Bryophytes, with their more than 860 species, represent more than a quarter of higher plants native to the CR. They can reveal much more about the ecosystems they live in than we would expect, as their physiological contact with the surroundings is much closer than that of the vascular plants. and Jan Kučera.
Detailed knowledge of the circumstances behind the extermination of particular animal species is a key premise for their eventual return, reintroduction and ongoing preservation. Data on the presence of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) in the Czech landscape are usually limited to simple entries about the day and place where the last specimens in particular (usually mountainous) regions were slain. Demand for more precise data, especially regarding the last documented presence of bear cubs, has emerged in respect of the recently discovered ability of bears to migrate over long distances. The newly collected data allowed the author to present amuch more complete historical view of the process of extermination of the Brown Bear in the Czech territory. and Jan Andreska.
The prolonged survival of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Bohemian Forest was largely possible due to the protec tion of this animal, which was considered a rare and desirable trophy. Consequently the bear was able to survive in the Bohemian Forest for a hundred years longer than in the Ore Mountains. Isolated populations in the Sudetes survived in Moravia, and the last specimens were hunted down in the 1740s. Bears hunted down during the 19th century in the Beskydy Mts. can almost certainly be considered casual migrants from the Slovak part of this mountain range. The return of bears to the territory of Moravia and Silesia corresponds with the consolidation of the Slovak population due to the protection introduced in 1932. and Jan Andreska.
In November 2009, the United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It has been a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world has been invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard biodiversity, i. e., the variety of life on earth. Throughout the year countless initiatives were organized to disseminate information, promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage organizations, institutions, companies and individuals to take direct action to reduce the constant loss of biological diversity worldwide. and Petr Petřík.
Studovali jsme výskyt pavouků v půdě, v puklinách v hornině, v kamenitých sutích a v jeskyních České republiky, to jest v podzemních biotopech na hloubkovém gradientu od 10 cm do 100 m. Třináct druhů vykazovalo nějaká morfologická přizpůsobení k životu v podzemí. Druhy s výrazně redukovanýma očima jsme našli jak v hlubokých jeskyních, tak i v povrchových biotopech daleko od krasu. Údaje o morfologii a rozšíření ukazují na to, že troglomorfní druhy musely v průběhu zalednění opakovaně migrovat z jeskyní do povrchových biotopů., Using data from the Czech Republic, we studied the distribution of spiders in soils, crevice systems, scree and caves, i.e. subterranean habitats at depths spanning from 10 cm to 100 m. Thirteen species exhibit morphological adaptations to life in subterranean habitats. Advanced troglomorphic characters occur in deep caves as well as in surface habitats far from karst regions. We hypothesize that troglomorphic populations of spiders in Central Europe repeatedly migrated from caves to subsurface and surface habitats during glaciations., and Vlastimil Růžička.
This paper introduces a very interesting group of curculionid beetles – weevils of the tribe Cleonini. This tribe includes quite a remarkable large species associated with non-forest habitats, most of which are currently considered endangered. In spite of being very popular among coleopterists, this group of beetles has not been studied in detail within the Czech Republic. and Robert Stejskal, Filip Trnka.