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Plant responses to deer browsing and the consequences for further browsing
Dudlová, Tamara ; Lepková, Barbora (advisor) ; Štenc, Jakub (referee)
(English) The bachelor thesis focuses on the interaction of plants and herbivores, specifically deer. The main question is if (and possibly how) the changes induced in the plants by deer browsing affect the probability of re-browsing. I tried to answer the question by reviewing published literature. Plants respond to browsing by tolerance (compensatory growth) or resistance (production of defensive chemical compounds), depending on the plant's life strategy. Tolerance prevails in adult woody plants and grasses; resistance prevails in young woody plants and forbs. In resistant plants, browsing increases the content of phenolic substances and decreases the cellulose content, while tolerant species react in the opposite way. It is the contents of these substances, which are negatively correlated, that are key to food selection by deer. Large species of deer generally prefer plants with more cellulose, which they are able to digest efficiently. Smaller species prefer plants with lower cellulose content and higher concentration of simple sugars. These more nutritious plants are protected from browsing by phenolic substances, which smaller deer species are able to neutralize more effectively. Only a few studies have addressed the issue of re-browsing of the same plants, and their results are ambiguous....
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Optimization of delivery date in cervids
Schnebergerová, Adriana ; Dušek, Adam (advisor) ; Sedláček, František (referee)
Female mammals adjust their birth date according to actual environmental conditions and their own condition to maximize their reproductive fitness. Optimizing of birth date allows the mothers to maximize not only their own fitness but also the fitness of their offspring. The aim of my bachelor`s thesis is to document the optimization of the delivery date in the deer family (Cervidae), i.e. timing of delivery whereby females can attain successful reproduction. This family is thanks to world-wide areal an ideal taxon for the study of optimization of the delivery date. 40 species and 200 subspecies renders this family one of the most diversified and the most numerous of even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla). In general, factors that affect the timing of the delivery date are: ecological, behavioral, reproductive, physiological and genetic. These factors include, for example, seasonality, availability and quality of food, condition, social rank and age of the female, the presence of the male and the sex of the offspring. Depending on actual environmental conditions, female deer may either hasten or, on the contrary, delay the delivery date and thus maximize the chances of survival of their offspring. The synchronization of the birth date is another important strategy which allows females to reduce the...
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Nutrient content in the needles of main woody species in relation to foraging ecology of large herbivores in Europe
Köhlerová, Markéta ; Hejcmanová, Pavla (advisor) ; Holá, Michaela (referee)
The aim of the thesis was to determine the content of principle macroelements and fibre fractions in needles of five woody species (Taxus baccata, Pinus sylvestris, Abies alba, Picea abies, Larix decidua) with regard to the nutrition of wildlife and forage resources. See if differ substantively macro nutrient elements by different ages needles. The individual objectives was to further determine, firstly, if different levels of major and fiber between tree species and secondly if different levels of major and fiber between the years of needles. Annual needles has a higher content of macroelements and lower fiber content than two years. The theoretical part deals with herbivores and their foraging strategy.Five European indigenous coniferous species were chosen: P. sylvestris, P. abies, A. alba, L. decidua and T. baccata. There were selected four locations: towns of Mšeno, Nové Strašecí and Oldřichov v Hájích and Příbram`s territory where the samples of conifers were collected. After drying the samples in the oven there were laboratory tests carried out/conducted, based on which a subsequent statictical evaluation was performed. The actual evaluation was focused on contents of macroelements N, P, K, Ca and Mg. In addition also ratios of the macroelements (N/P, Ca/N and K / (Ca + Mg) were considered. As regards fibre analysis, we focused on content of ADF, NDF and lignin. Results showed that annual needles, compared to biennials, have higher content of macroelements and lower fibre content. The highest values of macroelements and fibre content were found in T. baccata. P. abies and P. sylvestris had similar results.
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Clicking in cervids - basic parameters, origin and function?
POJEROVÁ, Lucie
It is well known that some ungulates produce clicking sound by limbs, but often without more details. This study deals with the clicking sound in five cervid taxons, specifically in Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), Pere David´s Deer (Elaphurus davidianus), Western Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), Moose (Alces alces), Barbary stag (Cervus elaphus barbarus) in detail. Dominant frequency, 25% quartile, 50% quartile, 75% quartile were investigated for these species, with the particular attention to sex, age and limb position (forelimb, hind-limb) of studied individuals. Clicks sounds were recorded by solid state recorder Marantz PMD 620 with microphone and handset and analysed using program Avisoft-SAS Lab Pro Software, verze 5.0.01 (2010). Statistical analysis of obtained sound parameters were performed using program STATISTICA, version 12 (ANONYMUS 2012).Individuals within the species were compared using discriminant analysis and one-way ANOVA, species using discriminant analysis and nested ANOVA. Nested ANOVA was also used for testing of the sex and age influence on click parameters. Phylogenetic distribution of clicking was determined using the parsimony approach. Results suggest differences among within particular taxon, but differences among species depend on used methods (they are different using nested ANOVA, but they are not different except for Barbary stag in discriminant analysis). Click parameters were significantly associated with age, but not with sex of particular individuals. Ancestor of cervids seems to produce clicking, the evolution of this sound was associated later with its reduction in course of cervid evolution.
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Spontání příjem a preference lizů v konkrétním chovu jelenovitých
Navrátil, Stanislav
This work is analyzing a preference of mineral licks for cervidae. It's goal was to reveal mineral composition, that will be the most suitable for these animals by monitoring their intake and preferences of mineral licks. For this purposes has been chosen Fallow deer (Dama dama). This member of cervidae is very popular among breeders in Czech Republic. The experiment was held on Vysočina highlands, near Kozlov village in Ing. Dufek's hobby farm. The Fallow deer were monotored since march 2013 to february 2014. For evaluation of amount and frequency of intake were used standard staticstic methods. There was used a digital weigh for weigh analysis and camera trap, which countinuously monitored movement near the licks, was used for data gathering. During the experiment there has been discovered, after the comparing of literature following up this toppic, that the Ca:P ratio is completely different than beef cattle calcium: phosphorius ratio. The best intake had lick with 1:1 ratio. Cattle preferred ratio is 1,9:1.
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What factors affect daily activity rythms in cervids?
HUBENÁ, Zuzana
I reviewed the factors influencing the daily activity rhythms in cervids such as anatomical and physiological characteristics of the particular species, seasonal changes in quality and quantity of food or disturbances caused by the presence of the predators and humans.
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