Masaryk University in Brno

Faculty of Science

Spatial and Temporal Biodiversity Dynamics in Ecosystems of Central Europe

MSM 143100010 (formerly CEZ: J07/98:143100010) - VZ MU 0429
Coordinator: J. Vaňhara (Department of Zoology and Ecology)

Key words: Algae; Aquatic ecosystems; Biodiversity; Biosystematics; Communities; Ecology; Higher plants; Host parasite systems; Hydrobiology; Insects; Modelling; Monitoring; Pollinators; Population; Small mammals; Spirochaetes; Terrestrial ecosystems; Transmission

Analysis and monitoring of spatial and temporal biodiversity dynamics of populations and communities of higher plants, terrestrial and aquatic animals, including interactions and transmission of their parasites in Central European ecosystems.

• Research on the variation and microevolution in populations of higher plants, particularly by PCR methods, of the variation patterns in plant populations and communities on the landscape level, and creation of formalized systems of vegetation classification.
• Biosystematic studies of terrestrial insects and their most important ecological groups with regard to pollinators.
• Research on biodiversity of lotic ecosystems, especially interactions between populations, communities and state of the environment.
• Vertebrates and their parasites: diversity of small mammal populations and communities including their interactions with haematophagous arthropods transmitting spirochaetes; fish parasite populations and communities, analysis of parasite-host systems.