Institute of Forest Ecology

Saniga Miroslav, Doc., Ing., CSc.

Slovak Academy of Sciences
Institute of Forest Ecology
Department of Animal Ecology
Ľudovíta Štúra 1774/2
960 01 Zvolen
Phone:  +421 907 114800
Email: miro.saniga@gmail.com

Personal:

• Born: 20 January 1964 in Ružomberok, the Slovak Republic
• Permanent residence: Vyšná 754, SK- 034 74 Liptovské Revúce, Slovakia
• Marital status: single
• Professional education:
  • Grammar School in Ružomberok (1979-1983); leaving certificate
  • Graduated from the Forestry Faculty of the Technical University in Zvolen (1983-1987); Diploma thesis: ‘An analysis of the bird communities in the Veľká Fatra Mts.’; Dipl.-Ing.
  • Postgraduate study, the Forestry Faculty of the Technical University in Zvolen (1990-1994); Ecology of birds, PhD-thesis: ‘Seasonal dynamics of the bird communities of the forest natural geobiocenoses in the 5 th -8 th vegetation tiers in the Malá and Veľká Fatra Mts.’; CSc. (PhD.)
  • Habilitation in the field General ecology and ecology of the individual and populations, the Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the Technical University in Zvolen (2008); Habilitation thesis: ‘Ecology and ethology of Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Linnaeus, 1758 in the West Carpathians’; Habilitation lecture: ‘Ecology and ethology of Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria (Linnaeus, 1766) in the Veľká Fatra Mts.’; doc. (Senior lecturer, Associate professor)
• Language skills:
  • Slovak (mother tongue), basic Russian, fluent in English

Employment:

• Junior Manager at the Management of the National Park Malá Fatra in Gbeľany (1987-1993)
• Senior Field Researcher at the Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Štúrova 2, Zvolen (1993-until present)

Scientific activities:

• Avian ecology and ethology
• Biodiversity and nature conservation
• Relationship between birds and plants in forest communities
• Relationship between birds and changing ecosystems
• Ecology and ethology of the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)

Theoretical and methodological studies:

• ‘The possibility of the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) reintroduction in the Vsetínske vrchy Mts. (Czech Republic)’ – 1995
• ‘The possibility of the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) reintroduction in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. (Czech Republic)’ – 1996

Scientific projects:

• ‘Structure and role of animal associations in ecotones of forest ecosystems’ (VEGA 2/2001/22) (January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2004) – principal investigator
• ‘Food webs of model animals in forest ecosystems’ (VEGA 2/2290/95) (January 1, 1995 – December 31, 1997) – investigator
• ‘Health state of forest woody plants in relation to biotic factors’ (VEGA 2/2030/95) (January 1, 1995 – December 31, 1997) – investigator
• ‘Research in forest reserves’ (VEGA 2/5172/98) (January 1, 1998 – December 31, 2000) – investigator
• ‘Food webs of model animals in forest ecosystems’ (VEGA 2/7025/20) (January 1, 2000 – December 31, 2002) – investigator
• ‘Animal ecology along a vertical gradient across forests in the West Carpathians’ (VEGA 2/3006/23) (January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2005) – investigator
• ‘Ecology of model animals in sites and habitats of European importance, with focus on the species of European importance’ (VEGA 2/6007/27) (January 1, 2006 – December 31, 2008) – investigator
• ‘Life strategies of model forest animal species living in strictly distinct environmental conditions’ (VEGA 1/0130/08) (January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2010) – investigator
• ‘Food and habitat relations of forest animals to forest woody plants’ (VEGA 1/0110/09) (January 01, 2009 – December 31, 2012) – investigator
• ‘Fragmentation and formation of new habitats after forest disturbances: ecological plasticity of species and their communities’ (VEGA 1/0157/11) (January 01, 2011 – December 31, 2014) – investigator
• ‘Genetic differentiation of the fragmented population in Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and Black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) in the West Carpathians’ (VEGA 1/0303/12) (January 01, 2012 – December 31, 2014) – investigator
• ‘Reactions of the animals on the changing forest structure’ (VEGA 1/0035/13) (January 01, 2013 – December 31, 2016) – investigator
• ‘Functional important animals in dynamics of the forest ecosystems in new environmental conditions’ (VEGA 2/0052/15) (January 01, 2015 – December 31, 2018) – investigator
• ‘Importance of the local habitats and microhabitats for spatial distribution of the forest and arborical arthropods’ (VEGA 2/0012/17) (January 01, 2017 – December 31, 2020) – investigator

Scientific-popularisation projects

• ‘School of young natural scientists’ (APVV – „LPP-0059- 06“) (November 1, 2006 – October 31, 2009) – principal investigator
• ‘Natural science – a great friend of us’ (APVV – „LPP-0011- 09“) (September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2012) – principal investigator

Head of bachelor’s theses and diploma theses:

• Head of bachelor’s theses (8)
• Head of diploma theses (15)
• Consultant of diploma theses (4)

Head of PhD-theses:

• Supervisor (3)
• Supervisor – specialist (1)

Scientific-popularisation activities:

• Sixteen popularisation-scientific books about nature for children and youth
• Fifty-one popularisation-scientific books about nature for adults
• 2232 popularisation-scientific articles on the life in the nature in magazines and newspapers
• 4109 popularisation-scientific presentations and interviews on the life in the nature on radio
• 275 popularisation-scientific interviews on the life in the nature on television
• 1730 popularisation-scientific lectures on the life in the nature in primary and secondary schools
• 670 popularisation-scientific terrain excursions for pupils and students
• 25 courses in ‘Summer school of the young natural scientists’
• 7 popularisation-scientific films about nature, birds, animals and flowers

Academic activities: External lectures, the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of the Ecology and Environmental Education – since 2010 Department of the Environment (2001-2015); titled ‘Biological diversity’, ‘Ethology of animals’, ‘Ornithology’ and ‘System of Chordates’; Guaranty of the bachelor and master field of study ‘Pedagogy of biology in combination’, the Catholic university in Ružomberok (2015-until present).

Awards:

• ‘Diploma for the 1 st place in the faculty competition of the Students scientific activity – Section BIO I.’ (1987)
• ‘Honorary degree for the participation in the nationwide competition of the Students scientific activity in the school year 1986/1987’ (1987)
• ‘Honorary degree for the 1 st place in the nationwide competition of the Students scientific activity in the field forestry’ (1987)
• ‘Rector’s Award for excellent results of the exams and student’s scientific activities on the Faculty of Forestry of the Technical University in Zvolen’ (1987)
• ‘The Slovak Academy of Sciences Award for popularisation-scientific activity’ (1998)
• ‘The Ministry of Education Award (2 nd place) for popularisation-scientific articles ‘Almanac of the nature’ in the journal QUARK in 2006’ (2006)
• ‘The Honourable mention of the village Liptovské Revúce for long-lasting successful presentation of the village in the field of the publications, scientific work and writing’ (2007)
• ‘Book of the Liptov region 2008’, titles: ‘Ecological essays’ and ‘Poetry of Nature’ (2009)
• ‘Mayor’s Award (town Ružomberok) for the important contribution by the education of the young in the sphere literature and nature protection’ (2009)
• ‘The Slovak Academy of Sciences Award for popularisation-scientific and educational activity’ (2010)
• ‘BAYER Award – Top-ranking award for permanently sustainable development – National environmental contest 2010’ laureate in the category ‘Environmental act of the year’ (1 st place), for the project ‘A Fairytale bird garden’ (2010)
• ‘Thank-you letter of the town Ružomberok for development of the Slovak journalism and promotion of the town Ružomberok’ (2010)
• ‘Book of the Liptov region 2011’ – 3 rd place, title: ‘Almanac of the Nature’ (2012)
• ‘The Slovak Academy of Sciences Award for science popularisation for the lifelong activities with the emphasis to the amount of the books and presentations in the media’ (2012)
• ‘The ANDREJ RADLINSKÝ’S Award for the contribution in median sphere’ (2013)
• ‘The bronze medal Prof. RNDr. Oskár Ferianc, DrSc.’ (2014)
• ‘The honourable mention for high quality processed texts, title: “My homeland – most picturesque earthly paradise…”, in the 7 th competition THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL ABOUT SLOVAKIA IN 2013’ (2014)
• ‘3 rd place in the Category BOOKS ABOUT THE REGION, title: “Gallery of Veľká Fatra mountains”, in the 8 th competition THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL ABOUT SLOVAKIA IN 2014’ (2015)
• ‘Memorial letter of the magazine QUARK on the occasion of the 20 th anniversary of its constitution as thank-you for the amiable and long-term cooperation by popularisation of the technic and science’ (2015)
• ‘2 nd place in the Category BOOKS ABOUT SLOVAKIA, title: “A symphony of light and shadow”, in the 9 th competition THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL ABOUT SLOVAKIA IN 2015’ (2016)
• ‘Thank-you letter on the occasion of 25 th anniversary of the creation of the Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the Technical University in Zvolen’ (2016)
• ‘1 st place in the Category DESK DIARIES, calendar with the nature sceneries: “Miroslav SANIGA – FOSFA we live to give”, in the 25 th competition THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CALENDAR OF SLOVAKIA in 2017’ (2017)
• ‘The honourable mention, calendar: “Chapelry of the Presentation in the Temple Liptovské Revúce”, in the 25 th competition THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CALENDAR OF SLOVAKIA in 2017’ (2017)
• ‘The Jesus Community Award, photo: „Look in the past blossoming dandelion“, in the photographic competition THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF THE BELIEF in the category NATURE’ (2017)
• ‘2 nd place, photo: “Wondering juveniles of Tengmalm’s owl”, in the photographic competition DISCOVER FOREST, DISCOVER PEFC’ (2017)
• ‘The Slovak Academy of Sciences Award for popularisation-scientific and educational activity’ (2017)

List of my publications:

2016
	Zúbrik, M; Hajek, A; Pilarska, D; Špilda, I; Georgiev, G; Hrašovec, B; Hirka, A; Goertz, D; Hoch, G; Barta, M; Saniga, M; Kunca, A; Nikolov, C; Vakula, J; Galko, J; Pilarski, P; Csóka, G The potential for Entomophaga maimaiga to regulate gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera; Erebidae) in Europe Journal Article Journal of Applied Entomology, 140 (8), pp. 565–579, 2016, ISSN: 1439-0418. Abstract | Links | BibTeX @article{Zúbrik2016, title = {The potential for \textit{Entomophaga maimaiga} to regulate gypsy moth \textit{Lymantria dispar} (L.) (Lepidoptera; \textit{Erebidae}) in Europe}, author = {M. Zúbrik and A. Hajek and D. Pilarska and I. Špilda and G. Georgiev and B. Hrašovec and A. Hirka and D. Goertz and G. Hoch and M. Barta and M. Saniga and A. Kunca and C. Nikolov and J. Vakula and J. Galko and P. Pilarski and G. Csóka}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jen.12295/epdf}, doi = {doi:10.1111/jen.12295}, issn = {1439-0418}, year = {2016}, date = {2016-02-13}, journal = {Journal of Applied Entomology}, volume = {140}, number = {8}, pages = {565–579}, abstract = {Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., is one of the most important pests of deciduous trees in Europe. In regular cycles, it causes large-scale defoliation mostly of oak, Quercus spp., forests. Government authorities in the most infested countries in Europe conduct large-scale applications of pesticides against gypsy moth. In 1999, a new natural enemy, the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga, was successfully introduced into a gypsy moth population in Bulgaria. Recent investigations suggest that now E. maimaiga is quickly spreading in Europe. Herein, past studies are reviewed regarding this fungus with special emphasis on its potential for becoming an important factor regulating gypsy moth populations in Europe, focusing on the host's population dynamics in relation to the fungus, the influence of environmental conditions on fungal activity, the influence of E. maimaiga on the native entomofauna, including other gypsy moth natural enemies, and spread of the fungus. Based on this analysis, the potential of E. maimaiga for providing control in European gypsy moth populations is estimated.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., is one of the most important pests of deciduous trees in Europe. In regular cycles, it causes large-scale defoliation mostly of oak, Quercus spp., forests. Government authorities in the most infested countries in Europe conduct large-scale applications of pesticides against gypsy moth. In 1999, a new natural enemy, the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga, was successfully introduced into a gypsy moth population in Bulgaria. Recent investigations suggest that now E. maimaiga is quickly spreading in Europe. Herein, past studies are reviewed regarding this fungus with special emphasis on its potential for becoming an important factor regulating gypsy moth populations in Europe, focusing on the host's population dynamics in relation to the fungus, the influence of environmental conditions on fungal activity, the influence of E. maimaiga on the native entomofauna, including other gypsy moth natural enemies, and spread of the fungus. Based on this analysis, the potential of E. maimaiga for providing control in European gypsy moth populations is estimated. Close http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jen.12295/epdf doi:doi:10.1111/jen.12295 Close
	Štofík, J; Merganič, J; Merganičová, K; Bučko, J; Saniga, M Brown bear winter feeding ecology in the area with supplementary feeding – Eastern Carpathians (Slovakia) Journal Article Polish Journal of Ecology, 64 (2), pp. 277-288, 2016, ISSN: 1505-2249 . Abstract | Links | BibTeX @article{Štofík2016, title = {Brown bear winter feeding ecology in the area with supplementary feeding – Eastern Carpathians (Slovakia)}, author = {J. Štofík and J. Merganič and K. Merganičová and J. Bučko and M. Saniga}, url = {http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3161/15052249PJE2016.64.2.011}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.3161/15052249PJE2016.64.2.011}, issn = {1505-2249 }, year = {2016}, date = {2016-01-01}, journal = {Polish Journal of Ecology}, volume = {64}, number = {2}, pages = {277-288}, abstract = {We performed snow tracking of brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the area of the Eastern Carpathians affected by supplementary feeding during the winter periods from 2007 to 2013. On each snow track we recorded all food habits and collected all scats. From these data we calculated occurrence frequency of food habits on snow tracks, occurrence frequency, volumetric proportion and energy values of food items in scats. We revealed that: i) the most frequent food source on snow tracks was corn from supplementary feeding places for ungulates (FOST = 64%); ii) crops for ungulates was the most important food group found in scat samples of bears (EDEC = 61%, EDECST = 53%); iii) the analysis of the inter-seasonal (late autumn, winter and early spring) changes in winter bear diet based on scat analyses revealed decreasing importance of hard mast and fruit, and increasing importance of invertebrates, herbs and wood biomass and crops for ungulates from autumn to spring; iv) bears searched for food at lower elevations in comparison to the location of their beds which are situated at higher elevations. Winter bear activity and bear diet was affected by supplementary feeding for ungulates.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close We performed snow tracking of brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the area of the Eastern Carpathians affected by supplementary feeding during the winter periods from 2007 to 2013. On each snow track we recorded all food habits and collected all scats. From these data we calculated occurrence frequency of food habits on snow tracks, occurrence frequency, volumetric proportion and energy values of food items in scats. We revealed that: i) the most frequent food source on snow tracks was corn from supplementary feeding places for ungulates (FOST = 64%); ii) crops for ungulates was the most important food group found in scat samples of bears (EDEC = 61%, EDECST = 53%); iii) the analysis of the inter-seasonal (late autumn, winter and early spring) changes in winter bear diet based on scat analyses revealed decreasing importance of hard mast and fruit, and increasing importance of invertebrates, herbs and wood biomass and crops for ungulates from autumn to spring; iv) bears searched for food at lower elevations in comparison to the location of their beds which are situated at higher elevations. Winter bear activity and bear diet was affected by supplementary feeding for ungulates. Close http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3161/15052249PJE2016.64.2.011 doi:https://doi.org/10.3161/15052249PJE2016.64.2.011 Close
2013
	Štofík, J; Merganič, J; Merganičová, K; Saniga, M Seasonal changes in food composition of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) from the edge of its occurence – Eastern Carpathians (Slovakia) Journal Article Folia Zoologica, 62 (3), pp. 221-231, 2013. Links | BibTeX @article{J.2013, title = {Seasonal changes in food composition of the brown bear (\textit{Ursus arctos}) from the edge of its occurence – Eastern Carpathians (Slovakia)}, author = {J. Štofík and J. Merganič and K. Merganičová and M. Saniga}, url = {http://www.ivb.cz/folia_zoologica/archive/62_222-231.pdf}, year = {2013}, date = {2013-08-08}, journal = {Folia Zoologica}, volume = {62}, number = {3}, pages = {221-231}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Close http://www.ivb.cz/folia_zoologica/archive/62_222-231.pdf Close