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Habitat and pairing preferences among coexisting lineages of the Gammarus fossarum species complex in the Western Carpathians
Bystřický, Pavel Karel ; Petrusek, Adam (advisor) ; Čiampor, Fedor (referee)
In recent years, due to the development of molecular methods, a great level of cryptic diversity across multiple taxa was discovered. One of these groups are freshwater amphipods. Amphipods due to lower dispersal and recolonization abilities present a suitable model system for studying potential ecological interactions among genetically distant lineages during their secondary contact. In this thesis, I studied the cryptic species complex Gammarus fossarum in a contact zone of several genetically divergent lineages known from the previous research in the Vsetin region. I focused on two main questions: Firstly, whether there are preferences among individuals from different lineages for sexual partners from the same lineage rather than from the different one (i.e., I test for the potential existence of prezygotic reproduction barrier between the lineages). I tested this hypothesis by collecting pairs from natural contact zone and also (in a limited extent) by an aquarium experiment. Secondly, I tested whether these lineages differ in mesohabitat (pool versus riffle) distribution in syntopy, which may indicate competition among lineages and potential diversification of their ecological niches. Animals from nine localities (with expected contact of two lineages per locality) were examined. In more than...
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Effect of vegetation structure on abundance of lowland forest birds in Czechia and Slovakia
Tyčová, Barbora ; Hořák, David (advisor) ; Chmel, Kryštof (referee)
The vegetation provides an ecological space for birds and its structure reflects the availability of this place and resources. What specific influence does the vegetation structure have on bird abundance and which vegetation parameters are the most essential for bird species are classic, but still topical questions. The aim of this work was to find an answer using a study focused on birds in floodplain forests and to determine whether microhabitat characteristics affect the distribution of bird species within a single habitat. The data of this work were collected by the point counting method in six floodplain forests of the Czech Republic and Slovakia and statistically evaluated using regression, correlation and redundancy analysis. The birds were observed on a larger and smaller spatial scale. It was also used the study of the saturation of the environment by bird species over time and for the first time the analysis of habitat photo documentation as an alternative way for describing the vegetation structure. Results show that the analysis of vegetation photographs can be used to explain and predict avian abundance and thus create a new suitable method for birds' studies. Some bird species such as the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) and the Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) have...
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Carnivores in habitats of current landscape: a comparison based on phototrap recordings
Pyšková, Klára ; Horáček, Ivan (advisor) ; Červený, Jaroslav (referee)
Common carnivore species in the Czech Republic, such as fox, badger, marten, or weasel have not been recently paid much attention. This mammalian group is not easy to monitor but with modern technologies animals can be observed almost undisturbed. I collected data using camera traps in the Polabí region in Central Bohemia, about 30 km from Prague. I placed 73 camera traps in four different habitats (wetland; alluvial forest; mixed forest; and scrub grassland). Each habitat was represented by 3-4 localities in a fragmented landscape, made up of seminatural habitats and human-used areas. Over 366 days of monitoring I recorded 8 carnivore species, one of them non-native (golden jackal). None of the allegedly common invasive species in the Czech Republic (raccoon dog, american mink, raccoon) were found. The habitats did not differ in number of observed species, which is probably due to a low number of species found and the small size of the study area. Habitat preferences and seasonal and circadian activity in my study area generally correspond to the findings of previous ecological studies, but the novel aspect of my research is the robust, statistically analysed results based on long-term quantitative data. One conclusion I consider important from the conservation point of view is that most of our carnivore...
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Biotopové nároky synantropních ptáků (vrabec domácí, vrabec polní a hrdlička zahradní)
MACHOVÁ, Markéta
Aim of this study was to assess distribution and abundance of common synanthropic species of birds (House sparrow, Tree sparrow, Eurasian collared dove and Blackbird) in area of the city České Budějovice in the Czech Republic in autumn and winter. Habitat preferences of these species were analysed. Study also determined influence of the certain characteristics of urban vegetation on their occupation by both species of sparrows.
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Amphibian habitat preferences in selected localities after mining moldavites.
NĚMEC, Stanislav
This thesis pursues amphibian biotop preferences in locations where moldavites were quarried in the past. Field work took place in two localities near Trhové Sviny. The first one is situated near the village of Slavče where an illegal extraction still occures,.The second locality is found by the village of Dobrkovská Lhotka. This locality was partially recultivated in 2010. The aim of this work was to establish which factors do influence different amphibian species in the both studied locations. There were found five various species of amphibians near the village of Slavče: the Common frog (Rana temporaria), the Edible frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus), the European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina), the European tree frog (Hyla arborea) and the Common toad (Bufo bufo). The results were statistically evaluated. Based on them it was established that the Common frog prefers the herb layer, the European Fire-bellied toad prefers semi shaded medium sized pools that do not dry up. The European tree frog and the Edible frog prefer large areas of pools and ponds. More over the edible frog demands ponds that are partially overgrown. The Common toad was represented only with one single individual. Therefore a statistical analasys could not be executed. The whole locality is negatively influenced by local inhabitants who gather here manure and organic waste from their gardens. On locality located near to Dobrkovská Lhotka was transformed from a mining landscape to a pond and three pools. All amphibian species that lived in the locality before reclamation were still present here. Occurrence of Common spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus) was confirmed by the unique finding of a tadpole. Statistical evaluation was not conducted due to the small number and variability of monitored sites.
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Habitat preferences of Eurasian Skylark (\kur{Alauda arvensis})
DUFEK, Luboš
We made a survey in habitat preferences of Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) in this bachelor thesis. We were surveying its abundance in three habitats: Českobudějovicko, Znojemsko and Žďársko. The surveying began at the end of March 2008 and ended at the beginning of June 2008. We made 54 points in each habitat in which we wrote elevation, GPS coordinates, the speed of wind, temperature and dominant vegetation. We determined its habitat preferences both by subjective observation and by interaction with classes CORINE Land Cover with usage of GIS.
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