Krisztián Szabó

Systematic re-appraisal of the gall-usurping wasp genus Synophrus Hartig, 1843 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini).

Several unanswered questions remain regarding the taxonomy and phylogeny of inquiline gallwasps (Cynipidae: Synergini), obligate inhabitants of plant galls induced primarily by other gallwasps (Cynipidae: Cynipini and Diplolepidini). Here we use morphological and molecular data to revise the inquiline genus Synophrus, members of which are notable for extensively modifying the structure of galls induced by oak gallwasp hosts on oaks in the section Cerris of Quercus subgenus Quercus in the Western Palaearctic. Previous taxonomic treatments have recognized three Western Palaearctic species of Synophrus: S. pilulae, S. politus and S. olivieri. Our results support the establishment of four additional Western Palaearctic species: Synophrus hungaricussp.n., S. libanisp.n., S. syriacussp.n. and S. hispanicussp.n. We describe and diagnose these new taxa, analyse their phylogenetic relationships, and show that Synophrus inquilines are able to impose their own gall phenotypes on those of their hosts. We provide an updated key to Synophrus.

Asymmetry and population characteristics in dice snakes (Natrix tessellata): An interpopulation comparison

Three main types of asymmetry in bilateral characters were early separated (Van Valen, 1962). Directional asymmetry in a character means a consistent bias towards always the same side as opposed to the other, whereas antisymmetry is a consistent asymmetry in a bilateral character pair where the enlarged side occurs by chance. Both directional asymmetry and antisymmetry result from normal development. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), that is nondirectional deviation from perfect symmetry, occurs when normal development is perturbed (Palmer and Strobeck, 1986; Leary and Allendorf, 1989). These perturbances can include habitat degradation (Sarre, 1996), pollution (Bengtsson et al., 1985), hybridisation (Graham and Felley, 1985), inbreeding (Roldan et al., 1998), small population size (Hutchinson and Cheverud, 1995), and the marginal distribution of a certain population (Møller, 1995; Siikamäki and Lammi, 1998). FA was thought to be a useful tool in conservation biology indicating the level of developmental instability that results from genetic and/or environmental stresses (Parsons, 1992; Clarke, 1995). However, the concept of FA, its connection with developmental instability, its heritability, its effect

Kinship and aggression: do house sparrows spare their relatives?

Kin-selection theory predicts that relatedness may reduce the level of aggression among competing group members, leading to indirect fitness benefits for kin-favoring individuals. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether relatedness affects aggressive behavior during social activities in captive house sparrow (Passer domesticus) flocks. We found that sparrows did not reduce their aggression towards kin, as neither the frequency nor the intensity of fights differed between close kin and unrelated flock-mates. Fighting success was also unrelated to kinship and the presence of relatives in the flock did not influence the birds’ dominance rank. These results suggest that the pay-offs of reduced aggression towards kin may be low in non-breeding flocks of sparrows, e.g. due to competition among relatives as predicted by a recent refinement of kin-selection theory. Our findings indicate that the significance of kin selection may be restricted in some social systems such as winter aggregations of birds.

Distribution and hybridization of Anguis fragilis and A. colchica in Hungary

Slow worms (Anguis spp.) are widely distributed in Europe. Based on pronounced divergences in molecular markers the subspecies of the slow worm, Anguis fragilis, have been recently elevated to species level. In Hungary both A. fragilis and A. colchica are present in the mountainous areas with their range being separated by the Danube River with potential contact zones in the Danube valley. Based on morphology, hybridization of the two taxa has been described earlier from the Budai and Pilis Mountains. In order to reveal the exact distribution and confirm hybridization of Anguis taxa in Hungary we analyzed fragments of mitochondrial (ND2) and nuclear (Rag1) genes in 36 specimens from eight regions of Hungary and adjacent countries. The results confirmed the previously known distribution pattern with an east-west split along the Danube River and supported the morphological findings about hybridization in the Budai and Pilis Mountains.

Innovative females are more promiscuous in great tits (Parus major)

Lay Summary We found that innovative great tit females are prone to cuckold their mates. Innovative problem solving can be important to animals for survival and reproduction in nature, yet we found no evidence that females mated to males with poor problem-solving performance compensate for poor male quality by obtaining superior genes for their offspring from other males via cuckoldry. Instead, females’ infidelity increased with their own innovativeness.

Combined Mathematical Modeling of Different Transport Networks, Considerations and Complex Analysis

On the grounds of our traffic network model developments an exact mathematical model can be created based on the union of different types of transport networks. The initial network is the vehicle traffic network that integrates the public transport network as well. During this study the union of road and pedestrian networks is initially created and then we further examine the possibility of generalization of complex networks thereafter.