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The importance of woodlots for birds in farmland
Rajmonová, Lenka ; Reif, Jiří (advisor) ; Zasadil, Petr (referee)
One of the outcomes of agricultural intensification is landscape homogenization, particularly obvious in developed countries. Unproductive plots of woody vegetation may represent a refuge for many species within large blocks of open areas. Eventhough it is crucial to assess the importance of such plots for animals in farmland, surprisingly, no synthesis on this topic has been published up to now. Therefore, performance of such an assessment is the main task of this bachelor thesis which is focused on birds since they heavily suffer from agricultural intensification. It was found that marginal vegetation provides not only habitat for breeding and foraging but also ecological corridor for birds᾽ short-distance movement and stopover sites for long-distance migrants. The structure of avian community is affected by specific characteristics of vegetation itself considerably and also by characteristics of landscape in smaller measure. Both farmland and forest birds occur in marginal vegetation, each of these bird groups utilizes these plots in a different way based on its ecological needs, however. The understanding of these mechanisms will allow effective conservation of biodiversity and restoration of once devastated areas. The main goal of conservation should be to ensure heterogeneous landscape mosaic...
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Vliv světelných podmínek listnatých lesů I. a II. vegetačního stupně na epigeickou faunu pavouků
Surovcová, Kamila
The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of canopy openness and associated light conditions on epigeal spider assemblages in abandoned coppice forests in order to develop conservation recommendations for forest management in lowland woodlands. In particular, I studied the effect of canopy openness gradient on species richness, abundance, functional diversity, community composition, conservation value, and degree of rareness of spiders. There was established transects reflecting the canopy openness gradient in each of the eight forest stand. A total number of 90 spider species, including high proportions of xeric specialist and red-listed threatened species. The peaks of conservation indicators, as well as spider community abundance, were shifted toward more open canopies . On the other hand, functional diversity peaked at more closed canopies followed by a rapid decrease with increasing canopy openness. Species richness was highest in the middle of the canopy openness gradient, suggesting an ecotone effect. Ordinations revealed the rapid species turnover along canopy openness gradient with presence of most conservationally important species in sparse and open conditions. The results show that the various components of biodiversity peaked at different levels of canopy openness. Therefore, the restoration and suitable management of such conditions (e.g. conservation thinning, coppice management) will retain important diversification of habitats in lowland oak forests. According to these results, even small-scale activities supporting these conditions could be suitable conservation tools to slow down the general decline of woodland biodiversity.
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Legal and Political Dimension of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Ulík, Karel ; Pulgret, Miroslav (advisor) ; Landovský, Jakub (referee)
The thesis deals with the issue of compliance in the context of international treaties on protection of endangered species. Two important treaties are subject of the analysis - the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (known as CITES) and the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. My research focuses on the question whether member states comply with their obligations arising from the treaties. If they do not, then I look for a response to the violation such as use of compliance instruments (e. g. sanctions) and its effect on the breaching state, mainly if the response (if there was any) was successful in making the state come back into compliance. Finally, based on experience with CITES, ICRW and other multilateral environmental treaties, I attempt to design some of the new ICRW compliance mechanism features in order to increase its effectiveness.
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Assesing the complience of nature conservation in the Czech republic with international strategic objectives
Daněk, Jan ; Vačkářová, Davina Elena (advisor) ; Kružíková, Eva (referee)
The subject of the master thesis is the assessment of the compliance of nature conservation in the Czech Republic with international strategic objectives, analysing the mainstreaming of biodiversity across government and society and analysing the fulfilment of the commitments rising for the Czech Republic as a member of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The thesis is focused on an assessment of strategic goal A of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its 4 Aichi targets related to the mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecosystem services in society and policy. The methodology used is a systematic search of available relevant documents and other related sources, especially the national reports from the Ministry of the Environment to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other associated analysis and reports. Another aim of the thesis is summarizing the current state of the mainstreaming of biodiversity to governance and decision making and identifying the areas which are not included in the national strategic documents or are not included sufficiently. In addition to the theoretical analysis, the thesis suggests specific actions and indicators for reaching the targets included in the international strategic documents, particularly the Strategic plan of...
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The effect of different management strategies on the dynamics of saproxylic insect habitats
ŠEBEK, Pavel
The thesis concerns studies on habitats utilized by insects associated with deadwood. It presents a review of current issues in the conservation of saproxylic biodiversity. The effects of active intervention on temperate lowland woodland habitats, such as pollarding or coppicing, are evaluated in terms of their suitability for saproxylic communities and other groups. Further, the importance of open-grown trees for saproxylic diversity is assessed.
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Economical and institutional analysis of biodiversity conservation provided by private sector in the Czech Republic
Marek, Tomáš ; Louda, Jiří (advisor) ; Kalabisová, Jana (referee)
The diploma thesis identifies the motivation of the land trusts in the Czech Republic and analyses the institutional environment, in which they work. Furthermore, it defines the factors influencing the activity and efficiency of the private land conservation and explores its relationship with the biodiversity conservation provided by the public sector. The method used is an analytical narrative consisting of the combination of oral narration and socio-economic analytical methods. Interviews with selected land trusts managers were carried out and original case studies were created. As emerged from the analysis, land trusts are created in order to complete the state biodiversity conservation, upon which they are dependent mainly as far as money is concerned. The land trusts have most of the areas in a long-term tenancy. They do not have enough money to buy the areas. This is also proved by the shortage in business activities in comparison with foreign countries. The situation of private conservation abroad was examined as well and compared with the situation in this country. The main contribution of this diploma thesis is the fact that it creates the overview of private biodiversity conservation in the Czech Republic and abroad as one of the first thesis.
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The conflict between economic development and conservation of biodiversity in the Bohemian Forest (model areas: Lipno nad Vltavou and Kovářov)
FLEISCHMANNOVÁ, Iveta
The conflict between economic development and conservation of biodiversity of the Bohemian Forest area is researched within this thesis. The literature devoted to this topic was reviewed and bio-indicators were evaluated to assess the effect of the tourism industry on biodiversity. Tourism is the main source of economic development in the area. The original study was performed in two model areas located near the Bohemian Forest National Park. The model area Lipno nad Vltavou is a heavily used tourist zone, visited by a wide spectra of tourists. The model area Kovářov differs as it currently experiences lower tourist numbers. Transformation of Kovářov into a large tourist centre is expected in the near future. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the impact of tourism on biodiversity and to assess the options for sustainable development. This study concludes that anthropogenic activities have been found to have a negative effect on biodiversity in both model areas and future sustainable development is conditional on correct management as evidenced by the biological and socio-economic research presented here.
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Fish community Turovecky stream
NÁDVORNÍK, Petr
The monitoring of the fish guilds in trout fishery of the Turovecky stream was carried out using electrofishing in three preselected localities where the stream has natural character with imperceptible human intervention. The electrofishing was carried out in 2009 and 2010 during April, June and September. The significant factors influencing the species composition in the fishery include store-ponds above the fished out localities and the Turovecky pond located below. The basic ichtyological analysis was carried out after the electrofishing. Acquired results served for the determination of the species abundance, biodiversity and dominance. Altogether were 22 fish species caught in these three localities. Most frequently seen species were Salmo trutta m. fario (112 pieces), Gobio Gobio (51 pieces), endangered species Lota lota (26 pieces), Cottus Gobio (15 pieces) and protected species Lampetra planeri (19 pieces). Abnormal species included Rutilus rutilus (46 pieces) and allochthonous species Pseudorasbora parva (75 pieces) in given localities. The results show the increase of species diversity in the stream by the pond fish and nursery fish species. It is highly probable that new and even invasive fish species have negative impacts on the original stream biota.
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Is trade regulation, defined by the international treaty CITES, the most suitable tool for protecting threatened plants and animals?
Drýk, Martin ; Slavíková, Lenka (advisor) ; Vejchodská, Eliška (referee)
This bachelor's thesis shall attempt to analyze individual approaches to protection of life threatened wild animals and plants. I shall focus on the current international trade regulatory policy, established by CITES, which approves the trade only after the other individual requirements and approvals have been vested. Since the population size of these plants and animals is constantly shrinking, what might be also pointing at the insufficient functionality of this system, if not directly at its detrimental consequences, I shall place the free market model against the current restrictive system. I shall clearly define proprietary rights related to these animals and plants, and also there will be an option for using these threatened species for commercial purposes. My experience with trade regulations and their consequences from other market segments shall me serve as a certain form of inspiration. The purpose of this work is to confirm that the regulated trade may not only be ineffective in saving wild animals and plants but even contributing to their extinction. Conversely enough, the application of the free market mechanism might rectify the current dissatisfying state.
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