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Determination of basic nutritional parameters in edible insects
Korček, Jakub ; Štursa, Václav (referee) ; Diviš, Pavel (advisor)
In this bachelor thesis is dicussed nutritional value of chosen insect species. Analysed samples consisted of worms, crickets and locusts. Analysed parameters were: total nitrogen, crude protein, total lipids and content of chosen elements. Total lipids were, after homogenization, determined by Soxhlet method, using diethyl ether as a solvent. Prior to protein and element determination, samples did undergo Kjehldal digestion process, using sulfuric acid. Weiniger catalyst was only added to samples digested for protein measurement. Element content was determined by optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES). Crude protein was determined by Kjeldahl method. The highest protein content was determined in crickets. (75 ± 5) %. Locusts contained the highest lipid content (33 ± 2) %. We also found out, that samples were rich in calcium, potassium, manganese and zinc, which are all important elements for the proper functioning of our body. The results of this thesis prove, that insects can present nutritionally important food.
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Beetle armour
Polášková, Lucie ; Ryška, Pavel (referee) ; Vaněk, Vojtěch (advisor)
The bachelor's thesis deals with the creation of an author's accordion book, examining the relationship between textual and pictorial communication of information. The narrative is thematically set in the stylized realm of insects, where it works with the metaphor of the exoskeleton of the beetle as a portable armor, architecture, or outline. The fictional story deals with the life cycle of a beetle. He wonders how beetles are born and how do they leave the world? The aim of my bachelor thesis is the realization of an atypical prototype of an accordion book, which is located on the border of a building kit, a toy and a book. The realization of the prototype will use traditional techniques, including digitization and image post-production.
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Cryptids
Dvořáková, Dana ; Turek, Filip (referee) ; Sterec, Pavel (advisor)
Cryptids, video which is studying animals, its shapes, moves and the environment , where they find themselves. The video is looking equal to all entity without any difference, document varied life as same as passing death or rot as well. It also speaks about collaboration and the microworld, which creates perfect unit. Silent mutual conversations.
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Retence živin u drůbeže při zkrmování diet s podílem moučky z larev potemníka moučného
Kudlová, Lenka
The aim of this diploma thesis is, if the inclusion of 20 and 50 g/kg mealworm meal (TML) in diets for poultry has an effect on nutrient retention, gastrointestinal morphometry and digesta viscosity. Furthermore, a digesta microbiology of laying hens and biochemical blood parameters of broilers were monitored. The collected samples were subjected to laboratory analysis to determine the nutrient retention, gastrointestinal morphometry, digesta viscosity, digesta microbiology and biochemical analysis of blood. The nitrogen retention was not affected by mealworm meal in broilers (p > 0.05). The nitrogen retention was the highest in the control group in laying hens (p < 0.05). A lower width and height and the highest muscle height of the gizzard, but a longer colon, (p < 0.05) were found in control group of laying hens compared to the experimental groups. No differences (p > 0.05) were found in the villi height of the ileum. The digesta viscosity in broilers was not affected by (p > 0.05) experimental diets. The highest value of digesta viscosity in laying hens was found in the group with inclusion 50 g/kg TML (p < 0.05). No differences (p > 0.05) were found in the microbiology of the digesta between the compared groups of laying hens. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in biochemical blood parameters were found in the concentrations of ALT, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, glucose and α-1 globulin between control and experimental groups of broilers.
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Butterfly thermoregulation across habitats and climates
LAIRD-HOPKINS, Benita Carmen
Global warming, through rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns, is placing major stress on species and ecosystems. Understanding how species respond to temperature and the mechanisms underpinning thermoregulation can help us predict which species are most vulnerable in the face of warming. In this thesis, I explore how butterflies across different habitats and climates thermoregulate and the mechanisms, including morphology and behaviour, underlaying thermoregulatory ability. Firstly, when comparing the buffering ability of neotropical and temperate butterflies I found that tropical butterflies were able to maintain more stable body temperatures than temperate butterflies, and this was likely driven by their morphology. I also found that temperate butterflies used postural means to raise their body temperature more than neotropical species, likely an adaptation to the cooler air temperatures they experience. Secondly, I showed the importance of butterflies' thermoregulatory abilities at the community level, by comparing thermoregulation of European butterflies across geographic regions and climatic zones. This study highlighted that behavioural thermoregulation, including the use of microclimates and postural means, drives regional differences in butterflies' thermoregulatory abilities. Finally, I utilised the Müllerian mimicry exhibited in Heliconius butterflies to untangle the contributions of morphology and phylogeny in butterfly thermoregulation, investigating thermal traits, including buffering ability, take-off temperature and heating rate. I found that morphology, not phylogeny, was the main driver of thermoregulation in these butterflies. Further, I investigated differences in the thermoregulatory ability of Heliconius butterflies from different habitats. I found that species from colder habitats were able to maintain a more stable body temperature and took off at a lower temperature than those from hotter habitats, suggesting there is local adaptation or acclimation in thermal traits. Overall, this work highlights that species have their own unique thermoregulatory abilities, as a result of the thermal environment they experience, and that thermoregulation is driven by morphology, behaviour and physiology. My findings have important consequences for predicting the impacts of climate change on ectotherms, by highlighting variation in thermal ability which makes some populations and species more vulnerable, while others more resilient. This thesis lays the groundwork for future studies comparing species' thermal traits across climates and habitats, increasing our understanding of how species cope with climate and land-use change.
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Compensatory schemes for the support of insect populations in open landscape
Jor, Tomáš ; Šípek, Petr (advisor) ; Kadlec, Tomáš (referee)
Insect biodiversity of hay meadows seemingly decreased during the last fifty years due to the land abandonment and radical intensification of agriculture. In contrast to the traditional mowing regime and techniques, nowadays farmers are able to harvest hay from large areas of grasslands with modern machine mowing in a very short time period. This results in a uniform vegetation structure with low food resources for the vast majority of insect species bound to the hay meadows. In order to contradict these trends the European agro-environmental schemes were established. In the Czech Republic these schemes determine specific time and a homogenous regime of mowing. In this thesis we present the results of the study of the effect of uncut grass strips as a compensation measure to promote biodiversity on commercial hay meadows Pitfall traps, yellow pan traps, window traps and individual transects walks were used for monitoring diversity and biomass of intercepted insects and arachnids on 21 sites located in the Český ráj region. The statistical analyses show a (i) significant positive effect of uncut strips on insect biomass and species richness on the treatment sites (Multidimensional analysis (RDA) showed (iv) a positive significant effect of uncut strips on species composition for all studied insect...
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Regulation of insect pheromone biosynthesis
Halmová, Martina ; Pichová, Iva (advisor) ; Valterová, Irena (referee)
Pheromones are compounds emitted by insects and vertebrates that specifically modulate the behaviour of the same species. Based on the role, pheromones are classified into different types such as releaser pheromones, primer pheromones, sex pheromones, aggregation pheromones, alarm pheromones and trail pheromones. Insect pheromones are volatile substances consisting mostly of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, aromatic compounds and isoprenoids. Pheromone biosynthesis comprises fatty acid and isoprenoid metabolic pathways. Pheromone biosynthesis must be precisely regulated since the pheromone blend consists of a mixture of compounds with defined ratios and chemical structures. The main aim of this thesis is to summarize the published information about insect pheromone biosynthesis and regulation with a focus on pheromones involved in sexual communication. Attention will also be paid to the biotechnological potential of pheromones in targeted pest management with the utilisation of enzymes present in the biosynthesis of pheromones.
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Application of RNA interference to studies on biology of termites
Žalmanová, Anna ; Hanus, Robert (advisor) ; Smýkal, Vlastimil (referee)
The RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism can be used to reduce the expression of a selected gene in an organism. This method, discovered in 1998, has become the "gold standard" in basic biological research with overlaps to applied research and gene therapy in human medicine. For many reasons, RNAi is a suitable tool for the studies on biology of insects. RNAi is endowed with high sequence specificity, low costs, and easy application also in non-model species. Termites (Isoptera) are very sensitive to RNAi and this method is widely used to understand their physiology and ontogeny. The use of RNAi also has a potential in applied termite research and a significant number of publications have focused on the development of RNAi techniques as non-chemical pesticides against economically important termite species. This bachelor thesis aims to give a broad overview of the existing research on termites that uses the RNAi method.
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