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Influence of insect herbivory on plant competition
Opltová, Radka ; Kuťáková, Eliška (advisor) ; Florianová, Anna (referee)
Plant communities are influenced by many factors, such as soil properties, humidity, temperature, resource availability or competition and herbivory. This thesis summarizes current knowledge about insect herbivory and its impact on plant competition in the context of plant communities, especially in grasslands. The competition outcome depends on numerous factors, such as the competitiveness of focal as well as neighbouring plants, trade-off between fast growth and production of defensive chemicals, resource availability etc. Insect herbivory can significantly impact plant competition, and the impact depends on herbivore abundance and its specific traits, such as feeding preferences or occupied habitat. Although herbivory often reduces plant biomass, it can stabilize the community structure by suppressing strong competitors and, therefore, keeping higher plant biodiversity. Plant response to herbivory can sometimes develop over a long time, so long-term observations of changes in plant communities are necessary. It is my willingness to continue with research based on this review, within the context of a master thesis. Specifically, I would deal with the impact of belowground herbivory on seminatural mountain grassland in the Krkonoše Mountains. As a model herbivore species I chose the garden chafer...
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Transgenerational effects of plant biotic interactions
PUY GUTIÉRREZ, Javier
This thesis focuses on the transgenerational effects triggered by plant biotic interactions and explores their relevance on ecological and evolutionary processes. The following sections document novel results that show their important consequences on different aspects. Primarily, we established the necessary methodology to be able to explore these questions and to disentangle the mechanisms originating the transgenerational plasticity by validating a demethylation method. Then, we checked whether the biotic interactions alter the phenotype via within-generation and transgenerational plasticity, examining the magnitude and direction of the response on each specific "response traits". Lastly, the potential role of transgenerational plasticity for adaptation, species coexistence, creating biodiversity and population and ecosystem functioning is tested.
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Th effect of fertilization oan microbial and chemical soil properties in post mining sites.
Hermová, Markéta ; Frouz, Jan (advisor) ; Kryštůfek, Václav (referee)
The effects of fertiliser application, recultivation type and site age on chemical and microbiological soil properties were examined on a short-term (1year) experimental trial situated on spoil heaps in Sokolov mining district, Czech Republic. Treatments at the site included fertilisation by inorganic form of nitrogen, concretely calcic saltpetre (N) and fertilisation by inorganic form of phosphorus, namely superphosphate (P). Plots were either fertilised in the beginning of growing season or unfertilised. Microbial biomass-C increased as a consequence of both N and P addition while comparing with control. There was a significant effect of fertilisation on non-fumigated C representing labile source of carbon. With N,P application non-fumigated C significantly decreased. Specific respiration rate calculated as basal microbial respiration to microbial biomass-C was significantly increased by fertiliser application. In contrary, no significant treatment effect on the other parameters include water extractable carbon, total C, total N, available P, soil pH and basal respiration was recorded. The results indicate that short-term fertilisation is not able maintain soil condition. Therefore, site age or recultivation treatment had significant effect on mostly investigated parameters (WEC, total C) rather...
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Ecological comparison of three closely related species from \kur{Myosotis palustris} group
KOUTECKÁ, Eva
The study is focused on comparative ecology of three closely related species from Myosotis palustris group. Importance of various functional traits of individual species was evaluated experimentally in the greenhouse (germination experiments), in the pot experiment and in the reciprocal transplant field experiment. Germination, production of clonal structures and response to various environmental conditions (competition, moisture conditions, etc.) were studied. The experimental data are supplemented with an analysis of phytosociological relationships of the studied species.
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