Institute of Forest Ecology
Topic
Effect of regional and local ecological drivers on plant species diversity in vegetation of river ecosystems
PhD. program
Year of admission
2025
Name of the supervisor
Ing. Michal Slezák, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Fakulta ekológie a environmentalistiky TUZVO
Annotation
The dynamics of river ecosystems reflect temporal and spatial changes in a complex of ecological and biotic interactions that shape different distributions of plant populations along watercourses. Plant species differ in their evolved adaptations to flood (disturbance) regimes and their position in the hierarchy of abiotic resource use that underlies structure of plant communities. River corridors are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems worldwide due to increasing human pressure, ongoing climate change and the spread of alien plants. A detailed biodiversity assessment can identify future trends in development and adaptive capacity to changing environmental conditions. The aim of the thesis is to explore plant species diversity in vegetation of river ecosystems and spatial components of diversity in relation to ecological factors, including the temporal aspect of plant invasions. The results obtained can help to improve the ecological stability of river ecosystems and to enhance existing strategies for the biodiversity conservation.