|
|
Fossil clown beetles (Coleoptera: Histeridae): early evolution of "beetle tanks"
Simon Pražák, Jan ; Prokop, Jakub (advisor) ; Růžička, Jan (referee)
Clown beetles (Histeridae) represent a diverse (>4500 described species) group of beetles with worldwide distribution (except Antarctica) and with exceptional diversity of occupied habitats. Specialisation on environments such as subcortical space, dung and carrion, tunnels of wood- boring insects, caves, sand deserts, beaches, rodent burrows or ant colonies, has led to remarkable adaptations of morphology and even radical changes of entire body shape. To understand evolutionary paths of this extraordinary group of beetles, fossils are of vital importance. In this study, I examined eight undescribed species of fossil Histeridae from mid-Cretaceous Burmese and Hkamti ambers. I provide morphological descriptions and discuss possible taxonomical position of these species based on morphological characters. I further tested the phylogenetic position of all Cretaceous Histeridae genera via a topology-constrained maximum parsimony analysis based on a set of 69 characters. Among the studied species, representatives of Abraeini and Paromalini are reported for the first time from the Cretaceous. I discuss evolutionary implications based on the new as well as other Histeridae fossils. Subcortical strategy was likely common in the Cretaceous histerids, now reported in three separate lineages. It is also...
|
|
|
The growth and development of wings during ontogeny with emphasis on Palaeodictyoptera
Rosová, Kateřina ; Prokop, Jakub (advisor) ; Sroka, Pavel (referee)
The series of two fossil species belonging to the order Palaeodictyoptera from the Late Carboniferous of Kuznetsk Basin in Russia were re-examined. The two species as Tchirkovaea guttata and Paimbia fenestrata were investigated with emphasis on the wing growth and development in comparison with the structure of developing wings in recent mayflies. This fossil material of T. guttata and P. fenestrata was long considered by previous authors as undisputed evidence for a unique type of wing development in the Palaeozoic insects. The idea was that the larvae of these insects possessed the wings, which became articulated and fully movable already earlier during the postembryonic development and that these gradually growing wings changed their position from longitudinal to perpendicular to the body axis. Moreover, the development was supposed to include two or more subimaginal instars, implying that the fully winged instars moulted several times during postembryonic development. After detailed study of the available fossils and subsequent comparison of the fossil evidence with the development of wings in the recent mayfly Cloeon dipterum it was discovered, that the alleged series of immature, subimaginal and imaginal wings of T. guttata and P. fenestrata do not provide clear evidence that would support...
|
|
|
Needs for Electrocardiogram Evaluation by a Paramedic
PROKOP, Jakub
This bachelor's thesis deals with the issue of the needs of a paramedic in the evaluation of an electrocardiogram. In the theoretical part, the evaluation of the electrocardiogram was described, starting with the basic anatomy and physiology of the vascular supply of the heart and the conduction system of the heart. Furthermore, a description of the electrocardiograph was given, and at the end, arrhythmias with ischemic changes were evaluated. The aim was to map the abilities of paramedics in evaluating the electrocardiogram and their need for education with possible suggestions for changes in education before and after starting work. Quantitative research was used in the empirical part. Data collection was carried out using a self-structured questionnaire, in which 24 items were listed. The questions were of both open-ended and closed-ended type, with responses rated using a modified Likert scale. The questionnaire was fully anonymous and intended for paramedics from the entire Czech Republic. The basic descriptive characteristics of the research group were processed. Quantitative data were expressed by mean and standard deviation and optionally supplemented with histograms according to predefined limits. For qualitative data, frequency characteristics (absolute and relative frequencies) were processed. The results of our research investigation point to the unpreparedness of paramedics in the evaluation of pathological changes on the ECG. Respondents were also found to have a need for further training in ECG assessment and would welcome periodic training on the latest in cardiology, assessment practice at their field bases, or specialist hospital internships. To improve undergraduate education, they would include an internship in a cardiac center, practical training in a cardiology department, or professional seminars focused on EKG evaluation.
|
|
|
The biological inclusions in Eocene amber from Študlov locality in White Carpathian Mts.
Škorpíková, Šárka ; Prokop, Jakub (advisor) ; Azar, Dany (referee)
The tudlov amber has been the only known fossil resin from the Czech Republic, in which the biological inclusions are preserved, and at the same time the only Czech fossil resin occurring not in the area of the Bohemian Massif, but in outer arch of the Outer Western Carpathians. So far, only single findings of fossil Hymenoptera and Diptera have been published. In contrast to mostly Cretaceous ambers of the Bohemian Massif, the age of tudlov amber is usually estimated from the late Paleocene to mid Eocene. This diploma thesis provides an overview of the fossil organisms found in the tudlov amber in the past two decades and it is also the most comprehensive text dedicated to the palaeodiversity of embedded organisms from this remarkable fossil resin. The presence of various microscopic fungi is proven, as well as the presence of angiosperm trichomes, mites and insects (prevailed by Hymenoptera and Diptera). The discovery of a hymenopteran family Stigmaphronidae (Apocrita) is the first Cenozoic evidence of this family, formerly considered as extinct by the end of Cretaceous. Finding of an isolated gymnosperm twig with wood anatomical characters close to genus Glyptostrobus allows to outline some conclusions about the paleoecosystem. The Eocene age of the resin is confirmed by the combination of...
|
|
|
Design and functional morphology of insect wings
Jechová, Kateřina ; Prokop, Jakub (advisor) ; Janšta, Petr (referee)
Animal fly ability is undoubtedly one of the biggest innovation in evolution that allow animals to settle down another space on the Earth - the air. However, there are significant impacts on the other organisms during the evolution, too. The insect is single group of invertebrates with abilities to fly and because of that it became the most diversified group of organisms. There are a couple of theories about origin of the insect wings. Two major hypotheses considering the recent insects with their fossil record are widely known. Nevertheless, there is no direct clue to the first Pterygota due to the discontinuity of fossil record in the initial phase of their evolution The wing is very complex and unique structure throughout organisms. Insects became very good fliers during the evolution and wings are also used to protect of the body, carrying sensory organs, etc. Nevertheless, only very few insect species are well explored in term of flight and, an open theme for future studies. Aim of the present work is to describe the significance of the wing and to briefly review its morphological and design properties. Key words: Insecta, Pterygota, wing, venation, morphology, flight, evolution.
|
|
|
Quaternary insects and their significance for zoogeography, paleoclimatology and paleoecology
Moudrý, Jakub ; Prokop, Jakub (advisor) ; Říhová, Dagmar (referee)
The present thesis is a review of available published data on Quaternary insects. Research focused on Quaternary insects has been so far overlooked by the Czech scientists, even though there is potential to provide additional data for complex reconstruction of Quaternary deposits. Insect faunas allow to trace the dynamic development of areas across continents and serve for example as proof of migration routes. It is especially true for the Pleistocene, well known for prominent climatic oscillations. Thus, the insect species served as climatic indicators allowing estimations of average temperatures by application of the MCR method. Finally, these faunal changes reflect dynamic development of palaeoenvironments. The fact that the subfossil taxa correspond to the recent species allows broader reconstruction of the Quaternary deposits.
|
|
|
Variation in dragonfly wing venation with application of geometric morphometrics (Insecta: Odonata)
Přibylová, Petra ; Prokop, Jakub (advisor) ; Růžička, Jan (referee)
The pattern of wing venation in dragonflies (Odonata) bears a set of characters commonly used in systematics. The aim of this thesis is to identify the wing venation variability of dragonflies by various methods of geometric morphometric. The wing venation variability was examined on the level of suborder, family, species and also in respect to dimorphism through the principal component analysis (PCA), redundancy analysis (RDA) and centroid size. Data set consisting of images of 46 dragonfly species, belonging to 43 genera and 24 families was obtained from institutional entomological collections. The research carried out that Zygoptera have a large variety of wing contours. The wing venation variability of Epiprocta is shown primarily in the costa and node area. Between sexes there is no noticeable difference in shape or structure of the wing. The ratio between wing length and width and the pterostigma shape is dependent on dragonfly body size. Key words: Odonatoptera, Odonata, Epiprocta, Zygoptera, wing venation, variability, geometric morphometrics
|
|
|
Megasecoptera: morphology and taxonomy of newly discovered specimens from Upper Carboniferous of northern China (Insecta: Palaeodictyopteroida)
Pecharová, Martina ; Prokop, Jakub (advisor) ; Godunko, Roman (referee)
The extinct insect group of Palaeodictyopteroida (Insecta: Palaeoptera) comprised mainly phytophagous species and occurred from Upper Carboniferous to Upper Permian. Megasecoptera is one of several orders of belonging to this group. Although, the order Megasecoptera comprised over 20 described families, morphology of some body structures are insufficiently studied. The present thesis deals with evaluation of new material comprising the extensive set of 76 fossil insect specimens from the Upper Carboniferous (Bashkirian) of northern China. The fossils having excellent state of preservation of the wings and other body structures provide new insights concerning the external morphology of Megasecoptera. All studied specimens were attributed based on wing venation pattern into two known megasecopteran genera within families Brodiopteridae and Sphecopteridae. The aim of the present thesis is examine the morphology and variability of wing venation of two newly proposed species Brodioptera sp. n. and Cyclocelis sp. n. from site in northern China. In addition the following methods of geometric morphometrics based on landmarks were used for comparison of venational characters: a comparison of centroid size, procrustes analysis, principal component analysis and thin plate spline. Variability of wing venation...
|
|
| |
|
|
Gigantism of Paleozoic insects and other arthropods
Pecharová, Martina ; Prokop, Jakub (advisor) ; Knor, Stanislav (referee)
Gigantism of insects and other arthropods was rather common in Late Paleozoic. Hypothesis of the oxygen limitation is one the probable explanations caused the phenomenon. Carboniferous insect gigantism was probably directly caused by the higher level of atmospheric oxygen due to direct effectiveness on the tracheal system. Therefore the possibility to grow to large sizes is clearly dependent on the amount of available oxygen. Another fact supporting the hypothesis is the extinction or the change of the giant insect forms at the end of the Permian, when the level of atmospheric oxygen suddenly decreased. This thesis also describes the ecological relationships of the Late Paleozoic arthropods, which is clearly connected to the evolution of giant forms. Gigantism during this period was thus developed by the interplay of several factors related to the global elements cycles. Another part covers major groups and representatives of Palaeozoic gigantic insects and other arthropods. The final part is devoted to describing the physiological experiments related to this topic.
|
guest ::
