Ecophysiology and population biology of animals

We are dealing with the biological structure of populations of small and underground mammals with a particular focus on ethological, physiological and genetic differences between individuals. For example, we pay attention to both aspects, the variability associated with the adaptive values ​​of the selected parameters and the variability that is the result of personality traits or behavioral syndromes – successful strategies at the intra-group level. These strategies can have a strong genetic basis, but they can be also obtained in pre- and postnatal periods. Knowledge of the quality of individuals (behavioral, physiological, genetic) is very useful to us for studying, for example, the role of the Earth’s magnetic field in orientation and navigation, as well as assessing anthropogenic influences ranging from the disturbing effects of radiofrequency fields to habitat fragmentation, which is one of the key issues in nature protection. From this point of view, we have several exemplary species (European ground squirrel – Spermophilus citellus, garden dormouse – Eliomys quercinus), in which we examined the structure of the populations in the Czech Republic, but also in the context of the whole distribution and how the degree of isolation leads to inbred depression – the reduction in viability of individuals in their subpopulations. This research focus brings knowledge immediately applicable in conservation practice.

Head: doc. RNDr. František Sedláček, CSc.
e-mail: fsedlac@prf.jcu.cz
tel.: +420 387 772 258

Researchers:
RNDr. Štěpánka Říčanová, Ph.D.
MSc. Monika Nováková
MSc. Gabriela Urbánková

Collaborating institutions:
Katedra ekologie, FŽP, ČZU, Praha; Katedra ekologie a životního prostředí, PřF UP, Olomouc; Katedra myslivosti a lesnické zoologie, FLD ČZU, Praha; Katedra zoologie PřF UK, Praha; Ústav biologie obratlovců AV ČR, Brno; Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia; Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, Forest Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland; Institute of Zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Science; Institute of Zoology of ASM, Chisinau, Moldova; Penza State University, Penza, Russia; University Duisburg-Essen, Germany; University of Hildesheim, Germany

Selected posters:
Handling u dospělých hrabošů polních nezměnil výsledky behaviorálních testů (Dikošová et al. 2017)
Vztah dechové frekvence k osobnostním rysům u hraboše polního (Microtus arvalis) (Janochová et al. 2015)
Capture-mark-recapture reduces habituation to repeated behavioral test in the common vole (Sedláček et al. 2014)
Individuality takes all! Behavioural plasticity is related to personality type and influenced by social environment (Šíchová et al. 2013)

References:
Sysel (ČT)
European Ground Squirrel (AOPK ČR)