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The Ecology of the Little Owl in European Farmland
CHRENKOVÁ, Monika
The little owl population in the most of Europe is rapidly declining mainly due to dramatic changes and transformation of the agricultural landscape, which resulted in the loss of suitable foraging habitats. Due to rapid population decline and range contraction, urgent conservation measures have to be implemented to save the population from extinction in certain areas. The thesis aims were to identify long-term population trend in selected regions, to uncover the habitat selection of breeding birds and to evaluate the effectiveness of individual management measures for the little owl conservation in the European farmland. The research on population status in Czech Republic and Slovakia revealed long-term population decline and marked distributional range contraction of the little owl, documenting its rapid local extinctions over the last two decades. On the contrary, results from Hortobagy National Park,representing the first large-area systematic survey in Hungary, indicate high population density and its widespread distribution. In particular, the study uncovers one of the highest population densities of this species from an agricultural landscape in Central Europe. Further detailed investigation of habitat selection at three different scales shows the link between certain habitat characteristics and species occurrence and supports the hypothesis of agriculture intensification being the main driver of the population decline of little owl in the Central Europe. Finally, the thesis provides evidence on the effect of different conservation management measures on little owl population in Denmark, where the species is close to extinction. Research findings indicate that food limitation during the breeding season may be the main reason for the declining numbers of little owls in Denmark. To prevent little owl extinction, evidence based conservation measures, such as provision of suitable foraging habitats with high availability and good accessibility of prey close to nests, are inevitable.
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Long-term population trends of birds in North America and Europe: a metaanalysis of existing studies
Říhová, Jana ; Reif, Jiří (advisor) ; Voříšek, Petr (referee)
Since the beginning of the last century there have been significant changes in the environment, farming and the landscape structure. Because birds are one of the longest- studied groups of organisms and are considered to be good indicators of environmental quality, it is advisable to relate environmental changes to changes in bird abundance. Understanding these relationships enables better and more accurate formulation of conservation plans and priorities, and therefore a large number of studies were dedicated to them. Although these studies achieved great progress in the knowledge of the most important factors that affect bird populations, their findings remained somewhat incomplete and fragmentary due to their limited temporal and/or spatial coverage. Therefore, it was not entirely clear which patterns are general and which are confined to some specific regional conditions. The fill this knowledge gap, I collected all studies on long-term trends in bird abundance in Europe and North America, which I was aware of, and made a meta-analysis of their results. Using linear mixed-effects models, I found a significant decrease in open-habitat species, probably as a result of agricultural intensification and abandonment of agricultural land. This pattern was consistent regardless of region or time period...
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Numbers of non-native waterfowl species in Europe
Hodková, Veronika ; Musil, Petr (advisor) ; Šťastný, Karel (referee)
The Thesis is treating the spreading of non-native waterfowl species into new ecosystems and factors, which influence that process. The impact of selected eco-geographic characteristics on the species diversity and on the numbers of non-native waterfowl individuals was analyzed on the results of the International Waterbird Census. Further, the influence of those characteristics on the numbers and population trends of selected 11 species of the Anatidae family in 17 European countries was assessed. The highest non-native waterfowl species diversity was recorded in countries of the Atlantic coast, i.e. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and also Switzerland. The main positive influence on their numbers makes the density of population and species diversity of wintering waterfowl. As to the number of non-native species individuals the main impact is produced by both, species diversity and the given latitude, too. It means that the largest number of individual exist in northern countries - Great Britain, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. Similar main influences have been traced with the family Anatidae, too, which have received special attention in the analysis, as it shows the highest number of non- native species. As to the main eco-geographic characteristics, having impact on the growth or...
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Why do you have so many children? Family and motherhood in perspective of mothers of numerous families
SOBOTKOVÁ, Hana
The aim of this bachellor thesis is to describe the motivation of mothers to obtain more children, than it is common in nowadays society, and to seek their oppinion on their situation. The thesis consists of theoretical and empiric parts. The theoretical part of the thesis depicts differences between traditional and modern family and strategies of reproduction in particular periods. Furthermore this part presents Czech family and stresses its current form, it also looks for the reasons for reduc ion of natality in our country, and resumes factors, which influence family planning. The empiric part is dedicated to quality research, in which mothers of four or more children took part. The aim of the research is to find out, what expectations and images of family and pregnant life make women mother four or more children. Part of the research also reflects the mothers´view of numerous families ? their current attitude towards motherhood, family and their role in the society.
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What affects the dicision of young women to have or not to have children?
VEBROVÁ, Petra
The target of the thesis is to sketch out which factors can influence the decisions of young women to have or not to have a child, what the women consider important at the decision making, etc. The thesis consists of a theoretical as well as of the practical part. First chapter informs about the current situation in the Czech population (the natality trend {\dots}). Next three chapters deal with various aspects, which might influence the decision of young women about a child. The chapter about the role of a child in society and its importance for parents stands separately. The theoretical part ends with chapter, that predicates about a situation when woman has no child ever (voluntarily or involuntarily). The practical part {--} the research, or better a probe by a depth interview {--} should show on the particular answers of 12 women, what is important for them at the decision for or against having a child. Further on there are mentioned their opinions on marriage, voluntary childlessness, etc.
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