Institute of Botany: Structure, function and evolution of biodiversity of photoautotrophic organisms and fungi: origin and causes of their variation, population, community and ecosystem dynamics; application of selected results in the PrĹŻhonice Park

Institute of Botany of the ASCR, v.v.i.
AV0Z60050516
Structure, function and evolution of biodiversity of photoautotrophic organisms and fungi: origin and causes of their variation, population, community and ecosystem dynamics; application of selected results in the PrĹŻhonice Park

Fundamental and applied research in botany involves investigation of plant diversity (including fungi, lichens, bryophytes, algae and cyanobacteria) from the viewpoint of taxonomy, evolution, autecology, and a study of plant functioning and mechanisms of their interactions at the level of population, community and selected natural and man–made ecosystems, with interdisciplinary research on the basis of palynology, paleoecology and dendrochronology, important for dating of vegetation development. Applied research is focused on principles of nature conservation and habitat management and restoration. The aim is further integration of botanical research (with its classical and new, sophisticated methods), leading, in collaboration with national and foreign research institutions, to synthetic elaboration of key problems of biodiversity. An important step towards integration is development and use of valuable collections of preserved and live plants, including the unique PrĹŻhonice Park.