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Landscape genetic approaches allow to study effects of landscape to population microevolution. Landscape can influence gene flow even in large carnivores with good dispersal ability. Understanding the influence of landscape to the gene flow between populations is crucial for species conservation, especially in the species with low population densities. Aim of the study was to describe genetic structure of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) and snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in selected areas and to determine the influence of the landscape features on observed structure. Non-invasive genetic samples of snow leopard from Nepal were analysed, as well as invasive and non-invasive samples of grey wolf from Central Europe. Population structure was determined a posteriori using Bayesian clustering approaches that integrate genetic and geographical data, and compared to landscape connectivity models. Population structure of snow leopards is mostly influenced by human presence and presence of frequented roads, which represent a substantial dispersal barrier. Habitat suitable for this species is greatly restricted by altitude, however, during dispersal they are able to overcome areas with higher elevation than what is optimal for them. Pronounced genetic difference was found between central European and Carpathian...

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2019-03-13T13:59:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Clemar Trentin Oliveira_.pdf: 4154239 bytes, checksum: 0abf1d28fa69ea97d15e72a7624615f5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2019-03-13T13:59:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Clemar Trentin Oliveira_.pdf: 4154239 bytes, checksum: 0abf1d28fa69ea97d15e72a7624615f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-12-11 / Nenhuma / Neste trabalho, desenvolve-se uma nova abordagem de otimização do projeto de um trocador de calor casco e tubos. O algoritmo Otimizador por Lobo Cinzento (GWO) é aplicado para minimizar a função objetivo custo total do trocador de calor proposto. As variáveis de otimização adotadas são: número de passes nos tubos, diâmetro externo dos tubos, diâmetro interno do casco, espaçamento dos defletores e corte dos defletores. O método Bell-Delaware e o método de Kern são utilizados para calcular o coeficiente de transferência de calor e a perda de pressão para o lado do casco. Os resultados da otimização são comparados com o projeto original do trocador de calor e também com os resultados alcançados por outros algoritmos de otimização da literatura. Além disso, o algoritmo GWO é comparado com outras meta-heurísticas de otimização em três funções de teste distintas. Os resultados da comparação do algoritmo GWO nas funções de teste mostram um desempenho competitivo, comparado com o Algoritmo Genético, Otimização por Enxame de Partículas, algoritmo Evolução Diferencial e Algoritmo do Vaga-Lume. Os resultados da otimização do trocador de calor utilizando o método de Kern mostra um bom desempenho, com a redução do investimento de capital em 11,95%, 7,93%, 6,24%, 2,37% e 0,19% comparado ao projeto original, GA, ICA, PSO e GSA respectivamente. Além disso, o custo operacional total descontado foi menor que o projeto original e o restante das metaheurísticas exceto para o algoritmo GSA onde o algoritmo GWO obteve resultado 22,33 %, superior. No geral, a redução combinada do investimento de capital e do custo operacional total descontado obtido pela aplicação do algoritmo GWO levaram a uma redução de custo total de 20,80%, 7,28%, 6,07% e 4,06% comparado ao projeto original, GA, ICA e PSO respectivamente. Por fim, os resultados da otimização do trocador de calor utilizando o método Bell-Delaware comparado ao projeto original mostram desempenho satisfatório com redução do investimento de capital em 13,32%. O custo operacional total foi menor em 32,56%. Neste caso, a redução combinada do investimento de capital e do custo operacional total descontado com o GWO levaram a uma redução de custo total de 17,19%. / In this work, a new approach to optimizing the design of a shell and tube heat exchanger is developed. The Grey Wolf Optimizer algorithm (GWO) is applied to minimize the objective total cost function of the proposed heat exchanger. The optimization variables adopted are: number of tubes passes, tube outside diameter, shell inside diameter, baffles spacing and baffle cut. The Bell-Delaware method and the Kern method are used to calculate the heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop from the shell side. The results of the optimization are compared with the original design and with other optimization algorithms in the literature. In addition, the GWO algorithm is compared with other optimization meta-heuristics in three different test functions. The results of the comparison of the GWO algorithm in the test functions show a competitive performance compared to the Genetic Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, Differential Evolution algorithm and Firefly Algorithm. Already, the results of the optimization of the heat exchanger using the Kern method shows a good performance, with the reduction of capital investment by 11.95%, 7.93%, 6.24%, 2.37% and 0.19% compared to the original project, GA, ICA, PSO and GSA, respectively. In addition, the total discounted operating cost was lower than the original project and the rest of the metaheuristics except for the GSA algorithm where the GWO algorithm obtained 22.33% higher result. Overall, the combined reduction in capital investment and total discounted operating cost obtained by applying the GWO algorithm led to a total cost reduction of 20.80%, 7.28%, 6.07% and 4.06% compared to the original project, GA, ICA and PSO, respectively. Finally, the results of optimization of the heat exchanger using the Bell-Delaware method compared to the original design show satisfactory performance with reduction of capital investment by 13.32 %. The total discounted operating cost was lower by 32.56%. In this case, the combined reduction in capital investment and discounted total operating cost obtained by applying the GWO algorithm led to a total cost reduction of 17.19%.

Conservation genetics of the grey wolf in Czech Republic and adjacent regions is studied in the present thesis. Analyses of twenty-one microsatellite loci, one sex-determining amelogenin gene and mitochodrial control region were used to verify species determination, identify individuals and estimate relationships between them, analyse population structure and estimate demographic trends based on samples collected between 2014 and 2021. Genetic detection of red fox and dog samples incorrectly assigned to wolves illustrates the hurdles of field monitoring of grey wolf. Direct evidence for the occurrence of F1 hybrids was not found. Wolves from Bohemia showed lower values of allelic richness in comparison to the ones from Western Carpathians, probably as a consequence of recent expansion. Geographic distances between detection sites of identical individuals were relatively small or moderate in this study, suggesting regular movements of animals within their home ranges. Only two long-distance dispersal events exceeding 300 km were detected. Results of parental analysis provided evidence of pack distribution within the studied area. Most relationships were detected between wolves in the northern region of Czech Republic where the first recolonizing wolf pack in 2014 was registered. Within the studied...

Landscape genetic approaches allow to study effects of landscape to population microevolution. Landscape can influence gene flow even in large carnivores with good dispersal ability. Understanding the influence of landscape to the gene flow between populations is crucial for species conservation, especially in the species with low population densities. Aim of the study was to describe genetic structure of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) and snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in selected areas and to determine the influence of the landscape features on observed structure. Non-invasive genetic samples of snow leopard from Nepal were analysed, as well as invasive and non-invasive samples of grey wolf from Central Europe. Population structure was determined a posteriori using Bayesian clustering approaches that integrate genetic and geographical data, and compared to landscape connectivity models. Population structure of snow leopards is mostly influenced by human presence and presence of frequented roads, which represent a substantial dispersal barrier. Habitat suitable for this species is greatly restricted by altitude, however, during dispersal they are able to overcome areas with higher elevation than what is optimal for them. Pronounced genetic difference was found between central European and Carpathian...

Yes / Investigation of the environmental/economic optimal operation management of a microgrid (MG) as a case study for applying a novel modified multi-objective grey wolf optimizer (MMOGWO) algorithm is presented in this paper. MGs can be considered as a fundamental solution in order for distributed generators’ (DGs) management in future smart grids. In the multi-objective problems, since the objective functions are conflict, the best compromised solution should be extracted through an efficient approach. Accordingly, a proper method is applied for exploring the best compromised solution. Additionally, a novel distance-based method is proposed to control the size of the repository within an aimed limit which leads to a fast and precise convergence along with a well-distributed Pareto optimal front. The proposed method is implemented in a typical grid-connected MG with non-dispatchable units including renewable energy sources (RESs), along with a hybrid power source (micro-turbine, fuel-cell and battery) as dispatchable units, to accumulate excess energy or to equalize power mismatch, by optimal scheduling of DGs and the power exchange between the utility grid and storage system. The efficiency of the suggested algorithm in satisfying the load and optimizing the objective functions is validated through comparison with different methods, including PSO and the original GWO. / Supported in part by Royal Academy of Engineering Distinguished Visiting Fellowship under Grant DVF1617\6\45

Today, the issues related to the presence of bears and wolves in the Czech Republic are more frequently discussed due to their occasional occurrence. The significant part of the public still considers these predators dangerous and they even think that a man is supposed to be their potential prey. A lot of surveys confirming this have been already taken, but none of them was focused on the views of primary and secondary schools students. As they are a part of the school education system, their views on the large carnivores should be mainly shaped by it. A questionnaire-based survey was used to find the attitudes of students. The first part of the questionnaire focused on the students' opinions about the dangerousness of predators, its reasons and common wolf presence in the Czech Republic. The second part of the questionnaire is focused on the domestic dog, which has wolf origins. It deals mainly with the attitudes of students to selected dog breeds, dog domestication awareness and views on the so- called "fighting breeds". This work has been aimed at identification of attitudes of the primary and secondary school students from different regions of the Czech Republic to the selected predators. The survey was also taken at primary schools in the High Tatras Mountains, an area where all the large...

Humans affect ecosystems by changing species compositions, landscape and climate. This thesis aims to increase our understanding of anthropogenic effects on mesopredator abundance due to changes in apex predator status, landscape and climate. I show that in Eurasia the abundance of a mesopredator, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), is limited top-down by the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and bottom-up by winter severity. However, where lynx has been eradicated, fox abundance is instead related to bottom-factors such as cropland (paper I, II). Fox abundance was highest when croplands constituted 25% of the landscape (paper II). I also project red fox abundance in Sweden over the past 200 years and in future scenarios in relation to lynx density, land use and climate change. The projected fox abundance was highest in 1920, when lynx was eradicated and the proportion of cropland was 22%. In 2010, when lynx had recolonised, the projected fox abundance was lower than in 1920, but higher than in 1830. Future scenarios indicated that lynx abundance must increase in respond to climate change to keep fox at the same density as today. The results suggest a mesopredator release when lynx was eradicated, boosted by land use and climate change, and that changes in bottom-up factors can modify the relative strength of top-down factors (paper IV). From 1846-1922, lynx, wolverine (Gulo gulo) and grey wolf (Canis lupus) declined in Scandinavia due to persecution; however I show that the change in wolverine abundance was positively related to the changes in lynx and wolf abundance. This indicates that wolverine is subsidized by carrions from lynx and wolf kills rather than limited top-down by them (paper III). This thesis illustrates how mesopredator abundance is determined by a combination of top-down and bottom-up processes, and how anthropogenic impacts not only can change the structures of predator guilds, but also may modify top-down processes through changes in bottom-up factors. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 3: Submitted. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p><p> </p>

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