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Biology Centre of the ASCR, v. v. i.
Branišovská 1160/31, České Budějovice
Phone: +420 387 771 111
FAX: +420 385 310 338
E-mail: bc@bc.cas.cz
PDF info: bc_info_en.pdf
Chart: bc_chart.pdf
The Biology Centre ASCR was established on 15 December 2005 on the basis of a resolution of the XXVII session of the Academy Assembly that directed the merger of five Academy institutes located in the town of České Budějovice. Pursuant to Act No. 341/2005 Coll., the Biology Centre became a public research institution as of 1 January 2007.
Biology Centre includes the Institutes of Entomology, Hydrobiology, Parasitology, Plant Molecular Biology, and Soil Biology, and a Technical and Administrative Service unit. Most of the research conducted there is oriented ecologically, but several other fields of biology, including biomedicine, are also represented. The Centre builds its scientific reputation on collaboration across disciplines, use of diverse methodological approaches (molecular biology, genetics, taxonomy, field ecology, mathematical modelling, etc.), and the combination of the analytical and holistic approach to problem solution. Much of the research aims at improving agricultural practices, management of water resources, and landscape management with emphasis on nature conservation. Results of these activities have an economic impact and are important for the quality of human life.
The Biology Centre of the ASCR is comprised of the following organisational parts:
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., INSTITUTE OF ENTOMOLOGY
Phone: +420 385 310 350; 387 771 111
Fax: +420 385 310 354
WWW: http://www.entu.cas.cz/
E-mail: entu@entu.cas.cz
The Institute was founded in 1962 by merging the Laboratory of Entomology (created in 1954) of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences with the Department of Insect Pathology established in 1953 within the former Institute of Biology of the Academy.The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006.
The Institute performs basic and applied research in areas, in which insects are either in the focus of attention (e.g., insect pests) or serve as suitable models for the solution of general biological problems. Most of the investigations, which range from molecular and cytological studies to the monitoring of complex ecosystems, are components of the five following research themes:
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i.,INSTITUTE OF HYDROBIOLOGY
Phone: +420 387 775 881; 385 310 262
Fax: +420 385 310 248
WWW: http://www.hbu.cas.cz/
E-mail: hbu@hbu.cas.cz
The Institute was founded in 1990. The original hydrobiological unit was created in the early fifties and, from 1953, was part of the Institute of Biology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. After the division of that Institute, its hydrobiological section was incorporated into several other institutes of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. From 1967-1970, however, the Hydrobiological Laboratories of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences were an independent entity. In 1981, the Hydrobiological Laboratories were moved to České Budějovice and in 1990 it became an autonomous institute of the ASCR. The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006.
The Institute's work is based on a long-term project to study biological processes in water reservoirs. One of the most important subjects of research is eutrophication. Special attention is paid to biotic interactions in plankton assemblage including the microbial loop, the mechanism of influencing water blooms, phosphorus load and lake turnover. Another subject of research is the acidification of mountain lakes. Long-term studies are carried out on changes in the ionic composition of the water of rivers, lakes and reservoirs in connection with acid rain and fertilisation. The main goal of the research is elucidation of the basic environmental functions of the ecosystem in reservoirs, which are important for water quality management.
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., INSTITUTE OF PARASITOLOGY
Phone: +420 387 775 403
Fax: +420 385 310 388
WWW: http://www.paru.cas.cz/
E-mail: paru@paru.cas.cz
The Institute was formed in 1962 from the Department of Parasitology of the former Institute of Biology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and the Academy's Protozoological Laboratory. In 1985 it was moved from Prague to České Budějovice. The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006.
The Institute is engaged in research in the fields of protistology, helminthology and acaroentomology, including studies of some of the causative agents of diseases transmitted by arthropods.
It works principally in the following areas of study:
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., INSTITUTE OF PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Phone: +420 385 310 357
Fax: +420 385 310 356
WWW: http://www.umbr.cas.cz/
E-mail: umbr@umbr.cas.cz
The Institute was founded in 1990 through the division of the Institute of Experimental Botany into two separate units, one in Prague and the other in České Budějovice. The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006
The research work of the Institute ranges from plant molecular biology to agri-ecological studies, and is concerned primarily with plant genetic engineering, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, molecular genetics and the diagnosis of plant viruses and viroids, biophysics and the physiology of photosynthesis. The Institute participates in applied research in the field of plant biotechnology.
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., INSTITUTE OF SOIL BIOLOGY
Phone: +420 385 310 134; 387 775 746
Fax: +420 385 310 133
WWW: http://www.upb.cas.cz/
E-mail: upb@upb.cas.cz
The Institute was founded as of 1 January 1986 from the Laboratory of Soil Biology, which had existed within the framework of the former Institute of the Landscape Ecology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences from 1979. The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006.
The Institute carries out research in all the important fields of soil biology and ecology, from the molecular level up to the level of ecosystems, and is also concerned with basic problems relating to the formation, fertility and regeneration of soil. The research focuses in particilar on studies of the structure of soil organism communities and their role in ecosystem processes. It does this by investigating the interactions between soil microorganisms and animals and by studying the interactions between soil biota and abiotic and biotic structures and processes in soil. An important pursuit of research includes examining the impact of anthropogenic effects on the soil component of ecosystems.
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
Phone: +420 387 775 926
Fax: +420 385 310 338
WWW: http://www.thsbp.cas.cz
E-mail: thsbp@thsbp.cas.cz
The Joint Technical and Administrative Service (JTAS) of the Biological Institutes of the ASCR located in České Budějovice was established on 18 November 1990 as a service unit to provide infrastructural services to ASCR´s Institutes in České Budějovice. It became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006. Its responsibilities include dealing with labour law matters, salary/wage issues, accountancy, contacts with financial institutions, the administration, maintenance and security of real property, investments, flat management, non-public accommodation services, energy management and control, material and technical services, garage operation, repair and maintenance of vehicles. The JTAS also operates a joint biological library, common lecture halls, catering and other activities related to the operation of biological institutes.
Biology Centre includes the Institutes of Entomology, Hydrobiology, Parasitology, Plant Molecular Biology, and Soil Biology, and a Technical and Administrative Service unit. Most of the research conducted there is oriented ecologically, but several other fields of biology, including biomedicine, are also represented. The Centre builds its scientific reputation on collaboration across disciplines, use of diverse methodological approaches (molecular biology, genetics, taxonomy, field ecology, mathematical modelling, etc.), and the combination of the analytical and holistic approach to problem solution. Much of the research aims at improving agricultural practices, management of water resources, and landscape management with emphasis on nature conservation. Results of these activities have an economic impact and are important for the quality of human life.
The Biology Centre of the ASCR is comprised of the following organisational parts:
- Institute of Entomology
- Institute of Hydrobiology
- Institute of Parasitology
- Institute of Plant Molecular Biology
- Institute of Soil Biology
- Technical and Administrative Service
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., INSTITUTE OF ENTOMOLOGY
Phone: +420 385 310 350; 387 771 111
Fax: +420 385 310 354
WWW: http://www.entu.cas.cz/
E-mail: entu@entu.cas.cz
The Institute was founded in 1962 by merging the Laboratory of Entomology (created in 1954) of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences with the Department of Insect Pathology established in 1953 within the former Institute of Biology of the Academy.The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006.
The Institute performs basic and applied research in areas, in which insects are either in the focus of attention (e.g., insect pests) or serve as suitable models for the solution of general biological problems. Most of the investigations, which range from molecular and cytological studies to the monitoring of complex ecosystems, are components of the five following research themes:
- Mechanisms of morphogenesis (chromosome structure and function, chromatin, transcription factors, hormone action).
- Neurohumoral regulation of biorhythms and life cycles (interactions between environmental factors and endogenous rhythms, molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythmicity, genetic control of biorhythms, correlations between diapause and cold acclimation).
- Principles and mechanisms of biodiversity (insect taxonomy, molecular evolution, population genetics).
- The role of insects in the structure and function of selected ecosystems (conservation research in selected Central European and tropical ecosystems, mathematical modelling of ecological processes, use of aquatic insects as bioindicators of environmental changes).
- Biological control of insect pests and disease vectors (genetic methods, biorational pesticides, pathogens, predators and parasitoids) and environmental aspects of the use of genetically modified crops.
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i.,INSTITUTE OF HYDROBIOLOGY
Phone: +420 387 775 881; 385 310 262
Fax: +420 385 310 248
WWW: http://www.hbu.cas.cz/
E-mail: hbu@hbu.cas.cz
The Institute was founded in 1990. The original hydrobiological unit was created in the early fifties and, from 1953, was part of the Institute of Biology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. After the division of that Institute, its hydrobiological section was incorporated into several other institutes of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. From 1967-1970, however, the Hydrobiological Laboratories of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences were an independent entity. In 1981, the Hydrobiological Laboratories were moved to České Budějovice and in 1990 it became an autonomous institute of the ASCR. The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006.
The Institute's work is based on a long-term project to study biological processes in water reservoirs. One of the most important subjects of research is eutrophication. Special attention is paid to biotic interactions in plankton assemblage including the microbial loop, the mechanism of influencing water blooms, phosphorus load and lake turnover. Another subject of research is the acidification of mountain lakes. Long-term studies are carried out on changes in the ionic composition of the water of rivers, lakes and reservoirs in connection with acid rain and fertilisation. The main goal of the research is elucidation of the basic environmental functions of the ecosystem in reservoirs, which are important for water quality management.
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., INSTITUTE OF PARASITOLOGY
Phone: +420 387 775 403
Fax: +420 385 310 388
WWW: http://www.paru.cas.cz/
E-mail: paru@paru.cas.cz
The Institute was formed in 1962 from the Department of Parasitology of the former Institute of Biology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and the Academy's Protozoological Laboratory. In 1985 it was moved from Prague to České Budějovice. The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006.
The Institute is engaged in research in the fields of protistology, helminthology and acaroentomology, including studies of some of the causative agents of diseases transmitted by arthropods.
It works principally in the following areas of study:
- Diversity, phylogeny and pathogenicity of fish parasites
- Molecular biology and functional genomics of parasitic protists and nematodes
- Biology of disease vectors and molecular interactions involved in pathogen transmission
- Molecular taxonomy, phylogeny of parasites, and host-parasite coevolution
- Parasitic protists of man and livestock with special reference to the causative agents of opportunistic diseases.
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., INSTITUTE OF PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Phone: +420 385 310 357
Fax: +420 385 310 356
WWW: http://www.umbr.cas.cz/
E-mail: umbr@umbr.cas.cz
The Institute was founded in 1990 through the division of the Institute of Experimental Botany into two separate units, one in Prague and the other in České Budějovice. The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006
The research work of the Institute ranges from plant molecular biology to agri-ecological studies, and is concerned primarily with plant genetic engineering, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, molecular genetics and the diagnosis of plant viruses and viroids, biophysics and the physiology of photosynthesis. The Institute participates in applied research in the field of plant biotechnology.
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., INSTITUTE OF SOIL BIOLOGY
Phone: +420 385 310 134; 387 775 746
Fax: +420 385 310 133
WWW: http://www.upb.cas.cz/
E-mail: upb@upb.cas.cz
The Institute was founded as of 1 January 1986 from the Laboratory of Soil Biology, which had existed within the framework of the former Institute of the Landscape Ecology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences from 1979. The Institute became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006.
The Institute carries out research in all the important fields of soil biology and ecology, from the molecular level up to the level of ecosystems, and is also concerned with basic problems relating to the formation, fertility and regeneration of soil. The research focuses in particilar on studies of the structure of soil organism communities and their role in ecosystem processes. It does this by investigating the interactions between soil microorganisms and animals and by studying the interactions between soil biota and abiotic and biotic structures and processes in soil. An important pursuit of research includes examining the impact of anthropogenic effects on the soil component of ecosystems.
BIOLOGY CENTRE ASCR, v. v. i., TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
Phone: +420 387 775 926
Fax: +420 385 310 338
WWW: http://www.thsbp.cas.cz
E-mail: thsbp@thsbp.cas.cz
The Joint Technical and Administrative Service (JTAS) of the Biological Institutes of the ASCR located in České Budějovice was established on 18 November 1990 as a service unit to provide infrastructural services to ASCR´s Institutes in České Budějovice. It became an organisational part of the Biology Centre of the ASCR as of 1 January 2006. Its responsibilities include dealing with labour law matters, salary/wage issues, accountancy, contacts with financial institutions, the administration, maintenance and security of real property, investments, flat management, non-public accommodation services, energy management and control, material and technical services, garage operation, repair and maintenance of vehicles. The JTAS also operates a joint biological library, common lecture halls, catering and other activities related to the operation of biological institutes.