Laboratory of freshwater ecosystems - Fakulta rybářství a ochrany vod ve Vodňanech

Staff and contacts

	Dipl.-Ing. Miloš Buřič, Ph.D. head of laboratory, academic staff buric@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4769	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Dipl.-Ing. Antonín Kouba, Ph.D. head deputy, academic staff akouba@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4745 +420 607 622 137	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Pavel Kozák, Ph.D. academic staff kozak@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4600 +420 724 504 921	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Dipl.-Ing. Martin Bláha, Ph.D. academic staff blaha@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4611	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	RNDr. Bořek Drozd, Ph.D. academic staff drozd@frov.jcu.cz +420 38 777 4676, +420 737 221 929	curriculum vitae CS curriculum vitae EN Publication

	RNDr. Jindřich Duras, Ph.D. academic staff jduras@frov.jcu.cz	curriculum vitae CS curriculum vitae EN Publication

	Dipl.-Ing. Pavel Franta PhD student pfranta@frov.jcu.cz	curriculum vitae EN Publication

	MSc. Iryna Kuklina, Ph.D. research scientist ikuklina@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4720	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	MSc. Hamid Niksirat Hashjin, Ph.D. research scientist niksih00@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4745	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Dipl.-Ing. Lukáš Veselý, Ph.D. research scientist veselyl@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4745	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Adámek, CSc. academic staff zadamek@frov.jcu.cz +420 543 422 523, +420 728 006 599, +420 38 777 4683	curriculum vitae CS curriculum vitae EN Publication

	Dipl.-Ing. Jan Kubec, Ph.D. research scientist kubecj@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4769	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Dipl.-Ing. Filip Ložek, Ph.D. research scientist lozekf@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4720	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	MSc. Sara Roje Ph.D. student sroje@frov.jcu.cz	Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Dipl.-Ing. Marek Let Ph.D. student mlet@frov.jcu.cz	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Mgr. Viktoriia Malinovska Ph.D. student vmalinovska@frov.jcu.cz	Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Dipl.-Ing. Martin Musil Ph.D. student musilm@frov.jcu.cz +420 38777 4720	Curriculum vitae CS Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	MSc. Golara Kor Ph.D. student gkor@frov.jcu.cz	Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	MSc. Natalia Zuzanna Szydlowska Ph.D. student nszydlowska@frov.jcu.cz	Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Dipl.-Ing. Martin Šindler external Ph.D. student sindlm01@frov.jcu.cz	Curriculum vitae EN Publications

	Dipl.-Ing. Jiří Jakš technician jaksji00@frov.jcu.cz

The laboratory focused on research in fields:

- biology and breeding of crayfish
- reproduction of river fish species
- applied hydrobiology
- biological invasions
- laboratory deals with the research program of centre CENAKVA: WP4 Development and innovation of continuous water quality monitoring system using fish and crayfish as bioindicators and innovative procedures within management of water-supply reservoirs

Research of biology and breeding of crayfish
The field work includes monitoring of native and non-native crayfish species within the Czech Republic territory. The monitoring forms a part of projects funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic and also by individual ordering parties (administrations of national parks and protected nature reserves, environmental departments).

Filming popularization program Planeta věda (Planet Science). Monitoring of crayfish populations by means of catching traps.

Genetic diversity of crayfish
With the respect to long-term crayfish monitoring in our country, we are concerned with genetic diversity of particular populations of noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) using microsatellite markers. These markers can reveal a lot about the origin of particular individuals and whole populations as well. Whether they were established with specimens from one source (population) or the original stock was a mixture of different specimens from several sources. Another important message coming from this research is the effect of limited original stock on genetic diversity of later progeny.
One of our other topics is phylogenetic study of narrow-claw crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) species complex. We evaluate the relationships among populations within the area of species distribution as well as among different morphotypes using set of mitochondrial and nuclear markers. The results can clarify history of recent species distribution.

We study ethology, reproduction biology, adaptability and tolerance towards various factors of environment and intra- as well as interspecific interactions of native and non-native crayfish species.

Culture of crayfish
A research of various semi-intensive and intensive methods of crayfish hatching and their rearing is made. We monitor impact of external conditions on the growth and survival of crayfish. We perform experimental stocking of crayfish into suitable natural localities in selected areas of interest with the purpose of establishing new populations. The stocking takes place always in cooperation with the local nature protection authorities.

Newly hatched noble crayfish reared by means of artificial incubation (left), different size of crayfish caused by different composition of feeding (middle), stocking of crayfish to the new locality (right).

Development and innovation of continuous water quality monitoring system using fish and crayfish as bioindicators
We perform development of water quality monitoring system using bioindicators - fish and crayfish. System combines the activity of crayfish heart scanned by special sensor with the analyses of crayfish movements recorded by video camera.

Reproduction of river fish species

The research of river fish species reproduction is made in cooperation with other laboratories, especially with Laboratory of intensive aquaculture. Our laboratory is focused especially on alternative (nature-friendly) methods of spawning and nutrition of fish riverine species, currently mainly barbel (Barbus barbus) and vimba (Vimba vimba).

Comparison of male (above) and female (bellow) of vimba during spawning period (left), Vimba male during the spawning period (middle), spawning of barbel (right).

Applied hydrobiology
We engage in monitoring of communities of invertebrates in both stagnant and flowing waters, where a very important part is also the assessment of impact of various types of (not only) fish farming especially on these communities.

Netting of drifting organisms on the Blanice River (left), predatory copepods „feast“ on carp fingerling (middle), coastal copepod Acanthocyclops einslei pictured in dark field (right).

Biological invasions
We are interested in various aspects of biological invasions among the already known, but also newly-threatening alien species in freshwater ecosystems (direct interactions, competition for food and shelter, changes of these relationships depending on biotic and abiotic factors, etc.). Tolerance and adaptability of both native and non-native species to the factors such as winter and summer temperature extremes or conditions of severe droughts are evaluated.

Comparison of various crayfish species to conduct vertical burrowing under conditions of simulated drought. A – yabby, B – marbled crayfish, C – spiny-cheek crayfish, D – red swamp crayfish.

Books, DVD, methodologies

The book Biology and Culture of Crayfish is intended not only to the professional public, and to the educational activites. We hope it will be also close to laics who are interested in the biology, culture a active protection of crayfish.
This comprehensive book by eight authors from three Czech institutions, which can be considered the centres of astacological research in the Czech Republic, summarizes the up-to-date knowledge about freshwater crayfish, their taxonomy, evolution and biogeography, current distribution of European species, crayfish genetic variation, anatomy, biology, breeding, diseases, and conservation. The book contains the following chapters: Systematics and Distribution of Crayfish; Evolution and Historical Biogeography of Crayfish; Crayfish Genetics; Crayfish Species in Europe; Morphology and Anatomy of Crayfish; Reproduction and Life Cycle; Ecology of Crayfish; Diseases, Parasites and Commensals of Crayfish; Production and Culture of Crayfish; Monitoring of Crayfish Occurrence; Crayfish Conservation. The annex of the book contains the full list of Czech and Slovak astacological literature.

Book Biology and Culture of Crayfish

zakladni morfologicke znaky k rozliseni raku v cr

DVD Biology, Protection and Breeding of Crayfish

For educational purposes, obtained results are also spread via DVD entitled Biology, Protection and Breeding of Crayfish (both Czech and English version available) and four certified methodologies (in Czech only).