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Conservation genetics of the grey wolf in Central Europe
Valentová, Kamila Anna ; Hulva, Pavel (advisor) ; Galov, Ana (referee)
Conservation genetics of the grey wolf in Czech Republic and adjacent regions is studied in the present thesis. Analyses of twenty-one microsatellite loci, one sex-determining amelogenin gene and mitochodrial control region were used to verify species determination, identify individuals and estimate relationships between them, analyse population structure and estimate demographic trends based on samples collected between 2014 and 2021. Genetic detection of red fox and dog samples incorrectly assigned to wolves illustrates the hurdles of field monitoring of grey wolf. Direct evidence for the occurrence of F1 hybrids was not found. Wolves from Bohemia showed lower values of allelic richness in comparison to the ones from Western Carpathians, probably as a consequence of recent expansion. Geographic distances between detection sites of identical individuals were relatively small or moderate in this study, suggesting regular movements of animals within their home ranges. Only two long-distance dispersal events exceeding 300 km were detected. Results of parental analysis provided evidence of pack distribution within the studied area. Most relationships were detected between wolves in the northern region of Czech Republic where the first recolonizing wolf pack in 2014 was registered. Within the studied...
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Seasonality and weather conditions jointly drive flight activity patterns of aquatic and terrestrial chironomids
VEBROVÁ, Lucie
Dispersal by flight is crucial for long-term survival of organisms inhabiting dynamic environments, especially small standing waters. Surprisingly, flight activity of the most abundant macroinvertebrate group in standing freshwater habitats, the Chironomidae, has rarely been studied, leaving a gap in our understanding of the environmental drivers of their dispersal activity. The goal of this study was to investigate flight activity of adult chironomids on diel and seasonal timescales in sandpit pools in the Czech Republic. We show that aquatic and terrestrial chironomids use partly alternating time windows for their flight and partly differ in their responses to weather conditions. We also compare our results to previous studies that analysed the impact of weather conditions on flight activity of aquatic insects.
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Evolution of endemism of mountain animal species
Švihálková, Tereza ; Munclinger, Pavel (advisor) ; Hořák, David (referee)
The mountain islands, isolated habitats surrounded by a distinct lowland environment, are home to a variety of endemic animal species. These hot-spots of biodiversity and endemism can be found mainly in tropical areas. Thus, the occurrence of endemics partially corresponds to the general macro-ecological rules of biogeography. For a more specific explanation of the origin and evolution of mountain animal species, we usually proceed from two theories - vicariate and dispersion. The validity of these theories varies in relation to taxon, locality, and evolutionary past, so it is difficult to generalize them globally. This bachelor thesis summarizes the prerequisites for the occurrence of endemic species and knowledge from some world- important mountain localities with a large number of endemic animals.
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Local dispersal of Golden-ringed dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii
Hančíková, Barbora ; Černý, Martin (advisor) ; Dolný, Aleš (referee)
We carried out a pilot study of local dispersion and patterns of movement of Golden- ringed dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii (Odonata: Cordulegasteridae). Cordulegasteridae is a family with many primitive traits present and rather restricted geographical distribution ranges (at least among European species). Their migration seems to be limited despite the body size that predetermines them to high mobility over large spatial scale. Linear habitat (upper parts of narrow forest streams) specialisation along with behavioural ecology (peculiar premating habit of scanning streams for females) is a unique life history, which bring lot of questions. We collected mark-release-recapture data during two adult flight seasons in year 2010 and 2011. We were simultaneously capturing patrolling males along three separate streams (Dračice, Koštěnický and Struha) in total length of 9.9 km in, located in the Natural park Česká Kanada, in the Southern Czech Republic. We captured and marked 440 individuals and recorded 113 recapture events (26 % recapture rate) in year 2010 and 355 individuals were marked, 171 recapture events made (48 % recapture rate) in 2011. Our data suggested high level of stream fidelity (only 10 inter stream dispersal events, 2.8 % dispersal rate). What was as well reflected in a closeness of...
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Dispersion of freshwater gastropods
Buďová, Jana ; Černý, Martin (advisor) ; Juřičková, Lucie (referee)
Freshwater gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) belong to two tradional taxonomic groups: prosobranchs (Prosobranchia) and pulmonates (Pulmonata). Most of these molluscs are characterized by low vagility. Therefore they usually rely on passive dispersal. Their dispersal vectors are mostly birds and water. Animals can transport snails both externally and internally. Direct methods (capture.mark.recapture, radio - tracking) and genetic methods could be used to study dispersal. For genetic studies can be used many type of molecular markers, but the recently most popular are microsatellites. According to recent studies, the dispersal of freshwater gastropods is probably not as frequent and wide - spread as assumed before. Key words: freshwater snails, dispersal, dispersal vectors, capture - mark - recapture, molecular markers, population genetics
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Impact of river system structure on the genetic diversity of reed populations
Fuxová, Gabriela ; Fér, Tomáš (advisor) ; Kubátová, Barbora (referee)
Many plant species are closely related to river biotopes or to biotopes influenced by rivers. River systems create important linear corridors in ecosystems and directly or non-directly influence spatial spread of species in these environments. This offer many questions about species spread in this system. We can answer these questions by using molecular methods. Using 10 microsatellite (SSRs) primers, 202 individuals of Phragmites australis from 60 populations were analysed. Those analyses allowed reveal kinship of individuals, obtain information about spatial spread of populations and about spreading of common reed. Phragmites australis creates both - monoclonal and polyclonal - populations. Dependence of rate of clonality on environment was revealed. Populations from river banks are more monoclonal, populations from pond shores are more polyclonal. Populations are isolated. The highest percentage of variability was explained on among-population level. This is common for anemochoric species. Communication between populations is present, more on shorter distances. Evidence for vegetative spread was found on short distance. Generative spread is much more common. Long-distance spreading is mediated by generative diaspores - seeds. This spreading includes within-river spread, among-river spread and spreading...
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Landscape structure, habitat properties, species traits or chance: What determines distribution of grassland plants in abandoned fields?
Knappová, Jana ; Münzbergová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Hájek, Michal (referee) ; De Bello, Francesco (referee)
Semi-natural grasslands are among the most threatened habitats in Europe, endangered mainly by cessation of former management practices and conversion into other types of land use. Extensive research has been carried out in European grasslands in last decades, to explain origins of diversity and to provide guidelines for its conservation. However, the very slow response of perennial plants to landscape changes often impedes to accurately evaluate why species occur just where they occur and not elsewhere. Abandoned fields are perceived as potential habitats for species from declining grasslands. Indeed, many species are able to spontaneously colonise abandoned fields, but many other species are absent from communities that develop there. An important question remains what limits their successful establishment. By answering this question, we can gain also important insights into factors determining species distribution in grasslands because colonization of recently abandoned fields by grassland species is the ongoing process which is not obscured by historical changes in landscape structure. The very basic aim of this thesis was to evaluate the status quo of dry grassland plants in fields abandoned in last two decades. And in the second step, to identify what are the main constrains of successful...
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Breeding site fidelity in waterfowl
Kejzlarová, Tereza ; Musil, Petr (advisor) ; Fuchs, Roman (referee)
The thesis is concerned in breeding site fidelity and focused on Anseriformes, especially Anatidae. Higher fidelity ratio in females than in males is an interesting pattern of breeding site fidelity in this bird group. On the contrary, an opposite pattern, i. e. higher fidelity ratio in males prevailed among other bird species. This study is aimed at describing this phenomenon and discussion of factors affecting fidelity ratio. Among, the most important factors, the importance of the previous breeding success and environmental conditions is underlined. The study includes data about fidelity ratio from 40 studies of breeding site fidelity in Anatidae.
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Conservation genetics of grey wolf and snow leopard: effect of landscape attributes to the population structure
Benešová, Markéta ; Hulva, Pavel (advisor) ; Kreisinger, Jakub (referee)
Landscape genetic approaches allow to study effects of landscape to population microevolution. Landscape can influence gene flow even in large carnivores with good dispersal ability. Understanding the influence of landscape to the gene flow between populations is crucial for species conservation, especially in the species with low population densities. Aim of the study was to describe genetic structure of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) and snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in selected areas and to determine the influence of the landscape features on observed structure. Non-invasive genetic samples of snow leopard from Nepal were analysed, as well as invasive and non-invasive samples of grey wolf from Central Europe. Population structure was determined a posteriori using Bayesian clustering approaches that integrate genetic and geographical data, and compared to landscape connectivity models. Population structure of snow leopards is mostly influenced by human presence and presence of frequented roads, which represent a substantial dispersal barrier. Habitat suitable for this species is greatly restricted by altitude, however, during dispersal they are able to overcome areas with higher elevation than what is optimal for them. Pronounced genetic difference was found between central European and Carpathian...
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Conservation genetics of the grey wolf in Central Europe
Valentová, Kamila Anna ; Hulva, Pavel (advisor) ; Galov, Ana (referee)
Conservation genetics of the grey wolf in Czech Republic and adjacent regions is studied in the present thesis. Analyses of twenty-one microsatellite loci, one sex-determining amelogenin gene and mitochodrial control region were used to verify species determination, identify individuals and estimate relationships between them, analyse population structure and estimate demographic trends based on samples collected between 2014 and 2021. Genetic detection of red fox and dog samples incorrectly assigned to wolves illustrates the hurdles of field monitoring of grey wolf. Direct evidence for the occurrence of F1 hybrids was not found. Wolves from Bohemia showed lower values of allelic richness in comparison to the ones from Western Carpathians, probably as a consequence of recent expansion. Geographic distances between detection sites of identical individuals were relatively small or moderate in this study, suggesting regular movements of animals within their home ranges. Only two long-distance dispersal events exceeding 300 km were detected. Results of parental analysis provided evidence of pack distribution within the studied area. Most relationships were detected between wolves in the northern region of Czech Republic where the first recolonizing wolf pack in 2014 was registered. Within the studied...
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