Biodiversity changes in an urban fragmented landscape (VEGA 2/0079/18, 2018-2021)
Annotation: The project is concerned with changes in biodiversity in the urban environment, both in space (ecological gradients, fragmentation) and in time (historical data). We have chosen two ecologically significantly related model groups for the study: vascular plants and molluscs. Based on the research on these model organisms, we will address five main problem areas: (1) To what extent do the principles of island ecology apply in the model area, and What are the effects of fragmentation and individual environmental factors on the structure and variability of the biota? (2) Whether and to what extent the genetic diversity of populations of selected model species differs in long-term contiguous forest areas and neorefugia; (3) How the urban environment influences the diversity of native species and the invasion of non-native species into fragmented woodland over time and space; (4) Based on the theory of refugia, what is the ecological and ecosozological structure of biota in forest remnants? (5) Whether biotic homogenisation occurs and which groups of biota are most affected by homogenisation.
Determination, spreading pattern and impact of invasive plants on native ecosystems: case studies on Centaurea, Fallopia and Solidago (VEGA 2/0024/19, 2019-2022)
Annotation: The project aims to study taxonomically problematic and hardly distinguishable invasive taxa and cytotypes of Centaurea stoebe agg., Fallopia japonica agg. and Solidago canadensis agg. occurring in central Europe. We will determine particular taxa and cytotypes by combining biosystematic approaches (morphometrics, flow cytometry, and chromosome counting). Thanks to extensive field survey and revision of herbarium specimens, we will contribute to the knowledge on the current and past distribution of F. japonica agg. and S. canadensis agg. in central Europe and cytotypes of C. stoebe agg. in mixed-ploidy populations. Further, we will analyse the ecological demands of particular taxa and cytotypes and model their future potential spreading within the studied area. To reveal and compare the impact of invasive taxa of F. japonica agg. and S. canadensis agg. we will use a combined approach to natural biotopes, including analyses of soil properties, seed bank, diversity of plants, fungi and molluscs in invaded biotopes.