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Long-term trends in sulphur and nitrogen wet deposition - a comparison of Northern Hemisphere regions
Vlnasová, Eliška ; Hůnová, Iva (advisor) ; Kaňa, Jiří (referee)
This scientific literature review examines the time trends of wet atmospheric deposition of sulphur and nitrogen over a four decade period in three regions of the Northern Hemisphere, namely Europe, North America and Southeast Asia. The wet atmospheric deposition processes transport sulphur and nitrogen compounds from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface via vertical or horizontal pathways. Excessive levels of these deposited compounds can cause a number of environmental problems, such as change in biodiversity, degradation of forest stands or change in water and soil chemistry. It is therefore necessary to monitor and evaluate these trends. Sulphur and nitrogen can enter the atmosphere through anthropogenic emissions, among other sources. The change in sulphur and nitrogen emissions over the last four decades has undoubtedly influenced the time trends of wet deposition. The aim of this work is to evaluate these patterns in addition to the sulphur and nitrogen trends. This work also addresses the change in wet deposition ion ratios, in particular the change in the ratio of NH4 + to NO3 - in the wet deposition of nitrogen. Wet deposition of sulphur, in line with a significant reduction in sulphur compounds emissions, records a noticeable decrease in both Europe and North America, but wet...
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The role of biotic interactions in plant invasions
Štajerová, Kateřina ; Pyšek, Petr (advisor) ; Prach, Karel (referee) ; Richardson, David M. (referee)
- ABSTRACT - The loss of co-adapted and gain of novel biotic interactions during the invasion process influence the success or failure of introduced plants. Within the present thesis, I studied diverse biotic interactions, specifically the relationships between plants and their herbivores, pollinators, fungi, and resident plant communities, and how biotic interactions can be utilized in planning effective science-based management. With my collaborators, we combined the community and biogeographical approach with the reciprocal transcontinental comparison between Eurasia and North America, based on primary data collected in the field. Of numerous hypotheses for the striking success of invasive plants, the enemy release hypothesis (ERH) is one of the most frequently tested. It asserts that the greater performance of introduced plants in non-native ranges is due to the absence, or decrease, in regulation by natural enemies that are left behind in the native range. Our results, in a broad sense, supported ERH, but we found that the magnitude of herbivore damage is context-dependent, related to the feeding guild and origin of both herbivores and plant species and that the increased plant performance in a new range might also be related to other factors, such as the shift in plant competition. Of animal-plant...
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Traveler Čeněk Paclt (1813-1887) - the first Czech that has ever been to all five continents in respect to historical anthropology
Kříž, Jaroslav ; Opatrný, Josef (advisor) ; Binková, Simona (referee)
This dissertation analyzes the life of Czech traveler Čeněk Paclt (1813 - 1887), who was born in the town of Turnov. Čeněk Paclt belongs to the most famous Czech travelers. He is also the first Czech, who has provably traveled through all five inhabited continents and has left written evidence about his journeys. Fundamental part of this thesis is focusing on his life and describes his adventures, which he had come across on the five continents. The thesis is written in historical, and employs historical anthropology, which focuses on a single individual in the course of human events, as one of the main methodological approaches. Secondarily, this thesis elaborates Paclt's personality and his view on aboriginal cultures, which he encountered during his travels, and Paclt's relationship towards his hometown is also mentioned. Furthermore, the dissertation touches upon traveling background in Czech nation during 19th century.
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Geography and natural history curriculums integration for secondary schools - example of the living nature of America
Sovičková, Michaela ; Mourek, Jan (advisor) ; Blažová, Kateřina (referee)
Classical frontal teaching, where pupils are supposed to listen to the teacher and make notes is becoming stereotypical. Therefore I decided to focus on a topic where I can apply more teaching methods both in Geography lessons and Biology ones. The goal of this work was to create a teaching guide including necessary materials covering the topic of American natural lanscapes and afterwards to evaluate the contribution of these activities. The teaching materials were tested in two classes in The Basic School in Dolní Břežany. Both classes underwent a pretest, the first posttest (immediately after the experimental lessons), the second posttest (six weeks after the experimental lessons) and pupils also tried activities in which they had to apply their achieved knowledge. The data were evaluated using statistical analyses where the results showed a progress of gained knowledge between the pretest and the first posttest, whereas their knowledge did not significantly differ between the first and second posttest. It can be concluded that pupils broadened their knowledge, which was deeper than at the beginning and the pupils were able to retain this knowledge for a longer time. Key words: North America, South America, natural lanscapes, Biology, Geography, activating teaching methods, curriculum integration
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A Contribution to the Study of Early English Settlement in North America
Přívozník, František ; Kovář, Martin (advisor) ; Valkoun, Jaroslav (referee)
The Bachelor thesis describes the beginnings of English settlement in North America during the 17th century. The thesis deals with the development of the Roanoke Colony and the causes of its failure, then focuses on the economic and commercial importance of Virginia and the religious issues in this area. The thesis attempts to clarify the motives of England for founding the colonies in the broader foreign policy view, together with many aspects e.g. the social structure of settlers, local governments or relations with the natives. Keywords English Settlement, North America
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Consequences of NAFTA Trade Agreement for the Car Industry in North America
Dobeš, Petr ; Kozák, Kryštof (advisor) ; Fiřtová, Magdalena (referee)
The subject of this thesis is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed between the United States of America, Canada and Mexico and its impact on the automotive industry in North America between the years 1994, when NAFTA came into force, and 2009, when two major American car manufacturers, General Motors and Chrysler, went bankrupt during the global-scale recession and the industry changed significantly. The thesis is based on the theory of comparative advantages, as it was described by a British economist David Ricardo in the 19th century. It subscribes to the general principle that a free trade is beneficial to all engaged parties, because it enables more effective allocation of resources and provides for more specialization of production. The thesis argues NAFTA was a complex and ambitious international trade deal that had profound impact on the evolution of this branch of industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico, however its impact on the economy as a whole was limited and many of the changes, attributed to NAFTA, would likely have happened even without its passage due to the natural process of evolution of the industry and modernization. The creation of a continent-wide zone of free trade enabled local and foreign car makers to establish international supply chains that...
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Portrayal of Native Americans in American Cinema in 1980s and 1990s
Vodňanský, Martin ; Sehnálková, Jana (advisor) ; Raková, Svatava (referee)
My work deals with the process of displaying of the North American Indian in the American cinematography. It describes the development, transformations and stereotypes in this process from the very beginning until the end of the nineties. In detail it deals with the Indian-thematized filmmaking in the 80s and 90s and it emphasizes, according to the author, the most important Indian movies. The focus point of the study lies in the analysis of two movies Powwow Highway and Smoke Signals, which were created by the Indian production in the late 80s and 90s. The aim of the work is, with the help of the analysis, to answer the question "Were the Indian actors and directors essential for more realistic portrayal of American Indians in American cinematography?" After analyzing the mentioned movies and presenting the arguments to this question, the conclusion is affirmative.
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Josef Colloredo-Mannsfeld's travels
Jiráková, Anežka ; Štěpánová, Irena (advisor) ; Hejzlarová, Tereza (referee)
Josef Colloredo-Mannsfelds Travels Travels to North America (1904 - 1906) Řešitel Anežka Jiráková Školitel Doc. PhDr. Irena Štěpánová, CSc. Abstract Between years 1904 and 1906 realised Josef Colloredo-Mannsfeld (1866 - 1957) two travels to North America. He was accompanied by his wife Yvonne. Both several months lasting travels took place in winter. Their accurate reconstruction is impossible due to the lack of archive materials. Most information has been preserved in Joseph's itinerary, where he wrote about visiting Alaska and Yukon in 1904. Josef brought back a number of animal trophies and valuable ethnographic material, which now can be seen in Opočno castle or in Náprstek museum in Prague. The author of this diploma thesis focuses mainly on the reconstruction and describing of the travels, she also discusses the personality of Josef Colloredo- Mannsfeld and writes about hunting, travelling and understanding of ethnicity in the contemporary context.
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The North America in Early Maps
Jílková, Petra ; Bayer, Tomáš (advisor) ; Chrást, Josef (referee)
The North America in Early Maps Abstract The objective of this thesis is to analyze selected map works of European cartographers h showing the territory of North America in the period from 16. to 19. century. Using the cartometric and semiotic methods the map attributes are analyzed focusing the detection and description of the cartographic projection. Next, within the analysis of the topographic content the map symbols and the language of the map are discussed and interesting geographical mistakes of the authors are noticed. On the basis of the partial analyzes the progression of the continent depiction is documented with emphasis on the progression of map symbols and on the change of the shape of the continent in the given period. Key words: North America, cartometry, semiotics, European cartography, discovery, detectproj
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