Individual dietary specialization, where individuals occupy a subset of a population’s wider dietary niche, is a key factor determining a species’ resilience against environmental change. However, the ontogeny of individual specialization, and associated underlying factors (social learning, genetic, and environmental drivers), remain poorly understood. Using […]
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For the last several years, we have been monitoring the bioaccumulation of trace elements with endocrine-disrupting potential (so-called endocrine disruptors) in brown bears. With another study in this line, we aimed at assessing circulating levels of reproductive, stress, and […]
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This summer, the current Slovakian Minister of the Environment, Tomáš Taraba, changed national law to declare that the “occurrence” of an “unwanted” or “undesirable” brown bear constitutes an “emergency situation,” permitting the bear to be shot. The criteria for this are vague and subjective, and […]
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Recent research has revealed the need to investigate potential adverse effects, including temporal trends of persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially toxic pollutants, particularly in top terrestrial mammals. This is essential in the One Health paradigm, which considers the interconnectedness of environmental, wildlife, and […]
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This fall, a PhD student from our team, Joanna Macur, had the unique opportunity to undertake a research visit at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMI) in Zagreb. Thanks to Dr. Maja Lazarus from the Division of Occupational and Environmental Health (IMI), she had the chance to gain insights […]
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