Publications

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.

2021

Borza, S., Godó, L., Csathó, A.I., Valkó, O. & Deák, B. (2021) A közúti közlekedés természetkárosító hatása a magyarországi gerincesfaunára - Szakirodalmi áttekintés. Természetvédelmi Közlemények 27, 1-17.

Sándor Borza

PhD student, University of Debrecen (supervisor: Balázs Deák)

Awardee - Cooperative Doctoral Program (institutional supervisor at CER: Orsolya Valkó)

✉ borzas89@gmail.com 

Research interests

1) Human-wildlife conflicts:

a) Roadkill project

In the last decades, the road network and the number of vehicles increased considerably all around the world. These effects put a serious pressure on the wildlife and the human-wildlife conflicts including animal-vehicle collisions are major problems nowadays. In our studies we aim to explore this ordinary problem in more aspects in Hungary. We evaluat the rate of roadkill causalities from the driver's point of view and we also regularly monitor designated road sections.

b) The effects of geese grazing on agriculture fields

Because of the climate change, the vast Greater White-fronted Goose flocks spend more time in wintertime in Hungary, including strictly protected goose species. Therefore there are increasing conflict between the farmers and nature conservationist. Our aim is to reveal the effect of goose grazing on the agricultural fields. These results can show how  the goose grazing affects the average yield of cereal crops. In the light of these scientific results the nature conservation can manage this conflict situation with stakeholders.

2) Eurasian Crane, like ecosystem engineer species in the dry grasslands

Eurasian Crane is a large iconic bird species, protected across Europe which shows an increasing population trend. No studies evaluated the effects of biopedturbation by foraging cranes in grasslands so far despite these habitats are important feeding grounds for these species group in all continents. We evaluate the effect of "crane-ploughing" on the vegetation of dry grasslands in Hortobágy National Park, which is the biggest stopover site in Europe.

3) Secondary seed dispersal by raptors

Seed dipersal is essential to maintain of the populations of plant species. Zoochory is a generally widespread type of plant dispersal in every terrestrial ecosystem and can ensure the long-distance dispersal of seeds. Stochastic events, like secondary seed dispersal by far-ranging raptors occasionally has major role in colonizing new habitats. Our aim is to assess the secondary seed dispersal by different raptor species in grassland habitats.

4) Human-vectored seed dispersal

There are billons of vehicles in traffic all over the world, which can carry propagules indirectly in smaller or larger quantities. This can affect the distribution of plant species considerably, and can be useful or harmful ecosystem service. We examine which plant species' seeds travel on offroad vehicles into and out from the protected areas of Hortobágy National Park and how this process influences plant communities.