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Ing. Miroslav Čapek, CSc.


Position: full-time researcher
Research topics: ecology of birds, bird parasites
Department: Research facility 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,
  • bird parasites.

Finished Projects

Diurnal and seasonal patterns of singing activity in Acrocephalus warblers

Ectoparasites associated with mountain birds in Costa Rica: linking ecology, biodiversity and genetics

TTM Project

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

  • 1987–1993: Institute of Systematic and Ecological Biology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Brno - graduate assistant (1987), research fellowship (1987–1988), research assistant (1988–1993),
  • 1993–1995: Institute of Landscape Ecology AS CR Brno - research assistant (1993–1995), research scientist (1995–1998),
  • 1998–present: Institute of Vertebrate Biology, AS CR, v. v. i. - research scientist, scientific secretary (2002–2010).

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,
  • Třeboň Basin Protected Landscape Area and Biosphere Reserve Administration, Třeboň, 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,
  • Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA,
  • University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,
  • Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande, Brazil,
  • Instituto das Águas da Serra da Bodoquena, Bonito, Brazil,
  • Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
  • Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
  • Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
  • 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,
  • Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Peru,
  • Autoridad Municipal de Los Pantanos de Villa, Lima, Peru,
  • Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, Heredia, Costa Rica.

Field Experience and Studies

  • various European countries: 1983–present
  • Middle East: 1995, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2017
  • North America: 2000, 2012, 2017
  • Australia: 2002, 2014
  • Southern Africa: 2005
  • Western Africa: 2007
  • Central America: 2004, 2009, 2010
  • South America: 2006, 2011, 2017
  • South East Asia: 2002, 2010
  • Indian Subcontinent: 2011, 2015
  • Macaronesia: 2013
  • Western Pacific Ocean: 2016
  • West Indies: 2016

Sixteen 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 14 monographs/books, 70 articles in refereed academic journals, 13 magazine, newspaper and online articles, 39 book reviews, another 33 publications, and 39 research reports,
  • since 1990 I have given 143 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., ŠŤASTNÝ, 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: Šťastný, 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: Šťastný, 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).

ČAPEK, M., 2015: Systematics of Birds, Ornithology and Birding, Taxonomy and Nomenclature, parts of species accounts of representatives of the genus Anser (3 species), Tadorna ferruginea, Anas penelope, Aythya marila, Mergellus albellus, Mergus serrator, genus Gavia (2 species), Pandion haliaetus, Buteo lagopus, genus Pluvialis (2 species), Charadrius hiaticula, Lymnocryptes minimus, Numenius phaeopus, genera Tringa (3 species) and Calidris (4 species), Philomachus pugnax, Hydrocoloeus minutus, genus Larus (4 species), Hydroprogne caspia, genus Falco (2 species), Bombycilla garrulus, Anthus spinoletta, and Fringilla montifringilla. In: Kloubec, B., Hora, J., Šťastný, K. (eds.) Birds of South Bohemia. Jihočeský kraj, České Budějovice: 10, 30-31, 79-80, 250, 510-542, 544-545 (in Czech).

ŠŤASTNÝ, K., ČAPEK, M., 2015: Flight and Bird Migration. In: Kloubec, B., Hora, J., Šťastný, K. (eds.) Birds of South Bohemia. Jihočeský kraj, České Budějovice: 22-29 (in Czech).

KLOUBEC, B., ČAPEK, M., 2015: Chlidonias hybrida, Chlidonias leucopterus, Why and When Do the Birds Sing, Songs and Calls of Individual Species, Texts Accompanying the Recordings (CD), and Literature. In: Kloubec, B., Hora, J., Šťastný, K. (eds.) Birds of South Bohemia. Jihočeský kraj, České Budějovice: 555-556, 588-610, 612-617, 619-630 (in Czech).    

PECL, K., ČAPEK, M., 2015: Birding Equipment Recommendations, Learning to Identify Birds, Taking Notes. In: Kloubec, B., Hora, J., Šťastný, K. (eds.) Birds of South Bohemia. Jihočeský kraj, České Budějovice: 574-578 (in Czech).

KLOUBEC, B., ČAPEK, M., 2017: Breeding Bird Communities in Phragmites-dominated Wetlands of the Medzibodrožie Region. In: Danko, Š., Balla, M., Repel, M.: Birds of the Medzibodrožie Region, Eastern Slovakia. Slovenská ornitologická spoločnosť/BirdLife Slovensko, Bratislava: 423-430 (in Czech with a summary in English).

MIRONOV, S. V., LITERÁK, I., SYCHRA, O., ČAPEK, M., 2017: Feather mites of the subfamily Proctophyllodinae (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Costa Rica. Monograph. Zootaxa 4297 (1): 001–105.

Publications

2017

Čapek M., Petrusková T., Šebelíková Z., Serrano J. C., Procházka P., Honza M., Požgayová M.: Great Reed Warbler singing behavior and conspicuous song structures are not nest-location cues for the Common Cuckoo, Journal of Ornithology 158 (2017) 925-933.

Mironov S. V., Literák I., Sychra O., Čapek M.: Feather mites of the subfamily Proctophyllodinae (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Costa Rica, Zootaxa 4297 (2017) 1-105.


2016

Kalúz S., Hung N. M., Čapek M., Literák I.: Two new species and new records of chiggers (Acari: Leeuwenhoekiidae,Trombiculidae) from birds in Vietnam, Zootaxa 4061 (2016) 483-503.

Šulc M., Procházka P., Čapek M., Honza M.: Birds use eggshell UV reflectance when recognizing non-mimetic parasitic eggs, Behavioral Ecology 27 (2016) 677-684.

Šulc M., Procházka P., Čapek M., Honza M.: Common cuckoo females are not choosy when removing an egg during parasitism, Behavioral Ecology 27 (2016) 1642-1649.

Trnka A., Požgayová M., Procházka P., Čapek M., Honza M.: Chemical defence in avian brood parasites: production and function of repulsive secretions in common cuckoo chicks, Journal of avian biology 47 (2016) 288-293.


2015

Martinů J., Sychra O., Literák I., Čapek M., Gustafsson D. L., Štefka J.: Host generalists and specialists emerging side by side: an analysis of evolutionary patterns in the cosmopolitan chewing louse genus Menacanthus, International Journal for Parasitology 45 (2015) 63-73.

Ogrzewalska M., Literák I., Čapek M., Sychra O., Calderón V. Á., Rodríguez B. C., Prudencio C., Martins T. F., Labruna M. B.: Bacteria of the genus Rickettsia in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from birds in Costa Rica, Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 6 (2015) 478-482.


2014

Čapek M., Literák I., Kocianová E., Sychra O., Najer T., Trnka A., Kverek P.: Ticks of the Hyalomma marginatum complex transported by migratory birds into Central Europe, Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 5 (2014) 489-493.

Hubálek Z., Rudolf I., Čapek M., Bakonyi T., Betášová L., Nowotny N.: Usutu Virus in Blackbirds (Turdus merula), Czech Republic, 2011-2012, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 61 (2014) 273-276.

Mironov S. V., Literák I., Sychra O., Čapek M.: Two new species of the feather mite family Gabuciniidae (Acariformes: Pterolichoidea) from wrens (Passeriformes: Troglodytidae), Acta Parasitologica 59 (2014) 568-579.

Sychra O., Kounek F., Papoušek I., Čapek M., Cárdenas-Callirgos J. M., Franco S., Literák I.: 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

Acosta R., Literák I., Sychra O., Čapek M.: Fleas on wild birds in Costa Rica, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 115 (2013) 1-8.

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

Lareschi M., Literák I., Čapek M., Sychra O.: 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.

Literák I., Heneberg P., Sitko J., Wetzel E. J., Callirgos J. M. C., Čapek M., Basto D. V., Papoušek I.: 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.

Ogrzewalska M., Martins T., Čapek M., Literák I., Labruna M. B.: 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

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

Literák I., Bochkov A. V., Cárdenas-Callirgos J., Čapek M.: The first records of mites of the genus Neharpyrhynchus (Acariformes: Harpyrhynchidae) from birds in Peru, Neotropical Helminthology 6 (2012) 109-114.

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

Najer T., Sychra O., Literák I., Procházka P., Čapek M., Koubek P.: 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.

Najer T., Sychra O., Hung N. M., Čapek M., Podzemný P., Literák I.: Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) from wild passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in northern Vietnam, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3530 (2012) 59-73.

Najer T., Sychra O., Hung N. M., Čapek M., Podzemný P., Literák I.: New species and new records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) from bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae) in Vietnam, Zootaxa 3357 (2012) 37-48.

Ogrzewalska M., Literák I., Cárdenas-Callirgos J. M., Čapek M., Labruna M. B.: Rickettsia bellii in ticks Amblyomma varium Koch, 1844, from birds in Peru, Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 3 (2012) 254-256.


2011

Godoi M. N., Čapek M., Pivatto M. A. C., Literák I., Kokeš J.: Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 19 (2011) 428-433.

Honza M., Procházka P., Morongová K., Čapek M., Jelínek V.: Do nest light conditions affect rejection of parasitic eggs? A test of the light environment hypothesis, Ethology 117 (2011) 539-546.

Kalúz S., Literák I., Čapek M., Konečný A., Koubek P.: 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.

Kounek F., Sychra O., Čapek M., Literák I.: 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.

Kounek F., Sychra O., Čapek M., Lipková A., Literák I.: 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.

Literák I., Sitko J., Sychra O., Čapek M.: Cutaneous trematode Collyriclum faba in wild birds in Costa Rica, Helminthologia 48 (2011) 288-289.

Mironov S. V., Literák I., Sychra O., Čapek M.: 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.

Sychra O., Kounek F., Čapek M., Literák I.: Myrsidea povedai (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae), a new species of chewing louse from Phainoptila melanoxantha (Passeriformes: Bombycillidae), Journal of Parasitology 97 (2011) 593-595.


2010

Čapek M., Požgayová M., Procházka P., Honza M.: 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.

Mironov S. V., Literák I., Čapek M., Koubek P.: New species of the feather mite subfamily Pterodectinae (Astigmata, Proctophyllodidae) from passerines in Senegal, Acta Parasitologica 55 (2010) 399-413.

Sychra O., Najer T., Kounek F., Čapek M., Literák I.: 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.

Sychra O., Literák I., Najer T., Čapek M., Koubek P., Procházka P.: 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.

Sychra O., Barlev E., Literák I., Čapek M., Koubek P., Procházka P.: 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.


2009

Benedikt V., Baruš V., Čapek M., Havlíček M., Literák I.: Blood parasites (Haemoproteus and microfilariae) in birds from the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, Acta Parasitologica 54 (2009) 197-204.

Sychra O., Literák I., Čapek M.: 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

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

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

Mironov S. V., Literák I., Čapek M.: 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.