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Cognitive abilities in reptiles: individual learning ability vs. interspecies comparison
Víšková, Linda ; Landová, Eva (advisor) ; Kverková, Kristina (referee)
The cognitive abilities of "reptiles" have long been a neglected topic compared to research on cognition in two other groups of tetrapods - mammals and birds. Recently, however, studies testing selected aspects of various cognitive abilities in "reptiles" have become quite abundant. In this thesis, the different types of cognitive tasks studied were determined (focusing on numerical abilities, spatial learning, reversal learning, visual discrimination, social learning, "problem-solving" or operant conditioning) and then the methods of testing them in "reptiles" were discussed in detail. Subsequently, within the paraphyletic group "reptiles", the given cognitive abilities for each family (and specific species) were mapped with respect to their phylogeny. A general problem in some studies was the smaller number of subjects tested (minimum 1, maximum 559, median 15) relative to the often great number of factors studied (minimum 1, maximum 14, median 4) and the wide interindividual variability in cognitive performance. Although the amount of work on the cognitive abilities of "reptiles" has been rising over the last decade, qualitative analysis suggests the presence of simpler types of cognition. A quantitative or phylogenetic analysis of "reptilian" cognitive abilities has so far been precluded by low...
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Effects of melanin-based coloration and commensalism on performance in behavioural tests: a comparative study
Kahounová, Hana ; Frynta, Daniel (advisor) ; Šumbera, Radim (referee)
An intraspecific coat colour polymorphism exists in the genus Acomys. Some populations are dark and others are light-colored. Dark populations live in lava deserts, savannas and in the commensal habitat of Egypt. The subject of this thesis is to compare selected populations of Acomys in behavioral test of forced exploration. They are dark commensal, light secondary non-commensal, light non- commensal, and one dark non-commensal populations. The aim of this research is to find out whether the dark commensal populations of Acomys cahirinus differ in behavior from other populations and whether dark populations differ in behavior from light populations. According to the results, the observed behavioral parameters do not show significant differences between populations. The dark commensal populations of A. cahirinus did not differ significantly from other populations in exploratory behavior. But the dark populations preferred a dark background. No apparent differences in behavior between differently colored populations were found. However, the variability in tested behavior between populations was found. Key words: exploratory behavior, melanin, commensalism, comparative approach, open field test, Acomys
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Nervous system and cognitive abilities of gallinaceous birds
Zhang, Yicheng ; Němec, Pavel (advisor) ; Landová, Eva (referee)
2. Abstract Avian brain has traditionally been looked upon as a small, simple and almost entirely composed of basal ganglia and subserving exclusively instinctive behavior. In stark contrast to these obsolete notions, recent evidence demonstrates that, despite a lack of layered neocortex, extensive regions of the avian cerebrum are homologous to pallial components of the mammalian brain, conform to the same organizational principles and play similar roles in higher cognitive functions. Indeed, behavioural studies have shown that some birds have cognitive abilities that match or surpass those of mammals, most notably corvids and parrots rivalling the great apes in many cognitive domains. While these highly encephalized birds are often utilized as models in behavioural studies addressing avian cognitive capacities, less encephalized birds receive only scant attention. The gallinaceous birds (Galliformes), which together with the anseriform birds (Anseriformes) represent a sister group of Neoaves and the most basal clade of Neognathae, possess relatively small brains. Their cerebrotype is characterized by small forebrain, small nidopallium and large brain stem. Brain of gallinaceous birds is significantly lateralized. Brains of domesticated galliforms are significantly reduced in comparison to brain of their...
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Valuation of Domain Name
Dávidová, Lucia ; Svačina, Pavel (advisor) ; Bílá Čížková, Michaela (referee)
The main goal of this work is to evaluate the market value of the Internet domain, Fotečky.cz, at the 1st in January 2012, for the purpose of subsquent selling the domain on the market to the potential buyer. To correct evaluation, method of multi-period excess earnings and method of the license analogy are used.
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