Tamás Székely (biologist)

Short description: Hungarian evolutionary biologist (1959–)

Tamás Székely

Born| 24 May 1959

Miskolc, Hungary

Nationality| Hungarian
Alma mater| University of Debrecen (formerly Kossuth University)
Known for| Demographic hypothesis of sex roles evolution
Awards| Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award
Scientific career
Fields| Behavioral ecology, Evolutionary biology
Institutions| University of Debrecen
University of Bristol
University of Bath
Thesis| Niche-structure of an oak-forest bird community (1986)
Website| https://www.szekelylab.com/

Tamás Székely (born 24 May 1959)[1] is a Hungarian evolutionary biologist and conservationist. He is the Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Bath and he holds an Honorary Professor position at the University of Debrecen, Hungary. He is also the Director of the Debrecen Biodiversity Centre. His 1999 article, Brood Desertion in Kentish Plover,[2] laid the groundwork for the demographic hypothesis of sex roles' origin, demonstrating the social environment's influence on parental care dynamics. Székely has won multiple academic and conservation awards.

Székely is renowned for his theoretical and empirical contributions to the demographic hypothesis regarding the origin of sex roles. In 2007, Székely co-edited Sex, Size & Gender Roles,[3] confirming Darwin’s conjectures that sexual selection is a major contributor to the overall pattern of male-biased size dimorphism in mammals, birds, and reptiles. Alongside others, he identified that the distribution of size differences between sexes in birds and mammals is leptokurtic. Székely co-edited Social Behaviour[4] in 2010, offering an integrative perspective on studying behavioral complexity. Alongside Allen J. Moore and Jan Komdeur, he coined the term systems biology approach. Additionally, he founded the Maio Biodiversity Foundation in Cabo Verde in 2010.

## Contents

* 1 Education
* 2 Work
* 2.1 Evolutionary Biology
* 2.2 Conservation
* 3 Awards and recognition
* 4 Selected publications
* 4.1 Books
* 4.2 Journal articles
* 5 References

## Education

In 1978, Tamás Székely commenced his studies at Kossuth University (now the University of Debrecen), Hungary, and successfully obtained a diploma in teaching biology and chemistry.[5] From 1983 to 1986, he dedicated himself to his Ph.D. training at Kossuth University, concentrating on the temporal patterns of niche structure in forest passerine birds.[6] The foundational conceptual framework he developed during these years was significantly shaped by Prof. Zoltán Varga's integrative research approach, emphasizing the critical importance of phylogeny in comprehending core patterns in ecology.[7]

From 1987 to 1988, he spent a year as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology at Oxford, where he delved into the emerging topic of reproductive strategies within the nascent field of sociobiology (known as behavioral ecology in Europe).[5][7]

## Work

### Evolutionary Biology

Székely and his research team is recognized for describing the interactions of the components of sex roles in non-human animals: mate selection, parental care, and pair-bonding.[8] His focus on shorebirds, including plovers, sandpipers, and related species, stems from the group's remarkable diversity in breeding systems, parenting behaviors, and sexual size dimorphism.[9]

Using diverse methods including field studies,[10] comparative analysis,[11] and dynamic game theory modeling,[12] he and his team has uncovered the influence of breeding systems, environmental conditions, and sexual dimorphism[4] on courtship behaviors and sex biases.

His team also showed the crucial role of the social environment,[13] particularly the adult sex ratio,[14] in predicting parental cooperation across taxa. Their research also discovered formerly unknown adaptive parental care strategies that influence individual reproductive success, like the fact that incubating parent birds serve as visual cues to predators.[15]

### Conservation

Székely is renowned for both his theoretical and practical interventions in the conservation of shorebirds, water birds,[16] and marine fauna, including sharks, whales, and sea turtles.[17]

Through comparative analyses, Székely's team identified both extrinsic and intrinsic factors contributing to the decline in shorebird populations.[18] They revealed a distinct pattern in the abundance trends of waterbirds, indicating a steeper decline at lower latitudes, particularly in the tropics, compared to higher latitudes.[19] These contrasting responses suggested a potential global-scale poleward shift in species abundance due to climate change.[20] Székely's team also demonstrated that climate change adversely affects northern latitudes by decreasing food resource availability and increasing predation rates.[21] This work gained prominence for illustrating that ecosystems once considered safe for shorebirds are transforming into inhospitable environments.[22][23][24]

In 2010, Székely founded the Maio Biodiversity Foundation (FMB, as per its Portuguese acronym) in Cabo Verde.[25] The foundation's mission is to protect wildlife and natural habitats by actively engaging with local communities, with a focus on safeguarding sharks, whales, sea turtles, and various bird species.[26] The conservation initiatives by FMB played a pivotal role in the designation of Salina Porto Ingles, one of Cape Verde's key shorebird breeding sites, as a Ramsar Site.[27]

## Awards and recognition

* 2017 - Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award[5]
* 2017 - Honorary Professor of Debrecen University[28]
* 2019 - Honorary Plaquette of Kazincbarcika City (Hungary)[29]
* 2019 - Foreign Member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences[30]
* 2020 - Hungarian Order of Merit (Magyar Érdemrend Tisztikeresztje)[31]
* 2023 - Medal of Merit awarded to Maio Biodiversity Foundation (FMB) by the President of Cabo Verde[32]

## Selected publications

### Books

* Basic research planning, statistical and project evaluation methods in supra-individual biology (1995), co-editor.
* Sex, size and gender roles (2007), co-editor.
* Social behaviour: genes, ecology and evolution (2010), co-editor.

### Journal articles

* Genetic similarity between mates explains extra-pair parentage in three species of waders (2002), in Nature, co-author.
* Sexual selection explains Rensch’s rule of size dimorphism in shorebirds (2004), in PNAS, co-author.
* Conflict over parental care (2005), in Trends in Ecology and Evolution, co-author.
* The evolution of sex roles in birds is related to adult sex ratio (2013), in Nature Communications, co-author.
* Adult sex ratio variation: implications for breeding system evolution (2014), in Journal of Evolutionary Biology, co-author.
* The evolution of parental cooperation in birds (2015), in PNAS, co-author.
* The genetic sex-determination system predicts adult sex ratios in tetrapods (2015), in Nature, co-author.
* Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds (2018), in Science, co-author.

## References

1. ↑ "Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin" (in en-US). https://www.wiko-berlin.de/en/fellows/academic-year/2016/szekely-tamas.
2. ↑ Szekely, T. (1999-03-01). "Brood desertion in Kentish plover: sex differences in remating opportunities". Behavioral Ecology 10 (2): 185–190. doi:10.1093/beheco/10.2.185. https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/beheco/10.2.185.
3. ↑ Székely, Tamás; Moore, Allen Jonathan; Komdeur, Jan (2010). Social behaviour: genes, ecology and evolution. New York: Cambridge university press. ISBN 978-0-521-88317-7.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 (in en) Sex, Size and Gender Roles: Evolutionary Studies of Sexual Size Dimorphism. Oxford University Press. 2007-07-05. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199208784.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-170903-6. https://academic.oup.com/book/12169.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Székely, Tamás. "Tamás Székely Curriculum Vitae & List of Publications". https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64faffb7df96b510ab232e39/t/6583155685963e36ed0f3685/1703089496068/T+Szekely_CV+&+Publications+September+2023.pdf.
6. ↑ Magyar Királyi Madártani Intézet.; Intézet, Magyar Királyi Madártani; Intézet, Magyar Madártani; központ, Magyar ornithologiai (1986). Aquila. v.93-94 (1986-1987). Budapest: A Magyar Ornithologiai Knt Kiadva. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/91405.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Székely, Tamás (2023-09-19). "Evolution of reproductive strategies: sex roles, sex ratios and phylogenies" (in en). Biologia Futura. doi:10.1007/s42977-023-00177-0. ISSN 2676-8607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-023-00177-0.
8. ↑ Székely, Tamás; Carmona‐Isunza, Maria C.; Engel, Noémie; Halimubieke, Naerhulan; Jones, William; Kubelka, Vojtĕch; Rice, Romy; Tanner, Claire E. et al. (2023-10-11). "The causes and implications of sex role diversity in shorebird breeding systems" (in en). Ibis. doi:10.1111/ibi.13277. ISSN 0019-1019. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ibi.13277.
9. ↑ Székely, Tamás (2019-07-01). "Why study plovers? The significance of non-model organisms in avian ecology, behaviour and evolution" (in en). Journal of Ornithology 160 (3): 923–933. doi:10.1007/s10336-019-01669-4. ISSN 2193-7206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-019-01669-4.
10. ↑ Parra, Jorge E.; Beltrán, Marcela; Zefania, Sama; Dos Remedios, Natalie; Székely, Tamás (2014-04-01). "Experimental assessment of mating opportunities in three shorebird species". Animal Behaviour 90: 83–90. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.12.030. ISSN 0003-3472. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347214000050.
11. ↑ Halimubieke, Naerhulan; Kupán, Krisztina; Valdebenito, José O.; Kubelka, Vojtěch; Carmona-Isunza, María Cristina; Burgas, Daniel; Catlin, Daniel; St Clair, James J. H. et al. (2020-09-23). "Successful breeding predicts divorce in plovers" (in en). Scientific Reports 10 (1): 15576. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72521-6. ISSN 2045-2322. PMID 32968190. Bibcode: 2020NatSR..1015576H.
12. ↑ Barta, Zoltán; Székely, Tamás; Liker, András; Harrison, Freya (June 2014). "Social Role Specialization Promotes Cooperation between Parents" (in en). The American Naturalist 183 (6): 747–761. doi:10.1086/676014. ISSN 0003-0147. PMID 24823819. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/676014.
13. ↑ Végvári, Zsolt; Katona, Gergely; Vági, Balázs; Freckleton, Robert P.; Gaillard, Jean‐Michel; Székely, Tamás; Liker, András (July 2018). "Sex‐biased breeding dispersal is predicted by social environment in birds" (in en). Ecology and Evolution 8 (13): 6483–6491. doi:10.1002/ece3.4095. ISSN 2045-7758. PMID 30038750. Bibcode: 2018EcoEv...8.6483V.
14. ↑ Székely, T.; Weissing, F. J.; Komdeur, J. (August 2014). "Adult sex ratio variation: implications for breeding system evolution" (in en). Journal of Evolutionary Biology 27 (8): 1500–1512. doi:10.1111/jeb.12415. ISSN 1010-061X. PMID 24848871. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jeb.12415.
15. ↑ Engel, Noémie; Végvári, Zsolt; Rice, Romy; Kubelka, Vojtěch; Székely, Tamás (2020-07-29). "Incubating parents serve as visual cues to predators in Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)" (in en). PLOS ONE 15 (7): e0236489. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0236489. ISSN 1932-6203. PMID 32726365. Bibcode: 2020PLoSO..1536489E.
16. ↑ Rabenandrasana, Marc; Zefania, Sama; Long, Peter; Seing, Sam The; Virginie, Marie Clémentine; Randrianarisoa, Mihaja; Safford, Roger; Székely, Tama´s (March 2009). "Distribution, habitat and status of 'Endangered' Sakalava Rail of Madagascar" (in en). Bird Conservation International 19 (1): 23–32. doi:10.1017/S0959270908008058. ISSN 1474-0001. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bird-conservation-international/article/distribution-habitat-and-status-of-endangered-sakalava-rail-of-madagascar/2C99330DE1BB58219905B4CA2ED590E9.
17. ↑ Lopes, Katia; Passos, Leno; Rodrigues, João Garcia; Koenen, Franziska; Stiebens, Victor; Székely, Tamás; Dutra, Amanda (December 2016). "Sea Turtle, Shark, and Dolphin Bycatch Rates by Artisanal and Semi-Industrial Fishers in Maio Island, Cape Verde". Chelonian Conservation and Biology 15 (2): 279–288. doi:10.2744/CB-1213.1. ISSN 1071-8443. https://bioone.org/journals/chelonian-conservation-and-biology/volume-15/issue-2/CB-1213.1/Sea-Turtle-Shark-and-Dolphin-Bycatch-Rates-by-Artisanal-and/10.2744/CB-1213.1.full.
18. ↑ Thomas, G. H.; Lanctot, R. B.; Székely, T. (August 2006). "Can intrinsic factors explain population declines in North American breeding shorebirds? A comparative analysis" (in en). Animal Conservation 9 (3): 252–258. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2006.00029.x. ISSN 1367-9430. Bibcode: 2006AnCon...9..252T. https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-1795.2006.00029.x.
19. ↑ Amano, Tatsuya; Székely, Tamás; Wauchope, Hannah S.; Sandel, Brody; Nagy, Szabolcs; Mundkur, Taej; Langendoen, Tom; Blanco, Daniel et al. (October 2020). "Responses of global waterbird populations to climate change vary with latitude" (in en). Nature Climate Change 10 (10): 959–964. doi:10.1038/s41558-020-0872-3. ISSN 1758-6798. Bibcode: 2020NatCC..10..959A. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-0872-3.
20. ↑ Kubelka, Vojtěch; Sandercock, Brett K.; Székely, Tamás; Freckleton, Robert P. (January 2022). "Animal migration to northern latitudes: environmental changes and increasing threats". Trends in Ecology & Evolution 37 (1): 30–41. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2021.08.010. ISSN 0169-5347. PMID 34579979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2021.08.010.
21. ↑ Kubelka, Vojtěch; Šálek, Miroslav; Tomkovich, Pavel; Végvári, Zsolt; Freckleton, Robert P.; Székely, Tamás (2018-11-09). "Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds" (in en). Science 362 (6415): 680–683. doi:10.1126/science.aat8695. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 30409881. Bibcode: 2018Sci...362..680K. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aat8695.
22. ↑ "Climate Change: Arctic 'no safe harbour' for breeding birds" (in en-GB). 2018-11-09. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46124547.
23. ↑ Vernimmen, Tim. "Climate Change May Curtail Shorebirds' Need to Fly North" (in en). https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-may-curtail-shorebirds-need-to-fly-north/.
24. ↑ "The Arctic Is No Longer A Safe Haven for Breeding Shorebirds | Audubon" (in en). 2018-11-13. https://www.audubon.org/news/the-arctic-no-longer-safe-haven-breeding-shorebirds.
25. ↑ "Letter: Cape Verde is biodiversity template for West Africa". https://www.ft.com/content/f3f77f22-e373-451f-b5c2-7008114bd05b.
26. ↑ Admin (2020-06-10). "Sea Guardians Protecting Cape Verde's Marine Life" (in en-GB). https://www.maiocapeverde.com/latest/sea-guardians-protecting-cape-verdes-marine-life.html.
27. ↑ "Cape Verde designates salt flats for Ramsar List | The Convention on Wetlands, The Convention on Wetlands" (in en). https://www.ramsar.org/news/cape-verde-designates-salt-flats-ramsar-list.
28. ↑ Dehir.hu. "Három külföldi egyetem professzora lett díszdoktor Debrecenben – videóval" (in hu). https://www.dehir.hu/debrecen/harom-kulfoldi-egyetem-professzora-lett-diszdoktor-debrecenben/2015/11/28/.
29. ↑ "Kolorline - Kazincbarcika - Szent István-ünnep Kazincbarcika 65. születésnapja jegyében" (in hu). 2019-08-21. https://kolorline.hu/hirek/kazincbarcika/2019-08-21/$meta_url.
30. ↑ "Partimadarakkal a világ körül: viselkedés, evolúció és természetvédelem – Székely Tamás külső tag székfoglaló előadása" (in hu). 2020-02-27. https://mta.hu/akademiai_szekfogalok/partimadarakkal-a-vilag-korul-viselkedes-evolucio-es-termeszetvedelem-szekely-tamas-kulso-tag-szekfoglalo-eloadasa-110392.
31. ↑ "Hungarian Gazette No. 232 of 2020". 28 October 2020. https://magyarkozlony.hu/dokumentumok/89a09265d3b5ae51444ec40f1047ae5634257e22/megtekintes.
32. ↑ Maio Biodiversity, FMB (6 July 2023). "President José Maria Neves awarded the Second Class Merit Medal to Natura 2000, Maio Biodiversity Foundation, and Turtle Foundation". https://twitter.com/FMB_CaboVerde/status/1676912548937908224.

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