|
|
Multi-component signalling in turtles and squamate reptiles
Brejcha, Jindřich ; Kleisner, Karel (advisor) ; Rehák, Ivan (referee) ; Carazo, Pau (referee)
Multicomponent signals are complex stimuli directed to receptors of only single modality. Colourful ornaments of animals are multicomponent signals. In this thesis I present results of studies on the origin of coloration in turtles and squamate reptiles together with notes on relativistic view of the functionality of animal coloration. The results show that turtle coloration, which have been studied only marginally until now, is shaped by sexual selection. It is shown that turtles share mechanisms of coloration by vertical organization of different pigment cell types together with squamate reptiles. Turtles also produce colour by organization of collagen fibres which share trait with birds and mammals. Mechanisms of body coloration differ dramatically between closely related turtle species studied even though the individual constituting components are shared among these species. On the example of polymorphic lizards, it is shown that qualitative categorical difference between groups of individuals of the same population are maintained based on quantitative changes in pigment contents regulated by ancient loci shared by different species. The turtles and reptiles are valuable source of our knowledge on the evolution of multicomponent visual signalling due to their intriguing composition of skin....
|
|
|
Breeding and rearing of endangered turtles in zoos - trend and distribution analysis
TOTUŠKOVÁ, Gabriela
Turtles had first appeared on Earth more than 300 million years ago. While other an-imal species had evolved and subsequently perished, the turtles have survived due to their unique evolutionary adjustments. However, they were not prepared for rapid changes in nature, nor were they prepared for the human threat. There are currently 328 turtle species of which more than a half is in danger of extinction. One of the possible ways of preventing extinction of the rarest species of turtles in the wild may be their breeding in zoos. For the most endangered species, a suffi-cient and reproducing population there may be the last resort in preventing them from going extinct as well as give them a chance to eventually be reintroduced. In 2021, out of 50 endangered turtle species on the Turtles in trouble list, 41 spe-cies were bred in captivity in zoological gardens worldwide. Of these only 10 % of these had population greater than 500, 54 % had population greater than 50 and the remaining 36 % had population of up to 50. In 2021, only 26 species reproduced and during the years 2017-2021, 31 out of the 50 species had bred at least once.
|
|
|
Development of the climate during the Miocene based on the study of reptilian associations in northwest Bohemia
Chroust, Milan ; Mazuch, Martin (advisor) ; Zajíc, Jaroslav (referee) ; Sabol, Martin (referee)
The PhD thesis is about fossil crocodiles and turtles from the Most basin and their implication in paleoclimatic and paleoecological reconstruction. The thesis is composed of accompanying text together with four separate scientific papers included in the attachment. Dozens of bony fragments, which belong to fossil crocodiles and turtles, are known from the Most basin (NW Bohemia, Czechia). Surprisingly, the high biodiversity of fossil turtles was revealed. According to a study of fossil crocodiles and turtles we are able to reconstruct the ancient landscape (i.e., ecosystems), mean annual temperatures together with the extremes in summer and winter periods. However, for the proper reconstruction of paleotemperatures, the taxonomic description is mandatory. Fossil crocodiles and turtles lack the systematic review, while they are in fact the most abundant material compared to other fossil vertebrates (i.e., mammals, birds, etc.). Crocodylian material belongs to the genus Diplocynodon and thanks to the cranial material from the Tušimice site, we are able to describe it as Diplocynodon ratelii. The soft-shell turtles (Trionychinae) from the Břešťany site are described as Rafetus bohemicus including the new diagnostic characters. Another trionychid material is for now impossible to determine at the...
|
|
|
Evolution of karyotypes and sex determination in the turtle family Geoemydidae
Clemente, Lorenzo ; Rovatsos, Michail (advisor) ; Montiel Jimenez, Eugenia Elisabet (referee) ; Castiglia, Riccardo (referee)
(IN ENGLISH) The majority of studied turtles show temperature-dependent sex determination, but genotypic sex determination (i.e. presence of sex chromosomes) was identified sporadically. This thesis aims to investigate and expand our knowledge on the evolution of the karyotype and the sex determination in turtles, particularly focusing on the family Geoemydidae, a group of turtles with previously documented variability in sex determination systems. The presence of sex chromosomes was explored by a combination of conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques for the analysis of karyotypes, distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-banding) and repetitive elements and comparative genome hybridization (FISH, CGH). In total, 49 species of turtles from nine different families were cytogenetically examined in this study. In the family Geoemydidae, a remarkable similarity in karyotypes was identified, consisting of 2n=52 chromosomes (which is suggested to be the ancestral diploid number for all turtles) and a similar topology of rDNA loci and telomeric repeats. Sharma et al. (1975) previously reported ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes in Pangshura smithii. However, in the analysis presented in this thesis, it is suggested a possible misidentification of these sex chromosomes due to erroneous pairing of...
|
|
|
Factors influencing worldwide zoo collections of lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodiles: effect of conservation status, body size and their attractiveness to humans
Janovcová, Markéta ; Landová, Eva (advisor) ; Komárek, Stanislav (referee)
There is a large number of species existing in the world; each year, however, the number of the endangered ones rapidly increases. Nowadays, captive breeding becomes an option for their survival in refugees. Sufficient population with satisfactory breeding management gives hope for survival to the endangered species (in mid-term) or even possible future reintroduction to their natural habitat. WAZA is currently the world's leading association of worldwide zoos and similar breeding facilities. Because these institutions operate as a network to facilitate the exchange of reared individuals, for conservation purposes, their captive populations may be seen as one large population characterized by its size, i.e., the total number of individuals. Such view is currently recognized by many conservationists as the so-called concept of Noah's Ark. The space on the Ark is limited, therefore it is needed to heed the characteristics of the species aboard to maximize the conservation potential. Many factors influence the presence of species in zoological gardens. Following previous studies we selected some factors that may be important, i.e., body lenght, taxonomy, and IUCN status. Analysis of these factors among the main reptile clades shall reveal the pattern of reptile composition in worldwide zoos. One of the factors...
|
|
|
Postnatal Ontogenesis of the Skull of the Pond Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta)
Čtrnáctová, Lenka ; Brejcha, Jindřich (advisor) ; Soukup, Vladimír (referee)
This thesis focuses on the descriptive analysis of skull morphology of the pond slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). The general approach was an osteological preparation of the skulls and photographic documentation (following standardised procedures) of a larger sample of specimens. The collected data was used as a background for subsequent GMM analyses. Main hypotheses of this project were: 1) the skull of T. s. elegans is sexually dimorphic; 2) the skull of T. s. elegans constitutes of several independent modules. The objective of this thesis was therefore to describe the postnatal ontogenesis of the model taxon and to determine the developmental trends of its cranial structures. It was shown that the skull of T. s. elegans is sexually dimorphic in shape mainly due to differences in allometric growth. These differences probably reflect different nutritional requirements. The skull of T. s. elegans is formed out of four modules. These are: facial, central, basicranial, and possibly also zygomatic-pterygoideal modules.
|
|
|
Multi-component signalling in turtles and squamate reptiles
Brejcha, Jindřich ; Kleisner, Karel (advisor) ; Rehák, Ivan (referee) ; Carazo, Pau (referee)
Multicomponent signals are complex stimuli directed to receptors of only single modality. Colourful ornaments of animals are multicomponent signals. In this thesis I present results of studies on the origin of coloration in turtles and squamate reptiles together with notes on relativistic view of the functionality of animal coloration. The results show that turtle coloration, which have been studied only marginally until now, is shaped by sexual selection. It is shown that turtles share mechanisms of coloration by vertical organization of different pigment cell types together with squamate reptiles. Turtles also produce colour by organization of collagen fibres which share trait with birds and mammals. Mechanisms of body coloration differ dramatically between closely related turtle species studied even though the individual constituting components are shared among these species. On the example of polymorphic lizards, it is shown that qualitative categorical difference between groups of individuals of the same population are maintained based on quantitative changes in pigment contents regulated by ancient loci shared by different species. The turtles and reptiles are valuable source of our knowledge on the evolution of multicomponent visual signalling due to their intriguing composition of skin....
|
|
|
Turtle and Tortoise Protection Legislation
Trejbalová, Samanta ; Žákovská, Karolina (advisor) ; Damohorský, Milan (referee)
Turtle and Tortoise Protection Legislation Abstract The thesis focuses on turtle and tortoise protection in international law, Czech legislation on breeding turtles in captivity, and legislation concerning protection of biodiversity against turtles as alien or invasive species. The objective is to describe and analyse turtle protection legislation and if concluded that the legislation is not sufficient, make proposals de lege ferenda. Another objective is to describe biodiversity protection legislation in a situation when a turtle species is in a position of alien or invasive species. The first part contains introduction to the matter considered. It includes biological classification, the importance of turtles for ecosystems, with special focus on sea turtles, and threats to turtles, again with special focus on sea turtles. The second part focuses on turtle protection in general agreements on nature protection - global and regional. In the first chapter, there are global agreements which are then divided to The Convention on Biological Diversity, agreements on protections of habitat, and agreements on species protection. In the second chapter, there are regional "land" agreements listed. The third part concentrates on specifics of sea turtle legislation. At first, relevant parts of UNCLOS are mentioned....
|
|
|
Postnatal Ontogenesis of the Skull of the Pond Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta)
Čtrnáctová, Lenka ; Brejcha, Jindřich (advisor) ; Soukup, Vladimír (referee)
This thesis focuses on the descriptive analysis of skull morphology of the pond slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). The general approach was an osteological preparation of the skulls and photographic documentation (following standardised procedures) of a larger sample of specimens. The collected data was used as a background for subsequent GMM analyses. Main hypotheses of this project were: 1) the skull of T. s. elegans is sexually dimorphic; 2) the skull of T. s. elegans constitutes of several independent modules. The objective of this thesis was therefore to describe the postnatal ontogenesis of the model taxon and to determine the developmental trends of its cranial structures. It was shown that the skull of T. s. elegans is sexually dimorphic in shape mainly due to differences in allometric growth. These differences probably reflect different nutritional requirements. The skull of T. s. elegans is formed out of four modules. These are: facial, central, basicranial, and possibly also zygomatic-pterygoideal modules.
|
|
|
Factors influencing worldwide zoo collections of lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodiles: effect of conservation status, body size and their attractiveness to humans
Janovcová, Markéta ; Landová, Eva (advisor) ; Komárek, Stanislav (referee)
There is a large number of species existing in the world; each year, however, the number of the endangered ones rapidly increases. Nowadays, captive breeding becomes an option for their survival in refugees. Sufficient population with satisfactory breeding management gives hope for survival to the endangered species (in mid-term) or even possible future reintroduction to their natural habitat. WAZA is currently the world's leading association of worldwide zoos and similar breeding facilities. Because these institutions operate as a network to facilitate the exchange of reared individuals, for conservation purposes, their captive populations may be seen as one large population characterized by its size, i.e., the total number of individuals. Such view is currently recognized by many conservationists as the so-called concept of Noah's Ark. The space on the Ark is limited, therefore it is needed to heed the characteristics of the species aboard to maximize the conservation potential. Many factors influence the presence of species in zoological gardens. Following previous studies we selected some factors that may be important, i.e., body lenght, taxonomy, and IUCN status. Analysis of these factors among the main reptile clades shall reveal the pattern of reptile composition in worldwide zoos. One of the factors...
|
guest ::
