Position: scientist
Branch: Department of Biodiversity Research
Workplace: ÚVGZ AV ČR, v.v.i.Prokišova 356/7České Budějovice370 01
Email: kubelka.v@czechglobe.cz
Phone:
Research Focus
Ecology and evolutionary biology
Terrestrial ecology
Education
2014–2018 PhD Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague; thesis: Significance of predation for breeding ecology and conservation in shorebirds
2012–2014 MSc Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague; thesis: Survival of the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) chicks in agriculture landscape
2009–2012 BSc Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague; thesis: The Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) – a model species for research of precocial problems in shorebirds
Appointments
Charles University in Prague, Student 2009 -2018
University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA27AY, United Kingdom Erasmus student 2015 -2016
Debrecen University, Egyetemtér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary Scientific Coordinator 2018 -2019
Awards
2019 Bolzano Award for an exceptional PhD thesis, Charles University, Prague, Czech Rep.
2019 Exceptional Award from Rector for great research achievements, Charles University.
2018 Best PhD thesis award, Faculty of Life Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Rep.
2017 Best poster, conference “Zoologické Dny 2017”, Brno, Czech Republic
2017 Third best presentation, Czech Society for Ecology conference, Prague, Czech Republic
2016 Second best presentation, etological conference ČSEtS, Nitra, Slovakia
2013 Second best poster, IWSG conference, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
2013 Best poster, Czech ecological conference, Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Czech Republic
2010–2013 Academic Excellence Scholarship, Charles University in Prague
2008 Grammar School Student Award by the Learned Society of the Czech Republic
Important research visits and fellowships
Erasmus practical placement, University of Bath, United Kingdom, 2015-2016, 5 months
Membership
2014–present Executive Committee member of International Wader Study Group (IWSG), International
2014–present Committee member of Czech Society for Ornithology (ČSO), Czech Republic; member of ČSO since 2004
2013–present European Ornithologists᾽ Union (EOU); International
2013–present British Ornithologists᾽ Union (BOU), International
2013–present Czech Society for Ecology (ČSPE), Czech Republic
2011–present Czech Ringing Association, Czech Republic
2009–present International Wader Study Group, International (life-time membership)
2009–present Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), International
2007–present founder and head of Czech Wader Study and Protection Group (SVOB), working group of Czech Society for Ornithology (ČSO), Czech Republic (http://svob.czweb.org/?page_id=40&lang=cs)
2006–present Committee member of South Bohemian Ornithological Club (JOK), CZ Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), International
Brief scientometrics
Evolutionary ecology of shorebirds (Charadrii) with focus on predation and population dynamics
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Engel N., Végvári Z., Rice R., Kubelka V., Székely T. (2020) Incubating parents serve as visual cues to predators in Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). PLoS ONE 15(7): e0236489. https:// doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236489
Halimubieke N., Kupán K., Valdebenito J.O., Kubelka V. et al. (2020) Successful breeding predicts divorce in plovers. Sci Rep 10, 15576. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72521-6
Kubelka V. (2020) Review of inter and intraspecific predation by shorebirds. Ornis Fennica. 97. 177-185.
Kubelka V., Sládeček M., Zámečník V., Vozabulová E. & Šálek M. (2019) Seasonality predicts egg size better than nesting habitat in a precocial shorebird. Ardea 107: 239–250. doi:10.5253/arde.v107i3.a4
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P., Végvári Z., Freckleton R. P., Székely T. (2019) Response to Comment on “Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds”. Science 364: 6445. 10.1126/science.aaw9893
Kubelka V., Sládeček M., Šálek M. (2019) Great variability in nest lining size: support for thermoregulation but not for anti-predatory adaptation hypothesis. Journal of Ornithology, 160: 2193-7206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-019-01670-x
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P., Végvári Z., Freckleton R. & Székely T. 2018: Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds. Science 362: 680–683. (min 83 media coverage contributions in 14 countries; more than 10,000,000 approached people)
Kubelka V., Zámečník V., Slabeyová K., Škorpíková V. & Šálek M. (2018) Threats and protection of meadow breeding shorebirds in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Wader Study 125: 164–174.
Zámečník V., Kubelka V. & Šálek M. (2018) Visible marking of wader nests to avoid damage by farmers does not increase nest predation. Bird Conservation International 28: 293–301.
Kubelka V., Havlíček J. & Mikeš J. (eds.) (2017) Interesting and rare ornithological records in South Bohemia IV. Compilation of South Bohemian Muzeum, Natural sciences 57: 99–125. (in Czech with English abstract)
Kubelka V. (2017) Application of the MacKinnon lists technique under conditions of the Central Europe Sylvia 53: 4–20. (in Czech with extensive English summary)
Kubelka V. (ed.) (2016) Interesting and rare ornithological records in South Bohemia III. Compilation of South Bohemian Muzeum, Natural sciences 56: 105–118. (in Czech with English abstract)
Kubelka V. (2015) book chapters: Northern Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Eurasian Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Whimbrel, Eurasian Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Great Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Marsh Sandpiper, Stone Curlew, Kentish Plover, Eurasian Dotterel, Sociable Lapwing, Pectoral Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper and Red Phalarope. In: Kloubec B., Hora J. & Šťastný K. (eds) Birds of South Bohemia (the book in Czech) Jihočeský kraj, Česke Budějovice.
Kubelka V., Vondrka A. & Reif J. (2015) Birds in photovoltaic power stations: pilot results from South Bohemia. Sluka 11: 5–19. (in Czech with extensive English summary)
Kubelka V., Sládeček M. & Šálek M. (2014) Inter-specific nest scrape reuse in waders: Little Ringed Plovers taking over the nest scrapes of Northern Lapwings. Bird Study 61: 282–286.
Sládeček M., Kubelka V., J. Mlíkovský & Šálek M. (2014) Coping with nest predation risk in a speciesrich bird community inhabiting a Siberian wetland. Folia Zoologica 63: 256–268.
Kubelka V. & Šálek M. (2013) Effect of extreme weather conditions on the course of breeding of the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in 2013. Sylvia 49: 145–156. (in Czech with extensive English summary)
Gillins S., Avontins A., Crowe O., Dalakchieva S., Devos K., Elts J., Green M., Gunnarsson T. G., Kleefstra R., Kubelka V., Lehtiniemi T., Meissner W., Pakstyle E., Rasmussen L., Szimuli G. & Wahl J. (2012) Results of a coordinated count of Eurasian Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria in Europe during October 2008. Wader Study Group Bulletin 119: 125–128.
Kubelka V., Zámečník V. & Šálek M. (2012) Survey of breeding Northern Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) in the Czech Republic in 2008: results and effectiveness of volunteer work. Sylvia 48: 1–23. (in Czech with extensive English summary)
Kubelka V. & Doležal R. (2007) Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) – a new species for the Czech Republic. Sylvia 43: 186–189. (in Czech with English abstract)
Further first author of 51 contributions to Vanellus – Journal of Czech Wader Study and Protection Group; co-author of two Final reports of ornithological projects of Czech Society for Ornithology, author of several popular ornithological articles in „Ptačí svět“, “Vesmír”, “Kroužkovatel”, etc.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Kubelka V., Šálek M. & Székely T. (2018) Does species range limitation exist in shorebirds? Talk, International Wader Study Group Conference 2018, Workum, The Netherlands.
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P., Végvári Z., Freckleton R. & Székely T. (2018) Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds Invited talk, I. ÉLVONAL Conference 2018, Hortobágy, Hungary.
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P., Reif J., Freckleton R. & Székely T. (2017) Which life-history traits affect nest predation rates in shorebirds? Talk, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group Conference 2017, Paracas, Peru.
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P., Reif J., Freckleton R. & Székely T. (2017) Nest predation rates and life history strategies in shorebirds. Talk, International Wader Study Group Conference 2017, Prague, Czech Republic.
Kubelka V., Sládeček M. & Šálek M. (2017) Spatial and temporal patterns of nest predation in Northern Lapwings population. Talk, International Wader Study Group Conference 2017, Prague, Czech Republic.
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P. & Székely T. (2016) Global patterns of nest predation among shorebirds. Talk, International Wader Study Group Conference 2016, Trabolgan, Ireland.
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P. & Székely T. (2016) Global patterns of nest predation among shorebirds. Poster, Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Conference 2016, London & British Ecological Society Conference 2016, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom.
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P. & Székely T. (2016) Nest predation patterns in shorebirds. Talk, International Plover Meeting at University of Graz, Austria.
Kubelka V., Zamečník V. & Šálek M. (2015) Promotion of biodiversity in agricultural landscape via umbrella bird species, agri-envi scheme and citizen science project: lessons from central european country. Talk, 27th International Congress for Conservational Biology, Motpellier, France.
Kubelka V., Sládeček M. & Šálek M. (2015) Variability in the quantity of nest-lining in time and space: how to solve the trade-off between good thermoregulation and conspicuousness to predators? Talk, International Wader Study Group Conference 2015, Ásbrú, Iceland.
Kubelka V. & Šálek M. (2014) Small story about big eggs: the fate of Northern Lapwing chicks. Talk, International Wader Study Group Conference 2014, Haapsalu, Estonia.
Kubelka V., Zamečník V., Slabeyoá K., Szimuly G. & Neubauer G. (2014) Threats and protection of meadow waders in Central-East Europe. Invited talk on workshop, International Wader Study Group Conference 2014, Haapsalu, Estonia.
Kubelka V., Zamečník V., Piálková R., Štorek V. & Šálek M. (2013) Body condition of Northern Lapwing chicks in different habitats of agricultural landscape. Poster, International Wader Study Group Conference 2013, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
Kubelka V., Zámečník V. & Šálek M. (2012) Ploughed fields are the most important breeding habitat of the Northern Lapwing in the Czech Republic. Poster, British Ornithologists‘ Union Conference, Leicester, England, United Kingdom.
Kubelka V., Zámečník V., Štorek V. & Šálek M. (2011) Breeding of the Northern Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) in the Czech Republic and current problems of their conservation. Talk, International Wader Study Group Conference 2011, Strathpeffer, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Further co-author of 7 contributions (2× oral presentation and 5× poster presentation) at International Wader Study Conferences (Germany, Estonia, Iceland, Czech Republic) during 2013– 2017 and first author of 22 contributions (17× oral presentation and 4× poster presentation) at 19 ornithological and zoological conferences in the Czech Republic during 2006–2019.
