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Adaptation of terrestrial arthropods to the cave environment
Rothová, Helena ; Šťáhlavský, František (advisor) ; Růžička, Vlastimil (referee)
Every living things on our planet is adapted to the environmen it inhabitst, and a number of factors affect its overall appearance and behaviour. This is especially true for organisms living in environments with extreme conditions, where it has to adapt to be able to use the often limited resources. One of these environments are subterranean spaces lacking any light and having a limited supply of nutrients. This bachelor thesis presents a brief overview of the basic types of underground spaces and the way nutrients get into them, which are important factors that determine the presence of different groups of organisms. This thesis also summarizes the terminology used in relation to this type of environment. However, the main aim of this paper is to describe morphological, physiological, as well asbehavioral adaptations to subterranean life of terrestrial representatives from particula groups of the tribe Arthropoda (Arachnida, Myriapoda, Crustacea, Hexapoda). From the presented list of specific adaptations in those groups it follows that all main evolutionary lines show similar types of adaptations, such as depigmentation, reduction or complete loss of vision, prolongation of body appendices, multiplication of sensory setae and enlargement of the body, as well as adaptations that help organisms to...
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