Semi-natural grasslands are among the most threatened habitats in Europe, endangered mainly by cessation of former management practices and conversion into other types of land use. Extensive research has been carried out in European grasslands in last decades, to explain origins of diversity and to provide guidelines for its conservation. However, the very slow response of perennial plants to landscape changes often impedes to accurately evaluate why species occur just where they occur and not elsewhere. Abandoned fields are perceived as potential habitats for species from declining grasslands. Indeed, many species are able to spontaneously colonise abandoned fields, but many other species are absent from communities that develop there. An important question remains what limits their successful establishment. By answering this question, we can gain also important insights into factors determining species distribution in grasslands because colonization of recently abandoned fields by grassland species is the ongoing process which is not obscured by historical changes in landscape structure. The very basic aim of this thesis was to evaluate the status quo of dry grassland plants in fields abandoned in last two decades. And in the second step, to identify what are the main constrains of successful...

This master thesis focuses on extensification of agricultural production and land use, and on driving forces and factors that influence this process. The research concentrates on land-use changes resulting from the extensification of agriculture (especially grassing-over and abandonment of agricultural land) in last twenty years. Emphasis is put on an analysis of driving forces of extensification processes that have an influence on land-use change. Factors with an impact on extensification are divided into natural and socio-economic ones. Natural factors are represented for example by air temperature, precipitation, altitude, slope, or soil productivity. As socio-economic ones we consider for instance the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union, Gross Domestic Product, population density, spatial exposedness, or patterns of use and ownership of agricultural land. These factors are studied on European, Czech and local scales. Data for this research were collected from international and Czech databases; on the local level there was performed the author's own field research. Results of this thesis are obtained by quantitative research that demonstrate the main influence of natural driving forces on the process of extensification in Europe. Land-use changes related with extensification of agriculture...

The main aim of the thesis was to describe the succession of several abandoned fields under ploughing and discuss ploughing as a possible management for establishing and maintaining species-rich communities of fallows. Actual vegetation, its development over time and soil seed bank were studied. Experimental small-area ploughing was established at five abandoned fields in the southeastern part of the Podyjí National Park. Three strips with different types of management were founded: A) strip ploughed each year, B) strip ploughed once at the beginning of the experiment, C) control meadow without intervention. Vegetation development was evaluated through a series of relèves recorded during the years 2009-2012. The species composition of the seed bank was described using the seedling-emergence method and subsequent elutriation of soil samples. Similarity indexes, Longevity index (LI) and concept of RCS strategies were used. The vegetation of each-year plowed sites (A) consisted mostly of annual weeds and ruderal species with R-strategy and high LI. Grassland vegetation (C) consisted mostly of grasses and perennial herbs with C-strategy and lower LI. The vegetation of older fallows (B) was at first most similar to one-year fallow (A), but during the 4 years of succession has moved closer to the meadow...

The main aim of this thesis is assessment of land use changes from half of the 19th century to present in the western part of the České středohoří Mts. Changes in land use categories proportion, development of ecological stability of landscape, development of land use diversity and influence of physical-geographic conditions on land use changes were assessed. The second aim is assessment of abandoned land occurrence in the area. All abandoned lands were mapped and then relationship between abandoned lands occurrence and physical-geographic conditions was assessed. Key words: landscape development, land use, abandoned lands, old maps, České středohoří Mts.

Several methods are used for studying seed dispersal (seed traps, tracking individual seeds, tracking seeds coloured by fluorescent colours, etc.) However, only a few studies compared results obtained by several methods. In first part of this master thesis, I compared the three above mentioned methods used for studying seed dispersal using species from Asteraceae family. From previous research within the study area (Úštěcko), it is known that dry grassland species are able to colonize abandoned fields. Using seed dispersal data obtained within this theses, I tried to assess the role of seed dispersal on distribution of dry grassland species on abandoned fields both on local and regional scale. The results showed that dispersal curves obtained by the three methods differ significantly. This results may be due to different wind conditions during the experiments. Seed trap data show results from long-term seed dispersal influenced by highly variable wind conditions. In contrary, seed release experiments showed results based on single dispersal event under limited wind conditions. Tracking seeds coloured by fluorescent colours was shown to be not convenient for small seeds, but I can recommend this method for larger seeds. Influence of seed dispersal ability on abundance of dry grassland species on...

Wild ungulates are considered one of the major drivers for shaping terrestrial ecosystems, which has been developing since the early Cenozoic. Understanding the effects of ungfulates on vegetation is necessary for qualified knowledge how European landscape looked prior to human habitation and how it would look like without human intervention. Further, such understanding is of practical importance as management information necessary for managing abandoned landscapes. While the present-day wild ungulate European fauna does not contain several large grazers like auroch (Bos primigenius) anymore, the landscape has long been affected by them. It thus possesses historical experience of response to large grazers, which has been further maintained by livestock grazing. Importantly, the European landscape is experiencing a steady increase of populations of deer (Cervidae) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) with major effects of vegetation and landscape structure. While the effects of these present-day dominants have been studied mainly in forest habitats, there is a growing evidence that they both promote species diversity of forest understory and, interestingly, preferably feed in open vegetation and thus can affect broader landscape heterogeneity. The main aim of this thesis is therefore to examine effects of...

This thesis approaches the question of homelessness in the Czech Republic, focusing specifically on homeless people with dogs who together form an alternative family unit. The purpose of this thesis is to map and present comprehensively viewed information and specifics relating to the group. The thesis aims to inspire the reader to ponder on the discussed issue, that is to be aware that this family unit requires to be approached as a whole, and not as two separate components - a homeless person and a dog. The first part of the thesis defines the theoretical aspect of the question in discussion, based primarily on academic literature sources, but also on sources from the internet which reflect on the focus of the research. Then follows a practical part where a questionnaire is conducted with homeless people with dogs, where the main research question was what the obstacles are preventing this group from living a fulfilling life. Interviews were also conducted with selected people who have been working with homeless people with dogs for a long time. Using both of these research tools, an overall result was achieved. During the mapping of the current situation, the semi-constructed interview method was applied. The research sample was composed of seven homeless people with dogs, completed by one...

This thesis is focused on succession in old fields in Central Europe. Repeated sampling, analysis of surrounding vegetation and soil measurements were conducted in the Bohemian Karst Landscape protected area. Samples from the Doupovské hory Mountains and the rest of the Czech Republic were added to discover basic principles of old field succession at the larger scale of landscapes.

The assignment of the work was the elaboration of two planned blocks of the new Brno southern center. In cooperation with the Office of the Architect of the City of Brno, we adjusted them to the final form, from which twelve plots were created, for twelve graduates of the Nový-Palasčák studio. The land solved by me is located at the meeting of Opuštěná Street and the Svratka River. It thus forms an important urban corner, marking the newly emerging district. Due to its character, significance, size and multifunctional arrangement, I called this corner building „Opuštěná Palace“.

The thesis deals with a design of a new construction of a polyfunctional urban house. It concerns a corner plot near the busy Opuštená avenue. The building is supposed to supplement the intended housing estate. Designed to be suitable for domestic, administrative and commercial use while maintaining an effective budget, the property is to provide the residents as well as the location with a high-quality space.