 |
History
Beginnings of the Institute of Botany are dated back to 1954 when the Geobotanical Laboratory of the Biological Institutes of ČSAV was founded. The laboratory specialized in vegetation mapping was located in Praha, latter also in Brno. The Institute of Botany was established on January 1, 1962. Its activities were latter extended and other groups involved. Workers at the Botanical Garden were included in 1968, and the Hydrobotanical Department was established in Třeboň at the beginning of the 70´s. In 1966 the Institute of Botany launched ISI indexed journal Folia Geobotanica (called Folia Geobotanica et Phytotaxonomica since 1997). Since 1969 the Institute maintains the Průhonice Park.
People and Departments
Dr. Slavomil Hejný was the first and longstanding director of the Institute of Botany. Latter he was followed by dr. Robert Neuhäusl, dr. Jan Štěpánek, dr. František Krahulec and recently dr. Jan Kirschner. The Institute has about 290 employees; with over 100 out of the figure being scientific workers or PhD students. The scientific part of the Institute consists of two divisions with a total of 8 departments. The large part of the Institute is located in Průhonice (director & secretary, Průhonice Park administration, library, most laboratories, experimental garden, departments of taxonomy, geobotany, population ecology, mycorrhizal symbioses, Journal Folia Geobotanica). Departments of algology and synecology are situated in Třeboň. Departments of ecology and experimental phycology are found in Brno.
For more details see Structure of the Institute.
Research
The Institute of Botany studies vegetation at organism, population, community and ecosystem levels. Current research covers a broad spectrum of botanical disciplines: taxonomy, biosystematics and evolution of vascular and non-vascular plants and selected groups of fungi, karyology, population biology, ecology, ecophysiology, phytogeography, classification of plant communities and vegetation mapping, wood anatomy, dendrochronology, and palaeoecology. Attention is paid to functioning, regeneration, and conservation of populations and ecosystems, as well as short- and long-term climate monitoring, and biomonitoring. The Institute of Botany is responsible for publishing synthetic national botanical works, contributes to important international botanical publications, holds specialized plant collections focused on protection of genetic resources, and holds or contributes to national databases (alien species of the country, clonal plants, phytosociological releves).
Biosystematics of Vascular Plants and Fungi
The investigation has been aimed at studying variability and distribution of individual taxa and the phylogenetic relationships. Besides Flora of the Czech Republic and Identification key to Flora of the Czech Republic, the scientists contribute to Flora of the World, Flora of China, Atlas Florae Europaeae (families Potamogetonaceae and Juncaceae and genus Taraxacum, Myosotis and Hieracium). Another taxa studied in more detail are Rubus, Bolboschoenus, Galium, Knautia, Butomus. Mycological research has been aimed at family Ascomycetes. The major trend is a very efficient integration of ideas and methods of molecular genetics, population genetics, population ecology, a study of plant breeding systems, cytoembryology, structural morphology and taxonomy.
Lichenology
The research has been aimed at taxonomy, distribution and ecology of lichens, and applications (bioindication).
Geobotany and Vegetation Mapping
The research has been aimed both at the reconstruction mapping and monitoring of vegetation of the Czech Republic (Geobotanical map of CSSR (reconstructed vegetation), Map of potential natural vegetation of CR). Attention has been paid mainly to valuable protected areas, such as Křivoklátsko Biosphere Reserve, and National park Šumava. Besides the Czech Republic, the investigation has been aimed at unknown or little known territories, such as the Korean Peninsula, project of the vegetation of Campos rupestres in Brazil, vegetation of Azov Sea, the Middle East, the Southern Ukraine. Classical description, classification (Braun-Blanquet´s approach) and mapping of vegetation have been combined with numerical methods, data processing in GIS, of the remote sensing of Earth.
Palaeoecology and Dendrochronology
The research provides data necessary for the reconstruction of vegetation changes from the end of the last glacial to the present time. The methods used are pollen and macro-remains analyses. Dendrochronology is aimed at construction of master chronologies for the Czech Republic for the last 1,000 years using ring-width measuring system, especially for Abies and Pinus.
Grassland and Population Ecology
The research has been carried out in model communities in the Krkonoše and Bílé Karpaty Mts. The study has been aimed at mechanism of species coexistence (different demands of individual plant species on environment quality, competition for resources and nutrients, plant growth forms, intra-specific variability). The study covers monitoring long-term changes in the communities investigated and searching for ways of suitable management to keep species diversity in these mainly secondary communities.
Ecology of Mycorrhyzas
The study has been aimed at various ecophysiological aspects of the interaction of mycorrhizal fungi with their host plants, bacteria and with edaphic environment. Special attention has been paid to environments disturbed by anthropogenic factors such as industrial activities, acid rain or heavy metal pollution.
Plant Invasions and Comparative Plant Ecology
The research has been based on investigation of characteristics both of invasive species and invaded communities, with selected invasive species - Heracleum mantegazzianum, Impatiens glandulifera, and species genus Reynoutria. The aim of the research is to identify mechanisms of plant invasions and to complete Database of invasive species.
Research of Vegetation of Clearings
The research has been aimed at grass ecosystems in deforested areas in the Beskydy Mts. There are often places with strong negative anthropogenic impact, including eutrofication, disturbance and air pollution, influencing chemical and biological features of the soil. The study has been aimed at interaction between grass vegetation and soil, mainly at accumulation and losses of organic matter and nutrients.
Wetland ecology
The research has been focused on function, conservation and management of wetlands in Třeboňská pánev. It involves investigation of long-term changes in vegetation of wetlands under various human impacts, especially vegetation dynamics in floodplain meadows in relations to moisture and nutrient gradients and kind of management. Attention has been paid to autecology of wetland plants.
Systematics and ecology of algae and cyanobacteria
The research covers algal taxonomy, ecology and physiology. Impact of environmental factors on Cyanobacteria and algae has been investigated both in laboratory and natural habitats. Special attention has been paid to the impact of Cyanobacteria on aquatic ecosystems and water quality, and their possible use in agriculture.
For more details on individual topics see Research activities - projects.
Scientific co-operation
The Institute participates in framework programmes of the European Union, contributes to the map of European vegetation, Flora of the World, and participates in the research in the Antarctic. In the framework of agreements of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic the Institute co-operates with related scientific institutions abroad. In the framework of co-operation with important Czech and Slovakian universities (Faculty of Science of Charles University - Praha, Faculty of Science of Masaryk University - Brno, Faculty of Biological Sciences of University of South Bohemia – České Budějovice, Faculty of Science of Universitas Palackiana – Olomouc, Faculty of Science of University of P. J. Šafárik – Košice) the Institute provides graduate and post-graduate study programmes; some of the scientific workers have regular lectures, provide specialised seminars, and act as student supervisors. The Institute provides scientific assessments and expert opinions for the state administration and co-operates closely with nature protection authorities and administration of natural parks.
Background
The background for scientific work involves the library, herbarium (in process), experimental garden, specialised laboratories (DNA isozyme analysis, GIS, image analysis, 2 labs for soil, water and biomass analysis), two field stations (Kvilda, Lužnice).
Programme for sponsors
|
|
