In temperate zone, especially Europe and North America, is the genus Geastrum very well inspected group of Gasteromycetes with long lasting and comprehensive history of research. Our knowledge of the diversity in other areas of distribution, especially in tropics, is more than limited. The aim of this diploma thesis is to contribute for cognition of diversity of this genus in Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia I have collected 86 samples belonging to genus Geastrum during three expeditions to Panama (Chiriqué province) in the years 2015, 2016, 2017. I have characterized those based on morphological and molecular data. I have also studied morphology of 40 borrowed herbarium specimens from Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama. I have successfully sequenced four locuses of DNA from my own samples (ITS, LSU, RPB1 and ATP6). This method had lover efficiency in herbarium specimens due to present contaminations, age of specimens or probably badly stored. Molecular phylogenetic analysis was carried out by Bayesian method and its results have in agreement with morphologic traits shown many lineages new for Panama and moreover at least four new species completely new to science. Variability in species complexes (e.g. G. lageniforme, G. saccatum, G. velutinum) is presented in more detail with emphasis to lineages...

1 Abstract Currently there are almost 4000 described species of rose chafers (Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) but larvae of less than 200 species are described. In this work we studied larval morphology of 86 species belonging to 58 genera with focus on the tribe Goliathini. The larvae of 21 genera were studied for the first time. 77 morphological characters on head, mouth parts, legs and thoracal and abdominal segments were studied. This resulted into large matrix of morphological characters, which were further tested in separate phylogenetical analyses. A checklist of studied characters and their states and also large databasis of photographs of the characters are also amongst the results of the thesis. Five independent datasets were tested, three were based singly on morphology, one on molecular sequences and one on a combined dataset. The phylogenetic analysis was made by three methods, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and bayesian interference. Eleven different phylogenetic trees were obtained as a result, based on which we tried to reconstruct the relationships between the inner groups of Cetoniinae with focus on relationship of subtribes of tribe Goliathini. Monophyly of the tribe Goliathini as well as some other groups could not be confirmed, as well as the alleged basal position of the genus...

This thesis focuses on the genetical and morphological diversity of plaited door snail (Cochlodina laminata). While small distribution ranges are typical for most species belonging to genus Cochlodina, the distribution range of C. laminata covers most of the European continent, except for its coolest and warmest parts. It has been previously suggested that this species might in fact be a complex of several species and large genetical as well as morphological diversity has been mentioned - however, yet undescribed - in previous studies. Sequences of two mitochondrial genes were used (16S rDNA, COI) and thirteen morphological characteritics have been assessed to investigate this diversity. I discovered that the current concept of C. laminata as a species is not in accordance with the discovered genetical nor morphological variability. The original species C. laminata/C. dubiosa form a common species complex and also interpretation of C. fimbriata will need to be assessed in more detail in the future. Other Central European species are valid species.

The genus Ramariopsis (Clavariaceae, Agaricales) having ramarioid, rarely clavarioid basidiomata includes about 15 species in central Europe. They are probably saprotrophic species which usually occur in grasslands or rarely open places in shrubs or deciduous forests. In this work, 88 collections of this genus mainly from the Czech Republic and Slovakia were studied, of which 57 sequences from the LSU and 36 from the ITS regions of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene complex were obtained. Based on molecular-phylogenetic analyses using the maximum likelihood and bayesian methods, phylogenetic trees were created showing 16 well-supported clades. So detailed study on the phylogeny and relationships among species of the genus Ramariopsis is presented for first time, even within the world literature. Subsequent morphological analysis supported by SEM study of basidiospores showed that obtained clades represent nine species known in taxonomic literature, three so far non-described species (that were labelled with provisional names) and four clades whose interpretation is uncertain at the moment. Thus, seven clades represent cryptic diversity, which is a rather high extent. A new species Ramariopsis robusta Matouš et Holec has already been published and Ramariopsis rufipes and Ramariopsis kunzei var. bispora...

The diploma thesis presents an overview of the extinct representatives of Blattidae, the still living cockroach family. Six already described species, belonging to three genera, have been confirmed. All of them lived during Cenozoic. Eight new morphotypes from Myanmar amber were recognized. Cenomanian Burmite with its exceptional state of preservation, allows a detailed study of the morphology of the inclusions. Six morphototypes belong to the family Blattidae. One morphotype belongs to the derived family Olidae studied herein. One female morphotype belongs to the still living family Ectobiidae, based on the presence of an attached ootheca. The work specifies the previous molecular analysis (J2-K1) and determines the divergence of Blattidae during Early Cretaceous. Any evidence and interpolations before 127Ma is not substantiated. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed Blattidae being parafyletic in respect to the family Olidae. The work emphasizes the need for changes in systematics of the Mesoblattinidae, the stem of the Blattidae. Amber is confirmed as the product of coniferous trees of the Araucariaceae family. Key words: Blattidae, taxonomy, phylogeny, Cenomanian, Myanmar amber

Flea beetles (Alticini) are a highly diversified group of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) with about 8 000 known species from about 560 genera distributed worldwide except Antarctica. The major life strategy of flea beetles is external feeding on vascular plants, similarly to other leaf beetles. However, studies published during last years revealed existence of numerous different flea beetle genera feeding on mosses. Moss-inhabiting flea beetles are usually highly specialized and share similar morphological characteristics, including flightlessness, compact body shape and modified antennae. However, their phylogenetic position remained unknown. In this study, I performed a phylogenetic analysis of 14 known moss- and leaf litter inhabiting flea beetle genera, included into a large dataset of various genera of flea beetles. I sequenced 2 mitochondrial and 2 nuclear genes previously used for phylogenetic analyses of Alticini. I also added numerous Neotropical external feeding alticine genera, because taxon samples from previous studies (Ge et al. 2012; Nie et al. 2017) consisted mainly of Oriental genera. Although deep divergences and phylogenetic positions of several genera were not resolved, the analysis revealed a multiple origin of moss- and leaf litter inhabitance among flea beetles. The morphologically...

Earth-boring dung beetles of the genus Lethrus Scopoli, 1777 belong to the family Geotrupidae, classified into three subfamilies (Geotrupinae, Lethrinae a Taurocerastinae). The description of about 120 species, divided into nine subgenera, is based on morphology and geographic distribution. Shape of mandibles, ventral mandible processes, pronotum and structure of external male genitalia are used as diagnostic morphological characters for taxa. The richest species diversity is known from Central Asia. The distribution area reaches, in the east, up to Mongolia and China, and in the west, up to Southeast Europe. All species are robust, relatively large flightless beetles with low dispersial ability. They feed on parts of fresh plants instead of feces like other dung beetles. Master thesis is focused on the species distributed in the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Europe. This area is inhabited only by nominotypical subgenus Lethrus. The main goal of thesis is to clear up phylogenetic relationships between species of subgenus and speciation events using molecular genetic methods. We have examined 91 samples of the genus Lethrus using two mitochondrial genes - cytochrome b (382 bp, 80 sequences), cytochrome oxidase I (815 bp, 87 sequences) and nuclear gene 28S rDNA (D2-D5) (1100 bp, 11 sequences)....

Chalcid wasps (Chalciodiodea) is superfamily within parasitic group of the order Hymenoptera. These insects attack other arthropods. My thesis is focused on phylogeny of selected species groups of the genus Torymus Dalman 1820, whose range of hosts includes mainly gall-forming insect as gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) and gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Using genes 28D2 rDNA, COI and CytB, I constructed phylogenetic trees, which helped with discussing current view on classification of the genus and with inferring new findings about co-evolution with host organisms. Previously established morphological - ecological species groups were not supported by my analyses in many cases. Morphological traits seem to be convergent for many species. They often do not support observed monophyla as apomorphies. On the other hand, ecology and natural habitat of species was common for many branches in my cladograms. It was found out, that recent hosts are not probably original hosts of the group. Adaptive radiation in different habitats is likely to be the phenomenon that stands behind present-day host range of Torymus species. This process could have occurred after swapping to gall midges and gall wasps. Key words: Chalcidoidea, Torymus, phylogeny, parasitoid, host specifity, co-evolution

The research contained in this thesis explores the phylogenetic systematics, taxonomy, evolution and biogeography of tribe Megasternini (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Sphaeridiinae). Megasternines are an oustandingly diverse group of terrestrial water scavenger beetles with almost 600 described species and probably up to 1,000 species in total. Its species can be found in a wide array of habitats with abundant decaying material like humid leaf litter, dung, rotten cacti, beach wrack, flowers, etc. The specific and ecological diversity as well as their global distribution makes Megasternini an interesting model group for the understanding of processes underlying the diversification, biogeography and evolution of beetles. The scientific part of the thesis contains seven papers: three published, one accepted, one submitted and two manuscripts. Chapters 1-4 are focused on the taxonomy of selected groups. These chapters aim to cover a variety of cases in terms of biogeography (the Greater Antilles, northern Neotropics, Africa and Southeast Asia), ecology (species associated with leaf litter, dung, flower and rotten cacti) and different taxonomic scenarios. One new extant genus and eight new extant species are described in these chapters. Chapter 5 is a revision of all known hydrophilid fossils from Baltic...

The diploma thesis presents an overview of the extinct representatives of Blattidae, the still living cockroach family. Six already described species, belonging to three genera, have been confirmed. All of them lived during Cenozoic. Eight new morphotypes from Myanmar amber were recognized. Cenomanian Burmite with its exceptional state of preservation, allows a detailed study of the morphology of the inclusions. Six morphototypes belong to the family Blattidae. One morphotype belongs to the derived family Olidae studied herein. One female morphotype belongs to the still living family Ectobiidae, based on the presence of an attached ootheca. The work specifies the previous molecular analysis (J2-K1) and determines the divergence of Blattidae during Early Cretaceous. Any evidence and interpolations before 127Ma is not substantiated. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed Blattidae being parafyletic in respect to the family Olidae. The work emphasizes the need for changes in systematics of the Mesoblattinidae, the stem of the Blattidae. Amber is confirmed as the product of coniferous trees of the Araucariaceae family. Key words: Blattidae, taxonomy, phylogeny, Cenomanian, Myanmar amber