Ing. Miroslav Čapek, CSc.

Position: full-time researcher
Research topics: ecology of birds, bird parasites
Department: Working place Brno
Phone: +420 543 422 538
Mobile: +420 728 152 584
E-mail: capekivb.cz

  • birds as monitors of environmental changes,
  • ecology and singing activity of birds,
  • parasites in tropical birds.

    Finished projects

    Education

  • 1985: undergraduate study (Ing./MSc) - Forestry School of Agricultural College (currently Mendel University), Brno,
  • 1988: graduate course - Institute of Systematic and Ecological Biology, Brno,
  • 1992: Ph.D. study - Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, zoology.

    Employment

  • 1987: Institute of Systematic and Ecological Biology, Academy of Sciences, Brno - graduate assistant,
  • 1987–1988: Institute of Systematic and Ecological Biology, Brno - research fellowship,
  • 1988–1991: Institute of Systematic and Ecological Biology, Brno - research assistant,
  • 1991–1993: Institute of Systematic and Ecological Biology, Brno - research assistant,
  • 1993–1995: Institute of Landscape Ecology, ASCR - research assistant,
  • 1995–1998: Institute of Landscape Ecology, ASCR - research scientist,
  • 2002–2010: Institute of Vertebrate Biology, ASCR - scientific secretary,
  • 1998–present: Institute of Vertebrate Biology, ASCR - research scientist.

    Member

  • 1994–2004: Rarities Committee of the Czech Ornithological Society,
  • South Moravian Branch of the Czech Ornithological Society,
  • IOC Standing Committee on Ornithological Nomenclature,
  • Scientific Advisory Board under the Czech Committee for the Convention on Biological Diversity (consultative body of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic),
  • 2005-2014: Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Council No. 6 Ecological-Biological Sciences.

    National/International Collaboration

  • Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic,
  • Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center AS CR v. v. i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic,
  • Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic,
  • Comenius Museum, Moravian Ornithological Station, Přerov, Czech Republic,
  • Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia,
  • Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia,
  • University of Trnava, Slovakia,
  • University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia,
  • Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia,
  • Department of Biology, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA,
  • Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande, Brazil,
  • Instituto das Águas da Serra da Bodoquena, Bonito, Brazil,
  • Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
  • Museo de Zoologia “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Departamento de Biologia Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, D.F., Mexico,
  • Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Vietnamese Academy of Sciences and Technology (VAST), Hanoi, Vietnam,
  • Laboratorio de Invertebrados, Museo de Historia Natural, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Peru,
  • Autoridad Municipal de Los Pantanos de Villa, Lima.

    Field Experience and Studies

  • various European countries: 1983–present
  • Middle East: 1995, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2010
  • North America: 2000, 2012
  • Australia: 2002
  • Southern Africa: 2005
  • Western Africa: 2007
  • Central America: 2004, 2009, 2010
  • South America: 2006, 2011
  • South East Asia: 2002, 2010
  • Indian Subcontinent: 2011
  • 16 research projects and grants since 1993.

    university Teaching and Supervising

  • 1997–present: lectures on Ornithology, Masaryk University, Brno,
  • supervisor of MSc students.

    Publications, lectures and media contribution

  • author/co-author/editor of 10 monographs/books, 58 articles in refereed academic journals, 13 magazine, newspaper and online articles, 37 book reviews, another 25 publications, and 38 research reports,
  • since 1990 I have given 92 specialized lectures, lectures for the general public and conference talks,
  • five TV and radio interviews.

    Selected Monographs, Books, Book Chapters, Encyclopedia Entries

    ČAPEK, M., 1994: Birds in Mountain Ecosystems under Pressure of Air Pollution. Acta Sc. Nat. Brno 28 (4): 1-46.

    ČAPEK, M., Jr., 1994: Birds of Prey, Cuckoos, Gallinaceous Birds, Herons, Ibises, Storks and Allies, Nightjars, Pigeons and Doves, Waders. In: Poleno, Z., Morávek, F. & Sýkora, P. (eds.): Encyclopedia of Forestry. Vol. I: A-O. Ministerstvo zemědělství, Praha: pp. 30, 64, 143, 282, 440, 465, 527 (in Czech).

    ČAPEK, M., Jr., 1995: Birds, Granivorous Birds, Insectivorous Birds, Owls, Passerines, Swans, Geese and Ducks, Woodpeckers. In: Poleno, Z., Morávek, F. & Sýkora, P. (eds.): Encyclopedia of Forestry. Vol II.: P-Ž. Ministerstvo zemědělství, Praha: pp. 28, 178-179, 329, 418, 560 (in Czech).

    DANKO, Š., ČAPEK, M, Jr., 2002: Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola). In: Danko, Š., Darolová, A. & Krištín, A (eds.): Birds Distribution in Slovakia. Veda, Bratislava, pp. 497-498 (in Slovak with a summary in English).

    TRNKA, A., ČAPEK, M., Jr., 2002: Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon). In: Danko, Š., Darolová, A. & Krištín, A (eds.): Birds Distribution in Slovakia. Veda, Bratislava, pp 495-497 (in Slovak with a summary in English).

    TRNKA, A., ČAPEK, M., Jr. & KLOUBEC, B., 2003: Birds of the National Nature Reserve Parížske močiare Marsh. Veda, Bratislava. 163 pp. (in Slovak with a summary in English)

    HUDEC, K., ČAPEK, M., Jr., HANÁK, F., KLIMEŠ, J. & PAVÍZA, R., 2003: World Bird Species Checklist: Scientific and Czech Names. Muzeum Komenského, Přerov. 462 pp. (in Czech with a summary in English).

    KOVALIK, P., PAČENOVSKÝ, S., ČAPEK, M., TOPERCER, J., 2010: Slovak Names for the Birds of the World. SOS/BirdLife Slovensko, Bratislava, 398 pp. (in Slovak with a summary in English).

    ČAPEK, M., KLOUBEC, B., FOLK, Č., Š?ASTNÝ, K., PIKULA, J., HAVLÍN, J., 2011: Species accounts (sections on habitat, breeding and food) of 18 passerine species: Corvus corax, representatives of the genera Loxia (3 species) and Emberiza (12 species), Calcarius lapponicus, and Plectrophenax nivalis. In: Š?astný, K., Hudec K. (eds.) Fauna of the Czech Republic, Birds 3/II. 2nd. ed. Academia, Praha: 883-888, 1036-1037, 1044-1047, 1051-1052, 1078-1080, 1085-1089,1092, 1095-1097, 1102-1105, 1108-1109, 1111,1113-1114, 1117, 1120, 1122-1123, 1130-1134, 1137-1138, 1142-1143 (in Czech with a summary in German).

    KLOUBEC, B., ČAPEK, M., 2011: Seasonal and diel patterns of calling activity in 67 passerine species (introductory chapter Singing activity, text on Field Identification – section on seasonal and diel rhythms of calling activity): representatives of the genera Lullula (1 species), Alauda (1), Motacilla (1), Anthus (2), Troglodytes (1), Prunella (1) Turdus (4), Luscinia (2), Erithacus (1), Phoenicurus (2), Saxicola (2), Muscicapa (1), Ficedula (2), Regulus (2), Locustella (3), Acrocephalus (5), Hippolais (1), Phylloscopus (3), Sylvia (5), Panurus (1), Poecile (2), Periparus (1), Lophophanes (1), Parus (1), Cyanistes (1), Sitta (1), Certhia (2), Remiz (1), Oriolus (1), Garrulus (1), Nucifraga (1), Sturnus (1), Passer (2), Fringilla (1), Serinus (1), Carduelis (4), Loxia (1), Coccothraustes (1) and Emberiza (2 species). In: Š?astný, K., Hudec K. (eds.) Fauna of the Czech Republic, Birds 3/I a 3/II. 2nd. ed. Academia, Praha: 12-13, 48, 56-57, 126, 155-156, 164-165, 206-207, 226-227, 238, 246-247, 280-281, 291, 317-318, 330, 342-343, 352-353, 362, 373, 380-381, 402, 420, 428-429, 438, 444-445, 458-459, 465-466, 471-472, 481-482, 492-493, 502, 512, 520-521, 537, 546-547, 555-556, 571,594-595, 605-606, 614-615, 622-623, 631, 655-656, 677, 684, 691, 699, 706, 716-717, 728-729, 744-745, 751-752, 758-759, 769-770, 814, 831, 895-896, 907-908, 919, 935-936, 953-954, 964, 972-973, 982, 993-994, 1039-1040, 1064-1065, 1083-1084, 1126-1127 (in Czech with a summary in German).

    Publications

    2014

    M. ČAPEK, I. LITERÁK, E. KOCIANOVÁ, O. SYCHRA, T. NAJER, A. TRNKA, P. KVEREK: Ticks of the Hyalomma marginatum complex transported by migratory birds into Central Europe, Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (2014) .

    Z. HUBÁLEK, I. RUDOLF, M. ČAPEK, T. BAKONYI, L. BETÁŠOVÁ, N. NOWOTNY: Usutu Virus in Blackbirds (Turdus merula), Czech Republic, 2011-2012, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 61 (2014) 273-276.

    O. SYCHRA, F. KOUNEK, I. PAPOUŠEK, M. ČAPEK, J. M. CÁRDENAS-CALLIRGOS, S. FRANCO, I. LITERÁK: Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera et Ischnocera) from wrens (Passeriformes: Troglodytidae), with description of a new species of Myrsidea, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54 (2014) 1-28.


    2013

    R. ACOSTA, I. LITERÁK, O. SYCHRA, M. ČAPEK: Fleas on wild birds in Costa Rica, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 115 (2013) 1-8.

    F. KOUNEK, O. SYCHRA, M. ČAPEK, I. LITERÁK: Chewing lice of genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from Turdidae (Passeriformes) of Costa Rica, with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 3620 (2013) 201-222.

    M. LARESCHI, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, O. SYCHRA: Specific association between the mites Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (Acari: Laelapidae) and birds Premnoplex brunnescens in Costa Rica: possible evidence of a recent host switch, Experimental and Applied Acarology 60 (2013) 281-287.

    I. LITERÁK, P. HENEBERG, J. SITKO, E. J. WETZEL, J. M. C. CALLIRGOS, M. ČAPEK, D. V. BASTO, I. PAPOUŠEK: Eye trematode infection in small passerines in Peru caused by Philophthalmus lucipetus, an agent with a zoonotic potential spread by an invasive freshwater snail, Parasitology International 62 (2013) 390-396.

    M. OGRZEWALSKA, T. MARTINS, M. ČAPEK, I. LITERÁK, M. B. LABRUNA: A Rickettsia parkeri-like agent infecting Amblyomma calcaratum nymphs from wild birds in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 4 (2013) 145-147.


    2012

    B. KLOUBEC, M. ČAPEK: Cirkanuální a cirkadiánní vokální aktivita ptáků: metodické poznámky pro terénní studie, Sylvia 48 (2012) 74-101.

    I. LITERÁK, A. V. BOCHKOV, J. CÁRDENAS-CALLIRGOS, M. ČAPEK: The first records of mites of the genus Neharpyrhynchus (Acariformes: Harpyrhynchidae) from birds in Peru, Neotropical Helminthology 6 (2012) 109-114.

    S. MIRONOV, I. LITERÁK, N. M. HUNG, M. ČAPEK: New feather mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines and woodpeckers (Aves: Passeriformes and Piciformes) in Vietnam, Zootaxa 3440 (2012) 1-49.

    T. NAJER, O. SYCHRA, N. M. HUNG, M. ČAPEK, P. PODZEMNÝ, I. LITERÁK: New species and new records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) from bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae) in Vietnam, Zootaxa 3357 (2012) 37-48.

    T. NAJER, O. SYCHRA, N. M. HUNG, M. ČAPEK, P. PODZEMNÝ, I. LITERÁK: Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) from wild passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in northern Vietnam, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3530 (2012) 59-73.

    T. NAJER, O. SYCHRA, I. LITERÁK, P. PROCHÁZKA, M. ČAPEK, P. KOUBEK: Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from wild birds in Senegal, with descriptions of three new species of the genera Brueelia and Philopteroides, Acta Parasitologica 57 (2012) 90-98.

    M. OGRZEWALSKA, I. LITERÁK, J. M. CÁRDENAS-CALLIRGOS, M. ČAPEK, M. B. LABRUNA: Rickettsia bellii in ticks Amblyomma varium Koch, 1844, from birds in Peru, Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 3 (2012) 254-256.


    2011

    M. N. GODOI, M. ČAPEK, M. A. C. PIVATTO, I. LITERÁK, J. KOKEŠ: Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 19 (2011) 428-433.

    M. HONZA, P. PROCHÁZKA, K. MORONGOVÁ, M. ČAPEK, V. JELÍNEK: Do nest light conditions affect rejection of parasitic eggs? A test of the light environment hypothesis, Ethology 117 (2011) 539-546.

    S. KALÚZ, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, A. KONEČNÝ, P. KOUBEK: A new mite species of the genus Lasioseius (Acarina: Gamasina,Blattisociidae) associated with the flowers of Englerina lecardii and Chalcomitra senegalensis (Aves: Nectariniidae) in Senegal, International Journal of Acarology 37 (2011) 511-524.

    F. KOUNEK, O. SYCHRA, M. ČAPEK, A. LIPKOVÁ, I. LITERÁK: Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the Cardinalidae, Emberizidae, Fringillidae and Thraupidae (Aves: Passeriformes) from Costa Rica, with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 3032 (2011) 1-16.

    F. KOUNEK, O. SYCHRA, M. ČAPEK, I. LITERÁK: Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from New World warblers (Passeriformes: Parulidae) from Costa Rica, with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 3137 (2011) 56-63.

    I. LITERÁK, J. SITKO, O. SYCHRA, M. ČAPEK: Cutaneous trematode Collyriclum faba in wild birds in Costa Rica, Helminthologia 48 (2011) 288-289.

    S. V. MIRONOV, I. LITERÁK, O. SYCHRA, M. ČAPEK: A new feather mite species of the genus Picalgoides Černý, 1974 (Astigmata: Psoroptoididae) from a passerine host in Costa Rica, Systematic Parasitology 79 (2011) 63-70.

    O. SYCHRA, F. KOUNEK, M. ČAPEK, I. LITERÁK: Myrsidea povedai (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae), a new species of chewing louse from Phainoptila melanoxantha (Passeriformes: Bombycillidae), Journal of Parasitology 97 (2011) 593-595.


    2010

    M. ČAPEK, M. POŽGAYOVÁ, P. PROCHÁZKA, M. HONZA: Repeated presentations of the Common Cuckoo increase nest defense by the Eurasian Reed Warbler but do not induce it to make recognition errors, Condor 112 (2010) 763-769.

    S. V. MIRONOV, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, P. KOUBEK: New species of the feather mite subfamily Pterodectinae (Astigmata, Proctophyllodidae) from passerines in Senegal, Acta Parasitologica 55 (2010) 399-413.

    O. SYCHRA, I. LITERÁK, T. NAJER, M. ČAPEK, P. KOUBEK, P. PROCHÁZKA: Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from estrildid finches (Aves: Passeriformes: Estrildidae) and louse-flies (Insecta: Diptera: Hippoboscidae) from birds in Senegal, with descriptions of three new species of the genus Brueelia, Zootaxa 2714 (2010) 59-68.

    O. SYCHRA, E. BARLEV, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, P. KOUBEK, P. PROCHÁZKA: The chewing lice (Phthiraptera) of red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea) in Senegal, with a description of a new species, African Entomology 18 (2010) 17-22.

    O. SYCHRA, T. NAJER, F. KOUNEK, M. ČAPEK, I. LITERÁK: Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) on manakins (Passeriformes: Pipridae) from Costa Rica, with description of a new species of the genus Tyranniphilopterus (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae), Parasitology Research 106 (2010) 925-931.


    2009

    V. BENEDIKT, V. BARUŠ, M. ČAPEK, M. HAVLÍČEK, I. LITERÁK: Blood parasites (Haemoproteus and microfilariae) in birds from the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, Acta Parasitologica 54 (2009) 197-204.

    O. SYCHRA, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK: Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the Emberizidae and Thraupidae (Passeriformes) in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Neotropical Entomology 38 (2009) 501-503.


    2008

    M. ČAPEK, L. NOVÁČKOVÁ: Tribute to prominent Czech ornithologist Karel Hudec on his 80th birthday, Folia zoologica 57 (2008) 199-200.

    Z. HUBÁLEK, M. ČAPEK: Migration distance and the effect of North Atlantic Oscillation on the spring arrival of birds in Central Europe, Folia zoologica 57 (2008) 212-220.

    S. V. MIRONOV, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK: New feather mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Zootaxa 1947 (2008) 1-38.


    2007

    A. V. BOCHKOV, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK: Neharpyrhynchus baile n. sp. (Prostigmata: Harpirhynchidae) parasitizing Turdus leucomelas Vieillot (Aves: Turdidae) from Brazil, International Journal of Acarology 33 (2007) 35-39.

    F. DUSBÁBEK, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, M. HAVLÍČEK: Ascid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ascidae) from Costa Rican hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae), with description of three new species and a key to the Proctolaelaps belemensis species group, Zootaxa 1484 (2007) 51-67.

    A. A. STEKOL'NIKOV, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, M. HAVLÍČEK: Chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) from wild birds in Costa Rica, with a description of three new species, Folia Parasitologica 54 (2007) 59-67.

    O. SYCHRA, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, M. HAVLÍČEK: Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from ovenbirds, leaftossers and woodcreepers (Passeriformes: Furnariidae: Furnariinae, Sclerurinae, Dendrocolaptinae) from Costa Rica, with descriptions of four new species of the genera Rallicola and Myrsidea, Caribbean Journal of Science 43 (2007) 117-126.

    O. SYCHRA, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, M. HAVLÍČEK: Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from buntings, cardinals and tanagers (Passeriformes: Emberizidae, Cardinalidae, Thraupidae) from Costa Rica, with descriptions of two new species of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae), Zootaxa 1631 (2007) 57-68.


    2006

    F. DUSBÁBEK, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, M. HAVLÍČEK: Three species of the genus Pellonyssus (Acari: Macronyssidae) including a new species from Costa Rican birds, International Journal of Acarology 32 (2006) 175-178.

    O. SYCHRA, I. LITERÁK, M. ČAPEK, M. HAVLÍČEK: Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from typical antbirds and ground antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae, Formicariidae) from Costa Rica, with descriptions of three new species of the genera Formicaphagus and Myrsidea, Zootaxa 1206 (2006) 47-61.


    2005

    B. KLOUBEC, M. ČAPEK: Seasonal and diel budgets of song: a study of Savi's warbler (Locustella luscinioides), Journal of Ornithology 146 (2005) 206-214.


    2004

    M. HONZA, P. PROCHÁZKA, B. G. STOKKE, A. MOKSNES, E. ROSKAFT, M. ČAPEK JR., V. MRLÍK: Are blackcaps current winners in the evolutionary struggle against the common cuckoo?, Journal of Ethology 22 (2004) 175-180.

    M. HONZA, T. GRIM, M. ČAPEK JR., A. MOKSNES, E. ROSKAFT: Nest defence, enemy recognition and nest inspection behaviour of experimentally parasitized Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Bird Study 51 (2004) 256-263.