Selected recent publications
2023
Borza, S. & Godó, L., Valkó, O., Végvári, Z., Deák B. (2023): Better safe than sorry – Understanding the attitude and habits of drivers can help mitigating animal-vehicle collisions. Journal of Environmental Management 339: 117917.
2022
Godó, L., Valkó, O., Borza, S., & Deák, B. (2022) A global review on the role of small rodents and lagomorphs (clade Glires) in seed dispersal and plant establishment Global Ecology and Conservation 33: e01982.
Valkó, O., Borza, S., Godó, L., Végvári, Z., Deák, B. (2022) Eurasian crane (Grus grus) as ecosystem engineer in grasslands ‒ conservation values, ecosystem services and disservices related to a large iconic bird species. Land Degradation and Development 33, 2155-2165.
2021
Kiss, R., Deák, B., Tóthmérész, B., Miglécz, T., Tóth, K., Török, P., Lukács, K., Godó, L., Körmöczi, Zs., Radócz, Sz., Kelemen, A., Sonkoly, J., Kirmer, A., Tischew, S., Švamberková, E., Valkó, O. (2021): Establishment gaps: biodiversity hotspots to support the colonization of target species in species-poor grasslands. Restoration Ecology 29: e13135.
2020
Valkó, O., Lukács, K., Deák, B., Kiss, R., Miglécz, T., Tóth, K., Tóth, Á., Godó, L., Radócz, Sz., Sonkoly, J., Kelemen, A., Tóthmérész, B. (2020): Laundry washing increases dispersal efficiency of cloth-dispersed propagules. NeoBiota 61: 1-16.
Laura Godó
PhD, Assistant Research Fellow
✉ godo.laura@ecolres.hu
Research interests
1, The role of rodents in maintaining grassland plant communities
There are a number of harmful but at least as many useful "services" associated with rodents which they provide through their daily activities. Nowadays, their role in seed dispersal and habitat modification is receiving more and more attention, which relevance is supported by several studies. Our research aims to prove the existence and significance of this role in grassland habitats, as these habitats - despite their significant role in the ecosystem - have hardly been studied so far.
2, Role of birds in seed dispersal and plant establishment
Secondary seed dispersal (diplozoochory) and seed dispersal by gathering and taking away nest material (caliochory) are less traditional and less known ways of seed dispersal. We study these dispersal types in different bird species in open terrestrial and urban habitats. Our aim is to reveal if these mechanisms are able to create connection between the fragmented habitat patches and to enhance local biodiversity via supporting seed dispersal. We also interested if the pellets and nest building activity of birds are able to create such microenvironment, which can support the more successful establishment of plants.
3, Human-wildlife conflicts: roadkill
The expanding road networks and the increasing traffic are placing a huge burden on wildlife. Hundreds of millions of animals are roadkilled in every year along the world's road networks. In addition to the nature conservation damage, collision with animals also poses a risk on traffic safety thus results in many conflicts. Roadkill is an existing but understudies problem in Hungary. We survey the public attitude about this topic while conducting our own field survey. By these and by using archive county-scale roadkill data we aim to mitigate this problem by providing evidence-based practical suggestions.
4, Nature-friendly solutions: 'Nature at home' project
It is becoming more and more fashionable to decorate homes and courtyards of institutions with plants and flowers. We want to reach people through this 'fashion' and offer a nature-friendly alternative, that is, we can also decorate our environment with native plants. Our project aims to bring nature closer to people, as a number of new researches prove that a greener environment contributes to maintaining our physical and mental health. It is also offers a good challenge or a playful task for almost all people with any area of interest, regardless of age, or even a new hobby. We offer the seeds of native flowering plants from which people can choose and plant them at home. This way the participants can get one step closer to a nature-friendly home, kindergarten or school yard. The mission of our project is environmental education by dissemination of knowledge, the practical involvement of participants and the analysis of social attitudes.
5, Monitoring small mammal communities
Small mammals are present in almost all habitat types and are excellent indicator organisms. By surveying them, we can get an accurate picture of the current quality of a habitat. Through their long-term monitoring, we can track changes in land use and structural elements of the landscape, disturbances, the impact of different management types and intensities, and even the effectiveness of habitat restoration programs.