Project
Institute of Forest Ecology
International Projects
Behavioural ecology of species Lanius minor
Behaviorálna ekológia druhu Lanius minor
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2006 - |
| Evidence number: | - |
| Program: | Medziústavná dohoda |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Krištín Anton DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Foraging ecology, habitat selection, breeding and pairing strategies, population trends, migration strategies and threat factors are studied on this endangered species in Europe with a strongly negative population and range trend. |
MARGISTAR - A European forum for revitalisation of marginalized mountain areas
Európske fórum pre revitalizáciu horských marginalizovaných oblastí
| Duration: | 16. 9. 2022 - 15. 9. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | CA21125 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Brnkaľáková Stanislava PhD. |
| Annotation: | Cost Action MARGISTAR reflects collaboratively on natural, environmental, social and economic inter-relationships and interactions in mountainous areas, and identifies a range of environmental, social, economic, and political challenges. It enables innovation through a range of physical and virtual meetings to co-design innovative pathways for the transformation of marginalized mountainous areas towards their green, digital and healthy futures. It establishes an online society-science-policy platform in Europe to stimulate the dialogue between scientists, policy makers, mountain actors, NGOs, SMEs, public bodies and private organizations |
wildE - Climate-smart rewilding: ecological restoration for climate change mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity support in Europe
Klimaticky-inteligentné zdivočovanie: ekologická obnova na zmiernenie zmeny klímy, adaptáciu a podporu biodiverzity v Európe
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 101081251 |
| Program: | Horizont Európa |
| Project leader: | prof., Mgr. Kluvánková Tatiana PhD. |
| Annotation: | The overarching aim of wildE is to assess and enhance the potential of climate-smart rewilding as an nature based solution for ecological restoration across Europe. wildE will develop a multi-disciplinary research that addresses the climate-biodiversity nexus in tight association with the socio-economic dimension of large-scale restoration, including scenarios which will demonstrate this potential under diverse land-use and climate change futures. wildE will deliver scientific insights, methods and tools for different geographic, ecological and social contexts, in order to assist EU policy makers, national governments, regions, local communities and commercial companies in embedding rewilding-type ecological restoration in their policies and plans for achieving carbon neutrality, enhancing climate adaptation and reversing biodiversity loss. |
COEVOLVERS - Coevolutionary approach to unlock the transformative potential of nature-based solutions for more inclusive and resilient communities
Koevolučný prístup k odomknutiu transformačného potenciálu prírode blízkych riešení pre inkluzívnejšie a odolnejšie komunity
| Duration: | 1. 11. 2022 - 31. 10. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 101084220 |
| Program: | Horizont Európa |
| Project leader: | prof., Mgr. Kluvánková Tatiana PhD. |
| Annotation: | The main mission of the project is the development of innovative solutions to effectively support the implementation of nature based solutions in the protection of biodiversity. Special attention is paid to the integration of natural science and social science approaches using coevolutionary principles. The project aims to achieve an innovative approach to the integration of actors in the planning and decision-making process in nature and landscape management, including nature actors. The project develops and tests its approaches on 7 case studies. |
| Project web page: | www.coevolvers.eu |
CLEANFOREST - Join effect of Climate Extremes and Atmospheric deposition on European FORESTs
Kumulatívny vplyv klimatických extrémov a atmosférickej depozície na európske lesy
| Duration: | 28. 10. 2022 - 27. 10. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | CA21138 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Ditmarová Ľubica PhD. |
| Annotation: | The ability of forests to continue mitigating climate change depends on their ability to cope with and adapt to the drivers of global change, such as more frequent extreme climate events and changes in air pollutants (especially carbon dioxide, reactive nitrogen compounds and sulphur). Different drivers of global change could play a synergistic, antagonistic or predisposing role in influencing the functioning and health of forest ecosystems. CLEANFOREST will create an inclusive and multidisciplinary pan-European network that uses existing expertise and infrastructures (monitoring networks, manipulation experiments) to 1/ coordinate research efforts (e.g. data collection), 2) compare approaches and define common protocols to standardize measurements and methodologies used in global change research and 3) encourage collaboration between different research groups to exchange and synthesize data, which will enable further development of scientific knowledge, identification of research gaps, and providing proposals for next-generation manipulation experiments and monitoring networks. Finally, CLEANFORST will benefit from the participation of key stakeholders (policy makers, small companies developing low-cost and effective environmental monitoring tools, civil society organizations) by fostering mutual synergies to meet the urgent need for evidence-based solutions in policy, society and technological challenges. Focus of the project - main challenges: Challenge 1. Spatio-temporal changes in driving forces of global change. Challenge 2. Interactions between the driving force of global change and the health status and functioning of forest ecosystems. Challenge 3. Interactions between the driving force of global change and tree and soil biogeochemical processes |
Urban Tree Guard - Safeguarding European urban trees and forests through improved biosecurity
Ochrana európskych mestských stromov a lesov prostredníctvom zlepšenej biobezpečnosti
| Duration: | 26. 10. 2021 - 25. 10. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | CA20132 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Jánošíková Zuzana PhD. |
| Project web page: | https://ub3guard.eu/ |
GENOA - Genetic Nature Observation and Action
Pozorovanie a pôsobenie genetickej podstaty
| Duration: | 4. 10. 2024 - 3. 10. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | CA23121 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kaňuch Peter PhD. |
iSBio Consortium - International soil biogeography consortium for biodiversity studies & conservatorium of soil comunities
Pôdna biogeografia pre štúdie biodiverzity pôdnych spoločenstiev
| Duration: | 23. 7. 2018 - 30. 5. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | - |
| Program: | Medziústavná dohoda |
| Project leader: | Ing. Barna Milan PhD. |
| Project web page: | https://home.uni-leipzig.de/idiv/isbio/ |
RESDINET - Network for novel remote sensing technologies in forest disturbance ecology
Sieť inovatívnych technológií diaľkového prieskumu Zeme v rámci disturbančnej ekológie v lesoch
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 101078970 |
| Program: | Horizont Európa |
| Project leader: | Ing. Jakuš Rastislav DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The primary objective of this project is to facilitate networking opportunities between research institutions in Slovakia and their top-tier counterparts in the EU, specifically those from Sweden and Finland, in the context of this project. The focus of this initiative is to augment forest disturbance ecology. The project will begin by establishing an initial network and developing a joint research project concerning novel remote sensing technologies. Rigorous analysis of severe insect-induced disturbances will be conducted in test areas in Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden, using drone-acquired remotely sensed data and field data. The integrated dataset will be utilized to design new tools for landscape-level early bark beetle attack identification and to construct bark beetle infestation risk assessment models. The project aims to contribute new knowledge to this scientific field. |
TransformERS - Transformations international Experience and Research network for Sustainable futures
Transformácia medzinárodných skúseností a výskumnej siete pre udržateľnú budúcnosť
| Duration: | 31. 10. 2023 - 30. 10. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | CA22156 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | prof., Mgr. Kluvánková Tatiana PhD. |
| Project web page: | https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22156/ |
- - Influence of abiotic and biotic stresses on properties of plants
Vplyv abiotických a biotických stresorov na vlastnosti rastlín
| Duration: | 11. 11. 2016 - 11. 11. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | - |
| Program: | Medziústavná dohoda |
| Project leader: | Ing. Kuklová Margita CSc. |
NetFor - Towards a network for automated real-time monitoring of Quercus robur L. vitality in the Danube region
Vytvorenie automatizovanej monitorovacej siete za účelom sledovania vitality Quercus robur L. v Podunajsku
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2023 - 30. 6. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | DS-FR-22-0026 |
| Program: | Multilaterálne - iné |
| Project leader: | Ing. Ježík Marek PhD. |
| Annotation: | Recent changes in riparian forests in Danube region, mainly caused by hydrological management and climate changes lead to serious deterioration of floodplain ecosystems and decline of Quercus robur tree species. Dendrochronological analyses are powerful tools that provide new insights about forest plasticity to climate-related parameters and its adaptive mechanisms to warming and water balance (i.e. drought). A reliable and large-scale predictive monitoring system based on dendrometer information in order to keep track of the forest vitality in near real-time and to mitigate unpredictable changes in climate will be established along the gradient from Central to Southern Europe. Moreover, project will lead to strengthen research capacities of project team members through an exchange of skills and knowledge among the participants and to built a systematic monitoring network. |
InsectAl - Using Image-based AI for Insect Monitoring & Conservation
Využitie obrazovej umelej inteligencie na monitoring a ochranu hmyzu
| Duration: | 25. 10. 2023 - 24. 10. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | CA22129 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Černecká Ľudmila PhD. |
CropBiomes - Exploiting Plant-Microbiomes Networks and Synthetic Communities to improve Crops Fitness
Využitie sietí rastlín a mikrobiómov a syntetických spoločenstiev na zlepšenie kondície plodín
| Duration: | 2. 10. 2023 - 1. 10. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | CA22158 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | Ing. Artimová Renata PhD. |
| Annotation: | CropBiomes connects European experts to coordinate and develop knowledge on crop microbiomes for use in precision sustainable agriculture. It will use technological advances (e.g. engineered microbiomes) to selectively improve the resistance of holobiomes to specific environments such as drought and disease. They will define new approaches to topics such as diversity of plant microbiomes, their distribution, ecoevolution, crossing and dynamics of microbiomes/holobiomes, and crossing in specific environments such as soilless systems and environmental stressors (drought/heat, pathogens). Finally, we will explore the plant microbiome as a source of beneficial associations of microorganisms and use technology to engineer microbiomes (via synthetic communities). |
National Projects
ForGenRes - Adaptive variation of genetic resources of forest trees under climate change
Adaptívna variabilita genetických zdrojov lesných drevín v podmienkach klimatickej zmeny
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2022 - 30. 6. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-21-0270 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Ing. Jamnická Gabriela PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project focuses on the choice of appropriate genetic resources of forest trees (with primary focus on secondary resources, i.e., seed stands) relying on integrated assessment of phenotypic and physiological traits and adaptive genetic variation based on provenance research, manipulative experiments and simulation of the effects of sylvicultural measures on genetic structure of forest stands. The project is oriented towards the identification of geographical variation of forestry-relevant traits on one side and physiological parameters potentially correlated with these traits on the other side, as well as assessment of their genetic background. Correlations of phenotypic and physiological traits with the climates of the sites of origin, climatic conditions of the sites of plant ation and acute climatic stress will also be addressed. Knowledge about trends of responses of tree species to shifts of geographical position and climate, physiological response to stress, adaptive genetic variation, and effects of stand management on genetic structure will serve as a basis for recommendations for forest reproductive material transfers under clilmate change and active management of tree genetic resources. |
What we (do not) know about the genus Crepidotus (Agaricomycotina, fungi)
Čo (ne)vieme o rode Crepidotus (Agaricomycotina, huby)
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 1/0346/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Adamčíková Katarína PhD. |
| Annotation: | Fungi of the genus Crepidotus (Agaricomycotina) have pileate fruiting bodies with a lamellate hymnophore and a typically a reduced stipe. They grow on various dead plant substrates, especially wood. They are circumpolarly widespread and relatively common from tropical to hemiboreal regions. The genus Crepidotus was processed monographically several times, but the individual species were defined only on the basis of morphological features. Phylogenetic studies have confirmed the genus Crepidotus as a separate lineage of Agaricomycotina, but species delimitation and relationships are not sufficiently known and resolved. This project focuses on reconstructing of phylogenetic relationships in the genus, the identification of species diversity and the molecular delimitationof the species concept that was so far defined only morphologically. We will use traditional methods of statistically supported morphological observations in combination with phylogenetic analysis of several regions of DNA. A robust dataset of sequences, morphological observations and ecological data will make it possible to monitor evolutionary processes and the adaptive function of morphological structures. |
Diversity and pathogenicity of ophiostomatoid fungi in Scots pine stands infested by bark beetles
Diverzita a patogenita ophiostomatoidných húb v porastoch borovice lesnej napadnutých podkôrnym hmyzom
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0122/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Pastirčáková Katarína PhD. |
| Annotation: | Fungi transmitted by bark beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) have suitable microclimatic conditions for their growth and development in bark beetle galleries. Most bark beetle species are closely associated primarily with ophiostomatoid fungi that cause a blue staining of wood, as well as serious diseases of the host trees. The proposed project is focused on the research of species diversity of ophiostomatoid fungi in populations of bark beetles damaging Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands, with the special emphasis on interactions between the fungi, Scolytid bark beetles and their hosts, including determination of pathogenicity of isolates of dominant fungal species and their possible impact on the pine forests dieback in Slovakia. |
Diversity of fungi transmitted by bark beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
Diverzita húb prenášaných podkôrnym hmyzom (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) na borovici lesnej (Pinus sylvestris L.)
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2025 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | APP0676 |
| Program: | DoktoGrant |
| Project leader: | Ing. Strmisková Michaela |
FORSOMICS - Research team and infrastructure upgrade to study the mechanism of conifer resistance to bark beetles in the changing climate: From Gene to Tree level
Dobudovanie výskumného tímu a infraštruktúry pre štúdium mechanizmu rezistencie ihličnanov voči podkôrnemu hmyzu v meniacej sa klíme: Od úrovne génov po stromy
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V03-00103 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Ing. Jakuš Rastislav DrSc. |
Ecological impacts of air pollution residues and forest management on mycological - phytopathological conditions in anthropically influenced forest ecosystems
Ekologické dopady imisných reziduí a lesného manažmentu na mykologicko - fytopatologické pomery v antropicky ovplyvnených lesných ekosystémoch
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0045/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Mihál Ivan CSc. |
| Annotation: | The project includes mycological and phytopathological research of anthropically influenced forest ecosystems in relation to their health status. Synecological relationships (immissions - management - mycology - phytopathology) influencing the health of forests will be studied. The intensity of air pollution attack and various forest management measures in forests can also significantly affect their mycological - phytopathological status. Therefore, it is necessary to know the synergism of the effects of these factors on the health of forests and to define, on the basis of research, possible changes in the management of these forests. The aim should be to achieve the optimal intensity of human intervention in the longer-term development of these forest ecosystems. |
Genetic diversity and pathogenicity of selected fungi that colonize Pinus sp.
Genetická diverzita a patogenita vybraných húb kolonizujúcich Pinus sp.
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2025 - 31. 12. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0034/25 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Ondrušková Emília PhD. |
The gene bank of selected Cornus L. taxa containing bio-active substances with important therapeutic effects
Genobanka vybraných taxónov rodu Cornus L. obsahujúcich bioaktívne látky s významnými terapeutickými účinkami
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0150/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Konôpková Jana PhD. |
| Annotation: | Rising interest in natural medicaments in the past decades was an impulse for gathering complex information on bioactive compounds in Cornus L. taxa growing in the Mlyňany Arboretum and their therapeutic effects on human health. The obtained results may be beneficial for further research focused on the prevention and treatment of such major diseases of civilization as diabetes, oncological and cardiovascular diseases. To ensure a sufficient production of plant material, methods of micropropagation in in vitro conditions will be used. The aim of this project is to increase the content of pharmacologically active substances in monitored taxa by optimizing the culture condition during in vitro regeneration. Genotypes with an interesting content of these substances will be the basis for the creation of gene bank with a further potential use in research, education, or pharmaceutical and food technologies. |
The plant species diversity and physiological response to changing ecological conditions of floodplain forests
Hodnotenie druhovej diverzity a fyziologickej odozvy rastlín na ekologické podmienky lužných lesov
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0053/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Slezák Michal PhD. |
Intra- and interspecies physiological and growth reaction of forest trees in the frame of climate change
Medzi- a vnútrodruhová fyziologická a rastová odozva lesných drevín v kontexte meniacej sa klímy
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 1/0285/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Jamnická Gabriela PhD. |
Young beech trees – vitality and adaptive potential in conditions of changing climate
Mladé buky – vitalita a adaptačný potenciál v podmienkach meniacej sa klímy
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | APD-0080 |
| Program: | PostdokGrant |
| Project leader: | Ing. Húdoková Hana PhD. |
| Annotation: | Acclimation as a key mechanism enables trees to adapt to changes of their natural conditions, thus maintaining the population’s viability under adverse environmental circumstances. The project is focused on the analysis and evaluation of the variability of photosynthetic and growth characteristics in Fagus sylvatica, planted in 5 locations each with unique climatic and soil conditions. The approach of measuring differences within a species between localities using newly planted trees in the juvenile stage of their development excludes possible differences caused by the adaptation of individuals to the environment at the place of origin. Within the framework of the proposed topic, based on the investigation of the variability of physiological traits it will be possible to assess the degree of acclimation and adaptive potential of European beech to the conditions of specific plots. The project will also try to answer which environmental factor is the predominant cause of the given changes and at what level the given changes have already taken place. The results could help in the development of a prediction tool to assist foresters in building climate-adapted forests. |
Silicon nanoparticles for alleviating various types of environmental stress and the possibility of their utilisation
Nanočastice kremíka pri zmierňovaní rôznych typov environmentálneho stresu a možnosti ich využitia
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2025 - 31. 12. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0044/25 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | doc. Ing. Kurjak Daniel PhD. |
| Annotation: | The proposed project focuses on transferring acquired knowledge about crops to economically and ecologically important species of forest trees. It consists of several experiments aimed at various aspects of plant responses to stress in order to provide more information on the functioning of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs). We hypothesize that silicon nanoparticles increase tolerance to abiotic stress (such as drought, temperature, and heavy metals) in a complex cascade of reactions involving several morpho-physiological changes. These changes are likely a result of the regulatory influence of silicon on the level of expression of genes regulating photosystem II (PSII), protein channels for water transfer, scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cell defence mechanisms. |
TaBi - A new pest in beech stands of Slovakia: Evaluation and proposal of control methods against Taphrorychus bicolor
Nový škodca v bučinách na Slovensku: Výskum metód ochrany lesa proti lykožrútovi bukovému (Taphrorychus bicolor)
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2023 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-22-0545 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Ing. Barta Marek PhD. |
| Annotation: | European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a dominant tree species (34.6%) in the forests of Slovakia. Since 2014, cases of withering and, in some areas, even death of beech stands caused by the insect pest Taphrorychus bicolor were reported. Damages were observed mainly in warmer and drier locations, on south-facing slopes, and often with open stand walls. Taphrorychus bicolor is a common species in European forests. In recent years caused considerable damage in Hungary and Germany. Climate change is anticipated to further aggravate the severity of forest pests, as warmer temperatures and increased tree stress (e.g., due to drought) likely facilitate their establishment and spread. According to Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, the summer of 2022 was the warmest in the history of meteorological measurements (since 1881) in Slovakia. With increasing temperatures and periods without precipitation, it is assumed that the frequency of attacks and outbreaks of Taphrorychus bicolor will increase. In recent years, damage to healthy-standing trees has been reported from several locations in Slovakia. When the trees are attacked for several years, the beetle gradually overcomes their defense mechanisms, and the stands withers and dies. The main objective of the projects is to design forest protection measures and recommendations for foresters to prevent damage caused by the Taphrorychus bicolor in beech stands and to introduce the novel biocontrol method to suppress the rising population of this pest. To accomplish the main objective of the project, the following partial aims were designed : 1. Evaluation of methods for monitoring and trapping T. bicolor 2. Isolation, determination, and cultivation of entomopathogenic fungi and pathogens transmitted by T. bicolor 3. Testing the selected strains of entomopathogens against T. bicolor in the field. 4. Dissemination of results and transfer of new application knowledge directly to forestry practice. |
Unravelling of functional diversity and ecological role of fungi of the family Clavariaceae
Objasnenie funkčnej diverzity a ekologickej úlohy húb čeľade Clavariaceae
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0050/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Adamčíková Katarína PhD. |
Populations and communities of arboricolous insects in the context of global and local changes: distribution and adaptations to new environments
Populácie a spoločenstvá arborikolného hmyzu v kontexte globálnych a lokálnych zmien: distribúcia a adaptácie na nové prostredie
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0022/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | doc. Ing. Saniga Miroslav CSc. |
| Annotation: | The scientific project aims to obtain original knowledge about the spatial distribution of arboricolous insect species - mycophages, phytophages, and predators and the composition of their communities along ecological gradients (temperature, humidity, and light gradients) in forest and urban habitats in the context of global and local changes. Attention is paid to moths, sawflies, beetles, ants, and horseflies in terms of their occurrence on woody plants and along horizontal or vertical gradients of forests in the Western Carpathians and in lowland forests in Slovakia. Greater attention is paid to the occurrence of alien insect species in communities of native insect species dwelling on trees with a focus on invasive species. Research outputs aim at a better understanding of the adaptive and bioindication potential of arboricolous insects in new environments. |
Potr_akust_vtak - Foraging and acoustic ecology and trends of flag bird species during global change
Potravná a akustická ekológia a trendy vlajkových druhov vtákov v čase globálnych zmien
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0018/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Krištín Anton DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Rapid changes in landscape and climate during the last centuries have been largely responsible for the decline in insectivorous birds. These changes caused also decline in food and habitat diversity as well as negative range trends in several species. The food and habitat are crucial for the survival of a population, especially in specialists. The project will evaluate food parameters in relation to environmental conditions in time series in some species of insectivorous birds (genera Merops, Lanius, Galerida) and, using acoustic playback experiments, also intraspecific interactions of some species (Acrocephalus). Assessment of foraging behavior and vocalizations in specific habitats of these species will bring new, more complex scientific knowledge, help explain population and range trends and use them as indicators of landscape changes. Understanding the functional relationships of model endangered species could also improve a different approach in conservation management compared to common species. |
Spatial components of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of orthopteroid insects in relation to ecological and evolutionary drivers
Priestorové zložky taxonomickej, funkčnej a fylogenetickej diverzity ortopteroidného hmyzu vo vzťahu k ekologickým a evolučným faktorom
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0097/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Jarčuška Benjamín PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project will assess orthopteran diversity and its scale components (alpha, beta, zeta and gamma diversities) and aspects (taxonomic, phylogentic and functional diversity) in relation to ecological and evolutionary drivers while taking into account operating scale of potential drivers. Assessing quantitative information on habitat and other environmental requirements and preferences of orthopterans will enable us to use orthopterans as bioindicator species for grassland ecosystems. Understanding distribution patterns of orthopterans diversity in regions according to a scale-dependent manner will have conservation implications. Functional and phylogenetic approach could improve explanation of differences in distributional pattern of species of European and national importance in comparison to ubiquitous species. |
Norway spruce (Picea abies) resistance to bark beetle attack in condition of changing climate
Rezistencia smreka obyčajného (Picea abies) voči náletu podkôrneho hmyzu v podmienkach meniacej sa klímy
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0155/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Jakuš Rastislav DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The project is focused on researching the resistance of spruce (Picea abies) to the infestation of bark beetles, especially the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) in conditions of a changing climate. The activities are planned on two levels. The first level will be represented by the research plots of IFE SAS and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences CULS in Prague. The second level will be represented by selected model areas affected by the gradation of bark beetles. The first goal will address the issue of the initiation and spread of damage to forest stands, especially with remote sensing methods (drone, satellites). In solving the second goal, we will analyze the role of primary and secondary metabolites using methods of analytical chemistry. We will use dendrochronological and isotope analyses to meet the third goal. |
Impact of climate change on the distribution of selected pathogens of Pinus sp. trees
Rozšírenie vybraných škodlivých patogénov Pinus sp. vzhľadom ku klimatickej zmene
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0132/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Jánošíková Zuzana PhD. |
| Annotation: | Climate change and increasing average annual temperatures, impose requirements for pathogens to shift their ranges to remain within environmentally tolerable areas, spreading to the areas where they have not been reported previously. The project is focused on determining the temperature tolerances of selected harmful pathogens of pine trees (Dothistroma pini, Dothistroma septosporum, Lecanosticta acicola and Fusarium circinatum) and on the study of the temperature adaptation of different populations of quarantine needle cast species D. pini. Predictive maps of potential distribution and the comparison of the genetic relations of these fungal species will be made. The virulence of selected populations of D. pini from different climatic regions of the world will be determied, and the American continent with the European will be compared. The susceptibility of selected proveniences of Pinus sylvestris to D. septosporum will be estimated. |
The North-American honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) in Slovakia: risk of switch to invasive behaviour as accelerated by climate change
Severoamerická gledíčia trojtŕňová (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) na Slovensku: riziká prechodu k inváznemu správaniu sa akcelerované klimatickou zmenou
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0072/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Ferus Peter PhD. |
STRAKA - Tree and country – influence of trees on diversity of soil microorganisms in agricultural land
Strom a krajina – vplyv drevín na diverzitu pôdnych mikroorganizmov v poľnohospodárskej krajine
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2021 - 30. 6. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-20-0257 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Adamčíková Katarína PhD. |
| Annotation: | Solitary tree standing out of continual forest vegetation has well-known positive and negative impacts on grasslands and arable cultures. Close vicinity of tree causes light and wind interception resulting in change of herbal diversity of grasslands or inhibited growth of crop plants in arable agricultures. Positive influences of tree presence are local enhancing of biological diversity associated with improved ecosystem function. Soil fertility, stability of ecosystem and sustainable land management essentially depends on soil quality. Soil microorganisms are very susceptible to changes in soil characteristics and play the fundamental role in nutrient recycling and stability of ecosystem. Changes in microbial communities connected to presence of trees are underexplored but very actual with current effort to improve landscape structure. Trees are associated with specific groups of fungi; among them are highlighted ectomycorrhizal fungi. Soil of semi-natural grasslands is often dominated by probably biothrophic basidiomycetes and ascomycetes known as CHEGD fungi. In arable soils, special importance is attributed to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and presence of parasitic fungi. This project aims to study representation of fungi with symbiotic, saprophytic, parasitic or other trophic guilds resulted from interaction of tree presence in agricultural land. In addition, we will evaluate selected abiotic and biotic soil characteristics to estimate changes in functional diversity. Project uses advances methods in sequencing of environmental DNA, soil analyses and computer modelling of special influence of ecological factors. |
CALTER - Soil carbon fluxes in dominant forest ecosystems along elevation gradient in the Western Carpathian
Toky uhlíka v pôde hlavných typov lesných ekosystémov na výškovom gradiente Západných Karpát
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2022 - 30. 6. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-21-0412 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Ing. Barna Milan PhD. |
| Annotation: | Forest stores more than 70% of global soil carbon (C) and plays a central role in soil surface-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases. Due to the amount of C stored in the soil, it is essential to recognize that even a small change within this pool could significantly feedback the earth system. Soil organic carbon occurs in diverse forms, which according to the stability, can be divided into an active (labile) fraction, whose persistence time varies from a few weeks to a few months, and a stable fraction, which can persist in the soil for many years or even centuries. Soil loses C by two main processes - respiration and leaching. Both of them show complex spatio-temporal biophysical controls that vary on different scales as a consequence of changes in biotic (plant or microbial community) and abiotic (e.g., soil temperature, soil moisture, soil texture) factors. Soil respiration (Rs) consists of the two main components - heterotrophic (Rh) and autotrophic respiration (Ra), which respond differently to changes in influencing factors. The elevation is a key driver of climate properties playing an essential role in soil carbon content and fluxes. The main aim of our project is to identify C loss by respiration and leaching and to identify their driving factors along an elevation gradient representing the main forest communities in the Western Carpathians. Study plots are located in sites dedicated to long-term ecological research (LTER Slovakia). Possible impact of elevated temperature on soil C fluxes will be studied in open-top greenhouses. For reliable estimation of naturally very variable soil C fluxes we will optimize sampling strategy for each studied ecosystem by spatial stratification and by adjustment of measuring frequency. The project is proposed by 5 institutions running long-term ecological research for 3 years and consists of preparatory, verification, implementation and interpretation phases. |
CORA - Population research and management opportunities of the invasive species the oak lace bug (Corythucha arcuata) in oak ecosystems of Slovakia
Výskum populácie a možností ovládania invázneho druhu sietnička dubová (Corythucha arcuata) v dubových ekosystémoch Slovenska
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-23-0156 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Ing. Barta Marek PhD. |
| Annotation: | The Oak Lace Bug, Corythucha arcuata (Say 1832) (Hemiptera: Tingidae), is a small insect native to North America. Until 2000, it was known only from the United States and southern Canada. This species has recently been introduced to Europe, first recorded in 2000 in Lombardy and Piedmont in northern Italy. In the following years, C. arcuata spread to a significant part of Southeastern Europe. It has also been identified in Slovakia since 2018, and by 2023, it had occupied most of Slovakia's oak forests. Its presence is associated with several risks, including increased susceptibility of stands to attacks by secondary pest species, reduction of tree growth, decreased acorn production, changes in ecosystems, and the risk of negative impacts on humans. Due to the current spread of the species, there are no acceptable control methods applicable in such large areas. The only feasible solution appears to be the application of classical biological control. The project will focus on researching the species' spread, its life cycle, population dynamics, natural enemies, impact on secondary pest species, and other aspects associated with its occurrence in Slovakia. The goal is to obtain information useful for management measures aimed at utilizing its natural enemies in biological control. |
Projects total: 37