Prof. Tamás Székely

Honorary Professor

Contact details

Phone: +36 52 512900 ext. 62340

Email: T.Szekely “at” bath.ac.uk

 

Personal statement

I am an evolutionary biologist interested in social behaviour, and also a conservationist supporting biodiversity conservation. My research skills include phylogenetic analyses, experimental and observational analyses of behaviour in wild populations, and theoretical modelling. I published over 320 peer reviewed research articles and book chapters, and 4 books, most recently on Social behaviour: genes, ecology and evolution (2010, Cambridge University Press). One of my strengths is combining different tools and approaches to understand evolution of traits such as mating systems, parental care and sexual size dimorphism. I work from genes and genomes to individuals and populations: I believe good science must be integrative.

 

I am primarily a researcher and a university teacher: over my full career I taught at universities and had/have teams of students, post-docs and collaborators working with me. I have supervised 33 PhD students and mentored 16 post-docs and research fellows; vast majority are employed in academia/research institutions as professors or independent investigators. I was a visiting professor at Harvard University, and at the University of Groningen, Bielefeld and Göttingen. I received a Humboldt Award, and currently I am a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award Holder. In 2019 I was elected a Foreign Member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

 

My current research is focusing on two major themes: (i) evolution of mating systems, parental care and sex roles; my objective here is to understand how male and female reproductive strategies evolved in vertebrates. (ii) We are recently discovering that an overlooked component of social systems (and of breeding system variation) is adult sex ratio (ASR). My objective here is to reveal the causes and implications of ASR variations in vertebrates. Obviously, (i) and (ii) are related, and my ultimate objective is to reveal their relationships. In addition, I am a dedicated conservation biologist: I founded an award-winning conservation NGO in W Africa in 2010 (Maio Biodiversity Foundation) and coordinated the NGO’s successful strategy as President until recently.

 

Honours & awards (selected since 2010)

• Foreign Member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2019)

• Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award (2017)

• Honorary Professor of Debrecen University (2017)

• Visiting Professor at Beijing Normal University, China (2017)

• Fellow & Focal Group Leader of Advanced Institute of Berlin, Germany (2017)

• NWO Visiting Professor, University of Groningen, The Netherland (2015)

• Visiting Professor at Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China (2014)

• H umboldt Award at University of Göttingen, Germany (2012)

• Mercator Visiting Professor at University of Bielefeld, Germany (2012)

• Visiting Professor at University of Groningen, The Netherlands (2011)

• Maio Biodiversity Foundation (Fundação Maio Biodiversidade, FMB), President & Founder, Cape Verde (2010)

Research interests

• Sexual selection, sex roles and mating systems

• Parental care evolution

• Sexual size dimorphism

• Sex ratio evolution

• Wetland & waterbird conservation

 

Popular science

• Darwin got sexual selection backwards, research suggests, The Conversation, June 17, 2021

https://theconversation.com/darwin-got-sexual-selection-backwards-research-suggests-162711

 

• C heating is more society’s problem than an affair of the heart, The Conversation, February 17, 2016

https://theconversation.com/cheating-is-more-societys-problem-than-an-affair-of-the-heart-54773

 

 

Selected publications (since 2010)

 For full CV including list of publications see here

For downloading publications, see my ReserchGate website https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tamas-Szekely

2021

Jones, W., L. J. Eberhart-Hertel, R. Freckleton, J. I. Hoffman, O. Krüger, B. K. Sandercock, O. Vincze, S. Zefania & T. Székely. 2021. Exceptionally high apparent adult survival in three tropical species of plovers in Madagascar. Journal of Avian Biology (accepted)

Fresneau, N., Y. Lee, W-C Lee, A. Kosztolányi, T. Székely & A. Liker. 2021. Sex role reversal and high frequency of social polyandry in the pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus). Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution (in press).

Patino-Martinez, J., L. Dos Passos, I. O. Afonso, A. Teixidor, M. Tiwari, T. Székely & R. Moreno. 2021. Globally important refuge for the loggerhead sea turtle: Maio Island, Cabo Verde. Oryx (in press).

Mokos, J., I Scheuring, A. Liker, R. P. Freckleton & T. Székely. 2021. Degree of anisogamy is unrelated to the intensity of sexual selection. Scientific Reports 11: 19424.

Kubelka, V., B. K. Sandercock, T. Székely & R. P. Freckleton. 2021. Animal migration to northern latitudes: environmental changes and increasing threats. Trends in Ecology & Evolution (accepted).

Halimubieke, N., A. Pirrie, T. Székely & B. Ashby. 2021. How do biases in sex ratio and disease characteristics affect the spread of sexually transmitted infections? Journal of Theoretical Biology (accepted).

Liker, A, V. Bókony, I. Pipoly, J-F Lemaitre, J-M Gaillard, T. Székely, R. P. Freckleton. 2021. Evolution of large males is associated with female-skewed adult sex ratios in amniotes. Evolution (accepted).

Szemán, K, A. Liker & T. Székely. 2021. Social organization in ungulates: revisiting Jarman’s hypotheses. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 34: 604-613.

Z heng, J., J. Komdeur, T. Székely, M. A. Versteegh, D. Lid, H. Wang & Z. Zhang. 2021. Males and females of a polygamous songbird respond differently to mating opportunities. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 75: 72.

Katona, G., B. Vági, Z. Végvári, A. Liker, R. P. Freckleton, V. Bókony & T. Székely. 2021. Are evolutionary transitions in sexual size dimorphism related to sex determination in reptiles? Journal of Evolutionary Biology 34: 594-603.

D’Urban Jackson, J, S. Zefania & T. Székely. 2021. Madagascar jacana, Actophilornis albinucha. Goodman, S. M. (ed.) (in press). The new natural history of Madagascar. Princeton, Princeton University Press.

Zefania, S. & T. Székely. 2021. Charadrius, plovers. Goodman, S. M. (ed.) (in press). The new natural history of Madagascar. Princeton, Princeton University Press.

2020

Valdebenito, J. O., N. Halimubieke, Á. Z. Lendvai, J. Figuerola, G. Eichhorn & T. Székely. 2021. Seasonal variation in sex-specific immunity in wild birds. Scientific Reports 11: 1349.

Kupán, K., T. Székely, M. Cruz-López, K. Seymour & C. Küpper. 2020. Offspring desertion with care? Chick mortality and plastic female desertion in Snowy Plovers. Behavioral Ecology 32: 428-439.

Valdebenito, J.O., A. Liker, N.Halimubieke, J. Figuerola & T. Székely. 2020. Mortality cost of sex‑specific parasitism in wild bird populations. Scientific Reports 10: 20983.

Halimubieke, N., K. Kupán, J. O. Valdebenito, V. Kubelka, M. C. Carmona-Isunza, D. Burgas, D. Catlin, J. J. H. St Clair, J. Cohen, J. Figuerola, M. Yasué, M. Johnson, M. Mencarelli, M. Cruz-López, M. Stantial, M. A. Weston, P. Lloyd, P. Que, T. Montalvo, U. Bansal, G. C. McDonald, Y. Liu, A. Kosztolányi & T. Székely. 2020. Successful breeding predicts divorce in plovers. Scientific Reports 10: 15576.

M artínez-Pacheco, M., J. Halbert, A. Liechti, L. Almonte, V. Guajardo, A. Godínez, D. Fernández, P. Cornejo-Páramo, K. Díaz-Barba, A. Tzika, M. C. Milinkovitch, P. Khaitovich, T. Székely, A. O. Urrutia & D. Cortez. 2020. Expression evolution of ancestral XY gametologs across major groups of placental mammals. Genome Biology & Evolution 12(11):2015–2028.

Cornejo-Páramo, P., A. Lira-Noriega, C. Ramírez-Suástegui, F. R. Méndez-de-la-Cruz, T. Székely, A. O.Urrutia, D. Cortez. 2020. Sex determination systems in reptiles are related to ambient temperature but not to the level of climatic fluctuation. BMC Evolutionary Biology 20(1):103.

Feng, S., J. Stiller …. A. Urrutia , T. Székely, Y. Liu, …… F. Lei, C. Rahbek, M. T. P. Gilbert, G. Graves, E. Jarvis, B. Paten & G. Zhang. 2020. Dense sampling of bird diversity increases power of comparative genomics. Nature 587:252-257.

McDonald, G.C, N. Engel, S. Ratão, T. Székely & A. Kosztolányi. 2020. The impact of social structure on breeding strategies in an island bird. Scientific Reports 10: 13872.

V aldebenito, J. O., J. Martínez-de la Puente, M. Castro, A. Pérez-Hurtado, G. Tejera, T. Székely, N. Halimubieke, J. Schroeder, J. Figuerola. 2020. Association of insularity and body condition to cloacal bacteria prevalence in a small shorebird. Plos One 15: e0237369.

Amano, T, T. Székely, H. S. Wauchope, B. Sandel, Sz. Nagy, T. Mundkur, T. Langendoen, D. Blanco, N. L. Michel & W. J. Sutherland. 2020. Responses of global waterbird populations to climate change vary with latitude. Nature Climate Change 10: 959–964.

Engel, N, Zs. Végvári, R. Rice, V. Kubelka & T. Székely. 2020. Incubating parents serve as visual cues to predators in Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). Plos One ‏ 15: e0236489.

Cornejo-Páramo, P, D. S.B. Dissanayake, A. Lira-Noriega, M. L. Martínez-Pacheco, A. Acosta, C. Ramírez-Suástegui, F. R. Méndez-de-la-Cruz, T. Székely, A. O. Urrutia, A. Georges & D. Cortez.2020. Viviparous reptile regarded to have temperature-dependent sex determination has old XY chromosomes. Genome Biology & Evolution (in press).

Cooney, C. R, C. Sheard, A. D. Clark, S. D. Healy, A. Liker, S. E. Street, C. A. Troisi, G. H. Thomas, T. Székely, N. Hemmings & A. E. Wright. 2020. Ecology and allometry predict the evolution of avian developmental durations. Nature Communications 11: 2383.

Vági, B., Zs. Végvári, A. Liker, R. P. Freckleton & T. Székely. 2020. Climate and sexual selection as drivers of global diversity of parental care in frogs. Global Ecology and Biogeography 29: 1373-1386.

Lemaître, J-F, V. Ronget, M. Tidière, D. Allainé, V. Berger, A. Cohas, F. Colchero, D. Conde, M. Garratt, A. Liker, G. A.B. Marais, A. Scheuerlein, T. Székely & J-M. Gaillard. 2020. Sex differences in adult lifespan and aging rates of mortality across wild mammals. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences US 117: 8546-8553.

D’Urban Jackson, J., M. W. Bruford, T. Székely, J. DaCosta, M. D. Sorenson, S. V. Edwards, I-R. M. Russo, Kathryn Maher, Medardo Cruz-López, D. Galindo-Espinosa, A. E. De Sucre-Medrano, J. Cavitt, R. Pruner, A. L. Morales, O. Gonzalez, T. Burke & C. Küpper. 2020. Population differentiation and demography of the threatened snowy plover Charadrius nivosus estimated by four different genetic markers. Conservation Genetics 21: 387-404.

Székely, T. 2020. The population ecology and conservation of Charadrius plovers, Studies in Avian Biology, by Mark A. Colwell and Susan M. Haig, eds. 2019. Condor (book review).

dos Remedios, N, C Küpper, T. Székely, S. Zefania, F. Burns, M. Bolton & P. L. M. Lee. 2020. Genetic structure among Charadrius plovers on the African mainland and islands of Madagascar and St Helena. Ibis 162, 104–118.

Ancona, S., A. Liker, M. C. Carmona-Isunza & T. Székely. 2020. Sex differences in age-to-maturation relate to sexual selection and adult sex ratios in birds. Evolution Letters 4: 44-53.

2019

Wang, Y, T. Székely, Z. Zhang & P. Que. 2019. Prolactin levels predict parental investment and nest survival in a free-living shorebird. Hormones & Behavior (accepted).

Rice, R, J. O. Valdebenito, M. Ottensmann, N. Engel, A. Adrião & T. Székely. 2019. Breeding ecology of the Cream-coloured Courser in Cape Verde. Ostrich (accepted).

Wang, X, K H. Maher, N Zhang, P Que, C Zheng, S Liu, B Wang, Q Huang, De Chen, X Yang, Z Zhang, T Székely, A Urrutia, Y Liu. 2019. Demographic histories and genome-wide patterns of divergence in incipient species of shorebirds. Frontiers in Genetics 10: 919.

D’Urban Jackson, J, S Zefania, S. Moehy, A. J. Bamford, M. W. Bruford & T. Székely. 2019. Ecology, conservation, and phylogenetic position of the Madagascar Jacana. Ostrich (accepted).

Young, R. L., M. Ferkin, N. Ockendon-Powell, V. Orr, S. Phelps, Á. Pogány, C. Richards-Zawacki, K. Summers, T. Székely, B. Trainor, A. Urrutia, G. Zachar, L. O'Connell & H. Hofmann. 2019. Correction - conserved transcriptomic profiles underpin monogamy across vertebrates. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences US 116: 10186-10188.

F azekas, E. A., B. Morvai, G. Zachar, T. Székely, Á. Pogány, Á. Dobolyi. 2019. Offspring-induced neuronal activation in the brain of male and female zebra finch parents. Journal of Comparative Neurology 1–17.

Pogány, Á., B. Morvai, E. T. Krause, E. Kitsios, T. Böhm, T. Ruploh, N. von Engelhardt, T. Székely, J. Komdeur, Á. Miklósi & O. Krüger 2019. Short- and long-term social effects of parental sex roles in zebra finches. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 7: 294.

Wang, X, P. Que, G. Heckel, J. Hu, X. Zhang, C-Y Chiang, N. Zhang, Q. Huang, S. Liu, J. Martinez, E. Pagani-Núñez, C. Dingle, Y. Y. Leung, T. Székely, Z. Zhang & Y.Liu. 2019. Genetic, phenotypic and ecological differentiation suggests incipient speciation in two Charadrius plovers along the Chinese coast. BMC Evolutionary Biology 19:135.

Halimubieke, N, J. O. Valdebenito, P. Harding, M. Cruz-López, M. A. Serrano-Meneses, R. James, K. Kupán* & T. Székely*. 2019. Mate fidelity in a polygamous shorebird, the snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus). Ecology & Evolution 9: 10734-10745. * Joint senior authors.

Kubelka, V, M. Šálek, P. Tomkovich, Z. Végvári, R. P. Freckleton & T. Székely. 2019. Response to Comment on “Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds”. Science 364: 1042.

Kingma, S. A & T. Székely. 2019. Social behaviour: males help when mates are rare. Current Biology 29: R358 -R380.

Székely, T. 2019. Why study plovers? The significance of non-model organisms in avian ecology, behaviour and evolution. Journal of Ornithology 160: 923-933.

Vági, B, Zs. Végvári, A. Liker, R. P. Freckleton & T. Székely. 2019. Parental care and the evolution of terrestriality in frogs. Proc Roy Soc B 286: 20182737.

B ókony, V., G. Milne, I. Pipoly, T. Székely & A. Liker. 2019. Sex ratios and bimaturism differ between temperature-dependent and genetic sex determination systems in reptiles. BMC Evolutionary Biology 19: 57.

Székely T. & Kubelka V. 2019. Protocol for collecting behavioural data for ÉLVONAL shorebird project, version 2. Unpublished report, University of Debrecen, Hungary.

Que, P., T. Székely, P. Wang, Q. Lua, W. Leia, Y. Liu & Z. Zhang. 2019. Offspring sex ratio is unrelated to parental quality and breeding time in a multi-breeding shorebird. Journal for Ornithology 160: 443-452.

Young, R. L., M. Ferkin, N. Ockendon-Powell, V. Orr, S. Phelps, Á. Pogány, C. Richards-Zawacki, K. Summers, T. Székely, B. Trainor, A. Urrutia, G. Zachar, L. O'Connell & H. Hofmann. 2019. Conserved transcriptomic profiles underpin monogamy across vertebrates. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences US 116: 1331-1336.

 

2018

Kubelka, V., M. Šálek, P. Tomkovich, Zs. Végvári, R. Freckleton & T. Székely. 2018. Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds. Science 362: 680-683.

Pogány, Á, E. Vincze, Z. Szurovecza, A. Kosztolányi, Z. Barta, T. Székely & K. Riebel. 2018. Personality assortative female mating preferences in a songbird. Behaviour 155: 481-503.

Végvári, Zs, G. Katona, B. Vági, R. P. Freckleton, J-M Gaillard, T. Székely & A. Liker. 2018. Sex-biased breeding dispersal is predicted by social environment in birds. Ecology & Evolution 8: 6483-6491.

Eberhart-Phillips, L. J., C. Küpper, M. C. Carmona-Isunza, O. Vincze, S. Zefania, M. Cruz-López, A. Kosztolányi, T. E. Miller, Z. Barta, I. C. Cuthill, T. Burke, T. Székely^§, J. I. Hoffman^§ & O. Krüger^§. 2018. Demographic causes of adult sex ratio variation and their consequences for parental cooperation. Nature Communications 9:1651. § Joint senior authors.

Cunningham, C, J. E. Parra, L. Coals, M. Beltrán, S. Zefania & T. Székely. 2018. Social interactions predict genetic diversification: an experimental manipulation in shorebirds. Behav Ecol 29: 609-618.

Amano, T., T. Székely, B. Sandel, Sz. Nagy, T. Mundkur, T. Langendoen, D. Blanco, C. U. Soykan, W. J. Sutherland. 2018. Successful conservation of global waterbird populations depends on effective governance. Nature 553: 199-202.

2017

dos Remedios, N., C. Küpper, T. Székely, T. Burke & P. L.M. Lee. 2017. Specialists in isolation: genetic differentiation in an endemic African plover. Ibis 159: 792-802.

Rosa, M. E., Z. Barta, A. Fülöp, T. Székely & A. Kosztolányi. 2017. The effects of adult sex ratio and density on parental care in Lethrus apterus (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae). Animal Behaviour 132: 181-188.

Martínez-de la Puente, J., L. J. Eberhart-Phillips. M C Carmona-Isunza, S Zefania; M J Navarro, O Kruger, J I Hoffman, T Székely & Jordi Figuerola. 2017. Extremely low Plasmodium prevalence in wild plovers and coursers from Cape Verde and Madagascar. Malaria Journal 16: 243.

Schacht, R, K. L. Kramer, T. Székely & P. M. Kappeler (eds). 2017. Adult sex ratios and reproductive decisions: a critical re-examination of sex differences in human and animal societies. Phil Trans Roy Soc 372: 1729.

Schacht, R, K. L. Kramer, T. Székely & P. M. Kappeler. 2017. Introduction. Adult sex ratios and reproductive decisions: a critical re-examination of sex differences in human and animal societies. Phil Trans Roy Soc 372: 20160309.

Eberhart-Phillips, L. J, C Küpper, T. E. X. Miller, M. Cruz-López, K. H. Maher, N. dos Remedios, M. A. Stoffel, J. I. Hoffman*, O. Krüger & T. Székely. 2017. Adult sex ratio bias in snowy plovers is driven by sex-specific early survival: implications for mating systems and population growth. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences US 114: E5474-E5481.

Ancona, S., F. V. Dénes, O. Krüger, T. Székely & S. R. Beissinger. 2017. Estimating adult sex ratios in nature. Phil Trans Roy Soc 372: 20160313.

Jennions, M, T. Székely, S. Bessinger & P. M. Kappeler. 2017. Sex ratios. Current Biology 27: R790-R792.

Komdeur, J, T. Székely, X. Long & S. A. Kingma. 2017. Adult sex ratios and their implications for cooperative breeding. Phil Trans Roy Soc 372: 20160322.

Bókony, V., Sz Kövér, E. Nemesházi, A. Liker, T. Székely. 2017. Climate-driven shifts in adult sex ratios via sex reversals: the type of sex determination matters. Phil Trans Roy Soc 372: 20160325.

Cruz-López, M., L. J. Eberhart-Phillips, G. Fernández, R. Beamonte-Barrientos, T. Székely, M. A. Serrano-Meneses & C. Küpper. 2017. The plight of a plover: viability of an important snowy plover population with flexible brood care in Mexico. Biological Conservation 209: 440-448.

Maher, K. M., L Eberhart-Phillips, A. Kosztolányi, N. dos Remedios, M. C. Carmona-Isunza, M. Cruz-López, S. Zefania, J. St Clair, M. AlRashidi, M. A. Weston, M. A. Serrano-Meneses, O. Krüger, J. I. Hoffman, T. Székely, T., Burke & C. Küpper. 2017. High fidelity: extra-pair fertilisations in eight Charadrius plover species are not associated with parental relatedness or social mating system. J Avian Biology 48: 910-920.

D’Urban Jackson, J., N. dos Remedios, K. H. Maher, S. Zefania, S. Haig, S. Oyler-McCance, D. Blomqvist, T. Burke, M. W. Bruford, T. Székely & C. Küpper. 2017. Polygamy slows down population divergence in shorebirds. Evolution 71: 1313-1326.

Barani-Beiranvanda, H., M. Aliabadiana, M. Irestedt, Y. Quc, J. Darvish, T. Székely, R. E. van Dijk, & P. G. P. Ericson. 2017. Phylogeography of Eurasian penduline tits inferred from mitochondrial and microsatellite genotyping. Journal of Avian Biology 48: 932-940.

Carmona-Isunza, M C, Ancona, S I., Székely, T, Ramallo-González, A P., Cruz-López, M, Serrano-Meneses, M A & C. Küpper. 2017. Adult sex ratio and operational sex ratio exhibit different temporal dynamics in the wild. Behavioral Ecology 28: 523-532.

2016

Ball, A, D, R. E. van Dijk, P. Lloyd, Á. Pogány, D. A. Dawson, S. Dorus, R. C. K. Bowie, T. Burke & T. Székely. 2016. Levels of extra-pair paternity are associated with parental care in penduline tits (Remizidae). Ibis 159: 449-455.

Morvai, B, S Nanuru, D Mul, N Kusche, G Milne, T Székely, J Komdeur, Á Miklósi & Á Pogány. 2016. Diurnal and reproductive stage-dependent variation of parental behavior in captive zebra finches. Plos ONE 11: e0167368.

Sayol, F, J Maspons, O Lapiedra, A N Iwaniuk, T. Székely & D Sol. 2016. Environmental variation and the evolution of large brains in birds. Nature Communications 7: 13971.

Lopes, K, L Passos, J G Rodrigues, F Koenen, V Stiebens, T Székely and A. Dutra. 2016. Sea turtle, shark and dolphin bycatch rates by artisanal and semi-industrial fishers in Maio Island, Cape Verde. Chelonian Conservation & Biology 15: 279-288.

Vincze, O., A. Kosztolányi, Z. Barta, C. Küpper, M. Alrashidi, J. A. Amat, A. Arguelles Tico, F. Burns, J. Cavitt, W. C.Conway, M. Cruz-Lopez, A. E. Desucre-Medrano, N. dos Remedios, J. Figuerola, D. Galindo-Espinosa, G. E.Garcıa-Pena, S. Gomez Del Angel, C. Gratto-Trevor, P. Jönsson, P. Lloyd, T. Montalvo, J. E. Parra, R. Pruner, P. Que, Y. Liu, S. T. Saalfeld, R. Schulz, L. Serra, J. J. H. StClair, L. E. Stenzel, M. A. Weston, M. Yasue, S. Zefania & T. Székely. 2017. Parental cooperation in a changing climate: fluctuating environments predict shifts in care division. Global Ecology and Biogeography 26: 347-358.

Bulla, M., M. Valcu, A. M. Dokter, A. G. Dondua, A. Kosztolányi, A. L. Rutten, B. Helm, B. K. Sandercock, B. Casler, B. J. Ens, C. S. Spiegel, C. J. Hassell, C. Küpper, C. Minton, D. Burgas, D. B. Lank, D. C. Payer, E. Y. Loktionov, E. Nol, E. Kwon, Fl. Smith, H. R. Gates, H. Vitnerová, H. Prüter, J. A. Johnson, J. J. H. St Clair, J-F. Lamarre, J. Rausch, J. Reneerkens, J. R. Conklin, J. Burger, J. Liebezeit, J. Bêty, J. T. Coleman, J. Figuerola, J. C. E. W. Hooijmeijer, J/ A. Alves, J. A. M. Smith, K. Weidinger, K. Koivula, K. Gosbell, K-M. Exo, L. Niles, L. Koloski, L. McKinnon, L. Praus, M. Klaassen, M-A. Giroux, M. Sládeček, M. L. Boldenow, M. I. Goldstein, M. Šálek, N. Senner, N. Rönkä, N. Lecomte, O. Gilg, O. Vincze, O. W. Johnson, P. A. Smith, P. F. Woodard, P. S. Tomkovich, P. F. Battley, R. Bentzen, R. B. Lanctot, R. Porter, S. T. Saalfeld, S. Freeman, S. C. Brown, S. Yezerinac, T. Székely, T. Piersma, T. Montalvo, V. Loverti, V.‐M. Pakanen, W. Tijsen & B. Kempenaers. 2016. Defying the 24‐h 1 day: Unexpected diversity in socially synchronized rhythms of shorebirds. Nature 540: 109-1013.

Montagnese, C.M., T. Székely, A. Csillag & G. Zachar. 2016. Distribution of Vasotocin- and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-like Immunoreactivity in the Brain of Blue Tit (Cyanistes coeruleus) and Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus). European Journal of Anatomy 20: 299-318.

Almalki, M., K. Kupán, M C Carmona-Isunza, P Lopez, Ana Veiga, A Kosztolányi, T Székely & C Küpper. 2016. Morphological and genetic differentiation among Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus populations in Macaronesia. Ardeola 64: 3-16.

Ockendon, NF, O'Connell, LA, Bush, SJ, Monzon-Sandoval, J, Barnes, H, T. Székely, Hofmann, HA, Dorus, S, Urrutia, AO. 2016. Optimization of next-generation sequencing transcriptome annotation for species lacking sequenced genomes. Molecular Ecology Resources 16: 446-458.

2015

Remeš, V., R. P. Freckleton, J. Tökölyi, A. Liker & T. Székely. 2015. The evolution of parental cooperation in birds. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, US 112: 13603-13608.

Pipoly, I., V. Bókony, M. Kirkpatrick, P. F. Donald, T. Székely & A. Liker. 2015. The genetic sex-determination system predicts adult sex ratios in tetrapods. Nature 527: 91 – 94.

Liker, A., R. P. Freckleton, V. Remeš & T. Székely. 2015. Sex differences in parental care: gametic investment, sexual selection and social environment. Evolution 69: 2862-2875.

Argüelles-Ticó, A., C. Küpper, R. N. Kelsh, A. Kosztolányi, T. Székely & R. E. van Dijk2. 2015. Geographic variation in breeding system and environment predicts melanin-based plumage ornamentation of male and female Kentish plovers. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 70: 49-60.

Carmona-Isunza, M C, C Küpper, M A Serrano-Meneses & T. Székely. 2015. Courtship behavior differs between monogamous and polygamous plovers. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 69: 2035–2042.

Gooch, S., K. Ashbrook, A. Taylor & T. Székely. 2015. Using dietary analysis and habitat selection to inform conservation management of reintroduced Great Bustards Otis tarda in an agricultural landscape. Bird Study 62: 289-302.

Montagnese, C. M., T. Székely, A. Csillag & Z. Gergely. 2015. Distribution of Vasotocin- and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-like Immunoreactivity in the Brain of Blue Tit (Cyanistes coeruleus). Frontiers in Neuroanatomy 9: 90.

Pogány, Á., A. Kosztolányi, Á. Miklósi, J. Komdeur & T. Székely. 2015. Biparentally deserted offspring are viable in a species with intense sexual conflict over care. Behavioural Processes 116: 28-32.

dos Remedios, N., T. Székely, C. Küpper, P. L. M. Lee & A. Kosztolányi. 2015. Ontogenic differences in sexual size dimorphism across four plover populations. Ibis 157: 590-600.

dos Remedios, N., P. L. M. Lee, T. Burke, T. Székely & C. Küpper. 2015. North or South? Phylogenetic and biogeographic origins of a globally distributed avian clade. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 89: 151-159.

Ashbrook, K., A. Taylor, L. Jane, I. Carter & T. Székely. 2015. Impacts of survival and reproductive success on long-term population viability of reintroduced great bustards. Oryx 50: 583-592.

Eberhart-Phillips, L. J, J. I. Hoffman, E. G. Brede, S. Zefania, M. Kamrad, T. Székely & M. W. Bruford. 2015. Contrasting genetic diversity and population structure among three sympatric Madagascan shorebirds: parallels with rarity, endemism, and dispersal propensity. Ecology and Evolution 5: 997-1010.

Almalki, M, M. Shobrak, M. AlRashidi, N. dos Remedios & T. Székely. 2015. Breeding Ecology of the Crab Plover Dromas ardeola in Farasan Islands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. International Wader Study Group Bulletin 121:169-176.

Que, P., Y. Chang, L. Eberhart-Phillips, Y. Liu, T. Székely & Z. Zhang. 2014. Low nest survival of a breeding Shorebird in Bohai Bay, China. Journal of Ornithology 156: 297-307.

2014

Liker, A, R. P. Freckleton & T. Székely. 2014. Divorce and infidelity are associated with skewed adult sex ratios in birds. Current Biology 24: 880-884.

Székely, T., A Liker, R. P. Freckleton, C. Fichtel & P. M. Kappeler. 2014. Sex-biased survival predicts adult sex ratio variation in wild birds. Proc Roy Soc London B 281: 20140342.

Székely, T., O. Krüger & E. T. Krause. 2014. Errors in science: the role of reviewers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 29: 371-373.

Székely, T., F. J. Weissing & J. Komdeur. 2014. Adult sex ratio variation: implications for breeding system evolution. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 27: 1500-1512.

Almalki, M., M. Al-Rashidi, M. O’Connell, M. Shobrak & T. Székely. 2014. Modelling the distribution of wetland birds on the Red Sea coast in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 13: 67-84.

Barta, Z., T. Székely, A. Liker & F Harrison. 2014. Social role specialization promotes cooperation between parents. American Naturalist 183: 747-761.

Parra, J E, M. Beltrán, S. Zefania, N. dos Remedios & T Székely. 2014. Experimental assessment of mating opportunities in three shorebird species. Animal Behaviour 90: 83-90.

Almalki, M., M. AlRashidi, M. Shobrak & T. Székely. 2014. Breeding distribution and conservation of Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola) in Saudi Arabia (Aves: Charadriiformes). Zoology in the Middle East 60: 6-12.

Montagnese, C. M., T. Székely, T. Balázsa & G. Zachar. 2014. Immunoreactivity distribution of vasotocine and vasoactive intestinal peptide in brain nuclei of two songbird species with different breeding system. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 83: 140-149.

Székely, T. 2014. Sexual conflict between parents: offspring desertion and asymmetrical parental care. IN: W. R. Rice & S. Gavrilets (eds). The genetics and biology of sexual conflict. Cold Spring Harbor, pp 245-263.

Carmona, C., A. Tavares, F. Koenen, E. Innes & T. Székely. 2014. Monitoring Kentish plover populations in Maio, Cape Verde Islands. Cagarra 5: 2-4.

Pogány, Á., Z. Szurovecz, E. Vincze, Z. Barta & T. Székely. 2014. Mate preference does not influence reproductive motivation and parental cooperation in female zebra finches. Behaviour 151: 1885-1901.

Pogány, Á., J. Heszberger, Z. Szurovecz, E Vincze & T. Székely. 2014. An infrared motion detector system for lossless real-time monitoring of animal preference tests. Acta Zool Hung 65: 385-395.

2013

Houston, A. I., T. Székely & J. M. McNamara. 2013. The parental investment models of Maynard Smith: a retrospective and prospective view. Animal Behaviour 86: 667-674 (invited review).

Moore, D., S. Wigby, S. English, S. Wong, T. Székely & F. Harrison. 2013. Selflessness is sexy: reported helping behaviour increases desirability of men and women as long-term sexual partners. BMC Evol Biol 13: 182.

Gamero, A., T. Székely & P. M. Kappeler. 2013. Delayed juvenile dispersal and monogamy, but no cooperative breeding in white-breasted mesites (Mesitornis variegata). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 68: 73-83.

Székely, T., J. I. Hoffman & O. Krüger. 2013. Why do males care for their competitor's offspring? Animal Behaviour 86: E1-E2.

Burns, F., N. McCulloch, N. dos Remedios, T. Székely, M. Bolton. 2013. Sex differences in behaviour but not mortality risk in a critically endangered shorebird. Ibis 155: 877-880.

Liker, A., R. P. Freckleton & T. Székely. 2013. The evolution of sex roles in birds is related to adult sex ratio. Nature Communications 4: 1587.

Williamson, L., M. Hudson, M. O’Connell, N. Davidson, R. Young, T. Amano & T. Székely. 2013. Areas of high diversity for the world’s inland-breeding waterbirds. Biodiversity and Conservation 22: 1501-1512.

Vincze, O., T. Székely, C. Küpper, M. AlRashidi, J. A. Amat, A. A. Ticó, D. Burgas, T. Burke, J. Cavitt, J. Figuerola, M. Shobrak, T. Montalvo & A. Kosztolányi. 2013. Local environment but not genetic differentiation influences biparental care in ten plover populations. PLoS ONE 8: e60998.

Moghadam, H. K., P. W. Harrison, G. Zachar, T. Székely & J. E. Mank. 2013. The plover neurotranscriptome assembly: transcriptomic analysis in an ecological model species without a reference genome. Molecular Ecology Resources 13: 696-705.

Ramm, S. A*, R. M. Jonker, K. Reinhold, T. Székely, F. Trillmich, T. Schmoll, H. Schielzeth, R. P. Freckleton. 2013. Comment on “Bateman in Nature: Predation on Offspring Reduces the Potential for Sexual Selection”. Science 340: 549-550. *All authors contributed equally to this work, and the author order was randomized.

Székely, T., V. Remeš, R. P Freckleton & A. Liker. 2013. Why care? Inferring the evolution of complex social behaviour. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 26: 1381-1391.

B urns, F., N. McCulloch, T. Székely & M. Bolton. 2013. The impact of introduced predators on an island endemic, the St. Helena Plover, Charadrius sanctaehelenae. Bird Conservation International 23: 125-135.

Zefania, S. & T. Székely. 2013. Madagascar plover Charadrius thoracicus. IN: R. Safford & F. Hawkins (eds). Birds of Madagascar, pp 395-397.

Zefania, S. & T. Székely. 2013. White-fronted plover Charadrius marginatus. IN: R. Safford & F. Hawkins (eds). Birds of Madagascar, pp 401-403.

Zefania, S. & T. Székely. 2013. Kittlitz’s plover Charadrius pecuarius. IN: R. Safford & F. Hawkins (eds). Birds of Madagascar, pp 397-399.

Zefania, S. & T. Székely. 2013. Three-banded plover Charadrius tricollaris. IN: R. Safford & F. Hawkins (eds). Birds of Madagascar, pp 399-401.

2012

Garcia-Pena, G. E., D. Sol, A. N. Iwaniuk & T. Székely. 2012. Sexual selection on brain size in shorebirds (Charadriiformes). Journal of Evolutionary Biology 26: 878-888.

Burns, F., N. McCulloch, T. Székely & M. Bolton. 2013. No overall benefit of predator exclosure cages for the endangered St. Helena Plover Charadrius sanctaehelenae. Ibis 155: 397-401.

Burnside, R.J., Zs. Végvári, R. James, S. Konyhás, G. Kovács & T. Székely. 2013. Human disturbance and conspecifics influence display site selection by Great Bustards Otis tarda. Bird Conservation International 24: 32-44.

Küpper, C., S. V. Edwards, A. Kosztolányi, M. Alrashidi, T. Burke, P. Herrmann, A. Argüelles-Tico, J. A. Amat, M. Amezian, A. Rocha, H. Hötker, A. Ivanov, J. Chernicko & T. Székely. 2012. High gene flow on a continental scale in the polyandrous Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus. Molecular Ecology 21, 5864–5879.

Székely, A. & T. Székely 2012. Sex ratio and the City. Dispatch. Current Biology 22: 684-685.

Pogány, Á. R. E. van Dijk, P. Horváth, T. Székely. 2012. Parental behavior and reproductive output in male-only and female-only cared clutches in the Eurasian penduline tit Remiz pendulinus. Auk 29: 773-781.

Pogány, Á., van Dijk, R.E., Menyhárt, O., Miklósi, Á., DeVoogd, T.J. & T. Székely. 2012. Acoustic signaling in Eurasian Penduline Tits Remiz pendulinus: repertoire size signals male nest defence. Acta Zool Sci Hung 59: 81-96.

Küpper, C., J. Augustin, S. Edwards, T. Székely, A. Kosztolányi, T. Burke, D. E. Janes. 2012. Triploid plover female provides support for a role of the W chromosome in avian sex determination. Biology Letters 8: 787-789.

Kosztolányi, A., C. Küpper, O. Chastel, C. Parenteauc, K. T. Yılmaz, Á. Miklósi, T. Székely, Á. Z. Lendvai. 2012. Prolactin stress response does not predict brood desertion in a polyandrous shorebird. Hormones and Behavior 61: 734-740.

van Dijk, R. E. J. Komdeur & T. Székely. 2012. Nest attendance does not predict offspring desertion by Eurasian penduline tit parents. Ethology 118: 703-710.

Sutherland, W.J., J. A. Alves, T. Amano, C. H. Chang, N. C. Davidson, C. M. Finlayson, J. A. Gill, R. E. Gill, Jr., P. M. González, T. G. Gunnarsson, D. Kleijn, C. J. Spray, T. Székely, D. B.A. Thompson. 2012. A horizon scanning assessment of current and potential future threats facing migratory shorebirds. Ibis 154: 663-679.

AlRashidi, M., M. Shobrak & T. Székely. 2012. Integrating spatial data and nesting locations to predict the future impact of global warming on coastal habitats: A case study of shorebirds in Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 19: 311-315.

Amano, T, T. Székely, K. Koyama, H. Amano & W. J. Sutherland. 2011. Addendum to ‘‘A framework for monitoring the status of populations: An example from wader populations in the East Asian-Australasian flyway’’ Biological Conservation, 143, 2238–2247. Biological Conservation 145: 278-295.

van Dijk, R. E., T. Székely, J. Komdeur, Á. Pogány, T. W. Fawcett & F. J. Weissing. 2012. Individual variation and the resolution of conflict over parental care in penduline tits. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B 279: 1927-1936.

Burnside, R.J., I Carter, A. Dawes, D. Waters, L. Lock, P. Goriup & T. Székely 2012. The UK great bustard Otis tarda reintroduction trial. Oryx 46: 112-121.

2011

Rheindt, F. E., T. Székely, S. V. Edwards, P. L. M. Lee, T. Burke, P. R. Kennerley, D. N. Bakewell, M. AlRashidi, A. Kosztolányi, M. A. Weston, W.-T. Liu, W.-P. Lei, Y. Shigeta, S. Javed, S. Zefania & C. Küpper. 2011. Conflict between genetic and phenotypic differentiation: the evolutionary history of a ‘lost and rediscovered’ shorebird. PLoS ONE 6, e26995.

Moore, J. M, T. Székely, J. Büki, & T. J. DeVoogd. 2011. Motor pathway convergence predicts syllable repertoire size in oscine birds. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, US 108: 16440-16445.

AlRashidi, M., A. Kosztolányi, M. Shobrak, C. Küpper & T. Székely. 2011. Parental cooperation in an extreme hot environment: natural behaviour and experimental evidence. Animal Behaviour 82: 235-243.

AlRashidi, M., A. Kosztolányi, M. Shobrak & T. Székely. 2011. Breeding ecology of the Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus in Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia (Aves: Charadriiformes). Zoology in the Middle East 53: 15-24.

Végvári, Zs, Z. Barta, P. Mustakallio & T. Székely. 2011. Consistent avoidance of human disturbance over large geographic distances by a migratory bird. Biological Letters 7: 814-817.

Bot, S., D. Brinkhuizen, Á. Pogány, T. Székely & R. van Dijk. 2011. Penduline tits in Eurasia: distribution, identification and systematic. Dutch Birding 33: 177-187.

Breitling, R., A Coleing, T. Peixoto, H. Nagle, G. Hancock, R. N Kelsh & T. Székely. 2011. An overview of spider fauna of Maio (Cape Verde Islands) with some additional records (Arachnida:Araneae). Zoologia Capoverdiana 2: 43-52.

Kosztolányi, A., Z. Barta, C. Küpper & T. Székely. 2011. Persistence of an extreme male-biased adult sex ratio in a natural population of polyandrous bird. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 1842-1846.

Kelsh, R., T. Székely & S Stuart. 2011. Why should biomedical scientists care about biodiversity? Current Biology 21: 210-211.

AlRashidi, M., P. R. Long, M. O'Connell, M. Shobrak & T. Székely. 2011. Use of remote sensing to identify suitable breeding habitat for the Kentish plover and estimate population size along the western coast of Saudi Arabia. Wader Study Group Bulletin 53: 15-24.

2010

Székely, T. & W. J. Sutherland. 2010. Hunting the cause of a population crash. Commentary. Nature 466: 448.

Remeš, V. & T. Székely. 2010. Domestic chickens defy Rensch's rule: sexual size dimorphism in chicken breeds. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 23: 2754-2759.

Küpper, C., A. Kosztolányi, J. Augustin, D. A. Dawson, T. Burke & T. Székely. 2010. Heterozygosity-fitness correlations of conserved microsatellite markers in Kentish plovers Charadrius alexandrinus. Molecular Ecology 19: 5172–5185.

St Clair, J. J.H., G. Garcia-Pena, R. Woods & T. Székely. 2010. Presence of mammalian predators decreases tolerance to human disturbance in a breeding shorebird. Behavioral Ecology 21: 1285-1292.

St Clair, J. J. H, S. Poncet, D. K. Sheehan, T. Székely & G. M. Hilton. 2010. Responses of an island endemic invertebrate to rodent invasion and eradication. Animal Conservation 14: 66-73.

dos Remedios, N., P. L. M. Lee, T. Székely, D. A. Dawson & C. Küpper. 2010. Molecular sex-typing in shorebirds: a review of an essential method for research in evolution, ecology and conservation. International Wader Study Group Bulletin 117: 109-118 (invited review).

Amano, T, T. Székely, K. Koyama, H. Amano & W. J. Sutherland. 2010. A framework for monitoring the status of populations: an example from 3 wader populations in the East Asian-Australasian flyway. Biological Conservation 143: 2238-2247.

van Dijk R. E, Á. Pogány, J Komdeur, P Lloyd & T Székely. 2010. Sexual conflict predicts morphology and behavior in two species of penduline tits. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10: 107.

van Dijk, R. E., Mészáros, L., Velde, M., Székely, T., Pogány, Á., Szabad, J. & J. Komdeur 2010. Nest desertion is not predicted by cuckoldry in the Eurasian penduline tit. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 64: 1425-1435.

Webb, T.J., V. A. Olson, T. Székely & R. P. Freckleton. 2010. Who cares? Quantifying the evolution of division of parental effort. Methods in Ecology & Evolution 1: 221-230.

Sol, D, N. Garcia, A Iwaniuk, K Davis, A Meade, A Boyle & T. Székely. 2010. Evolutionary divergence in brain size between migratory and resident birds. PLoS ONE 5: e9617.

St Clair, J. J. H., P. Herrmann, R. W. Woods & T. Székely. 2010. Female-biased incubation and strong diel sex-roles in the Two-banded Plover Charadrius falklandicus. Journal of Ornithology 151: 811-816.

Burns, F., T. Székely & M. Bolton. 2010. Leg flags versus colour rings: a comparison of marking methods using a small shorebird, the St Helena Wirebird. Wader Study Group Bulletin 117: 131-134.

van Dijk, R E., D. M. Brinkhuizen, T Székely & J. Komdeur. 2010. Parental care strategies in Eurasian penduline tit are not related to breeding densities and mating opportunities. Behaviour 147, Special Issue 1551-1565.

Moskát, Cs., M Bán, T Székely, J Komdeur, R W. G. Lucassen, L A van Boheemen & M E. Hauber. 2010. Discordancy or template-based recognition? Dissecting the cognitive basis of the rejection of foreign eggs in hosts of avian brood parasites. Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 1976-1983.

Brede, E G, P Long, S Zefania, M Rabenandrasana, T Székely & M Bruford. 2010. PCR primers for microsatellite loci in a Madagascan waterbird, the Sakalava rail (Amaurornis olivieri). Conservation Genetics Resources 2: 273-277.

AlRashidi, M, A Kosztolányi, C Küpper, I C Cuthill, S Javed & T Székely. 2010. The influence of a hot environment on parental cooperation of a ground-nesting shorebird, the Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus. Frontiers in Zoology 7:1.

St Clair, J. J. H., C Küpper, P Herrmann, R W. Woods & T Székely. 2010. Unusual incubation sex-roles in the rufous-chested dotterel Charadrius modestus. Ibis 152: 402-404.

Zefania, S., E. Razafimahatratra, P J Faria, M W Bruford, P R Long & T Székely. 2010. Morphometric and sexual size dimorphism in Malagasy plovers Charadrius spp. Ostrich 81: 173-178.

Székely, T., A. J. Moore & J. Komdeur (eds). 2010. Social behaviour: genes, ecology and evolution. Cambridge University Press, 1-562.

Székely, T., A. J. Moore & J. Komdeur. 2010. Introduction. IN Székely, T., A Moore & J Komdeur (eds). Social behaviour: genes, ecology and evolution. Cambridge University Press, 1-4.

Moore, A. J., Székely, T. & J. Komdeur. 2010. Prospects for research in social behaviour: systems biology meets behaviour. IN Székely, T., A. Moore & J. Komdeur (eds). Social behaviour: genes, ecology and evolution. Cambridge University Press, 538-550.

McGraw, L., T. Székely & L. J. Young. 2010. Pair bonds and parental behaviour. IN Székely, T., A. Moore & J. Komdeur (eds). Social behaviour: genes, ecology and evolution. Cambridge University Press, 271-301.

Székely, T. 2010. Evolution of social behaviour. Természet Világa, Darwin anniversary issue, December (invited review, in Hungarian).