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Arctic tundra dendrochronology
Lehejček, Jiří ; Svoboda, Miroslav (advisor) ; Monika, Monika (referee)
Historically unprecedented environmental change in the Arctic ecosystems is often given into the context of its past and possible future development. In the region where instrumental meteorological observations are scarce archives need to be investigated in order to address this issues. The comprehensive synthesis one of the archives: long-live circumpolar evergreen Juniperus communis L. shrub is presented here. 20 individuals from southwest Greenland were investigated at the cell anatomy level to understand the ecology of the species and unhide its potential for environmental and climate reconstructions. The findings are as follows:
i) Stop of exponential cross-sectional conduit-lumen widening with increasing age is in contrast with conduit-lumen nature of trees. This indicates that shrubs do not need to saturate their water and nutrient demands via traits of classical hydraulic conductivity law but rather developed different mechanisms. Extreme weather conditions result in prostrate growth form. However, different weather factors probably influence shrub growth differently: While snow and wind act mechanically (a), temperature influences the form of growth physiologically (b). a) So long as the young shrub stem has high resilience to bend back to an upright position after snow melt and so long as it can withstand the wind during the vegetation season it most likely grows upright and the conduit-lumens widen. b) Temperature, resp. freeze-thaw events are responsible for the shrubs preference of safety (finite size of conduit-lumens) over hydraulic efficiency, thus not allowing for more primary growth. All of these (and other) factors are apparently working together and the transition of vertical to more horizontal growth is gradual. As a consequence, the conduit-lumen sizes may not have to be further increased (due to ecophysiological restrictions possibly also must not) because water is no longer transported against gravity.
ii) Observed age/growth trend has to be taken into consideration for further employment of the wood anatomical parameter in paleoenvironmental studies. That is, shrub cell parameters can only be used for this purposes if correctly detrended. This allows for more accurate as well as longer reconstructions because youth trend was often neglected in reconstructions based on shrub annual-rings.
iii) The south-western Greenland Ice-Sheet (GrIS) melt rates reconstruction is presented for the whole 20th century. This part of GrIS is considered as the most active. According to the presented reconstruction current GrIS melt rates are not uncommon for the last century being comparable to first decades of 20th century. This finding is particularly important contribution to the debate on Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). Too high fresh water inputs into the Northern Atlantic from GrIS melting may slow down or even stop the AMOC which would result in more continental climate in Europe. Presented results indicate that this threshold lies higher than observed current melt rates of GrIS.
Fascinating Juniperus comunnis species has shown to be able to address many ecological as well as environmental open questions and due to its longevity and abundant distribution has a great potential to become an important player in the Arctic research.
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Influence of meadow management on the migration behavior of selected species of butterflies
Bubová, Terezie ; Langrová, Iva (advisor) ; Farkač, Jan (referee)
Migrations are the key process and one of the basic biological features, which allow survival of endangered species in fragmented landscape. In the last decades, agriculture intensification, industry and urbanization caused that number of natural butterfly habitats has significantly decreased. The localities originally suitable for butterflies are currnetly converted to farmland or building plots. This PhD thesis aimed to find a compromise solution of meadow management, which should allow a commercial use and concurrently do not jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species. The main idea of this study was in the intentional emigration causing in the middle of flight period, which should lead into resettlement of the population to another (potentially more suitable) locality. Possibility of aimed manipulation with butterfly emigrations would be considered as a major breakthrough in their protection.
The investigated species Phengaris nausithous (Bergsträsser, 1779) and Phengaris teleius (Bergsträsser, 1779) are both considered to be flagship species for protection of European butterflies at open meadows. This study is based on research, which was carried out in 2013-2015 at 17 patch in localities Dolní Labe, Czech Republic. In above mentioned years, one selected meadow was mowed in the middle of flight season and the emigrations were then monitored using mark-release-recapture method. Results of population and migration characteristics were calculated in MARK 8.1 software. Subsequently, the effect of mowing on emigration (comparison of emigrations from the meadow before and after mowing) was evaluated using Statistica 13.
The hypotheses of this study were based on the assumption, that the loss of resources after well-timed mowing should increase the activity of adult butterflies. During the monitoring, number of emigrations was increased only in flight season 2015. Unfortunately, the statistical evaluation did not show significant effect of mowing on migrations. On the other hand, the hypothesis dealing with colonization of nearest meadows was confirmed.
Effect of intentional emigration caused by management interventions was unfortunately not proved. However, we found out, that even though the population at one mowed meadow decreased clearly, the metapopulation size at the locality remained more or less stable.
At investigated (mowed) meadow, there was observed a sharp decline of P. nausithous abundance. On the other hand, P. teleius population was only slightly reduced. It is therefore conceivable, that P. teleius are not as susceptible to innapropriate term of mowing. The results obtained in our research conclusively displayed no possible positive effect of mowing in the middle of flight season and a necessity of suitable management maintenance at localities inhabited by Phengaris butterflies.
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Total contents and speciation of arsenic and selenium in plants growing in soils with different physico-chemical properties
Tremlová, Jana ; Száková, Jiřina (advisor) ; Vymazal, Jan (referee)
This dissertation thesis deals with uptake, accumulation and transformation of arsenic and selenium in plants growing on soils with different chemico-physical soil properties. The contents of arsenic were investigated in 99 wild plant species, coming from 27 different families and 6 different vegetables growing in arsenic contaminated soils. The results suggest that there are species-specific mechanisms which protects certain plants from the excessive uptake of arsenic from the soil. On the other hand, there are plants using a strategy of accumulation, which theoretically may increase the risk of arsenic entry into the food chain, whether through grazing cattle and wildlife or through consumption of vegetables growing on arsenic contaminated soils. The most prevalent arsenic compounds are AsV and AsIII. Other arsenic compounds occure as minor species. An important finding was detection of arsenobetaine in Plantago lanceolata L. and Carex praecox Schreb ..
The contents of selenium were examined in 73 species of wild plants, coming from 29 different families. The results suggest that naturally low levels of selenium in the soil of selected locations along with a low capability of selenium uptake via collected plant species lead to the low content of selenium in plant biomass which may contribute to selenium deficient throughout the food chain. Foliar application of selenate on wild plant communities and on some types of vegetables in our case Brassica oleracea var. italica can have a positive impact on increasing the selenium content in the aboveground biomass of these plants and by extension, increase the selenium content in the human diet. Dominant selenium compounds in the aboveground biomass of the analyzed plants were SeVI and selenomethionine, with variable proportion of other commonly occurring organic selenium compounds, which is mainly affected by plant species.
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Youth criminality prevention in the Czech Republic
Lhotová, Jana ; Šubrt, Jiří (referee) ; Buriánek, Jiří (advisor)
This study focuses on the prevention of juvenile delinquency in the Czech Republic while defining the best possible means for an individual to achieve positive socialization and develop protection against anti-social behavior. The study is divided into two sections - theoretical and analytical. The first section aims to: describe criminal prevention strategies and their philosophy and goals; present different methodologies for prevention; and define target groups. It also gives an account of objective and subjective factors that may influence anti-social behavior in youth, since it is proven that particular characteristics of the social environment or personality can increase the likelihood of committing a crime. The core of this theoretical study includes an overview of criminological theories, which seek to reveal the roots of criminal behavior. Also described is the evolution of salient ideas in this sociological framework, which form the basis for criminological theory, along with a summary of biosocial and psychological theories. A special focus is on the Social Control Theory and General Theory of Crime published by T. Hirschi and M. Gottfredson in the 90's, considered to be the most complex and relevant theories of social prevention due to their emphasis on the correlation of individual and social...
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Cyber crime in the Slovak republic
Kalinová, Diana ; Sigmund, Tomáš (advisor) ; Toman, Prokop (referee)
The Bachelor thesis focuses on cyber crime in the Slovak republic, as a new kind of criminality that is associated with computers and modern technologies as well as a problem, which must be addressed. It explains the concept of cyber crime, its divisions and problems that are associated whit it. It seeks to bring selected types of crime, how they work in practice and used instruments. It briefly reflects the history of computer crime. The next part of the Bachelor mentions in chronological order the most serious cases, which occurred in the history of Slovak cyber crime. It appoints and describes the institutions, laws and prevention programs, which dealing with this issue in Slovakia. The main part of Bachelor thesis is the search for foreign legislative changes, which should be positive and negative examples for Slovakia. On the basis of all obtained information listed in the thesis, assess the situation in the Slovak republic and propose possible solution.
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Queens and their towns in Bohemia during the reign of Luxembourg
Sejtková, Mirka ; Žemlička, Josef (referee) ; Bobková, Lenka (advisor)
An institution of royal dowry towns was established in the early 14th century because kings of Bohemia needed to ensure possessive and social conditions for their queens-wives and queens-widows. Expect of most important financial provisions this towns provided their queens space for continuing dignified residence and for realization their plans e.g. patronage. Queen could manage her towns in two ways. In the first one she could draw the payments from towns, which her husband had ensured her in a marriage articles. In the second cases the towns were tum over to her control and than she could be in active relations with them. Existence of the institution of royal dowry towns was limited with lifetime of the queen. When she had died, the towns retumed into the hands of king. Among dowry towns belong Hradec Králové, Chrudim, Polička, Jaroměř, Vysoké Mýto, Trutnova Dvůr Králové nad Labem. Most of them were situated in the east Bohemia, where every royal town was at the same time dowry town too. The most imported position belonged to Hradec Kralové, which was administrative and ecclesiastical centre of this area. A status of this town raised, when queen-widow Elisabeth Rejčka moved with her court to Hradec. This residential tradition fixed Elisabeth Pomořanská, the fourth wife of Charles IV. The Hussite Movement...
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Legal policy of genetically modified organisms and Consumer Protection
Skálová, Petra ; Neděla, Radek (advisor) ; Bačina, Jan (referee)
This Bachelor thesis is focused on genetic engineering and its results. The aim is to familiarize the reader with the issue of biotechnology and its products, which are genetically modified organisms. The introduction of the work explains the basic concepts and describes the history of the biotechnology and genetic modifications in general. In this part are also listed examples of genetic modifications including information about testing and practical application in the Czech Republic. This scientific branch is in the very beginning and there are still ongoing series of programs and research in order to create new plants and animals. The second chapter briefly summarizes the positive and negative aspects of the use of genetic modification. The third chapter is focused on the legal regulation of this issue. The first subsection summarizes the Czech legislation, the second one summarizes European legislative shared by member states of the EU. Fundamental international organisations which are dealing with genetic engineering are not omitted in following subsection. Some international agreements are also mentioned. The last, it means fourth, chapter focuses on the consumers, not only as an object of the protection by government and international organisations, but also in terms of their attitude to genetically modified organisms used in the production process of food intended for the market. Subsections describe the issues of labelling GM-products and lack of awareness of people, they mention movements and non-profit organisations fighting against using GMOs in the products intended for human consumption and their use in general. This issue is connected with many risks including possible side-effects on human health. This section also describes general attitude of the consumers themselves to GM-products.
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Problems of language and subject in Paul Ricoeur's philosophy
Miškovský, Miloš ; Němec, Václav (referee) ; Čapek, Jakub (advisor)
This work is engaged in a problematic of language and its relation to a subjectivity, as it is presented above all in Paul Ricoeur's book, called Le conflit des interprétations. Ricoeur own position is formed by confrontation of three important intelectual systems of twentieth century: structuralism, psychoanalysis and phenomenology. In structural linguistics the language means first of all langue, certain closed system of signes, based on own interior laws and relations, which is absolutly independent on the exterior (non-linguistic) reality. Ricoeur wants to overcome this simplifying view and show, that language is something in which somebody says something about something. He wants to return back to language in which we speak and he makes it by ascending from a lower to a higher level of sentence. In a philosophical reinterpretation of Freud's psychoanalysis is refused a traditional belief, that we can found the origin of language in a consciousness. On the contrary it si shown, that the deepest base of langauge is in a unconsciousness. Thanks to that it is revealed an ontological foundation of this phenomenon, that before I speak, I am.
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The Financial Arbiter in the Czech Republic
Rázová, Ilona ; Marková, Hana (advisor) ; Vybíral, Roman (referee)
The goal of this bachelor's thesis is to offer an explanation of issues connected with out-of-court settlements of disputes between financial institutions and their clients in the Czech Republic. It is represented by the Financial Arbiter, whose office was established for the purpose of harmonization of Czech law and that of the European Unions countries on 1st January 2003 through the Act No. 229/2002, concerning Financial Arbitration. This thesis deals with the origins of this post, legal basis for position of the Financial Arbiter in Czech law and his role and importance within the financial market. An important part is created with the analysis of the proceedings in front of the Financial Arbiter from its principles to the conclusion. Sample cases, which the Financial Arbiter handled, including types of solutions, are also researched. Finally, international cooperation is described in this thesis. And furthermore, there is also a similar institute working in the Great Britain mentioned in order to compare both of these offices.
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Právní a zdravotně sociální aspekty činnosti OSPOD jako ustanovených opatrovníků v zámu nezletilých dětí
BORSKÁ, Jana
The Czech Republic as a signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child has vested the practice of state administration in the field of care for minor children to municipalities with extended powers, where the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of minor children is safeguarded by state authorities of social and legal protection of children (ASLPC hereinafter). These authorities are incorporated to the extent laid down by the Act on Social and Legal Protection of Children (Act No 359/1999 Coll., as amended). The position and roles of ASLPC and their competence and jurisdiction are also regulated by the same act. The position of workers of these authorities and its legal embodiment is equally important. Regarding professionality, there are high demands on these workers. In the Czech Republic, significant changes in legislature have been made over the past three years. These amendments have led to the strengthening of the rights of minor children and to the establishing of new tools for their protection. In connection with the adoption of new substantive regulation of family law, which is now exhaustively dealt with by the Act No 89/2012 Coll., the Civil Code, new procedural rules have been established regarding protection of rights of minor children. Such procedural legislation includes (apart from the long-existent Act No. 99/1963, the Code of Civil Procedure) the Act No 292/2013 Coll., on Special Civil Proceedings. The decision-making regarding minor children has been vested mainly by the state into the competence of courts. The courts appoint the locally relevant ASLPC as a guardian who then represents the interests of minor children. The purpose, interwoven with and derived from the first one, was to explore the opinions of selected social workers of ASLPC and of district court judges regarding the defined problems occurring during the work of ASLPCs and courts while protecting the interests of minor children. These particularly include: the use of the tool of precautionary measure; problems of different territorial jurisdiction of courts and ASLPCs; processing of complaints regarding bias in various phases of the proceedings; professional training of workers of ASLPC It is evident from the proposals of both judges and ASLPC workers that it is necessary to unify territorial jurisdiction. The courts are suggesting the priority criterion of the address where the child mainly resides. ASLPC workers suggest the official permanent residence as the prime criterion. Bias causes problems in all phases of proceedings. It is obvious that courts take differing approaches towards the solution of this problem (some courts solve the problem of bias complaints filed by the parties while other courts do not) and for ASLPC workers it is difficult to assess how to act when such complaint is raised against them. The training of ASLPC workers - workers are obliged to educate themselves and their employer is obliged to finance such training. Not all ASLPCs are able to provide training in the required extent - due to financial reasons (the average costs of education of one employee pose from 9,169 to 13,400 CZK annually and they cover approximately 6 days of training). The heavy work-load caused by insufficient numbers of ASLPC employees prevents them from completing such compulsory training. As part of the examination of the "participation of a collision guardian in court proceedings" it has been found out that irregular participation of the worker in the proceedings (absence from participation in appeals proceedings); incomplete reports (directed to courts) from surveys in families. Based on comprehensive examination of the problems of territorial jurisdiction, it was recommended that requests are independently recorded and financial compensation is provided for ASLPCs who are requested to represent minors in front of courts, to draft proposals for precautionary measures.
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