Dr B谩lint 脺veges

b.uveges@bangor.ac.uk

Dr B谩lint 脺veges

I am mainly interested in evolutionary ecology of poisonous and venomous animals, and especially in investigating how environmental factors, such as predation pressure drive their evolution. Amphibians and venomous snakes in particular, are especially close to my heart. I received my PhD from the University of Debrecen, Hungary in 2019. As a post-graduate student I have studied phenotypic plasticity of chemical defences in common toads (Bufo bufo) using lab and mesocosm based experiments. Currently, I am working with Dr Wolfgang W眉ster on a project, which aims to investigate the relative role of diet and anti-predator defence in the evolution of meadow viper (Vipera ursinii) venoms.

For updates on my research you can follow me on and . 聽

  • Professional
    E枚tv枚s Lor谩nd Research Network, 2019鈥�2021
  • PhD: Environmental factors shaping the variability of amphibian chemical defences
    Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 2012鈥�2019
  • PhD
    University of Debrecen, 2008鈥�2011
  • MSc: Heritability analysis of the head scalation of Hungarian meadow vipers (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis)
    University of Debrecen, 2003鈥�2008

Integrating the role of diet and defence in the evolution of snake venoms

Venoms constitute a key part of the interface between many animals and their environment, and are used primarily as chemical weapons for antagonistic encounters with prey or predators. The venom of snakes is extremely variable and the reasons for this variation have been the focus of intensive research. Adaptation of venom to diet appears to be a key driver of venom composition in many groups of snakes, however, snakes also use their venoms in self-defence. Although widely acknowledged, there have been few efforts to specifically test for evidence of selection for a defensive function of snake venom.

聽聽聽聽聽 A key prediction for a defensive venom is that it should cause rapid, severe pain to repel an attack before the snake is injured. Evolution of such a venom was recently demonstrated in the case of spitting cobras. Also, in a recent survey of pain development after snakebites in humans, there were multiple examples of painful bites from snakes that feed on weakly defended prey and are not generally regarded as highly lethal (e.g. Causus spp., Demansia spp.). This suggests that, at least in some cases, there may be a trade-off between a foraging function, selected to rapidly overpower and immobilise prey, and a defensive function, selected to rapidly deter predatory attacks and allow snake survival. Under this hypothesis, evidence for a defensive role should be most prominent in species that feed on weakly defended prey, and are thus under relaxed selection for rapid prey immobilisation.

聽聽聽聽聽 The aim of our project is to test this hypothesis and understand the trade-off between defence and foraging function on the example of European meadow vipers (Vipera ursinii, V. renardi and V. graeca). These small vipers generally specialise on weakly defended arthropods (mainly orthopterans) and are heavily preyed upon by carnivores and predatory birds. This project is funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

2024

  • Published
    M贸r茅, A., 脺veges, B., Simics, J., Radovics, D., Kov谩cs, G., Bancsik, B., Wenner, B., Budai, M., Tisza, 脕., Vad谩sz, C., Mizser, S., T贸thm茅r茅sz, B. & Mizsei, E., 23 May 2024, In: Rangeland Ecology and Management. 95, p. 68-76 8 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Radovics, D., Sos, T., Mebert, K., 脺veges, B., Budai, M., R谩k, G., Szabolcs, M., Lengyel, S. & Mizsei, E., 2 May 2024, In: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 201, 1, p. 159-168 10 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2023

  • Published
    脺veges, B., Kalina, C., Szab贸, K., M贸ricz, 脕. M., Holly, D., Gabor, C. R., Hettyey, A. & B贸kony, V., 2023, In: Integrative Organismal Biology. 5, 1, p. obad021 obad021.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Submitted
    Pozzi, A., Owens, J. B., 脺veges, B., Major, T., Morris, E., Graham, S., Togridou, A., Papadopulos, A. S. T., W眉ster, W. & Barlow, A., 21 Sept 2023, (Submitted) p. 1-28, 28 p. (bioRxiv).
    Research output: Working paper 鈥� Preprint

2022

  • Published
    K谩sler, A., Ujszegi, J., Holly, D., 脺veges, B., M贸ricz, 脕. M., Herczeg, D. & Hettyey, A., 1 Jul 2022, In: Journal of Zoology. 317, 3, p. 159-169 10 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Nemesh谩zi, E., Sramk贸, G., Laczk贸, L., Balogh, E., Szatm谩ri, L., Vili, N., Ujhegyi, N., 脺veges, B. & B贸kony, V., Apr 2022, In: Molecular Ecology. 31, 7, p. 2032-2043 12 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2021

  • Published
    Uveges, B., Basson, A. C., Moricz, A. M., Bokony, V. & Hettyey, A., Oct 2021, In: Functional Ecology. 35, 10, p. 2294-2304
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2020

  • Published
    Nemesh谩zi, E., G谩l, Z., Ujhegyi, N., Vereb茅lyi, V., Mik贸, Z., 脺veges, B., Lefler, K. K., Jeffries, D. L., Hoffmann, O. I. & B贸kony, V., 1 Oct 2020, In: Molecular Ecology. 29, 19, p. 3607-3621 15 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2019

  • Published
    脺veges, B., Szederk茅nyi, M., Mahr, K., M贸ricz, 脕. M., Kr眉zselyi, D., B贸kony, V., Hoi, H. & Hettyey, A., 1 Jun 2019, In: Ecology and Evolution. 9, 11, p. 6287-6299 13 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Hettyey, A., 脺veges, B., M贸ricz, 脕. M., Drahos, L., Capon, R. J., Van Buskirk, J., T贸th, Z. & B贸kony, V., 1 Dec 2019, In: Journal of Animal Ecology. 88, 12, p. 1925-1935 11 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    B贸kony, V., 脺veges, B., Vereb茅lyi, V., Ujhegyi, N. & M贸ricz, 脕. M., 28 Feb 2019, In: Scientific Reports. 9, 1
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2018

  • Published
    Bokony, V., Uveges, B., Moricz, A. M. & Hettyey, A., 1 Mar 2018, In: Functional Ecology. 32, 3, p. 667-675
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    B贸kony, V., 脺veges, B., Ujhegyi, N., Vereb茅lyi, V., Nemesh谩zi, E., Cs铆kv谩ri, O. & Hettyey, A., 1 Sept 2018, In: Science of the Total Environment. 634, p. 1335-1345 11 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2017

  • Published
    脺veges, B., Fera, G., M贸ricz, 脕. M., Kr眉zselyi, D., B贸kony, V. & Hettyey, A., 13 Jun 2017, In: BMC Evolutionary Biology. 17, 1, p. 137
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2016

  • Published
    脺veges, B., Mahr, K., Szederk茅nyi, M., B贸kony, V., Hoi, H. & Hettyey, A., 27 May 2016, In: Scientific Reports. 6, p. 26754
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Mizsei, E., Uveges, B., Vagi, B., Szabolcs, M., Lengyel, S., Pfliegler, W. P., Nagy, Z. T. & Toth, J. P., 17 Feb 2016, In: Amphibia-Reptilia. 37, 1, p. 55-68
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    B贸kony, V., M贸ricz, 脕. M., T贸th, Z., G谩l, Z., Kurali, A., Mik贸, Z., P谩sztor, K., Szederk茅nyi, M., T贸th, Z., Ujszegi, J., 脺veges, B., Kr眉zselyi, D., Capon, R. J., Hoi, H. & Hettyey, A., 8 Apr 2016, In: Journal of Chemical Ecology. 42, 4, p. 329-38 10 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2012

  • Published
    Uveges, B., Halpern, B., Pechy, T., Posta, J. & Komlosi, I., 1 Jan 2012, In: Amphibia-Reptilia. 33, 3-4, p. 393-400
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Mizsei, E. & Uveges, B., 1 Oct 2012, In: Herpetology Notes. 5, p. 481-483 3 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review