Zvaríková, M., Prokop, P., Zvarík, M., Ježová, Z., Medina-Jerez, W., Fedor, P. (2021) What makes spiders frightening and disgusting to people?. Front Ecol Evol, 9: 694569, https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.694569 

   Zvaríková M, Masarovič R, Prokop P, Fedor P (2020) An updated checklist of thrips from Slovakia with emphasis on economic species. Plant Prot Sci 56(4):292–304. https://doi.org/10.17221/87/2020-PPS 

   Fedor P, Zvaríková M (2019) Conservation ecology: biodiversity indices. In Fath B.D. (ed.): Encyclopedia of Ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 337–346. 

Zvaríková, M., Masarovič, R., Zvarík, M., Bagová, K., Procházková, L., Prokop, P., & Fedor, P. (2023). The effect of plant essential oils on the banded greenhouse Thrips (Hercinothrips femoralis [OM Reuter 1891])(Thysanoptera: Thripidae: Panchaetothripinae). Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 130(4), 747-755

Masarovič, R., Zvaríková, M., Zvarík, M., Majzlan, O., Prokop, P., & Fedor, P. (2022). Changes in Diversity and Structure of Thrips (Thysanoptera) Assemblages in the Spruce Forest Stands of High Tatra Mts. after a Windthrow Calamity. Insects, 13(8), 670.

   Zvaríková, M., Prokop, P., Zvarík, M., Ježová, Z., Medina-Jerez, W., Fedor, P. (2021) What makes spiders frightening and disgusting to people?. Front Ecol Evol, 9: 694569, https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.694569 

   Zvaríková M, Masarovič R, Prokop P, Fedor P (2020) An updated checklist of thrips from Slovakia with emphasis on economic species. Plant Prot Sci 56(4):292–304. https://doi.org/10.17221/87/2020-PPS 

   Fedor P, Zvaríková M (2019) Conservation ecology: biodiversity indices. In Fath B.D. (ed.): Encyclopedia of Ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 337–346. 

  Masarovič, R., Zvaríková, M., Zvarík, M., Majzlan, O., Prokop, P., & Fedor, P. (2022). Changes in Diversity and Structure of Thrips (Thysanoptera) Assemblages in the Spruce Forest Stands of High Tatra Mts. after a Windthrow Calamity. Insects, 13(8), 670.

Zvaríková, M., Masarovič, R., Zvarík, M., Bagová, K., Procházková, L., Prokop, P., & Fedor, P. (2023). The effect of plant essential oils on the banded greenhouse Thrips (Hercinothrips femoralis [OM Reuter 1891])(Thysanoptera: Thripidae: Panchaetothripinae). Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 130(4), 747-755.

   Fedor P, Zvaríková M (2018) Conservation ecology: biodiversity indices. In Fath B.D. (ed.): Encyclopedia of Ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 337–346. Citované v/Cited in: Lakicevic, Milena, Nicholas Povak, and Keith M. Reynolds. Introduction to R for Terrestrial Ecology. Springer International Publishing, 2020.

Fedor P, Zvaríková M (2018) Conservation ecology: biodiversity indices. In Fath B.D. (ed.): Encyclopedia of Ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 337–346. Citované v/Cited in: Wei, Xiaoxuan, et al. "Comparative analysis on the evolution of ecological carrying capacity between provinces during urbanization process in China." Ecological Indicators 112 (2020): 106179.

   Zvaríková, M., Prokop, P., Zvarík, M., Ježová, Z., Medina-Jerez, W., Fedor, P. (2021) What makes spiders frightening and disgusting to people?. Front Ecol Evol, 9: 694569, https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.694569 Citované v/Cited in: Frynta, Daniel, et al. "Emotions triggered by live arthropods shed light on spider phobia." Scientific Reports 11.1 (2021): 1-10.

   Fedor P, Zvaríková M (2018) Conservation ecology: biodiversity indices. In Fath B.D. (ed.): Encyclopedia of Ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 337–346. Citované v/Cited in: Wang, Yi Mei, et al. "A comparison of soil nematode community structure and environmental factors along fen-bush-forest succession in a peatland, northeastern China." Global Ecology and Conservation 28 (2021): e01679.

   Zvaríková M, Masarovič R, Prokop P, Fedor P (2020) An updated checklist of thrips from Slovakia with emphasis on economic species. Plant Prot Sci 56(4):292–304. https://doi.org/10.17221/87/2020-PPS Citované v/Cited in: Gao, Yu, et al. "Effect of Different Plants on the Growth and Reproduction of Thrips flavus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)." Insects 12.6 (2021): 502.

VEGA 1/0372/24 Potential of essential oil biopesticides in economic thrips (Thysanoptera) integrated control with a special emphasis on climate-change-induced adaptation mechanisms - team member. The presented project is focused on the research of the prospective potential of "green" biopesticide essential oils in the integrated protection of plants against economically important (often allochthonous) species of Thysanoptera (especially Thrips tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis as vectors of pathogenic tospoviruses) in the intentions of ongoing climate change and its specific impacts on adaptation pest mechanisms. Changing ecological conditions show a significant influence on the establishment of resistant lines in the environment of common chemical pesticides. The proposed morphometric analyzes (of linear and geometric nature) based on artificially intelligent determination systems (multilayer perceptron) in an experimentally maintained homotypic set within breeding chambers can point to the detection potential of resistant subpopulations within a wide spectrum of adaptation mechanisms, especially intraspecific variability and phenotypic plasticity. 

VEGA 1/0211/25 The function of pollinators in the reproductive strategies of selected weed species. - deputy researcher. Agricultural production is significantly influenced by the competition of cultivated plants with weeds. However, the presence of weeds in fields also has its positive aspects, because they create a food and reproductive niche for many species of pollinators. On the contrary, many species of entomophilous weeds are dependent on pollinators, i.e. these are complicated and relatively small interactions, the functioning of which is less known in agroecosystems. In our project, we focus on the interactions of bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) with pollinators and predators in both natural and agricultural environments. We specifically address the issues of regulation of bud flowering in relation to flower pollination, the influence of florivory and agrarian landscape on the reproductive success of the bud, its ability to recognize other plant species as well as genetically related and unrelated individuals, heliotropism, and the adaptive significance of wrapping around neighboring plants. Our results will contribute to more effective management of this weed, as well as to general knowledge about plant behavior and intelligence.

APVV-20-0081 Ecology of sexual selection/ Team member. Models of sexual selection primarily involve Fisher's runaway sexual selection, selection for good genes, handicap principle and sexual conflict. These processes are, however, significantly influenced by global environmental change which cause direct and indirect types of environmental pollution. In this project, we use a well-known model spider species Pisaura mirabilis in which males exhibit conspicuous form of nuptial feeding (male transfer of nutrient to the female) during courtship to test whether environmental change influences evolution of mating behavior. Specifically, we will investigate both direct effects (i.e., heavy metals accumulation) and indirect effects (i.e., decreased prey availability) of environmental pollution on sexual selection. Furthermore, we deal evolutionary questions regarding physiological costs of nuptial feeding to males. Results of this investigation will have broad implications for the evolution of sexual selection in animals under environmental change. 

APVV-21-0386 in cooperation with SAS Bees cannot make it all - DNA metabarcoding analysis of pollinator biodiversity for improving their protection and ecosystem services. Project manager for PriFUK as a partner. The main objectives of the project are (a) DNA metabarcoding analysis of pollinator biodiversity associated with three model crops (oilseed rape, poppy, apple), (b) estimation of the impact of environmental factors on pollinator 

diversity, (c) estimation of the impact of pollinator biodiversity on crop yields, and (d) significant addition of unique 

pollinator fauna data to reference DNA barcoding databases.

The outputs of the project will improve the general knowledge of biodiversity, enhance the possibilities for routine 

application of DNA methods in the future and provide a knowledge base for more effective informed decision 

making in the context of adaptation to climate change and sustainable development.

LIFE 19 IPE/SK/000003 (2021-2030) Role of the Natura 2000 network and management of some prioritized habitats in the integrated landscape protection in the Slovak Republic

Project manager for PriFUK as a partner. The LIFE- IP NATURA 2000 SK project’s main objective is to implement the Prioritised Action Framework (PAF) for the Natura 2000 Network in Slovakia for 2021-2027 and improve the conservation status of specific species and habitat types, along with the coherence of the Natura 2000 network. This will help achieve the targets of the EUs Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the general objectives of the EU Habitats and Birds directives. PAFs are a strategic planning tool for providing a comprehensive overview of the measures needed to implement the Natura 2000 network.

APVV: VV-MVP-24-0207 Biological Corridors and Arthropods Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes - team member. Biological corridors in agricultural landscapes offer multifaceted ecosystem services, enhance biodiversity, support agricultural productivity, improv the stability of biotopes, serve as refuges for various organisms, and contribute to environmental sustainability. Integrating these corridors into agricultural management practices fosters more resilient and sustainable agroecosystems. This project focuses on the study of biological corridors in intensively utilized agricultural landscapes, comparing the large-scale monoculture fields of southwestern Slovakia, which have a long-established system of biological corridors, with the small-scale diversified fields of northern Serbia, where the concept of ecological connectivity is less established. The main aim of this project is to study the relationship between the diversity and dynamics of selected bioindicatively significant groups of arthropods (harvestmen, spiders, mites, ground beetles, ants and thrips) in differently managed corridors and a wide range of autecological, synecological and environmental parameters. Considering that the agricultural landscape is heavily interwoven with linear elements (transport infrastructure), facilitating the spread of non-native species, the project will also assess the potential entry of these non-native species and their possible impacts on the diversity and stability of natural and agrarian ecosystems. The study of the behavioural and ecological aspects of competition between non-native and native species is therefore an integral part of the project. Based on these analyses, management measures will be proposed to preserve arthropod diversity in agrarian systems through the implementation of suitable biological corridors. The project will improve understanding of the importance of biological corridors in supporting arthropod diversity in agricultural landscapes and will provide new insights into targeted conservation and management practices for sustainable agroecosystems.