|
|
Seasonality in reproduction and abundance of birds in African savannas
Kučminová, Veronika ; Hořák, David (advisor) ; Remeš, Vladimír (referee)
Seasonality of climate is a crucial factor that determines the existence of African savannas. Especially, the rainfall seasonality is a key factor in the abundance and reproduction of bird species of the savannas. Precipitation determines the timing of reproduction directly, but mainly indirectly through the influence of the environment, phenology, and productivity of plants. The vegetation determines the availability of resources and shelters. However, the widespread distribution of the savannas across the continent means that the seasonality and consequently the environment varies considerably from one area to another due to the different timing, size, and duration of wet and dry seasons. Breeding, as well as the abundance of savanna birds, is clearly influenced by the availability of food, which is determined by seasonal rainfall. For most species, the rainy season is an ideal time for reproduction, but there are also other groups of birds, that prefer a dry season for breeding and nesting. The birds must cope with unfavourable conditions outside the breeding season or leave their breeding areas. The abundance of birds in savannas is also significantly affected by the presence of palearctic migrants. Migration is therefore an important factor of the seasonal abundance of the savanna avifauna....
|
|
|
Drivers of avian diversity on an altitudinal gradient of Mount Cameroon
Djomo Nana, Eric ; Hořák, David (advisor) ; Šálek, Miroslav (referee) ; Waltert, Matthias (referee)
Altitudinal gradients constitute a powerful test system for understanding distribution of species around the globe. Tropical mountains are quite rich in species even after controlling for environmental productivity, and are ideally suited for studying patterns of species distributions because they have had sufficient time for species to produce a response to environmental changes that affect their life histories. In this thesis, I investigate basic ecological mechanisms potentially behind avian distribution patterns along an altitudinal gradient in West-Central Africa. I used data collected with four methodological approaches (point counts, mist netting, random walks and artificial nest experiments) along an altitudinal gradient on Mt. Cameroon from October 2011 to September 2013. This work is focused on two interrelated themes: selection pressures on life histories (Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4), and avian assemblage structures (Chapters 5 & 6). In the General Introduction, I present an overview of the study area with conservation implications of the study and my study objectives. In Chapters 1, 2 & 3, I investigate how selection pressures, i.e., nest predation and parasitism by haematozoa, affect bird assemblages. I used artificial nest experiments to assess nest predation rates in Chapters 1 & 2, and my...
|
|
|
Growing Role of China in African Security
Květová, Lenka ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Werkman, Kateřina (referee)
Chinese economic expansion in Africa is a widely discussed topic, but less academic attention is being paid to the role China plays in African security. Since the late 1990s Chinese activity in Africa had been growing rapidly. Beijing's interests are predominantly economic, mostly represented by market seeking and foreign direct investments, and political, generally perceived as a mutual support in international organizations. The thesis focuses on the traditional principle of non-interference in how Chinese policy towards African security has been evolving together with growing Chinese interests on the continent. The People's Republic of China influences African security matters in four areas: diplomatic involvement, arms deals, support and financing, and military cooperation. By analyzing those areas with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, concrete cases have been identified, when China interfered in internal affairs of particular states, thus altering its policy of non- interference towards more pragmatic and case by case based approach.
|
|
|
Ghana - a way to democracy
Zhelyaskova, Marina ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Werkman, Kateřina (referee)
This bachelor's thesis deals with the changes in the Ghanaian political system after its independence in 1957, with an emphasis on the changes made in the 90s which paved the way for democracy in Ghana. The work studies the development of Ghana's transition to democracy, particularly the actors and circumstances that allowed transition that shift. Furthermore, this thesis is analyses if transition in Ghana might be considered as completed and also if Ghana established a system that can be classified as democratic. Right after achieving independence with Kwame Nkrumah at the helm, Ghana began a gradual descend into a totalitarian regime. He began dismantle institutions and curtailed political competition with his opponents being forced into exile. Due Nkrumah's Soviet Union leanings, the country embarked on socialist experiments and ideology which ultimately that led the country into a series of crisis. In a short period of time (1966 - 1979), the country faced several military coup d'états that brought the country to a near economic collapse. A significant change was brought by J. J. Rawlings in 1981 and during his leadership the country gradually worked its way to democracy. The beginning of the 90s saw J. J. Rawlings begin the process of political liberalization. A new liberal constitution...
|
|
|
EEC's development policy to the third world countries (focused on Africa) from 1960 to 1979
Brázdilová, Monika ; Horčička, Václav (advisor) ; Soukup, Jaromír (referee)
The aim of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive view at the development cooperation of the European Economic Community in the 60's and 70's years of the 20th century in relation to the countries of the Third World with a focus on African developing countries. It also deals with the analysis of the very concept of development, development cooperation and development policy. The thesis is conceived from the general to the particular, where are first discussed the main concepts, the grouping and contracts supplemented with more detailed analysis. At first is briefly described the establishment of the EEC and the characteristic of grouping ACP. Then comes the analysis of the actual development cooperation and measures with which was the aid realized. Another two sections are devoted to comprehensive contractual framework of cooperation, which is in this period defined by part IV. Treaty of Rome and the Implementing agreement, two conventions of Yaoundé and the First Lomé convention. In the Lomé Convencion, there were a lot of significant changes made in terms of equality between the EEC and the ACP countries, as the concept of association was changed to the principle of partnership during the time. The development aid had to be managed somehow as well, so in next chapter is the topic of the...
|
|
|
The impact of colonial war on Portugal in the sixties
Loužecký, Martin ; Menclová, Barbora (advisor) ; Mejstřík, Martin (referee)
The bachelor thesis entails the changes that Portugal has gone through from the beginning of the sixties in regard to the war that had broken out within the Portuguese colonies. Moreover, the work compares the new decade with the period from the end of the fifties. Main focus is given to the situation of the regime called "New State", once the war started and the socioeconomic changes the sixties have experienced. Colonial War provided a chance for the authoritarian prime minister Salazar to unify the attitude of the society and strengthen propaganda by changing the current colonial politics. Salazarism was obsolete and non-progressive and therefore unwanted before the war, but at a later time again gained a numerous base of supporters. It was triggered by a new wave of propaganda, together with Salazar's reforms. Portugal also noticed a change in the sixties within the field of international politics. While the associated countries including traditional allies of Portugal such as The Great Britain or United States opposed the colonial politics in the fifties, the relations got better again in the sixties. On the other hand, international organizations including the United Nations which Portugal was a member of literally condemned imperialism. The goal of this thesis is to explain the status quo in...
|
|
|
Is Mugabe′s Rule in Zimbabwe a Recipe for the Longevity of the Regime?
Stojanovová, Marie ; Buben, Radek (advisor) ; Polášek, Martin (referee)
This thesis examines the reasons for the survival of Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe over more than thirty years. Approaching this question from comparative politics perspective the author examines the type of regime, its capacity (including capacity of the state and of other institutions) and strategy of survival that can be found in Zimbabwe, in the context of relevant historical events before and after Mugabe's seizing of power. Thereby the author devaluate those aspects taking into account all the broader context of sub-Saharan African regimes.
|
|
|
Dramatic production of Francophone African authors in Czech translation
Rejžková, Magdaléna ; Šotolová, Jovanka (advisor) ; Belisová, Šárka (referee)
v anglickém jazyce This thesis deals with the dramatic production of Francophone African authors and the translation of their texts into Czech. The theoretical part briefly describes the history of African drama and its specific elements. The following chapters examine the perception of this specific genre in Europe - especially in France and the Czech Republic. The thesis also documents the history of the Czech festival Africa in Creation, which has been held in Prague in the first decade of the new millennium. During its existence, it presented many African authors. Later, their plays were translated into Czech within the series The Contemporary play, published by the Arts and Theatre Institute. From the point of view of translatology, the study focuses on the general theory of the drama translation (based on the theories of translation from the 2nd part of the 20th century, especially the Czech model of Jiří Levý) and the post-colonial and cultural translation theories. In general, the aim of the study is to define the problems which the translator could be faced with translating the text from the culture which is diametrically different from the target one. Based on this theoretical ground, a critical analysis has been made in order to examine three plays by African playwrights and their Czech...
|
|
|
African elephant (Loxodonta africana, Blumenbach 1797), literature retrieval focused on memory and learning
Křivánek, Ondřej ; Řezníček, Jan (advisor) ; Mourek, Jan (referee)
This BA thesis is a data retrieval aimed at the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). The present paper deals with the evolution, the specific anatomy and physiology, nutrition, communication, migration, daily routine, social behavior and reproduction of the African elephant. The main body of this study is, howewer, a report on the research on its memory and learning. The text has been compiled using scientific research papers and textbooks. Key words: African elephant, Loxodonta, anatomy, physiology, social behaviour
|
|
|
The impact of geography and subsistence on distribution of NRY haplogroups in Europe and Africa
Nováčková, Jana ; Černý, Viktor (advisor) ; Munclinger, Pavel (referee) ; Macholán, Miloš (referee)
Y chromosome is due to its special characteristics the ideal tool of archaeogenetic studies. Its diversity is influenced by several factors and I analysed two of them (geographical location and subsistence). I generated SNPs and STRs data from several loci of samples from Slovakia (156 samples, 5 regions) and sub-Saharan Africa, where I analysed samples of sedentary farmers (481 samples, 18 regions) and nomadic pastorals (405 samples, 16 regions). Slovakia is situated at the meeting point of two migration ways. First of them was spread from the east to the west and is associated with enlargement of haplogroup R1a in Europe. The second came from the Iberian Peninsula eastward and is associated with enlargement of haplogroup R1b. Results of MDS graphs replicate the geographical map of Europe. Slovakia is situated in the middle of Russian, Balkanian and Iberian samples. Correlation between genetics and geographic distances is indicated by hierarchical AMOVA analysis and Mantel tests. Populations in sub-Saharan Africa differ from each other by the subsistence pattern. Different life style influence the diversity of the Y chromosome. Nomadic pastoralists and sedentary farmers share different haplogroups, for example, while haplogroup R1b was detected only in nomadic pastoral groups, sedentary farmers...
|
guest ::
