National Repository of Grey Literature 99 records found  beginprevious53 - 62nextend  jump to record: Search took 0.00 seconds. 
Ethics of biological invasions
Klimeš, Adam ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Jirsa, Jakub (referee)
The Ethics of Biological Invasions Etika biologických invazí Řešitel: Adam Klimeš Vedoucí práce: prof. RNDr. Stanislav Komárek, Dr. Abstract There is a considerable attention ascribed to the phenomenon of biological invasions - to the fast spread of nonnative species in certain area. However evaluation of the biological invasions is usually limited to the calculation of damage costs and means spent on the control of nonnative species. The ethical aspect is marginalized this way, although as it conserns living orgamisms, such aspect is inevitably present. Presented study deals with identification, foundation and analysis of all values threatened by biological invasion or by its control. This can be considered as basis for establishment of an ethical approach to evaluation of biological invasions. Indentified values are instrumental value, value of individuals, species, live and esthetic value.
Effects of pattern, size and background contrast of prey on discrimination learning in avian predators
Kuncová, Aneta ; Exnerová, Alice (advisor) ; Komárek, Stanislav (referee)
The topic of this master thesis was the effects of pattern, size and background contrast of prey on discrimination learning of avian predators. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of selected components of warning coloration on aversive discrimination learning of avian predators of different age and sex. The choosen model organism was the Great tit (Parus major). The comparision was done between hand-reared naïve birds and wild-caught adults of different age and sex. The experiment was taking place in the experimental cage with one way mirror. The experiment used a design of simultaneous task with two pray which differed in one component of the coloration (pattern, size and background kontrast). The differencies in the ability of discrimination learning was found just between hand-rared naïve birds and wild-caught adults. Better results were shown by the wild-caught adults. The ability of discrimination learning of wild-caught adults was not influenced by the age and sex. Pattern was the only significant component of the warning coloration due to which the birds were able to memorise the discrimination task. Key words: avoidance learning, unpalatable prey, pattern, size, background, contrast
Social applications of myrmecology between Aldrovandi and Wilson
Hampl, Petr ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Horáček, Ivan (referee) ; Bezděčková, Klára (referee)
The following dissertation presents the history of myrmecology from the times of Ulisse Aldrovandi up to the works of Edward O. Wilson in the 20th century. The oldest mentions of ants in the Antiquity and the Middle Ages are also partially elaborated upon. A special emphasis is given to the general idea about ants as developed by each of the authors, as well as to the mapping out of the contemporary ideas about social insect. This work points out that the portrait of the ant has always been related to the contemporary conception of human society and humanity as such. Throughout its history, myrmecology has always been strongly influenced by anthropomorphism, as the picture of the ant would be derived from the social order, political system and the general opinion on what constitutes human nature. On the other hand, though, myrmecology has also helped to shape the picture of humanity, because the conclusions drawn from myrmecological studies were applied to humans. Therefore, entomology started to influence anthropology and vice versa. In the Antiquity, ants were viewed basically as farmers; only harvester ants were known, they were seen as working on a field, going to the marketplace or holding celebratory festivals. The medieval picture of the ant drew heavily on the Antiquity ideas, but it added...
Ethics of biological invasions
Klimeš, Adam ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Jirsa, Jakub (referee)
The Ethics of Biological Invasions Etika biologických invazí Řešitel: Adam Klimeš Vedoucí práce: prof. RNDr. Stanislav Komárek, Dr. Abstract There is a considerable attention ascribed to the phenomenon of biological invasions - to the fast spread of nonnative species in certain area. However evaluation of the biological invasions is usually limited to the calculation of damage costs and means spent on the control of nonnative species. The ethical aspect is marginalized this way, although as it conserns living orgamisms, such aspect is inevitably present. Presented study confront several theories of environmental ethics with examples of practical environmental policies concerning biological invasions and asks, with of these theories may work as substantiation of strategies aplied in practice.
The influence of floral morphology on the perception of the flowers by man
Hůla, Martin ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Landová, Eva (referee)
Human preference of flowers is a largely unexplored area of research. Although some authors mentioned this topic, it was usually a very brief comment. They typically stated that flowers are most likely preferred because of their coloration and symmetry. But flowers have many forms and colors and it is obvious that some of them are preferred more than others. The aim of this paper was to explore which morphological characteristics of flowers are important for human preference. We discuss how individual differences between people affected their rating of flower attractivity. The effect of flower color, symmetry, complexity, angularity and prototypicality on human preference was experimentally verified. It is described how the flower preference can be influenced by the sex, age, level of expertise and other characteristics of the raters. The results can provide a valuable source of information for experts in horticultural therapy, garden and interior designers, plant breeders, gardeners and other persons interested in the aesthetic value of flowers. There is a lack of relevant sources on this topic not only in the Czech Republic, but also worldwide.
"Lost Ideas of Middle Age and Lify Cycle of Idea in Middle Age"
Koutský, Karel ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Pinc, Zdeněk (referee) ; Janko, Jan (referee)
1 ABSTRACT This work consists of two parts. The first one, "Lost Ideas of Middle Age" has a character of an auxiliary study and does not hold any particular scientific ambitions. It serves as a reservoir for monitored case out of history of science in its widest meaning. Good deal of attention is dedicated to so called blind alleys of science, too (therefore "Lost Ideas"), as they are considered an important source. This wide scope was necessary due to the task of the second part of the work, i.e. tracking and identification of evolutionary processes of ideas/"memes" in medieval natural philosophy. Even those ideas, that do not directly share on "pedigree" of thesis claimed by modern science, were subject to evolution and in effect, even their death or degeneration should be of an interest. Another reason for chosen wide scope was a question of proper context. Medieval philosophers were interested in general questions and any particular problematic they were interested in was related to the "big picture". Medieval universe felt a bit like a living organism where every single part played its specific role in supporting harmony of the whole - in contrast to modern science which disintegrates into number of ever more specialised branches with increasing tendency to lose ability to communicate among themselves....
Analysis of factors affecting human preferences and thus effort given to the conservation of animal species
Lišková, Silvie ; Frynta, Daniel (advisor) ; Komárek, Stanislav (referee) ; Sedláček, František (referee)
Recently, it was reported that humans treat animals that they perceive as aesthetically attractive unequally to the "ugly" ones, turning more attention to them and setting more conservation programs for their protection. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the issue focusing around animal beauty in more detail by examining human preferences towards one of the most popular animal taxon, the birds. In three subsequent studies, we assessed human preferences towards selected bird species: all members of the order of parrots, randomly selected representatives of all non- passerine bird families, and all members of the vividly colored passerine family Pittidae. The first study revealed that the preferred parrots were kept in zoos in higher numbers, regardless of their conservation priority (IUCN status). We discussed possible consequences of this finding and the benefits that may arise in the light of animal conservation if this bias in species preferences was to be considered by conservation specialists. We also found that people preferred long-tailed parrots possessing blue and yellow colors over green ones, which were probably perceived as dull and uninteresting as the majority of the parrots are fully or partially green. In the next two studies, we found that shape, pattern, and overall...
The ecological and ethological significance of felid coat patterns (Felidae)
Jaroš, Filip ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Horáček, Ivan (referee) ; Weber, Andreas (referee)
The presented work investigates various theories about the significance of felid coat patterns. Most of the hypotheses are based on the theory of adaptive function of animal colouration. As regards felids, it is generally believed that the coat pattern has the function of aggressive resemblance. Early testimonies about cryptic properties of colouration of cats are summarized to provide the historical perspective of the problem. Other putative adaptive functions of patterns are investigated (intraspecific communication, thermoregulation) and close attention is paid to the option that the spotted coat of the leopard (Panthera pardus) serves as a cue for recognition from the perspective of prey. In the next stage, some of the hypotheses are tested by statistical means. The problem is simplified into search for association between a given category of a coat pattern (e.g. spots, stripes) and usual habitat of felid species (e.g. forest, grassland). Pagel's test for correlated changes is employed to account for phylogenetic relationships. In addition to broadly acknowledged hypotheses, the validity of proposition that juvenile coat patterns have the function of protective resemblance is tested. Finally, the problem of colouration of felids is linked to broader context of theoretical biology. Apart from prevailing...
Cerebral laterality in birds and mammals, its behavioral correlation and evolutionary significance
Tureček, Petr ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Němec, Pavel (referee)
Lateralization of brain is ubiquitous quality of vertebrate brain. In this paper we rewiev examples of brain lateralization in birds and mammals and it's behavioral impacts. Than we discuss possible evolutionary origins of these asymmetries and their evolutionary significance. We try to explain individual as well as population level lateralization. We propose, that population level lateralization can, in principle, arise just on the genofondal basis, if the organism itself contributes to the enviroment with the lateralized behavior. Lateralized sensory input on the other hand should stand on the advantages of synchronizing with other individuals due to the disatvantage of predictability of lateralized population. Keywords: Lateralization; laterality; population level lateralization; asymmetry; evolutionary significance

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