This first version of the Red List of lichens of the Czech Republic uses IUCN criteria version 3.1 for evaluating the species (no infraspecific taxa are included). The Red List is at the same time a new version of the checklist of lichens of the Czech Republic. Differences from the previous checklist published in the Catalogue of lichens of the Czech Republic in 1999 are: 98 species are excluded (non-lichenized fungi, species not documented in the Czech Republic, misidentifications, doubtful/dubious records and other errors) and nomenclatural changes are listed in the chapter on synonyms. In total, 1497 species of lichenized fungi (without lichenicolous and lichen-allied fungi) are included. Of these, 120 (8%) suspicious records and taxonomically problematic or not well explored taxa were not evaluated against the IUCN criteria (NE category). In total, 560 species (37.4%) are threatened: 130 (8.7%) are critically endangered (CR), 184 (12.3%) are endangered (EN) and 246 (16.4%) are vulnerable (VU). In addition, 140 species (9.4%) are extinct in the Czech Republic (RE category), 174 species (11.6%) are listed in the category near threatened (NT) and 190 (12.7%) in least concern (LC). In total, 313 species (20.9%) are listed as data deficient (DD) because insufficient data are available for a categorization.
Interest in insects as conservation foci and as tools in broader conservation assessment has accelerated markedly in recent years, but the diversity and complexity of insect life demands a more focussed and structured approach to \"biodiversity\" and inventory studies than has commonly occurred. Strategies for insect conservation are reviewed, together with the variety of uses for insects as ecological tools in broader monitoring of environmental quality. Principles fur selecting optimal focal groups are discussed, and the importance of developing standard protocols to sample and interpret insect assemblages emphasised. The global values and relevance of the pioneering lessons in insect conservation developed in Europe are summarised.
The status of mammals in Europe was assessed according to IUCN Red List Criteria and regional Red Listing guidelines. We found that nearly one in six (15%) of Europe’s 231 mammal species were threatened (IUCN categories CR, EN, VU), with a further 9% considered Near Threatened. Marine mammals faced particularly high levels of threat, with 22% of marine species (n=27) versus 14% of terrestrial species (n=204) assessed as threatened. More than a quarter (27%) of mammals had declining populations. A further 32% were stable and 8% increasing; 33% were of unknown population trend. Terrestrial mammal biodiversity was greatest in south-eastern Europe (the Balkan Peninsula, Hungary, and Romania) and in the mountainous regions of Mediterranean and temperate Europe. Habitat loss and degradation was the greatest threat to terrestrial mammals in Europe, although human disturbance, pollution, accidental mortality (e.g., secondary poisoning, vehicle collisions), overexploitation and invasive species were also important. The main threats to marine mammals were accidental mortality (e.g., fisheries bycatch), pollution and overexploitation. EU Member States have committed to halt biodiversity loss by 2010, but the evidence from this study suggests that this target is unlikely to be met and significant actions must take place to halt the decline of mammal biodiversity in Europe. The results presented here provide a baseline against which future progress can be measured
Microhabitat use in the endangered cyprinid species spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus and accompanying species was examined in three water courses of Slovakia to determine the species’ environmental requirements as a basis for informing conservation policy and management. In all three rivers, water velocity, water depth and substratum character were central features of spirlin microhabitat use, regardless of year or season of sampling, with only limited variation in microhabitat associations as a function of time of day. Clear differences in microhabitat use and intra-specific associations during development were observed in two of the rivers. In particular, a shift in velocity preference towards faster flowing waters appears characteristic of spirlin during their larval and juvenile development, and possibly also that of gudgeon Gobio gobio, European minnow Phoxinus phoxinus, and chub Leuciscus cephalus, which are all species that may be significantly associated with young spirlin. Disproportionate use of deeper waters tended to increase with age in spirlin, and in gudgeon and barbel Barbus barbus, but spirlin preference for substratum was less uniform, with affinities ranging from indifference to strong preference. This contrasts the clear preferences for sand in gudgeon and for cobbles in European bullhead Cottus gobio. Of particular importance to young-of-the-year (YOY) spirlin are lentic zones with some sort of ligneous debris – habitat also used by YOY gudgeon and minnow. Contrary to previous reports elsewhere, spirlin did not avoid in-stream vegetation where present, and in one river it was preferred by YOY and 1+ spirlin. To avoid declines in spirlin and accompanying stream-dwelling species, such as reported elsewhere in Europe, river management in water courses such as these should be limited to the rehabilitation of regulated sections to achieve a natural, heterogeneous channel character.
A phytosociological synthesis of the segetal vegetation in the Czech Republic was performed using methods of the Zürich-Montpellier school. In total, 712 relevés made by the author in this country in 1955–2000 were classified, and 22 associations and one unranked community were distinguished. Each syntaxon is characterized by diagnostic species, documented by a synoptic table, and the syntaxonomy, structure, species composition, ecology, dynamics, distribution and variability of each syntaxon are commented on. Names are revised according to the rules of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. All syntaxa belong to the class Stellarietea mediae and associations are assigned to the orders Centaureetalia cyani (alliances Caucalidion lappulae, Fumario-Euphorbion, and Sherardion), Atriplici-Chenopodietalia (alliances Scleranthion annui, Polygono-Chenopodion polyspermi, Arnoseridion minimae, and Panico-Setarion), and Eragrostietalia (alliance Eragrostion).