Gergely Hegyi

Degrees:
– MSc in Biology (1999, Eötvös Loránd University)
– PhD in Ecology (2003, Eötvös Loránd University)
Position: associate professor
E-mail: gergely.hegyi@ttk.elte.hu
Phone: +36-1-372-2500/8765

Research interests

  • Sexual signals in birds: information content and role, structural colours, multiple signal systems, microevolution, comparative studies.
  • Developmental plasticity in birds: compensatory growth in passerines, the proximate determinants and fitness consequences of nestling growth trajectories.
  • Life history evolution in birds: individual optimization, interpretation of fitness-related traits, evolution of mating preferences.

Publications:

Jablonszky, M., Canal, D., Hegyi, G, Herényi, M., Laczi, M., Markó, G., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Török, J., Garamszegi, L. Z. (2024). The estimation of additive genetic variance in body size in a wild passerine is sensitive to the method used to estimate relatedness among the individuals. Ecology and Evolution 14:e10981. (DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10981)

Hegyi, G., Laczi, M., Szabó, G., Sarkadi, F., Török, J. (2023). Plumage color degradation indicates reproductive effort: an experiment. Scientific Reports 13:18770. (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45348-0)

Laczi, M., Herczeg, G., Szabó, G., Gyarmathy, H., Sarkadi, F., Török, J., Hegyi, G. (2023). The great tit abdominal stripe contains a sexually dichromatic colour patch hidden from the human eye. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11:1263974. (DOI: 103389/fevo.2023.1263974)

Jablonszky, M., Canal, D., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Laczi, M., Lao, O., Markó, G., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szász, E., Török, J., Zsebők, S., Garamszegi, L. Z. (2022). Estimating heritability of song considering within-individual variation in a wild songbird: the collared flycatcher. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10: 975687

Laczi, M., Jablonszky, M., Markó, G., Nagy, G., Szabó, Gy., Zsebők, S., Török, J., Hegyi, G. (2022). White plumage color as an honest indicator: feather macrostructure links reflectance with reproductive effort and success. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 76:125.

Hegyi, G., Laczi, M., Herényi, M., Markó, G., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szász, E., Török, J. (2022). Functional integration of multiple sexual ornaments: signal coherence and sexual selection. American Naturalist 200:486-505. (DOI: :10.1086/720620)

Jablonszky, M., Canal, D., Hegyi, G., Krenhardt, K, Laczi, M., Markó, G., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szász, E., Zsebők, S., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2022). Individual differences in song plasticity in response to social stimuli and singing position. Ecology and Evolution 12:e8883. (DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8883)

Laczi, M., Kopena, R., Sarkadi, F., Kötél, D., Török, J., Rosivall, B., Hegyi, G. (2021). Triparental care in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis): cooperation of two females with a cuckolded male in rearing a brood. Ecology and Evolution 11:10754-10760. (DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7923)

Laczi, M., Balogh, J., Nardou, X., Török, J., Hegyi, G. (2021). The meaning of purely structural colour: white plumage reflectance indicates feather condition. Ibis 163:407-416. (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12902)

Culina, A. et al. (2020). Connecting the data landscape of long-term ecological studies: The SPI-birds data hub. Journal of Animal Ecology 90:2147-2160. (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13388)

Szabó, Gy., Boross, N., Garamszegi, L.Z., Hegyi, G., Jablonszky, M., Krenhardt, K., Laczi, M., Markó, G., Szász, E., Török, J. (2020). Correlation between physiology and behavioural traits in a wild passerine. (in Hungarian with English abstract). Állattani Közlemények 105:71-84.

Zsebők, S., Herczeg, G., Laczi, M., Nagy, G., Vaskuti, É., Hargitai, R., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Markó, G., Rosivall, B., Szász, E., Szöllősi, E., Török, J., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2020). Sequential organization of birdsong: relationships with individual quality and fitness traits in collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). Behavioral Ecology 32:82-93 (DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa104)

Hegyi, G., Laczi, M., Kötél, D., Csörgő, T. (2020). Melanin-based ornament darkness positively correlates with across-season nutritional condition. Ecology and Evolution 10:13084-13097. (DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6898)

Jablonszky, M., Krenhardt, K., Markó, G., Szász, E., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Kötél, D., Laczi, M., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Török, J., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2020). A behavioural trait displayed in an artificial novel environment correlates with dispersal in a wild bird. Ethology 126:540-552. (DOI: 10.1111/eth.13005)

Laczi, M., Hegyi, G., Nagy, G., Pongrácz, R., Török, J. (2020). Yellow plumage colour of Great Tits Parus major correlates with changing temperature and precipitation. Ibis 162:232-237.

Partecke, J., Hegyi, G., Fitze, P.S., Gasparini, J., Schwabl, H. (2020). Maternal effects and urbanization: Variation of yolk androgens and immunoglobulin in city and forest blackbirds. Ecology and Evolution 10:2213-2224. (DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6058)

Hegyi, G., Jenni-Eiermann, S., Boross, N., Garamszegi, L.Z., Laczi, M., Kötél, D., Krenhardt, K., Jablonszky, M., Markó, G., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szász, E., Török, J. (2019). Ornaments and condition: plumage patch sizes, nutritional reserve state, reserve accumulation and reserve depletion. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 73:89.

Hegyi, G., Laczi, M., Boross, N., Jablonszky, M., Kötél, D., Krenhardt, K., Markó, G., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szász, E., Garamszegi, L.Z., Török, J. (2019). When to measure plumage reflectance: a lesson from collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis. Ibis 161:27-34. (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12609)

Laczi, M., Garamszegi, L.Z., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Ilyés, G., Könczey, R., Nagy, G., Pongrácz, R., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Tóth, L., Török, J. (2019). Teleconnections and weather orchestrate reproduction of tit species in the Carpathian Basin. Journal of Avian Biology 50:e02179. (DOI: 10.1111/jav.02179)

Laczi, M., Hegyi G., Kötél, D., Csizmadia, T., Lőw, P., Török, J. (2019). Feather reflectance in relation to macro- and nanostructure in the great tit crown. The Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 127:113-124. (DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz016)

Laczi, M., Herényi, M., Hegyi, G., Török, J. (2019). First record of true albinism in a natural population of collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis. Ardea 107:340-343. (DOI: 10.5253/arde.v107i3.a8)

Nagy, G., Garamszegi, L.Z., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Laczi, M., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Török, J. (2019). Digit ratio predicts the number of lifetime recruits in female collared flycatchers. Biology Letters 15:20190051 (DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0051)

Hegyi, G., Laczi, M., Kötél, D., Csizmadia, T., Lőw P., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi E., Török, J. (2018). Reflectance variation in the blue tit crown in relation to feather structure. Journal of Experimental Biology 221:176727.

Jablonszky, M., Szász, E., Krenhardt, K., Markó, G., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Laczi, M., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Török, J., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2018). Unravelling the relationships between life history, behaviour and condition under the pace-of-life syndromes hypothesis using long-term data from a wild bird. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 72:52.

Laczi, M., Kötél, D., Török, J., Hegyi, G. (2017). Mutual plumage ornamentation and biparental care: consequences for success in different environments. Behavioral Ecology 28:1359-1368.

Szász, E., Szöllősi, E., Hegyi, G., Török, J., Rosivall, B. (2017). Rearing conditions have long-term sex-specific fitness consequences in the collared flycatcher. Behavioral Ecology 28:717-723.

Nagy, G., Blázi, Gy., Hegyi, G., Török, J. (2016). Side-specific effect of yolk testosterone elevation on second-to-fourth digit ratio in a wild passerine. The Science of Nature 103:4.

Hargitai, R., Nagy, G., Herényi, M., Nyiri, Z., Laczi, M., Hegyi, G., Eke, Zs., Török, J. (2016). Darker eggshell spotting indicates lower yolk antioxidant level and poorer female quality in the Eurasian Great Tit (Parus major). The Auk 133:131-146.

Kötél D., Laczi M., Török J., Hegyi G. (2016). Mutual ornamentation and the parental behaviour of male and female Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis during incubation. Ibis 158:796-807.

Szöllősi, E., Garamszegi, L.Z., Hegyi, G., Laczi, M., Rosivall, B., Török, J. (2016). Haemoproteus infection status of collared flycatcher males changes within a breading season. Parasitology Research 115:4663-4672.

Hegyi, G., Laczi, M. (2015). Using full models, stepwise regression and model selection in ecological data sets: Monte Carlo simulations. Annales Zoologici Fennici 52:145-159.

Hegyi, G., Laczi, M., Nagy, G., Szász, E., Kötél, D., Török, J. (2015). Stable correlation structure among multiple plumage colour traits: can they work as a single signal? Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 114:92-108.

Hegyi, G., Kötél, D., Laczi, M. (2015). Direct benefits of mate choice: a meta-analysis of plumage colour and offspring feeding rates in birds. The Science of Nature 102:62.

Hargitai, R., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Laczi, M., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Török, J. (2014). Winter body condition in the Collared Flycatcher: Determinants and carryover effects on future breeding parameters. The Auk 131(3):257-264.(DOI: 10.1642/AUK-13-158.1)

Szász, E., Garamszegi, L.Z., Hegyi, G., Szöllősi, E., Markó, G., Török, J., Rosivall, B. (2014). Aggressive behavior of the male parent predicts brood sex ratio in a songbird. Naturwissenschaften 101:653–660. (doi: 10.1007/s00114-014-1204-0)

Herényi, M., Garamszegi, L.Z., Hargitai, R., Hegyi, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Török, J. (2014). Laying date and polygyny as determinants of annual reproductive success in male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis): a long-term study. Naturwissenschaften 101:305-312.

Kiss, D., Hegyi, G., Török, J., Rosivall, B. (2013). The relationship between maternal ornamentation and feeding rate is explained by intrinsic nestling quality. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 67:185-192.

Laczi, M., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Kiss, D., Markó, G., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Török, J. (2013). Integrated plumage colour variation in relation to body condition, reproductive investment and laying date in the collared flycatcher. Naturwissenschaften 100:(10) 983-991.

Hegyi, G., Nagy, G., Török, J. (2013) Reduced compensatory growth capacity in mistimed broods of a migratory passerine. Oecologia 172:279-291.

Markó, G., Azcárate, M., Hegyi, G., Herczeg, G., Laczi, M., Nagy, G., Senar, J.C., Török, J., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2013). Behavioural responses to handling stress in the Great Tit: within-individual consistency and the effect of age, sex and body condition. Ornis Hungarica 21:12-25.

Boross, N., Markó, G., Laczi, M., Garamszegi, L.Z., Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Kiss, D., Nagy, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Török, J. (2012). Sources of variation in haematocrit in the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). Ornis Hungarica 20:64-72.

Hargitai, R., Hegyi, G., Török, J. (2012). Winter body condition in relation to age, sex, and plumage ornamentation in a migratory songbird. Ibis 154:410-413.

Herényi, M., Hegyi, G., Garamszegi, L. Z., Hargitai, R., Michl, G., Rosivall, B., Török, J. (2012). Lifetime offspring production in relation to breeding lifespan, attractiveness, and mating status in male collared flycatchers. Oecologia 170(4):935-942.

Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Szöllősi, E., Rosivall, B., Török, J., Groothuis, T.G.G. (2011). Yolk androstenedione, but not testosterone, predicts offspring fate and reflects parental quality. Behavioral Ecology 22:29-38.

Hegyi, G., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2011). Using information theory as a substitute for stepwise regression in ecology and behavior. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65:69-76.

Hegyi, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Eens, M., Török, J. (2011) Context-dependent effects of nestling growth trajectories on recruitment probability in the collared flycatcher. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65:1647-1658.

Laczi, M., Török, J., Rosivall, B., Hegyi, G. (2011) Integration of spectral reflectance across the plumage: Implications for mating patterns. PLoS ONE 6(8):e23201.

Hettyey, A., Hegyi, G., Puurtinen, M., Hoi, H., Török, J., Penn, D.J. (2010). Mate choice for genetic benefits: time to put the pieces together. Ethology 116:1-9.

Hegyi, G., Schwabl, H. (2010). Do different yolk androgens exert similar effects on the morphology or behaviour of Japanese quail hatchlings (Coturnix japonica)? Journal of Avian Biology 41:258-265.

Hegyi, G., Szöllősi, E., Jenni-Eiermann, S., Török, J., Eens, M., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2010). Nutritional correlates and mate acquisition role of multiple sexual traits in male collared flycatchers. Naturwissenschaften 97:567-576.

Hegyi, G., Herényi, M., Wilson, A.J., Garamszegi, L.Z., Rosivall, B., Eens, M., Török, J. (2010). Breeding experience and the heritability of female mate choice in collared flycatchers. PLoS ONE 5:e13855.

Bajer, K., Molnár, O., Hegyi, G., Herczeg, G., Laczi, M., Török, J. (2009). Zöld gyíkok színezete és morfológiája: jelzések és funkciók. Állattani Közlemények 94(2):167-176.

Hegyi, G., Møller, A. P., Eens, M., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2009). Prevalence of avian influenza and sexual selection in ducks. Behavioral Ecology 20:1289-1294.

Garamszegi, L.Z., Calhim, S., Dochtermann, N., Hegyi, G., Hurd, P. L., Jørgensen, C., Kutsukake, N., Lajeunesse, M. J., Pollard, K. A., Schielzeth, H., Symonds, M.R.E., Nakagawa, S. (2009). Changing philosophies and tools for statistical inferences in behavioral ecology. Behavioral Ecology 20:1363-1375.

Lakatos, A., Főző, R., Hegyi, G., Török, J. (2008). Tollazati szignálok és anyai hatás vizsgálata széncinegénél (Parus major). Állattani Közlemények 93:17-28.

Hegyi, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Hargitai, R., Eens, M., Török, J. (2008). Phenotypic plasticity in a conspicuous female plumage trait: information content and mating patterns. Animal Behaviour 75:977-989.

Hegyi, G., Garamszegi, L. Z., Eens, M. (2008). The roles of ecological factors and sexual selection in the evolution of white wing patches in ducks. Behavioral Ecology 19:1208-1216.

Hegyi, G., Szigeti, B., Laczi, M., Eens, M., Török, J. (2008). Correlated variation of colour between melanin and carotenoid pigmented plumage areas in great tits. Evolutionary Ecology Research 10:559-574.

Hegyi, G., Garamszegi, L. Z., Eens, M., Török, J. (2008). Female ornamentation and territorial conflicts in collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis). Naturwissenschaften 95:993-996.

Bádonyi, K., Hegyi, G., Benke, S., Madarász, B., Kertész, Á. (2008). Talajművelési módok agroökológiai összehasonlító vizsgálata. Tájökológiai Lapok 6:145-164.

Garamszegi, L.Z., Hegyi, G., Szöllősi, E., Rosival, B., Török, J., Eens, M., Møller, A.P. (2007). Phenotypic correlates of digit ratio in a wild bird: implications for the study of maternal effects. Animal Behaviour 74:641-647.

Hegyi, G., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Hargitai, R., Eens, M., Török, J. (2007). A role for female ornamentation in the facultatively polygynous mating system of collared flycatchers. Behavioral Ecology 18:1116-1122.

Török, J., Hargitai, R., Hegyi, G., Matus, Z., Michl, G., Péczely, P., Rosivall, B., Tóth, G. (2007): Carotenoids in the egg yolks of collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) in relation to parental quality, environmental factors and laying order. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 61:541-550. (DOI 10.1007/s00265-006-0282-1)Hettyey, A., Roberts, J.D. (2007). Sperm traits in the frog Crinia georgiana, a species with plastic alternative mating tactics. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 61:1303-1310.

Garamszegi, L.Z., Török, J. Hegyi, G., Szöllősi, E., Rosival, B., Eens, M. (2007). Age-dependent expression of song in the collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis. Ethology 113:246-256.

Hegyi, G., Török, J., Garamszegi, L.Z., Rosivall, B., Szöllősi, E., Hargitai, R. (2007). Dynamics of multiple sexual signals in relation to climatic conditions. Evolutionary Ecology Research 9:905-920.

Szigeti, B., Török, J., Hegyi, G., Rosivall, B., Hargitai, R., Szöllősi, E., Michl, G. (2007). Egg quality and parental ornamentation in the blue tit Parus caeruleus. Journal of Avian Biology 38(1):105-112.

Hegyi, G., Török, J. (2007). Developmental plasticity in a passerine bird: an experiment with collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis. Journal of Avian Biology 38:327-334.

Hegyi, G., Szigeti, B., Török, J., Eens, M. (2007). Melanin, carotenoid and structural plumage ornaments: information content and role in great tits. Journal of Avian Biology 38:698-708.

Laczi, M., Cserepes, T., M., Hegyi, G., Michl, G., Szigeti, B., Török, J. (2006). A tollazat UV- reflektanciája és a táplálkozás kapcsolata vízimadaraknál. Állattani Közlemények 91(2):117-126.

Garamszegi, L.Z., Rosival, B. Hegyi, G., Szöllősi, E., Török, J., Eens, M. (2006). Determinants of male territorial behavior in a Hungarian collared flycatcher population: roles for plumage traits of residents and challengers. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 60: 663-671.

Hegyi, G., Rosivall, B., Török, J. (2006). Paternal age and offspring growth: separating the intrinsic quality of young from rearing effects. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 60:672-682.

Hargitai, R., Matus, Z., Hegyi, G., Michl, G., Tóth, G., Török, J. (2006). Antioxidants in the egg yolk of a wild passerine: differences between breeding seasons. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B 143(2):145-152.

Garamszegi, L.Z., Hegyi, G., Heylen, D., Ninni, P., de Lope, F., Eens, M., Møller, A.P. (2006). The design of complex sexual traits in the barn swallow: associations between signal attributes. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 19:2052-2066.

Hegyi, G., Török, J., Tóth, L., Garamszegi, L.Z., Rosivall, B. (2006). Rapid temporal change in the expression and age-related information content of a sexually selected trait. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 19:228-238.

Hargitai, R., Török, J., Tóth, L., Hegyi, G., Rosivall, B., Szigeti, B., Szöllősi E. (2005). Effects of environmental conditions and parental quality on inter- and intraclutch egg-size variation in the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). The Auk 122(2):509-522.

Herényi M., Török J., Garamszegi L.Z., Hargitai R., Hegyi G., Michl G., Rosivall B., Szigeti B., Szöllősi E. (2004). Másodlagos nemi jellegek és utódszám kapcsolata a hím örvös légykapóknál. Állattani Közlemények 89(2):31-41.

Török, J., Hegyi, G., Tóth, L., Könczey, R. (2004). Unpredictable food supply modifies costs of reproduction and hampers individual optimization. Oecologia 141:432-443. (DOI 10.1007/s00442-003-1408-z)

Török, J., Hegyi, G., Garamszegi, L.Z. (2003). Depigmented wing patch size is a condition-dependent indicator of viability in male collared flycatchers. Behavioral Ecology 14:382-388.

Hegyi, G., Török, J., Tóth, L. (2002). Qualitative population divergence in proximate determination of a sexually selected trait in the collared flycatcher. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 15:710-719.