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Zoochorous dispersal of vascular plants in the context of rewilding - study in the Milovice grazing reserve
Mádrová, Terezie ; Lepková, Barbora (advisor) ; Janíková, Eva (referee)
Seed dispersal is one of the most important mechanisms of plant population dynamics. One type of such dispersal is zoochory, i.e. the dispersal of seeds by animals, which is divided into two types - epizoochory (dispersal of seeds on the animal's body) and endozoochory (dispersal of seeds in the animal's digestive tract). For endozoochory in particular, the essential dispersers are large herbivores, which are one of the important elements defining the character and structure of vegetation and many species of which have disappeared from the European landscape as a result of human activity. Conservation management that uses the reintroduction of animal species to care for sites, is called rewilding. The non-profit organization Česká krajina deals with the reintroduction of large herbivores in our environment and established a reserve with horses (Equus ferus), European bison (Bison bonasus) and aurochs (Bos primigenus) in the former military area Milovice. My aim was to determine how these animals contribute to a local vegetation dynamics through zoochoric seed dispersal. I studied epizoochory using a germination experiment with the soil samples from under the so-called rubbing trees (by Heineken et al. 2006) from the spring of 2021. A total of 27 seedlings germinated from 120 soil samples, 85 % of...
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Spatio-temporal activity of African ungulates at water sources in Mogalakwena River Reserve, South Africa
Homoláč, David ; Hořák, David (advisor) ; Bennitt, Emily (referee)
The large mammals of African savannah are a well-studied group of animals, but few studies focus on the temporal, circadian activity of this group of mammals. Such studies either use problematic methods of data collection (webcams, direct observations) or have been conducted in national parks or large reserves, where movement of the animals is not limited with anthropogenic structures. In such sites, the community of large mammals is usually complete, including the guild of large carnivores. Thus, small, fenced off reserves without a complete community of large mammals are understudied. Therefore, this work focuses on the spatio-temporal activity of ungulates at water sources in the Mogalakwena River Reserve in South Africa, which is an example of a reserve without large predators except the leopard (Panthera pardus). I used camera traps to assess the activity of ungulates, which I placed alongside the Mogalakwena River and at the water holes. With the help of artificial intelligence, I classified the photos to the level of activity of each species. I then tested this activity over space (type of water source) and against biotic and abiotic factors. The activity of ungulates at water sources is influenced by the maximum daily temperature, as the activity shifts to the evening hours during higher...
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Effect of Trampling on the Vegetation of Dry Grasslands
Vacková, Nikol ; Horčičková, Eva (advisor) ; Husáková, Iveta (referee)
1 It has been proved that the effect of vegetation trampling (Anthropogenic and animal) significantly changed. The aim of this study was to gather available information of these changes and effects of secondary factors, particularly focusing on the dry-grasslands (Festuco-Brometea). Vegetation on trampling disturbed areas is already much lower, it has less vegetation cover and there is more bare soil. On the bare soils increases temperature and greater evaporation of water. Due to changes of climatic conditions of microhabitats the diversity of species is changing. Vegetation is not changed only on the trampling trails, but also in the surrounding area, up to a distance of 2 meters from the trail. Most vulnerable to trampling and most susceptible for changes in vegetation are moist habitats, the most resistant type of vegetation is thermophilic dry-grasslands. The behavior, abundance and intensity of browsing animals have also effect on vegetation changes. Animals during their browsing vegetation disperse seeds and plants spread beyond their natural occurance.
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Perception of the human disturbance by ungulates in the wild and in the captivity
Šťastná, Tereza ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Frýdlová, Petra (referee)
The relationship between ungulates and humans has been evolving ever since the first predator's interaction with the prey, leading to the current domestication. The behavior of ungulates differs based on the human disturbance. The goal of this thesis was to compare the reactivity to humans of selected species in nature vs. in captivity and determine its correlation, inter or intraspecific. The thesis indicates reactivity to humans of specific species of ungulates (donkeys, horses, reindeers and goats). Following reactions were chosen for comparison: vigilance, alert distance, flight and avoidance distance. There are several acting factors like previous experience with humans, habituation, group size or season. With group size, the vigilance decreased, which was proven with donkeys, reindeers and goats. The behavior differed based on the season by resources availability, offspring's presence in herd (higher vigilance) or rut (lower vigilance). In captivity, there were less human contact avoidance, while the experimenter was known. Based on researches, ungulates tend to avoid humans more in nature, than in captivity. Sources claim, that among chosen ungulates, the most vigilant in both nature and captivity are reindeers. Further researches could later consider the human perception according to the...
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The role of trampling trails of wild ungulates in the vegetation of semi dry grasslands
Vacková, Nikol ; Horčičková, Eva (advisor) ; Mládek, Jan (referee)
Animals affect vegetation in many different ways. In this thesis we have focused on the impact of wild ungulates in the Czech Republic (wild boar, red deer, sika deer, roe deer). These animals affect vegetation with grazing, defoliation, defecation, browsing and other activities. We decided to study the effect of browsing. The animal trails are formed by browsing animals. These trails can be easily recognized due to long-term browsing. They are especially caused by trampling, which affects vegetation in many ways. The aim of this study is to determine how the vegetation of dry-grasslands (Festuco-Brometea) responds to long-term trampling caused by wild ungulates. We found that on trails, there is more bare soil, less litter and lower vegetation. In its close proximity, there is also a slightly greater diversity of plants than in control samples. Species like Plantago media which are growing straight on the trail, have adapted to trampling, while smaller shrubs (eg. Rubus, Crataegus), start to appear 2 meters from the trail. Using Ellenberg values, we found out that heliophile species, which grow on the trails and the species in control samples need more moisture and more nitrogen. Using the experiment with transplanted blocks, we learned how vegetation responds to the introduction/exclusion of...
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Between-year dynamics of carnivores and ungulates in the Czech landscape
Schnebergerová, Adriana ; Pyšek, Petr (advisor) ; Sedláček, František (referee)
It is important for the ecological management of wildlife populations in the Czech Republic to know the composition of species in individual habitats. This will allow predictions on the reactions of wildlife based on evolving changes that will occur sooner or later in these habitats due to human activity and natural change of our environment. Camera traps are a powerful tool of the 21st century with which we are able to observe wildlife without major interventions in their lives. With the right experimental design, camera traps allow us to find out details about wildlife life such as their distribution and habitat preferences, population structure, and their behavior. In this work, I used camera traps to determine the species composition of two groups; ungulates and carnivores in different habitats. This thesis analyzes the habitat preferences and hepls to find out to what extent the spatial patterns of occurrence on these two groups are in the monitored habitats over the course of a couple years. Data collection took place from June 2015 to May 2017 in the Central Bohemian Region northeast of Prague. Despite the fact that the area is densely populated and agriculturally exploited, I was able to capture four species of ungulates and nine species of carnivores on a total of 73 camera traps in this...
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Perception of the human disturbance by ungulates in the wild and in the captivity
Šťastná, Tereza ; Komárková, Martina (advisor) ; Frýdlová, Petra (referee)
The relationship between ungulates and humans has been evolving ever since the first predator's interaction with the prey, leading to the current domestication. The behavior of ungulates differs based on the human disturbance. The goal of this thesis was to compare the reactivity to humans of selected species in nature vs. in captivity and determine its correlation, inter or intraspecific. The thesis indicates reactivity to humans of specific species of ungulates (donkeys, horses, reindeers and goats). Following reactions were chosen for comparison: vigilance, alert distance, flight and avoidance distance. There are several acting factors like previous experience with humans, habituation, group size or season. With group size, the vigilance decreased, which was proven with donkeys, reindeers and goats. The behavior differed based on the season by resources availability, offspring's presence in herd (higher vigilance) or rut (lower vigilance). In captivity, there were less human contact avoidance, while the experimenter was known. Based on researches, ungulates tend to avoid humans more in nature, than in captivity. Sources claim, that among chosen ungulates, the most vigilant in both nature and captivity are reindeers. Further researches could later consider the human perception according to the...
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Trypanosomes of ungulates with emphasis on Europe
Brotánková, Anna ; Rádrová, Jana (advisor) ; Dvořák, Vít (referee)
Trypanosomes are veterinary and medically important parasites causing serious diseases and significant losses in livestock farming. Two subgenuses of trypanosomes were identified from ungulates in Europe. Trypanosoma evansi and T. equiperdum, flagellates of the subgenus Trypanozoon, could cause fatal infections to their hosts. Other Trypanosoma theileri, T. cervi, T. stefanskii, T. melophagium and T. theodori were discovered in European ungulates from the second subgenus Megatrypanum. These trypanosomes are common parasites in Europe, especially Trypanosoma theileri and T. cervi. On the other hand, T. evansi and T. equiperdum are occuring rather sporadically. Trypanosomes of the subgenus Megatrypanum are less significant because their lower medical and economical impact. They are generally apathogenic and so do not cause any clinical signs. Both morphological and phylogenetic informations of European trypanosomes are summarized in this work as well as details about their pathology, vectors and records of evidence in Europe.
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The role of trampling trails of wild ungulates in the vegetation of semi dry grasslands
Vacková, Nikol ; Horčičková, Eva (advisor) ; Mládek, Jan (referee)
Animals affect vegetation in many different ways. In this thesis we have focused on the impact of wild ungulates in the Czech Republic (wild boar, red deer, sika deer, roe deer). These animals affect vegetation with grazing, defoliation, defecation, browsing and other activities. We decided to study the effect of browsing. The animal trails are formed by browsing animals. These trails can be easily recognized due to long-term browsing. They are especially caused by trampling, which affects vegetation in many ways. The aim of this study is to determine how the vegetation of dry-grasslands (Festuco-Brometea) responds to long-term trampling caused by wild ungulates. We found that on trails, there is more bare soil, less litter and lower vegetation. In its close proximity, there is also a slightly greater diversity of plants than in control samples. Species like Plantago media which are growing straight on the trail, have adapted to trampling, while smaller shrubs (eg. Rubus, Crataegus), start to appear 2 meters from the trail. Using Ellenberg values, we found out that heliophile species, which grow on the trails and the species in control samples need more moisture and more nitrogen. Using the experiment with transplanted blocks, we learned how vegetation responds to the introduction/exclusion of...
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Effect of Trampling on the Vegetation of Dry Grasslands
Vacková, Nikol ; Horčičková, Eva (advisor) ; Husáková, Iveta (referee)
1 It has been proved that the effect of vegetation trampling (Anthropogenic and animal) significantly changed. The aim of this study was to gather available information of these changes and effects of secondary factors, particularly focusing on the dry-grasslands (Festuco-Brometea). Vegetation on trampling disturbed areas is already much lower, it has less vegetation cover and there is more bare soil. On the bare soils increases temperature and greater evaporation of water. Due to changes of climatic conditions of microhabitats the diversity of species is changing. Vegetation is not changed only on the trampling trails, but also in the surrounding area, up to a distance of 2 meters from the trail. Most vulnerable to trampling and most susceptible for changes in vegetation are moist habitats, the most resistant type of vegetation is thermophilic dry-grasslands. The behavior, abundance and intensity of browsing animals have also effect on vegetation changes. Animals during their browsing vegetation disperse seeds and plants spread beyond their natural occurance.
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