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Využití lišejníků-možnosti využití Evropské metodiky pro mapování epifytických lišejníků
Svoboda, David ; Váňa, Jiří (advisor) ; Scheidegger, Christoph (referee) ; Bérešová, Anna (referee)
Lichen uses - potentials of the European Guideline for mapping lichen diversity David Svoboda My projects had one common feature, namely the application of the European Guideline for mapping lichen diversity as an indicator of environmental stress (Asta et al. 2002). This methodology was developed in an effort to make a standardised protocol for European screening of epiphytic lichens for various purposes. The dissertation is focused on selected topics and the main objectives can be summarised as follows: 1) To evaluate the potential of the LDV method for determination of general air pollution, and the possibility of applying the new methodology in the Czech Republic. 2) To compare results given by the LDV method and the older qualitative method by Hawksworth and Rose (1970). 3) To determine the principal factors influencing the epiphytic lichen distribution in Central European oak forests, and to elucidate possible correlations among natural and human caused environmental factors in a large scale study. 4) To investigate the epiphytic lichens living in temperate oak forests, their features and possible lichenological differentiations; to determine indicative species for old growth forests and natural woodlands under different climatic conditions and human influence in the Central Europe. 5) To determine...
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Phylogeography and ecology of the Cimex species (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) in Europe; the evolution of taxa and specialization of hosts
Balvín, Ondřej ; Vilímová, Jitka (advisor) ; Hypša, Václav (referee) ; Votýpka, Jan (referee)
The life strategies of parasites and evolutionary mechanisms forming their diversity are particularly various and become frequent objects of study. The Ph.D. thesis deals with one of the obligate ectoparasitic haematophagous groups of insects, the species of the genus Cimex (Heteroptera: Cimicidae). Unlike in most other ectoparasites, the strategy of cimicids consists of remaining hidden in the shelter of their host. They use the host body only to feed and disperse. The advantage of the lower competition with other ectoparasites is counterbalanced by the need for particularly stable blood source, for which the cimicids choose social hosts living in colonies. The most frequent and the original hosts of cimicids are bats. The host range of particular species of Cimicidae is often rather broad. The morphological analysis of the Cimex pipistrelli species group showed, however, differentiation according to host bat species. This suggests a need for adaptation to particular host species within the usual range. The differentiation was not found reflected in the mitochondrial DNA. It is thus possible that cimicids can exhibit phenotype plasticity. The host associated morphological variability likely caused as many as three species of C. pipistrelli group to be described from Europe, from which two were...
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Food webs of glacier-fed streams.
Komárková, Julie ; Kopalová, Kateřina (advisor) ; Fuksa, Josef (referee)
This work focuses on glacier-fed stream ecosystems, with the centre of attention being on the community composition and characterization of their food web structure. Glacier-fed streams are harsh environments in terms of their physicochemical characteristics. These streams exhibit low temperatures and specific flow regimes, with the peak of meltwater generation, and thus discharge, in the summer. In turn, streamwater nutrient concentrations, light availability, and turbidity all vary seasonally according to the flow regime. Compositionally, glacier-fed stream habitats host chemolithotrophic bacteria along with photoautotrophic producers, such as diatoms, Chrysophyceae, and Cyanobacteria, which together serve at the bottom of food webs as primary producers. These streams also host some fungal taxa, that together with heterotrophic bacteria, represent the primary decomposers. Macroinvertebrates, including the water larvae of species Diamesa and Pseudodiamesa, or from the Ephemeroptera or Plecoptera groups, are important secondary producers with high feeding plasticity; that is, they are mainly grazing biofilm or collecting/filtering organic matter, with the possibility of predation. Other than that, in glacier-fed streams, there is usually no presence of higher trophic levels with large- bodied...
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Sustainability in graphic design
Shalak, Hanna ; Veselá, Lenka (referee) ; Ondrík, Jozef (advisor)
During the project development, I explored the elements of A4 paper packaging design in terms of sustainability, ecology, and product properties. Analysis of consumer behavior indicates insufficient attention paid to industrial standards in paper production, contributing to the spread of so-called "greenwashing" and slowing progress in addressing environmental issues. The packaging itself is often perceived merely as an object for disposal. Therefore, one of the main goals of my work is to focus on the informational components of its design. This serves as a basis for conveying the complexity and intricacy of the system hidden behind clean A4 paper. To carry out the project, I collected packaging from local printing shops and copy centers in Brno. This allowed me to gain a clearer understanding of the variety of papers circulating in the city, the types of eco-labels used by manufacturers and suppliers, and based on what preferences a certain type of material is ordered for printing.
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Design of technological equipment for remediation of wood infested by a bark beetle
Němec, Tomáš ; Osička, Karel (referee) ; Sedlák, Josef (advisor)
This bachelor thesis focuses on the design of technological equipment for the sanitation of wood infested by the spruce bark beetle. The main idea of the proposed technology is the combination of harvester logging with chemical sanitation using spraying. This innovative approach allows for increased sanitation efficiency and reduced costs compared to traditional methods such as manual debarking or using backpack sprayers. The results show that the harvester ensures uniform coverage of insecticide on each felled tree, thereby minimizing the risk of inadequate sanitation. The proposed technology also reduces the number of workers needed for sanitation, which contributes to further cost savings and increases the overall efficiency of the process. The thesis further addresses the technical aspects of the proposed equipment, including a detailed description of individual components such as nozzles, pumps, tanks, and control systems. Testing of the prototype demonstrated its high efficiency and reliability under various working conditions. In addition to technical benefits, the thesis also highlights the ecological advantages of the proposed solution, which minimizes negative impacts on the environment through precise dosing of chemicals and reduced need for manual handling of infested wood. Overall, it can be concluded that the proposed solution is not only economically advantageous but also technically and ecologically beneficial, and it should significantly contribute to the protection of Czech forests from the bark beetle calamity.
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New Technologies for Family Houses Heating
Novák, Dominik ; Lachman, Jakub (referee) ; Lisý, Martin (advisor)
The work deals with the issue of modern heating in family houses. The aim of this work is to introduce the different variants of modern heating sources. This problem is approached in three steps. In the first part of this bachelor thesis, the theoretical part of the different heating sources was elaborated with the help of a literature search. In the second part, a baseline study for a model family house was carried out. In the last part, an evaluation of the proposed sources and an overall assessment was carried out.
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Genomic prediction and genome-wide association studies of metabolic networks
Schwarzerová, Jana ; Weckwerth, Wolfram (referee) ; Ramberger,, Benjamin (advisor)
Současný výzkum rozhraní bioinformatiky a ekologického inženýrství nabízí potenciál díky kombinaci laboratorní analýzy a pokročilých bioinformatických algoritmů. Tato práce zkoumá kombinaci metabolické analýzu GC-MS pro identifikaci a kvantifikaci metabolitů při narušení životního prostředí s pokročilými bioinformatickými přístupy celo-genomových asociačních studií (GWAS). Analýza se provádí pomocí genomové predikce založené na dvou různých podmínkách růstu souvisejících s teplotou shromážděného souboru dat z 241 přirozených přístupů (genotypů) Arabidopsis thaliany. Současné výzvy, které vyplývají ze změny klimatu a globálního znečištění, podporují základní výzkum adaptace organismů v důsledku vlivů na životní prostředí. Výzkum v této oblasti může hrát klíčovou roli při řešení souvisejících problémů životního prostředí. Zejména rostlin sloužících jako primární producenti našich nejdůležitějších zdrojů, potravin, zdraví a energie, představují v tomto ohledu nejdůležitější výzkumné subjekty. Výsledky prezentované v této práci odhalují jednotlivé strategie adaptace na stres rostliny chladem v závislosti na jejím původním prostředí. Kromě toho asociace metabolitů s GWAS odhalila potenciální genomové oblasti podílející se na adaptaci rostliny na chladnou teplotu. Zatímco jednoduchá pozorování odhalují pouze změny fenotypů, změny v genotypech organismů lze zachytit pomocí metabolické technologie GWAS uvedené v této práci s dalším možným využitím v průmyslové ekologii a biotechnologii. Závěrečná část práce je rozšířena o použití inverzní stochastické Lyapunovovy maticové rovnice pro získané výsledky pomocí zkoumání regulace metabolismu během adaptace na chladnou teplotu.
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The Sustainable City: Future Timber Buildings
Lacková, Zuzana ; Krištof, Michal (referee) ; Kratochvíl, Jan (advisor)
The diploma thesis deals with the issue of sustainable urban development using timber buildings as a means to achieve this goal. It takes into account the knowledge gained in the pre-diploma thesis with the resulting design of a complex of residential buildings and a civic building made of wood in Brno. This ensemble creates a model of the so-called ideal sustainable city, which provides a different perspective on contemporary urban design. Nowadays, sustainable urban development is one of the main issues in urban planning and architecture. With the growing awareness of environmental and economic challenges, there is an increasing demand for alternative solutions to ensure the viability and prosperity of urban environments. Within this context, timber buildings are gaining increasing attention as an environmentally and economically viable solution for urban construction and planning. Wood as a building material has unique properties that make it attractive for the urban environment. Its versatility, lightness, thermal insulation properties, and unique aesthetic potential make it an ideal material for modern buildings. In addition to being a renewable resource, its construction and use have a minimal environmental impact compared to traditional building materials.
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Tracing Microendolithic Ichnocenoses: A paleoecological and taphonomic approach over the Phanerozoic
Herenio Kerkhoff, Marta Leticia ; Holcová, Katarína (advisor) ; Skupien, Petr (referee) ; Soták, Ján (referee)
The microbial endoliths study from the Western Carpathians region was a semi-quantitative survey that included six sampling localities. Samples, ranging from Upper Oligocene to Miocene (Serravalian), came from three localities in Czechia (Mikulov, LOM-1 and Hevlín), two in Slovakia (DNV and LKŠ) and one place in Hungary (Tard Clays, Rozalia Quarry). The main goal of this project was to verify how different levels of hypoxia, established for studied intervals, would affect the microendolilthic assemblages present in tests of benthic foraminifera. Additionally, microbial activity and byproducts, and the overall interplay between bioerosion and bioprecipitation are also analysed. The degree of hypoxy was established using ratio of oxic/dysoxic and hypoxic foraminifera, defined as Benthic Foraminifera Oxygen Index (BFOi) Sampled index shows a predominance of dysoxic indicators, with rare oxic elements. Secondary electron elemental analysis (EDX) reveals a significant enrichment of sulphur, phosphorus and iron in biofilm samples from DNV and Hevlín, when compared to the rock matrix surrounding it. Resin casts reveal a predominance of Dysphotic to Deep Euphotic zones ichnocenosis, with a predominance of Chlorophyte, Rodophyte and heterotroph burrows. Few representatives of Cyanobacteria traces, such as...
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