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Risk elements contamination in Kutná Hora region and possibilities of its usage in paleoenvironmental research
Horák, Jan ; Hejcman, Michal (advisor) ; Jaromír, Jaromír (referee)
The dissertation focuses on topic of using risk elements contamination as a stratigraphic marker in palaeoenvironmental research. The contamination is not studied only as itself, but is viewed as a way to analyse and interpret the sedimentary record of historical events. The contamination carries the information about its original place, its original activity, about development of the landscape.
The Kutná Hora region (central Bohemia; 49°57'0.170"N, 15°15'59.877"E) is a region of important historic mining and smelting activity. The mining started in 13th century and lasted until half of 16th century. Then only sporadic attempts of renewal were made. Spatially limited mining was renewed in second half of the 20th century. Therefore, it is highly probable to find here the contaminants in the role of stratigraphic markers. In the research were used mainly As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, V and Zn as these are the most analysed in contamination studies performed in the region.
The aims of the dissertation were to answer these questions:
To characterize the contamination
- Are some risk elements typical for the contamination originating from the mining and smelting?
- If so, is their environmental (spatial, sedimentary) manifestation diversified?
- Is possible diversity spatially related to particular landscape features or areas?
- Is possible diversity connected to particular activities?
To use the answers in analysis of particular sites
- Is it possible to use the risk elements contamination as stratigraphic marker in fluvial sediments?
- How is the interpretation of particular site influenced by the whole context of regional contamination?
The core of the research is the metaanalysis of contamination data coming from region (the data obtained by our research and also from other studies). The results have brought not only basic characteristics of contamination, mainly concentrations. The crucial result was the structure of studied elemental complex. Only As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are connected to contamination originating in mining and smelting. Other elements - their concentrations and spatial distributions - are uninfluenced by mining and smelting activities. More, the information about connection of As and Cd to mining and Cu, Pb and Zn to smelting was revealed. Both groups recorded with different spatial distributions. Also comparison of results by different approaches has shown that some statistical processing (clr-transformation) of such dataset was much better for interpretation than analyses of only concentrations values.
We studied also the area of confluence of two rivers - Klejnárka (main river draining contaminated region), which is tributary to Labe (Elbe) river. The contamination is still recognizable here, but the diversity between contamination elements is not. The confluence of rivers strongly dilutes the contaminated material. The concentrations decrease. Also here clr-transformation of data enabled to analyse structures of contaminants spatial distribution unrecognizable by concentrations values.
We performed also two vertical profiles analyses. It was shown, that it is highly risky to interpret data of such origin without the complex information about regional contamination context. It was revealed by contextual interpretation of data from one of the profiles, that there is a mixing of geochemical data coming from different statistical populations. The contamination works there as only one of the factors influencing sedimentary record. The site is therefore suitable for statistical testing of two populations mixing, outliers` detection and the like.
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Ecology of Eurasian sparrowhawk in urban and rural areas
Kunca, Tomáš ; Šálek, Miroslav (advisor) ; Bohuslav, Bohuslav (referee)
Urban environments provide suitable habitats for species that are ready to adapt to the specific conditions. One of such species is Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) that has adapted to the Prague city environment. This dissertation explores and describes selected aspects of sparrowhawks ecology in urban and rural environment. It focuses on comparison of selected aspects of sparrowhawk ecology between urban and rural study areas.
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Agricultural in terms of Sustainable Development of Agrarian Sector
Frýdlová, Monika ; Boháčková, Ivana (advisor) ; Smutka, Luboš (referee)
The sustainability discourse clearly gives priority to the so-called "three-pillar model", according to which sustainable development should equally try to reach ecological, economic, and social goals. An increasing variety of methods is being proposed to address the question of the measurement of sustainable development. The concept of sustainable development can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its core is an approach to development that looks to balance different, and often competing, needs against an awareness of the environmental, social and economic limitations we face as asociety. Submitting theses deal with measuring sustainable agriculture and introduces a practical methodology for evaluating the sustainability of agriculture system by means of composite indicators. This methodology was based on calculating seven sustainability indicators that cover the three components of the sustainability concept (economic, social and environmental). The methodological proposal implemented in theses allowed an integrated vision of agricultural sustainability and careful selection of sustainability indicators, carried out on the basis of reliability criteria and applicability. The evaluation of agricultural sustainability/production system sustainability using the methods suggested is a potentially useful tool for public decision-makers who are tasked with designing and implementing agricultural policy. The results demonstrated the usefulness of analyzing several sustainability indicators in conjunction, in order to obtain more robust results. Such information can help to improve current agricultural policies, such as income policy, agricultural structure policy and rural development policy, with the aim of improving the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
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CEA in breeds used for dog-assisted activities and therapies
Tipková, Zuzana ; Sedláková, Vladimíra (advisor) ; Fiala Šebková, Naděžda (referee)
Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is an inherited disease that primarily affects herding dog breeds such as Smooth and Rough Collie, Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog and Australian Shepherd, as well as Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. All these breeds can be used for dog-assisted activities, some individuals are also suitable for dog-assisted therapies. In the literature I found general information about the history, symptoms, diagnosis, mode of inheritance, genetic testing of the predisposed breeds.
CEA was first described in the 50s of the 20th century. Manifestations of CEA vary widely and therefore it has not been known that a variety of symptoms is caused by one disease for a long time.
Choroidal hypoplasia is the characteristic sign, furthermore may be present: coloboma, tortuosity of the retinal blood vessels, intraocular hemorrhage and retinal detachment leading to blindness. CEA cannot be cured. It is recommended to perform an early diagnosis, which is possible from 6 to 8 weeks of age, because the defect can be covered by later pigmentation in older pups and ocular fundus of the dog then appears normal. At first dog breeders did not pay much attention to this anomaly, because it is a small percentage of individuals who become completely blind as a consequence of that disease. Carriers of CEA have no symptoms, but their offspring may inherit a severe form of CEA. We cannot exclude affected individuals from breeding program in the breeds with high prevalence of CEA since it would reduce genetic diversity.
It is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutation in the NHEJ1 gene. After the causative mutation was found, a two-step PCR assay, which uses two primer pairs to quickly detect the mutation in chromosomes, was developed. The latest molecular methods for the diagnosis of CEA include simplified analysis of the deletion without DNA isolation and rapid genotyping technique based on SYBR Green real-time PCR. Genetic tests are available in many countries now and so breeders can control the health of their dogs.
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Analysis of Development Projects´ Planning History: Case Study Praha - Western Part of "Rohanský" Island
Wild, Jan ; Macoun, Milan (advisor) ; Lucie, Lucie (referee)
This bachelor thesis surveys the planning history of the western part of Rohan Island in Prague. The thesis pursues part of Prague situated in Prague 8 called Karlín. The first part provides basic definitions about selected parts of theoretical part. The analytical part pursues history of Karlín since 19th Century. The next chapters look into pursued locality concerning proprietary relationships and planning documents which had key role in decision-making in this area. The subchapters discuss more facts which had an influence on Rohan Island constructions. In the final section of analytical part, there is summary of history of planning. The contribution of the thesis is to find out whether it is reasonable to plan in such big developing areas as Rohan Island or not. Main resources are specialized literature in this area, land maps, city planning studies and interviews with people involved in constructions in the western part of Rohan Island. The thesis includes cartographical and picturical attachments.
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Historic analysis of landscape pattern in context of water erosion risks
Freiman, Jan ; Skřivanová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Klouček, Tomáš (referee)
Abstract Disertation Historic development of landscape structure in the context of the potencional treatened earth water erosion, discribes the process of changes with usage landscape, which took place in cadastral area Vráž u Berouna, Tuchoměřice and Lanžov in královohradecký region. Total expanse all of these areas is 2 315,8 ha.
Selecting areas was held on the planned complex landscaping, becouse of practical use of the change of landscape, which had an impact on water erosion. Pictures, which were chosen for this job are from 1952, 1975 and 2003. The reason for choosing these pictures are equal distance and that the most important influence on remoulding the landscape which have taken place since the 50s of the 20th century due to agriculture collectivization.
Content of literary reserch is to approach the basic concepts, which have connections with the landscape and the assessment its structure including USLE, which deals with the calculation of erosion. For calculation of processes and changes in the landscape exist many tools and methods. In this work ,is analysis and calculation of erosion done with help of geographic informatiom system (GIS). Very important part of this wokr is to interpret the results in the form of map output, tables and graphs.
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Local identity in a small village (a case study)
Kokschová, Veronika ; Hudečková, Helena (advisor) ; Tomáš, Tomáš (referee)
The first part of bachelor thesis covers the theoretical background of local identity. It describes the terms such as identity, countryside, culture and endogenous and other aspects of local development. Theoretical part also covers the demographic structure of Hory Matky Boží. Hory Matky Boží is a part of village Velhartice which is located close to town Sušice. It is a former mining town with a long history as well as with a development from last century.
The empirical research consists of questionnaire survey based on a local identity. The research uncovers meaning of location, identification of inhabitants with this location and satisfaction with living in this location. Basic Outcomes of this survey confirm that identification of local people with this location and its meaning for them are mainly based on natural potential of the location itself. Identification with a place is based on connection with social and cultural capital of the location and also on formalized social capital expressed by the civic engagement.
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Potential conflicts of selected activities with the requirements of Water Framework Directive 2000/60 / EC
Kulštrunková, Zuzana ; Zdražil, Vladimír (advisor) ; Milan, Milan (referee)
Since the mid-20th century, water policy in European countries has gradually changed from the excessive use of natural resources to their protection. The last major change in water policy was putting most of directives into one - to the Water Framework Directive 2000/60 / EC, which introduced water planning and preparation of water programmes on a European scale. Despite its undeniable positives that brought into European water politics, there arise questions about its use in specific projects in practice, especially in hydroelectric power. In some cases, such as for instance case study of the Weser River in Germany shows that the interpretation of the Water Framework Directive is not entirely clear to everyone, so some cases due to ambiguities can get to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
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The causes of desertification in Africa
Nesrovnal, Evžen ; Potopová, Vera (advisor) ; Brigita, Brigita (referee)
This bachelor thesis follows the causes, consequences and future impacts of climate change and desertification in Africa and globally. The work is focused on the Convention itself which deals with combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, especially in developing countries and the related Joint Africa-EU strategy and priority measures. The thesis also deals with the issue of enlargement of deserts and provides a comprehensive overview of areas prone to desertification on all continents. It pays attention to adaptation and mitigation measures at the global level, but also on the African continent and simultaneously due to desertification on agriculture and food security. The last part of the research is a case study of the Sahel which is part of Africa between the 12th and 20th parallel of the northern latitude. It describes the characteristics of the landscape, desertification and possible solutions, eg. appropriate farming practices and habits of the population which is very important to change for development of this highly affected area. Abundant drought in this region had occurred in the 70s, mid-80s and again in the early the 90s of the 20th century, in Sudan since the 70s of the 20th century, each year annual rainfall is reducing. Results based on analysis of historical observations indicate the presence of at least three particularly sensitive regions called the climate "hotspots" - places with the most apparent climate change (rainfall decrease in the dry season is almost one hundred percent).
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History and presence of oak stands in Europe
Kloučková, Dominika ; Bače, Radek (advisor) ; Janda, Pavel (referee)
The aim of this work is to evaluate historical human impact on the expansion of European oak stands in the past through scientific publications and to find existing limitations that affect the oak recovery ability. The European historical forest is characterized by coppicing, of which origins date back to the Neolithic period. The coppice featured vegetative renewal, in the coppice with standards there were left standards of the generative origin, often oaks. Both forms have a very long tradition in European countries. People used the sprouting capacity and the quick regeneration of oak especially for construction purposes and their need for firewood. Acorns secured the source of food for pig farming. Based on for example the ring width or pollen analysis, current methods of research permit to assess the impact of active management on the oak stands and outline the structure of primeval forests. It turned out that coppicing has a positive effect on the increment of oak standards and that the open landscape with a rich diversity of species, which features a picture of a primeval forest, was always maintained especially by a man starting forest fires. Since the mid-20th century, it was gradually transferred to the high shape of the wood, which favors generative way to recovery, and thus monocultures of often coniferous trees are created. Oak is currently health endangered tree species and its recovery is negatively affected by grazing deer (browsing), the influence of abrupt climate change, weed, pathogenic fungi of the genus Phytophthora, oak powdery mildew (Microsphaera alphitoides), tracheomycotic diseases or larvae of winter moth (Operophtera Brumata) and green oak moth (Tortrix viridana). Finally, it is inappropriately selected management that is not based on the rich history of this species and doesn´t preserve its characteristic natural properties.
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