja Krno (2007-2009)
Grant UK/339/2008: Influence of regulation of submountain stream on diversity and
spatial distribution of leeches, Pavol Beracko
Grant UK 302/2008 Age and growth of monkey goby, Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814),
Maria Plachá
Grant UK/193/2008: Occurrence of social-spatial organization in the population of
Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780) and Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834) in
alder forest of NNR Sur, Lucia Kozubová
Grant UK/256/2008: Early ontogeny of topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva), Eva
Záhorská
International projects
DBU (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt) project 26080- 43/0: Wasser, Quelle von Leben
und Wissen (Eva Bulánková, 2008-2010)
Foreign partners
Dr. Gordon H. Copp; Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences,
Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK – Project Invasive fishes in the Danube
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catchment: from morphology, ontogeny and epigenesis towards ecology and evolution
SOCRATES programme, Dr. Aleš Dolný, Dr. Petr Kočárek, Ostrava, Faculty of Natural
Sciences, Czech Republic
Prof. Daniel Hering, Dipl. Biol. Thomas Korte, University Duisburg Essen, Department of
Applied Zoology/Hydrobiology, Germany, Projekt AquaWis
Selected results
VEGA, 1/3285/06, Ontogeny and phylogeny of selected taxa of amniote clade, Jozef
Klembara, 2006-2008
1) A new data regarding the ontogeny and phylogeny of the Lower Permian tetrapods
from the lacustrine sediments of the Boskovice Furrow in Moravia (CZ) have been
obtained. A new genus and species of the discosauriscid tetrapod (Seymouriamorpha)
and the first find of the tetrapod of the zatrachidid affinity – Dasyceps sp.
(Temnospondyli) have been described.
2) There have been described the smallest known ontogenetic stages of Seymouria
sanjuanensis from the Lower Permian terrestrial sediments of Thuringia. Their
comparison with the related Lower Permian species of the genus Discosauriscus from
Moravia has shown that specimens of the species S. sanjuanensis metamorphosed
earlier, the fact corresponding to the palaeoecological conditions of the Lower Permian of
Thuringia.
Grant UK/ 256/2008: Early ontogeny of topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva), Eva
Záhorská
The project was oriented on early ontogeny of invasive fish species topmouth gudgeon,
but since the weather conditions were unfavourable I made research on late stage of
ontogeny and I evaluated age and growth of topmouth gudgeon. Specimens of topmouth
gudgeon (n = 143) were collected by electrofishing in the Šúr pond (Bratislava, Slovakia)
in October 2004. The SL of 143 specimens ranged from 18.16 mm to 67.57 mm. A total
of 96 specimens were found to be females, 33 were males and 14 were juveniles.
Eviscerated body weight ranged from 0.10 to 5.02 g and it was significantly (R2 =
0.9113; P = 0.01) related to SL. Scale caudal radius ranged from 0.52 to 2.42 mm. In
our sample, the population of topmouth gudgeon was represented with 5 age groups,
from 0+ to 4+.
Grant UK 302/2008: Age and growth of
1814), Mária Plachá
monkey goby, Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas,
The standard length of the 182 specimens ranged from 33.44 to 123.16 mm. The age of
specimens was determined by counting the number of completely developed annual
rings. The population of monkey goby from the River Ipel appears to be composed from
individuals of the age groups 0 to V, though the age group III predominated. Monkey
goby becomes sexually mature mostly in the second year of its life, so it can be
assumed, that all (n= 117) specimens in the age group 2+ and 3+ (specimens in the
third and fourth year of their life) were sexually mature and they can establish new
generation of invasive populations.
Grant UK/339/2008: Influence of regulation of submountain stream on the diversity and
spatial distribution of leeches, Pavol Beracko
The results have shown that conditions associated with flow regulation have great effect
on presence of leeches. Regulation is associated with degradation of natural substratum
of stream. The regulation of stream reduced fine substratum, what is very important for
the presence of leeches. After the regulation of stream, leeches were totally absent
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there.
Selected publications
D. lléšová, J. Halgoš, I. Krno (2008): Blackfly assemblages (Diptera, Simuliidae) of the
Carpathian river: habitat characteristics, longitudinal zonation and eutrophication.
Hydrobiologia, Vol. 598, s. 163-174
J. Klembara (2008): A new anguimorph lizard from the Lower Miocene of north-west
Bohemia, Czech Republic. Palaeontology, Vol. 51, No. 1, s. 81-94
M. Čápová, I. Zlatnická, V. Kováč, S. Katina (2008): Ontogenetic variability in the
external morphology of monkey goby, Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814) and its
relevance to invasion potential. Hydrobiologia, Vol. 607, s. 17-26
H. Copp, J. Černý, V. Kováč (2008): Growth and morphology of an endangered native
fteshwater fish, crucian carp Carassius carassius, in an English ornamental pond /
Gordon. Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Vol. 18, No. 1, s. 32-
43
S. Sanchez, J. Klembara, J. Castanet, S. J. Steyer (2008): Salamander-like development
in a seymouriamorph revealed by palaeohistology. Biology Letters, Vol. 4, No. 4, s. 411-
414
E. Kalivodová, Z. Bedrna, E.Bulánková, S. David, P. J. Fedor, P. Fenďa, P. Gajdoš, V.
Gavlas, H. Kalivoda, E. Kalivodová, J. Kollár, A. Krištín, F. Kubíček, A. Kürthy, J. Lukáš, D.
Magic, T. Olšovský, G. Pastorális, J. Svatoň, A. Szabóová, J. Šteffek, O. Štepanovičová,
M. Zaliberová (2008): Flora and fauna of winnowed sands of Slovakia. Bratislava : Veda,
2008. 255 s.
B. Ambruš, K. Ambrušová (2008): Behaviorecology and restitution of grey partridge
(Perdix perdix). Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského, 2008. 76 s.
G. H. Copp, V. Kováč, I. Zweimüller, A. Dias, M. Nascimento, M. Baláţová (2008):
Preliminary study of dietary interactions between invading Ponto-Caspian gobies and
some native fish species in the River Danube near Bratislava (Slovakia). Aquatic
Invasions, Vol. 3, No. 2, s. 189-196
V. Vongrej, R. Smolinský, E. Bulánková, D. Jandzík (2008): Extraordinary winter activity
of the Green Lizard Lacerta viridis (LAURENTI, 1768) in southwestern Slovakia.
Herpetozoa, Vol. 20, No. 3-4, s. 173
Research highlights
Čápová, M., Zlatnická, I., Kováč, V., Katina, S. 2008: Ontogenetic variability in external
morphology of monkey goby, Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814) and its relevance to
invasion potential. Hydrobiologia. 607:17–26.
An effective tool for understanding biological invasions is the evaluation of various
biological traits (morphological, life history, ontogenetic) within an epigenetic context.
Thus, the morphological differences among three goby species (monkey, bighead and
round) were analysed, and the relevance of these differences for invasive potential was
evaluated. Monkey goby reach their definite phenotype very early in their ontogeny and
thus represent a strongly precocial (specialized) species with direct development. The
morphological differences between monkey and two other goby species also reflect its
strong specialization for sandy substrata and smaller prey types. Thus, monkey goby are
not expected to spread to new areas as fast as the round and bighead gobies, and their
distribution is likely to be limited to sandy and/or sandy-gravel substrata. If this
assumption is correct, then the potential adverse impact of monkey goby on native fauna
or even ecosystem is likely to be less than that of the bighead and round gobies.
Sanchez, S., Klembara, J., Castanet, J. and Steyer, S. 2008. Salamander-like
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development in a stem amniote revealed by paleohistology. Biology Letters 4 (4): 411-
414.
The amniotes generally lay eggs on land and are thereby differentiated from
lissamphibians (salamanders, frogs and caecilians) by their developmental pattern.
Although a number of 330-300 million year-old fossils are regarded as early tetrapods
placed close to amniotes on the basis of anatomical data, we still do not know whether
their developmental pattern was more similar to those of lissamphibians or amniotes.
Here we report palaeohistological and skeletochronological evidence supporting a
salamander-like development in the seymouriamorph Discosauriscus. Its long-bone
growth pattern, slow diaphyseal growth rate and delayed sexual maturity (at >10 years
old) are more comparable to growth features of extant salamanders rather than extant
amniotes, even though they are mostly hypothesized to be phylogenetically closer to
living amniotes than salamanders.
Theses (Bc.)
Bolgárová, Brigita: Differences in the species composition and population of mosquites
(Diptera, Culicidae) by using various methods in research (J. Halgoš*)
Karolína, Dobiašová: The dentition of members of the recent families of the infraorder
Sauria (Lepidosauria, Squamata) (J. Klembara*)
Ferencziová, Timea: The present state of knowledge of the caddis flies of the West
Carpathian Mts. (J. Lukáš*)
Görfölová, Lucia: Conservation of freshwater invertebrates (T. Derka*)
Hodošová, Zuzana: Behavioral ecology of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus
citellus) (B. Ambruš*)
Hôrková, Kristína: Potential invasive fish species in Slovakia – risk assessment (V.
Kováč*)
Hvolková, Monika: Present knowledge of selected groups of macrozoobenthos of the Malé
Karpaty Mts. (J. Lukáš*)
Krištofovičová, Lucia: Benthic invertebrates of springs and karst areas (I. Krno*)
Malecká, Martina: Influence of Salmonidae fishes on the macrozoobenthos of flowing
waters (T. Derka*)
Mrvová, Anna: Blackflies (Diptera, Simuliidae) of the Podunajská and Borská níţina
lowland (J. Halgoš*)
Országhová, Lenka: Impact of land-use on macrozoobenthos of flowing waters (I. Krno*)
Piknová, Katarína: Restoration of stream ecosystems (T. Derka*)
Svitková, Mária: Changes in the communities of small terrestrial mammals in Slovakia,
Czech republic and Poland over the past 50 years of the 20th century (K. Pachinger*)
Tokoš, Ján: Current distribution of some invasive species of fish in the Danube catchment
(V. Kováč*)
Theses (MSc.)
Ballayová, Veronika: Ecological quality assessment of selected sections of Rajčianka
stream (Stráţovské vrchy) based on macrozoobenthos and river hydromorphology (E.
Bulánková*)
Bimbová, Barbora: Trichoptera communities of the central part of the River Váh in the
area of Trenčín and evaluation of the influence of urban agglomeration on
macrozoobenthos (J. Lukáš *)
Bottová, Kvetoslava: Autecology of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in the upper part of the
Prosiečanka (Chočské vrchy Mts.) (T. Derka*)
Budinská, Zuzana: Problem of geohelmints Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura in
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some regions of Slovakia (F. Ondriska*)
Marcinčin, Michal: Autecology of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in a constant temperature
stream (T. Derka*)
Novomeská, Andrea: Reproductive parameters of black bullhead Ameiurus melas
(Rafinesque, 1820) in terms of its invasive potential (V. Kováč*)
Strelková, Lucia: Influence of seasonal changes on bioassessment of streams using
macrozoobenthos (I. Krno*)
Tvaroţková, Martina: Vegetation of the Stupavský potok brook and Mláka (Malé Karpaty
Mts., Borská níţina) (J. Zlinská*)
Vráblová, Veronika: Species diversity, communities of blackflies (Simuliidae) and
stoneflies (Plecoptera) and their impotance in evaluating the influence of windstorm in
the Zubrovica stream (*J. Halgoš, I. Krno)
Zlatnická, Ivana: Ontogenetic variability in the external morphology of monkey goby,
Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814) from the River Hron, Slovakia (V. Kováč*)
Zubeková, Lucia: Life cycles and production of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in tributary of
Prosiečanka stream (T. Derka*)
Krug, Martin: Classification and categorisation of behaviour elements of white rhinoceros
Ceratoterium simum in Zoological garden Bratislava conditions (B. Ambruš*)
Theses (PhD.)
Smolinský, Radovan: The ossification of otoccipital region of fully formed chondrocranium
of Crocodylus porosus ( J. Klembara*)
* supervisor
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