Mgr. Michal Šulc Ph.D.
Position full-time researcher
Direction behavioural ecology of birds
Workplace Research facility Brno
+420 543 422 519
Research interests
- sensory ecology,
- evolutionary and behavioural ecology of birds,
- brood parasitism,
- mimicry of parasitic eggs.
I am interested in the behavioural and evolutionary ecology of birds. I am particularly fascinated by inter- (cuckoos) and intra-specific (swallows) brood parasite-host interactions. We video-record parasitism in situ at host nests and follow individuals by using RFID tags and readers. For studying the impact of visual signals (e.g. mimetic eggs of brood parasites) to host behaviour (e.g. egg recognition), we use up-to-date methods that simulate avian visual perception of colours and patterns. These include e.g. spectrometry, UV photography and modelling of avian vision.
Vzdělání
- 2007 – 2010: bachelor’s degree – Charles University, Prague, Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology. Thesis: The role of ultraviolet light in communication of birds. Supervisor: Mgr. Ondřej Sedláček, Ph.D.
- 2010 – 2012: master’s degree – Charles University, Prague, Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology. Thesis: The role of UV reflection in parasitic egg rejection in the reed warbler. Supervisor: RNDr. Petr Procházka, Ph.D.
- 2012 – 2016: Ph.D. study – Charles University, Prague, Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology. Thesis: Visual cues in the coevolution of brood parasite and its hosts. Supervisor: doc. Ing. Marcel Honza, Dr.
- 2018 – 2019 – research internship (Programme for Research and Mobility Support of Starting Researchers, Czech Academy of Sciences) – University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
Current students
- Petra Kopková: Indicators of the quality of bird individuals.
- Jan Studecký: Timing of brood parasitism in the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).
- Regular supervision of students in the Open Science project of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
Popularization activities
- Bird catching and ringing for the public