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Ecology of pollination networks
Hadrava, Jiří ; Janšta, Petr (advisor) ; Novotný, Vojtěch (referee)
In communities, plants and pollinators are organized into complex network of relations. Description of structure in this network can contribute to understanding of community dynamics and persistence of biodiversity. Better understanding of patterns in assemblages of plants and pollinators may also help in their protection. The aim of this work is to review recent methodological principles in the pollination network analyses and to show potential problems in concept of ecological networks. Graph theory is breefly summarized and applied to the description of pollination networks. As an example, results on comparison of communities from different geographical sites are given.
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Porovnání účinnosti peletovaného krmiva s obsahem hmyzu a směsi s běžným složením při odchovu okouna říčního (Perca fluviatilis) v poloprovozních podmínkách
NOVOTNÝ, Martin
This thesis deals with the possibility of using insects as a potential source of proteins in artificial feed for Eurasian perch. In conventional feed, 25 % of fish meal was replaced by meal from adult Acheta domestica and Zophobas morio. There were performed two 12-week long experiments, the first one in the Experimental Fishery Workplace at the Faculty of Fisheries and Water Protection of the University of South Bohemia in Vodňany and the second one in the commercial operation of Anapartners s.r.o. Company in Prague Horní Počernice. The production indicators of the breed were evaluated and the fat and fatty acids in the fish muscles were analyzed as an important indicator of its nutritional value. At the end of both experiments, fish fed by experimental feeds showed lower length and weight gains and worse feed conversion, compared to fish fed by control diet. During the experiment and after its completion, the feed effect on fish survival were not noticed. Furthermore, there were not found any changes in fat content in fish muscles, but changes in the content of individual fatty acids were noticed. In fish fed with experimental feed, the content of linoleic acid (C18: 2n-6) increased as well as the total content of n-6 fatty acids, on the contrary, the content of n-3 fatty acids in the fish muscle decreased more than in fish fed by control diet. This also affected the resulting ratio of the n-6 fatty acid to n-3 fatty acid ratio, while this ratio increased significantly in the experimental fish group. Changes in fatty acids content in fish muscle were small and did not affect its nutritional value from the perspective of human consumption. In other experiments dealing with this topic, it is necessary to focus on testing of other insect species or to modify the quantity of substituted fishmeal.
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Digestive proteases of termites
Čermáková, Markéta ; Konvalinka, Jan (advisor) ; Ryšlavá, Helena (referee)
Digestive proteolysis in termites has not been studied yet. In this diploma thesis, proteolytic enzymes of the digestive tract of two significant pest species Reticulitermes santonensis and Coptotermes formosanus (Rhinotermitidae) were analyzed. Proteases were identified and quantified in gut compartments using a panel of specific substrates and inhibitors. Major proteases were localized in the midgut and were classified as endogenous serine proteases of trypsin type. Minor cysteine proteases were detected in the paunch and were most likely produced by symbionts. The trypsin protease from R. santonensis was chromatographically isolated and its N-terminal sequence was identified. The physiological importance of the digestive trypsin proteases was demonstrated using selective inhibitors tested in vivo with C. formosanus. Based on the analysis of proteases from additional 12 termite species, a general scheme of digestive proteolysis in the order Isoptera was proposed. (In Czech)
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Insects as human food
Augustinová, Šárka ; Pivnička, Karel (referee) ; Frouz, Jan (advisor)
Insects as a traditional source of food widespread in tropical and subtropical regions offer significant nutritional, economical and ecological gains not only to rural communities. Western bias against insects led to gradual reduction of usage of insects as food without any compensation for lost sources of nutrition and other benefits. Current efforts of the Western world to prevent starvation of population and undo the consequences of inconsiderate human interventions into the environment are often futile and ineffective. One of possible answers to these global problems could be reestablishment of insects as a food source for the native population. Insects offer a renewable source of protein with nutritional values as high as 3186kJ per 100g of solids which exceeds the values of most species traditionally cultivated. The protein content varies throughout the various insect species from 30% in wood-worms to 81% in wasps of the genus Polybia. Moreover, the quality of these proteins is very high and the high values of the amino acids contained outperform the FAO recommended designs. Many species contain important minerals such as calcium, sulfur, iron, phosphor, magnesium and zinc and are as well rich in B vitamins, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin, which are often not incorporated enough into standard meal...
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Circadian clock genes in insects
BAZALOVÁ, Olga
This thesis focuses on molecular characterization of circadian clock genes in insects. It explores genetic diversity of circadian clock genes by molecular characterization of several insect species including two dipteran flies (Musca domestica and Drosophila melanogaster), two cockroach species representing ancestral insects, and the linden bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus. Furthermore it considers various roles of circadian clock genes in insect physiology. Application of molecular-biology methods in Pyrrhocoris apterus, non-model insect species, enable us to investigate involvement of circadian clock genes in photoperiod induced physiological responses. Application of molecular-biology methods in Periplaneta americana and Blattella germanica was used to explore involvement of circadian clock genes in magnetoreception.
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The effect of different management strategies on the dynamics of saproxylic insect habitats
ŠEBEK, Pavel
The thesis concerns studies on habitats utilized by insects associated with deadwood. It presents a review of current issues in the conservation of saproxylic biodiversity. The effects of active intervention on temperate lowland woodland habitats, such as pollarding or coppicing, are evaluated in terms of their suitability for saproxylic communities and other groups. Further, the importance of open-grown trees for saproxylic diversity is assessed.
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Zoonotic Aspects of Edible Insects in the Czech Republic
Coufalová, Eva ; Lukešová, Daniela (advisor) ; Jiří, Jiří (referee)
As a population in a world rises, and as conventional breeding seems to be as terrible as the worst nightmare, there appears necessity to find some of alternative sources of "meat". Yes, it's also good opportunity for vegetarians to add every essential amino acid to their diet. Entomophagy can be helpful with improving and ensuring food safety and food security, which is related with new world conception One Health and food -- borne diseases. Potential of insects can be well utilized, but only if they are farming properly, with right biosecurity plans and keeping sufficient hygiene and correct storage. Deeper we go in exploring insects and its good side, perfect nutritional value (FAO, 2010) we also strike on potentional hazards of its consumption. This work will be focused on microbiology (mainly fungi) and parasitology (nematodes) of given specimen in Indonesia, compared with Czech studies.
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Cryptids
Dvořáková, Dana ; Turek, Filip (referee) ; Sterec, Pavel (advisor)
Cryptids, video which is studying animals, its shapes, moves and the environment , where they find themselves. The video is looking equal to all entity without any difference, document varied life as same as passing death or rot as well. It also speaks about collaboration and the microworld, which creates perfect unit. Silent mutual conversations.
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Rapid turnover of the W chromosome in geographical populations of wild silkmoths, Samia cynthia ssp.
ŠÍCHOVÁ, Jindra
Geographical subspecies of wild silkmoths, Samia cynthia ssp. (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) exhibit a unique polymorphism in chromosome numbers, resulting from variations in the sex chromosome systems. Three different sex chromosome constitutions were identified: Z0/ZZ in S. c. ricini (2n=27/28), neo-Wneo-Z/neo-Zneo-Z in S. c. walkeri (2n=26/26), and neo-WZ1Z2/Z1Z1Z2Z2 in S. cynthia subsp. indet. (2n=25/26). It has been proposed, that the common ancestor of S. cynthia subspecies had a classical WZ/ZZ constitution with diploid chromosome number of 2n=28/28 and the neo-sex chromosomes in S. c. walkeri and S. cynthia subsp. indet. arose by repeated sex chromosome-autosome fusions. Our sampling effort enabled us to examine five populations of S. cynthia with an ancestral-like karyotype with the aim to verify a hypothesis about sex chromosome evolution in this species complex. Obtained results suggest that the curious WZ system of S. cynthia pryeri may represent an ancestral state of the Samia species complex. However, they do not exclude an alternative hypothesis of its derived origine.
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Insect as a Model Taxon in the Environmental Education at Kindergarten.
KREJČÍ, Ivana
This work deals with insects as model group in environmental education in kindergarten and thus what is awareness of preschool children about insects. The aim is to find out how children perceive and insects by which materials teachers and kindergarten teachers work. This research survey to chart the availability of the materials and on the basis that it created its own educational program for children, allowing them an attractive way insects closer.
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