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Classification of global environmental systems according to the level of anthropogenic transformation
Hrdina, Aleš
The topic of the doctoral thesis is the development of a comprehensive classification of global environmental systems based on a geographical synthesis of abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors. The dramatic changes in the Earth's natural environment, the noticeable loss of biodiversity and the increasing impact of human activity in many different aspects raise the need for a comprehensive classification that provides an appropriate spatial framework for assessing the impacts of these changes. Several global classifications have been developed in the past, but most of them only work with various natural environmental gradients (especially climate or relief). However, most regions of the world have been so fundamentally affected or even completely transformed by human activity that the omission of anthropogenic factors in comprehensive environmental classifications may lead to erroneous conclusions. For this reason, new global environmental classifications have recently begun to emerge abroad that attempt to deal with anthropogenic changes to the natural environment and include them in a comprehensive assessment. The proposal of a methodology and the actual creation of the classification of global environmental systems based on abiotic gradients, biodiversity distribution and spatial...
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Classification of global environmental systems according to the level of anthropogenic transformation
Hrdina, Aleš ; Romportl, Dušan (advisor) ; Boltižiar, Martin (referee) ; Václavík, Tomáš (referee)
The topic of the doctoral thesis is the development of a comprehensive classification of global environmental systems based on a geographical synthesis of abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors. The dramatic changes in the Earth's natural environment, the noticeable loss of biodiversity and the increasing impact of human activity in many different aspects raise the need for a comprehensive classification that provides an appropriate spatial framework for assessing the impacts of these changes. Several global classifications have been developed in the past, but most of them only work with various natural environmental gradients (especially climate or relief). However, most regions of the world have been so fundamentally affected or even completely transformed by human activity that the omission of anthropogenic factors in comprehensive environmental classifications may lead to erroneous conclusions. For this reason, new global environmental classifications have recently begun to emerge abroad that attempt to deal with anthropogenic changes to the natural environment and include them in a comprehensive assessment. The proposal of a methodology and the actual creation of the classification of global environmental systems based on abiotic gradients, biodiversity distribution and spatial...
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An anthropogenic transformation of the natural sphere of Africa
Píšová, Šárka ; Romportl, Dušan (advisor) ; Kliment, Zdeněk (referee)
Africa is a heterogeneous environment that is affected by natural and anthropogenic processes. This thesis uses a review method to characterize the natural environment of the continent, present possible classifications of natural conditions and to describe the transformation of this environment. The main methodological aim of the thesis was to determine areas threatened by biodiversity loss due to anthropogenic pressures based on a new classification of the natural environment on a continental level. This was executed by methods of environmental stratification and subsequent environmental classification. Thus, this thesis presents a classification of the natural environment on the basis of homogenous units determined by bioclimatic variables and terrain, which are subsequently related to the biodiversity of birds, amphibians and mammals and to an anthropogenic influence represented by anthropogenic biomes. Finally, the share of protected areas is executed in relation to this anthropogenic transformation of the natural environment. Therefore, the thesis is quite a unique approach, as it takes into account a combination of both physical and socio-economic factors at a continental level. The final output consists of a map of the anthropogenic transformation of Africa's natural environment in the...
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