A vast international study recently published in Nature reveals surprising and complex changes in Arctic plant biodiversity driven by climate change. Researchers tracked more than 2,000 tundra plant communities across 45 sites over four decades and found no simple pattern of winners and losers: while some areas saw an increase in plant species, others experienced biodiversity loss. Among the 54...
When one thinks about conservation symbols, things that typically come to mind are particular emblematic species—pandas, tigers, elephants, polar bears, dolphins, and the likes. Such iconic animals, referred to as flagship species, are widely used in conservation campaigns to capture public attention and mobilize support for conservation goals. However, a new study by an international team of...
There is an increasing awareness and understanding in global science about a troubling and persistent research imbalance, where studies overwhelmingly originate from economically developed countries, particularly those in Europe and North America. However, a new study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Evironment argues that despite growing efforts within the scientific community to...
An international scientific team, including colleagues from the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Biology Centre CAS, has published an extensive study mapping the chemical pollution of the Elbe River from its spring in the Krkonoše Mountains to its mouth in the North Sea. The researchers analyzed more than 700 different organic compounds—including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, industrial...
Spring is the most favorable time for reproduction for many organisms, and the pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is no exception. Every year around this time, pikeperch pairs migrate to the shallower parts of the Lipno Reservoir to spawn and ensure the survival of the next generation. As in previous year, the South Bohemian District of the Czech Anglers´ Union, in cooperation with the Biology...
Natural vegetation often lacks many species that could be present, especially in regions heavily affected by human activities, according to a new study coordinated by researchers at the University of Tartu and published in Nature. Over 200 scientists from the research collaboration DarkDivNet, including researchers from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, studied plants at...
How do salmonid fish prepare for the harsh Alaskan winter? During the short summer period, they must catch enough food and accumulate energy reserves to survive the cold remainder of the year. The battle for food among Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) has become the focus of scientists from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of Georgia. Thanks to advanced...
Scientists from the Institute of Hydrobiology at the Biology Centre CAS have developed a new simulation software, FiDySim (Fish Dynamics Simulation). With this tool, users can model the dynamics of fish populations and test different scenarios for the development of fish populations. The software was developed for researchers, fisheries managers and the general professional community. It is...
Scientists from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences found forty new freshwater viruses infecting aquatic microorganisms this year. The first one, which they isolated and described in detail, was named Budvirus after the South Bohemian capital České Budějovice. It belongs to „Giant Viruses“ and it infects unicellular algae called cryptophytes. Researchers have confirmed that this...
European Commission-funded project “ProCleanLakes - Integrated emerging approaches for joint protection and restoration of Natural Lakes in the spirit of European life heritage support” launched on the 1st of June 2024 to tackle the challenges posed by the climate change.
