Zsombor Miholcsa

Zsombor Miholcsa

Research assistant
INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH – ICB Cluj-Napoca

I am a PhD student focusing on the mechanisms and consequences of range-expanding plant species. During my studies, I have evaluated different plant species through the lens of invasion ecology, assessing their impact on recipient plant communities and ecosystem functioning. I’m familiar with statistical analyses related to vegetation data associated with plant functional traits.

Email:

hczsombor@gmail.ro

  • REASEARCH
  • PROJECTS
  • PUBLICATIONS
I have gained experience in the field of invasion ecology, as well as in vegetation survey and classification, in biodiversity monitoring. My research includes: 
  • Evaluating the impact of alien species and range-expanding native species on recipient plant communities and pollinators, with a focus on the relationship between the observed impact and the species’ functional traits.
  • Understanding how species attributes, such as invasion history, distribution data, biological and ecological traits explain the differences between casual, naturalized and invasive species to predict the invasion potential of newcomer non-native species.
  • Conducting long-term vegetation monitoring using permanent plots to examine the dynamics of range-expanding species and changes in the recipient plant communities.
  • TE (2020-2022), PN-III-P1.1.1-TE-2019-0414 (research assistant) – Developing a national risk assessment scheme using the functional trait-based approach for early detection of future invasive plant species
Ruprecht E., Essl F., Moț CA., Balaji B., Kuhn Th., Fenesi A., Mardari C., Miholcsa Zs., 2024. Ecological attributes promoting intra-continental range-expansion of a native annual forb triggered by intensified land-use. Flora 310: 152416. Doi: 10.1016/j.flora.2023.152416 Süle G., Miholcsa Zs., Molnár Cs., Kovács-Hostyánszki A., Fenesi A., Bauer N., Szigeti V., 2023. Escape from the garden: spreading, effects and traits of a new risky invasive ornamental plant (Gaillardia aristata Pursh). NeoBiota 83: 43-69. Doi: 10.3897/neobiota.83.97325 Fenesi A., Botta-Dukát Z., Miholcsa Zs., Szigeti V., Molnár Cs., Sándor D., Szabó A., Kuhn T., Kovács-Hostyánszki A., 2023 No consistencies in abundance–impact relationships across herbaceous invasive species and ecological impact metrics. Journal of Ecology 111: 1120– 1138. Doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.14085 Kovács-Hostyánszki A., Szigeti V., Miholcsa Zs., Sándor D., Soltész Z., Török E., Fenesi A., 2022. Threats and benefits of invasive alien plant species on pollinators, Basic and Applied Ecology 64: 89-102. Doi: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.07.003

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