|
Pollination in forest ecosystems
Veljačiková, Hana ; Janovský, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Hadrava, Jiří (referee)
Interactions between plants and their pollinators in temperate forest are different from open habitats. In forest, pollinators are less abundant and this results in frequent pollen limitation of forest understory herbs. Pollinators also need to be adapted for flying in complex stands and for living in unfavorable microclimatic conditions. Floral resources predominantly limit pollinator abundance because of their uneven distribution in space and time. In the present bachelor thesis, I summarize knowledge on pollinator conservation and phenology as well as food resources, microclimate, which together with sufficient nesting options seem to contribute the most to pollinator abundance. Type of forest management is also an important factor, which affects density and diversity of pollinators. Generally, thinning out of trees and removal of understory shrubs have positive effect on flower abundance and benefit pollinators. Factors that influence reproduction success of flowers and pollen transfer distances are further discussed.
|
|
Dynamical pollination models
Smyčka, Jan ; Herben, Tomáš (advisor) ; Těšitel, Jakub (referee)
Dynamical pollination models (abstract) Pollination is a complex biological phenomenon which may include many interacting plant and animal species. In such a case, and especially when we are interested in effects of spatial structure, it can be helpful to use some formal approach of study, as is dynamical modelling. This thesis describes common methods for pollination modelling in space. The pollination can be divided into two consequent processes - pollinator movement and pollen carryover. Simple method of pollination movement modelling is using some random particle movement patterns, e.g. Brownian motion. This approach is useful mostly for systems with one plant species, or at large scales. More accurate, but difficult, posibility is modelling pollinators" movement through some decision making process based on their behaviour. Pollen carryover models are the necessary "translation" of pollinator movement to variables important for plants. A part of this work is also an analysis of certain pollination models. Their assumptions, predictions and modifications for not yet tackled problems are discussed.
|