Jana Růžičková

*22 December 1989, Valašské Meziříčí, Czech Republic

I am a researcher in the Integrative Ecology Research Group of the Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), hosted by the Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) and the Hungarian Natural History Museum (MTM), Budapest, Hungary. I am particularly interested in ecology of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). I've been working on radio telemetry, habitat use and movement patterns of selected large species as well as community ecology of carabids in managed temperate forests, agricultural landscapes and post-mining areas in Central Europe.

Currently, I explore how the different management practices of two silvicultural systems, represented by rotation forestry (clear-cuts, preparation cuts, retention tree group) and continuous cover forestry (gap-cutting), can affect ground beetles at different levels of the organization, from assemblages and species populations to individuals and their behavior.

Email: jr.tracey[at]seznam.cz

Google Scholar - Research Gate - ORCID - ResearcherID

Do you have a garden? Please, participate in our Home gardening project. We investigate what plant protection habits are typical among garden owners and what factors influence their gardening practices in ten countries from Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe. Our goals are to expand our current knowledge on the motivation for gardening and the gardening practices of garden owners, as well as to obtain information about the insect diversity of home gardens.

Education

2014 – 2018: Ph.D. in Zoology, Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Thesis: Radio telemetry of ground beetles: Habitat use and movement activity of Carabus ullrichii, PDF.
Supervisor: RNDr. Milan Veselý, Ph.D.

2012 – 2014: Pedagogical minimum of Biology for Secondary schools, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.

2012 – 2014: Master's degree in Zoology, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.

2009 – 2012: Bachelor's degree in Systematic Biology and Ecology, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.


Experience

  • ELKH-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
    July 2022 – present: Research fellow.

  • MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
    Sept. 2019 – June 2022: Assistant research fellow.
    Sept. 2018 – May 2019: Postdoctoral fellow (Erasmus+ traineeship for graduates).
    Sept. 2017 – Nov. 2017: Research stay as a mandatory part of the Ph.D. program (Erasmus+ traineeship).
    Mentor: Zoltán Elek, Ph.D.

  • Pevnost poznání, Interactive science center of Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.
    July 2019 – Aug. 2019: Illustrator.
    Mar. 2015 – Aug. 2018: Lecturer of educational programs for schools, illustrator.

  • Occasional freelance artist.
    Main focus: scientific and educational illustration, comics, anthropomorphic animals.

    • Scientific publications

  • Samu F., Elek Z., Růžičková J., Botos E., Kovács B. & Ódor P. (2023): Can gap-cutting help to preserve forest spider communities? Diversity 15: 240.

  • Růžičková J. & Elek Z. (2023): Beetles on the move: not-just-a-technical review of beetles’ radio-tracking. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 171: 82–93.

  • Elek Z., Růžičková J. & Ódor P. (2022): Functional plasticity of carabids can presume better the changes in community composition than taxon-based descriptors. Ecological Applications 32: e02460.

  • Růžičková J. & Elek Z. (2021): Unequivocal differences in predation pressure on large carabid beetles between forestry treatments. Diversity 13: 484.

  • Elek Z., Růžičková J. & Ódor P. (2021): Individual decisions drive the changes in movement patterns of ground beetles between forestry management types. Biologia 76: 3287–3296.

  • Růžičková J. & Elek Z. (2021): Recording fine-scale movement of ground beetles by two methods: Potentials and methodological pitfalls. Ecology and Evolution 11: 8562–8572.

  • Růžičková J., Bérces S., Ackov S. & Elek Z. (2021): Individual movement of large carabids as a link for activity density patterns in various forestry treatments. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 67: 77-86.

  • Růžičková J., Kádár F., Szalkovszki O., Kovács-Hostyánszki A., Báldi A. & Elek Z. (2020): Scale-dependent environmental filtering of ground-dwelling predators in winter wheat and adjacent set-aside areas in Hungary. Journal of Insect Conservation 24: 751-763.

  • Moskát C., Hauber M.E., Růžičková J., Marton A., Bán M. & Elek Z. (2020): Female-female aggression and male responses to the two colour morphs of female common cuckoos. The Science of Nature 107: 28.

  • Elek Z., Růžičková J., Ádám R., Bereczki K., Boros G., Kádár F., Kovács-Hostyánszki A., Somay L., Szalkovszki O. & Báldi A. (2020): Mixed effects of ecological intensification on natural pest control providers: a short-term study for biotic homogenization in winter wheat fields. PeerJ 8:e8746.

  • Hykel M., Růžičková J. & Dolný A. (2020): Perch selection in Sympetrum species (Odonata: Libellulidae): importance of vegetation structure and composition. Ecological Entomology 45: 90-96.

  • Růžičková J. & Hykel M. (2019): Habitat mosaic of gravel pit as a potential refuge for carabids: a case study from Central Europe. Community Ecology 20: 215-222.

  • Bérces S. & Růžičková J. (2019): Habitat use of an endangered beetle Carabus hungaricus assessed via radio telemetry. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 65: 335-348.

  • Růžičková J. & Veselý M. (2018): Movement activity and habitat use of Carabus ullrichii (Coleoptera: Carabidae): The forest edge as a mating site? Entomological Science 21: 76-83.

  • Růžičková J. & Veselý M. (2016): Using radio telemetry to track ground beetles: Movement of Carabus ullrichii. Biologia 71: 924-930.


    Popular science

  • Růžičková J. & Elek Z. (2022): Co je žere? Predační tlak na velké střevlíky v lesním prostředí / What is eating them? Predation pressure on large ground beetles in the forest environment. Živa 6: 320-321. (in Czech)

  • Elek Z., Růžičková J. & Ódor P. (2022): Colorful Beetles of a Temperate Forest: Carabus scheidleri. The Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 103: e01942.

  • Růžičková J. & Elek Z. (2021): Úskalí výzkumu střevlíků 2. Jak zaznamenat pohyb v terénu? / Pitfalls of carabid research 2. How to record movement in the field? Živa 6: 328-329. (in Czech)

  • Růžičková J. & Elek Z. (2021): Úskalí výzkumu střevlíků 1. Co vlastně říkají zemní pasti? / Pitfalls of carabid research 1. What do pitfall traps actually tell us? Živa 4: 182-184. (in Czech)

  • Popelka O., Hykel M., Růžičková J., Taraška V. & Trávníček B. (2017): Mohou být aktivní těžební prostory hodnotné z hlediska ochrany přírody? Příklad štěrkopískovny Hulín / Can active mining sites/areas be valuable from the nature conservation viewpoint? An example of the Hulín gravel pit. Ochrana přírody 3: 40-43. (in Czech)

  • Růžičková J. & Veselý M. (2016): Využití radiotelemetrie v entomologii / Usage of radiotelemetry in entomology. Živa 6: 314-315. (in Czech)


    Comic books :)

  • Růžičková J. (2015): Biotopia: Svitek a čaj. Nová Forma, Týn nad Vltavou. 48pp. ISBN 978-80-7453-587-1 (in Czech)

    • Other projects

    Quarry Life Award 2018 - Hrabůvka quarry: a potential refuge of rare species (principal investigator, entomological survey), PDF.

    Quarry Life Award 2016 - Gravel pit Hulín: towards the harmony among diverse interests (entomological survey).

    Other interests and memberships

    Biotopia webcomic

    Hiking


    Member of the Czech Society for Ornithology and the Czech Society for Ecology.

    Contact:
    ELKH-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group
    Biological Institute, Eötvös Loránd University
    Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, HU-1117 Budapest, Hungary
    Email:
    jr.tracey[at]seznam.cz
    © 2014 - 2023 Biotopia.cz (last update: 10 February, 2023)