Csongor Gedeon

Institute for Soil Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research · Department of Soil Mapping and Environmental Informatics

Burrowing mammals such as European sousliks are widespread and contribute significantly to soil ecosystem services. However, they have declined across their range and the non-invasive estimation of their actual population size has remained a challenge. Results support that the number of burrow entrances is positively correlated with population abun...

Burrowing mammals are widespread and contribute significantly to soil ecosystem services. However, how to conduct a non-invasive estimation of their actual population size has remained a challenge. Results support that the number of burrow entrances is positively correlated with population abundance and burrows’ location indicates their area of occ...

Soils influence human health in many ways, both positive and negative. These include the supply of nutrients; exposure to heavy metals, organic chemicals, and pathogens; the supply of antibiotics and other medicines; and soils may even support mental health. Soils can impact all aspects of the human system, from the skin to the respiratory tract, d...

European ground squirrels (EGS) are members of the soil megafauna and part of the ecosystem engineers that shape physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil ecosystems in European grasslands. Thanks to their strict protection their abundance and distribution have been surveyed systematically and annually in Hungary. The results of th...

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are transmembrane proteins of the innate immune system, composed of the ectodomain involved in pathogen recognition and the intracellular Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain important for downstream signal transduction. Here, we analyze the genetic variability of TIR nucleotide and amino-acid sequences of the TLR2 ge...

Persistent decline of the European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus), an iconic steppe rodent in the heart of its distribution Tamás Cserkész, L. Nagy, A. I. Csathó, A. Németh, T. Szitta, O. Váczi, Cs. Gedeon & Cs. Kiss In Hungary no country-wide data on historical range of the European Ground Squirrel (EGS) was available, but indirect indi...

Previous studies in hares and jackrabbits have indicated that positive selection has shaped the genetic diversity of mitochondrial genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, which may affect cellular energy production and cause regional adaptation to different environmental (climatic) pressures. In the present study, we sequenced the NADH dehydro...

Clear connections have been demonstrated between ecosystem services (ES) and human health and between soils and human health. However, despite a rich literature exploring links between ES and human health, few studies have investigated links between soil ES and human health. Viewing the relationship between soils and human health through the ES len...

MAGYAR GYOMKUTATÁS ÉS TECHNOLÓGIA 19 : 2 pp. 25-35. , 11 p. (2019)

Local colonies of European ground squirrels may fluctuate or decline rapidly and severely in their census size. Respective risk factors may vary locally and include habitat and weather characteristics or human related factors (e.g., measures connected to the protection status of colonies); they possibly can trigger severe density fluctuations. In t...

There are clear connections between ecosystem services (ES) and human health, as well as between soils and human health. However, studies to date have not investigated links between soil ES and human health. Viewing the relationship between soils and human health through the ES lens reveals that soil ES such as the provisioning of shelter, clothing...

Genetic diversity is of paramount importance for individual fitness and evolutionary potential of populations. For conservation planning it is crucial to know how genetically diverse a species is and what factors may explain variation of genetic diversity among populations. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of landscape history, ecological isolat...

Methods to estimate density of soil-dwelling arthropods efficiently, accurately and continuously are critical for investigating soil biological activity and evaluating soil management practices. Soil-dwelling arthropods are currently monitored manually. This method is invasive, and time- and labor-consuming. Here we describe an infrared opto-electr...

Soil microarthropods as organic matter decomposers play an important role in soil functioning thus providing ecosystem services. However, ecosystem scale investigations on their abundance and dynamics are scarce because their high spatio-temporal heterogeneity requires huge sample size. Processing and identifying large number of individuals is extr...

The average soil temperature was significantly lower in plots covered with hay. Hay mulching, however, did not increase significantly the total number of soil micro-arthropods collected using a soil pin trap and a soil sampler. Significant increases in the number of individuals was recorded only for certain groups. 64% of all the arthropods collect...

The benefits of mulching in potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) production are manifold, such as it provides shelters for natural enemies of pests. The aim of our study was to detect the effect of two organic mulch types on the abundance, diversity and species composition of carabid beetles. Our potato plots were located in two sites with similar habita...

In water quality research the interest in online biofilm monitoring techniques has recently increased significantly. (2008) presented a simple electrochemical technique to monitor electro-active biofilm in soil, based on the cathodic polarisation of stainless steel electrodes. Authors present an improved method, in which stainless steel was replace...

Aboveground mounds and underground burrows are multifunctional and influence behavior and habitat of Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni). Four colonies were studied June-September 2004 to examine function of mounds with respect to vigilance for predators, and to estimate magnitude of soil mixed by these prairie dogs. Frequency of vigilance...

Translocating European ground squirrels Spermophilus citellus has become a popular conservation tool. However, few release techniques have been carefully evaluated. To contribute to an evidence-based ground squirrel translocation guide for wildlife managers, we evaluated conditions of habitat manipulation (grass height and artificial burrow entranc...

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is endangered and in decline. Populations are increasingly fragmented, and only a coordinated conservation effort at the European level may guarantee its long-term survival. To obtain a general population genetic picture on a larger geographic scale, we screened 117 individuals from seven local p...

Relocating ground squirrels within their natural distribution range is a popular tool in wildlife management in Central–Eastern Europe. Nevertheless, wildlife management lacks both a carefully developed and tested translocation guide and methods. We evaluated conditions of release method (time of release and retention of animals) that affect short-...

Mound-building mice (Mus spicilegus) construct large mounds of soil and plant material in autumn, where juvenile animals overwinter in groups without reproducing. The mounds have several functions, including food storage, thermoregulation, and protection from predators. We examined whether these mounds have food storage or thermoregulatory function...

Mound-building mice (Mus spicilegus) construct large mounds of soil and plant material in autumn, where juvenile animals overwinter in groups without reproducing. The mounds have several functions, including food storage, thermoregulation, and protection from predators. We examined whether these mounds have food storage or thermoregulatory function...

Habitat fragmentation may influence the genetic make-up and adaptability of endangered populations. To facilitate genetic monitoring of the endangered European ground squirrel (EGS), we analyzed 382 individuals from 16 populations in Central Europe, covering almost half of its natural range. We tested how fragmentation affects the genetic architect...

Natural nests of the European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) are constructed almost exclusively of fresh fescue (Festuca pseudovina: Poaceae). We performed laboratory experiments to understand the functional significance of preference of wild squirrels for nest material. We examined the factors contributing to nest quality by monitoring th...