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The Effect of Presence and Abundance of Parasites (Nomada, Stylops) on the Host Species Population (Hymenoptera: Andrena) at the Level of Entire Communities
Bureš, Vít ; Straka, Jakub (advisor) ; Libra, Martin (referee)
Bees (Anthophila) play a crucial role as pollinators, vital for maintaining biodiversity in ecosystems. However, the decline in pollinator populations in recent years raises concerns about ecosystem stability. This study investigates the impact of parasitism on host bee populations of the genus Andrena as a potential factor influencing the decline of insects. Additionally, it examines populations of parasites of the genera Stylops and Nomada as indicators of host population status. Bees of the genus Andrena are abundant in the western Palearctic and are commonly parasited by Stylops and Nomada. Leveraging a large dataset from Europe, this study uses abundance data to explore the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the parasitization rates of host Andrena bees. Specifically, the effects of abiotic factors such as altitude, habitat type, annual rainfall, and average temperature on the parasitization rates by both parasite types has not been confirmed. The results indicate that within small geographical units (sites), larger populations of host Andrena bees are more heavily parasitized by Stylops compared to smaller populations, while this trend does not hold true for Nomada. Interestingly, this study reveals that Stylops and Nomada coexist within the same host populations without competing for...
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Community structure and diversity of corticolous algae in micro- and mesoscales
Štifterová, Anna ; Neustupa, Jiří (advisor) ; Hrčková, Kristýna (referee)
This diploma thesis was focused on the community ecology of corticolous subaerial cyanobacteria and algae. Altogether 54 morphotypes were identified on the surface of the tree bark in the Nature Reserve Březina in České středohoří Mts., Czech Republic. Compared to publish data on tropical and subtropical habitats, high morphological diversity of these organisms in a temperate region was thus recognized. Coccoid green algae - most of them belonging to the class Trebouxio-phyceae - dominated. In a study focused on the algae community structure at small spatial scales (such as a single tree trunk), the temporal factors were found as the most important factor influencing the species composition. The height of a sample on trunks and type of bark roughness seemed to influence the species richness, yet the differences were not significant. The alpha-diversity and species composition of corticolous algal communities among individual trees were strongly influenced by host tree species. The pH of the bark surface also had significant impact on species composition. Generally, trees with lower pH of the bark surface (alder, spruce) had lower species richness, whereas trees with more alkaline bark surface (ash, beech, maple) had higher alpha-diversity values. Considering the generally efficient dispersal ability of...
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Effect of urban gradient on composition of bat communities in Central European landscapes.
Kočí, Jakub ; Lučan, Radek (advisor) ; Andreas, Michal (referee)
Bats (Chiroptera) are usually considered as a group greatly endangered by destructing their habitats through the human activity. However, a significant part of bat species at the central Europe use human buildings as shelters, moreover the natural shelters are marginal or unknown in several species. Considering the linkage of the great part of our bat species to the fragmented area and in connection with a long term human influence on the central european landscape we ask whether at least part of our species see human activity through providing proper shelters as positive. Based on the analysis of landscape structure and ruggedness effect on density, diversity and population structure of bat assamblages acquired by standardized mist net captures located in lowlands (elevations below 500 m) of Czech Republic (204 localities, 3585 bats, 22 bat species), we found that even though most of reactions were species specific and few species seemed to be positively associated with urban environments, most of the bat species rely on the broad-leaved forest cover and other natural habitats such as water bodies. The most significant factor influencing sexual segregation for bats was ruggedness of surrounding landscape. Keywords: Bats, Chiroptera, fragmentation, Europe, temperate zone
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Diversity of traits of aculeatan hymonopterans in habitats with finely-grained substrate
Wofková, Gabriela ; Tropek, Robert (advisor) ; Šlancarová, Jana (referee)
Natural habitats of aculeate hymenopterans are rapidly decreasing and strictly specialized species are thus going to be endangered or extinct. However, in the last decades the conservation potential of postindustrial sites has been found. There were many endangered and nationally extinct species recorded along with the drift sand specialists. However, one unclear thing remains - on postindustrial sites there were still no recordings of species that have similar biological traits to the species that are colonizing these sites. The main target of my thesis was to find traits which make it possible for the insects to colonize postindustrial sites. A matrix of 79 traits was made to describe aculeate hymenopterans biotope preferences, phenology, morphology, biogeographical area, nest, food and life history strategies. With these traits I describe 351 species systematically collected on twenty-one localities with finely - grained substrate found in Polabi and South Bohemia. These traits were tested with weighted mean abundances on type of substrate (artificial vs. sandy) with GEE analysis and the type of locality (dumping ground of coal combustion, ore and sand sludge vs. sandpits vs. natural sand) with PCoA analysis. A phylogenetic correction was incorporated in both analyzes. My results show that on...
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Community ecology from the perspective of classic and bayesian statistics
Klimeš, Adam ; Keil, Petr (advisor) ; Herben, Tomáš (referee)
Community ecology from the perspective of classic and Bayesian statistics Ekologie společenstev z hlediska klasické a Bayesovské statistiky Řešitel: Adam Klimeš Vedoucí práce: Mgr. Petr Keil, Ph.D. Abstract Quantitative evaluation of evidence through statistics is a central part of present-day science. Bayesian approach represents an emerging but rapidly developing enrichment of statistical analysis. The approach differs in its foundations from the classic methods. These differences, such as the different interpretation of probability, are often seen as obstacles for acceptance of Bayesian approach. In this thesis I outline ways to deal with the assumptions of Bayesian approach, and I address the main objections against it. I present Bayesian approach as a new way to handle data to answer scientific questions. I do this from a standpoint of community ecology: I illustrate the novelty that Bayesian approach brings to data analysis of typical community ecology data, specifically, the analysis of multivariate datasets. I focus on principal component analysis, one of the typical and frequently used analytical techniques. I execute Bayesian analyses that are analogical to the classic principal components analysis, I report the advantages of the Bayesian version, such as the possibility of working with...
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Community structure and diversity of corticolous algae in micro- and mesoscales
Štifterová, Anna ; Neustupa, Jiří (advisor) ; Hrčková, Kristýna (referee)
This diploma thesis was focused on the community ecology of corticolous subaerial cyanobacteria and algae. Altogether 54 morphotypes were identified on the surface of the tree bark in the Nature Reserve Březina in České středohoří Mts., Czech Republic. Compared to publish data on tropical and subtropical habitats, high morphological diversity of these organisms in a temperate region was thus recognized. Coccoid green algae - most of them belonging to the class Trebouxio-phyceae - dominated. In a study focused on the algae community structure at small spatial scales (such as a single tree trunk), the temporal factors were found as the most important factor influencing the species composition. The height of a sample on trunks and type of bark roughness seemed to influence the species richness, yet the differences were not significant. The alpha-diversity and species composition of corticolous algal communities among individual trees were strongly influenced by host tree species. The pH of the bark surface also had significant impact on species composition. Generally, trees with lower pH of the bark surface (alder, spruce) had lower species richness, whereas trees with more alkaline bark surface (ash, beech, maple) had higher alpha-diversity values. Considering the generally efficient dispersal ability of...
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