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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...
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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...
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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...
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