Department of Forest Ecology pursues a wide range of topics, comprising basic subjects of botanic classification – botany and dendrology – and their applied forms like forest ecology, phytocoenology, typology and applied dendrology.
Research focus
Forest ecology investigates the dynamics and functions of forest ecosystems and their regeneration. In research, we focus especially on the following issues: Disturbances and their impact on the structure of natural and close-to-nature forests; Dynamics of forest stands and natural regeneration; Dendrochronology and its use in evaluating the development of an individual or of all forest stands.
Botany involves issues of botanical and phytocoenological mapping, studying ecology of individuals and populations of rare and endangered plants (e.g. Pulsatilla). In geobotany, we study coppice and coppice-with-standards forests and non-forest vegetation in the Czech Karst, as well as the impact of previous management measures in current vegetation, e.g. occurrence of plants related to human settlement history (Vinca minor).
Interest in applied dendrology is apparent in many diploma and bachelor theses focused on projects of inventory taking and revitalisation of parks. We benefit from close cooperation with the Arboretum in Kostelec nad Černými lesy where ecological and phenological studies of introduced tree species can be carried out. Currently, we address issues of ecological demands and genetic biodiversity of Betula and in vitro propagation of tree species (e.g. Disanthus, old varieties of Pyrus communis, Betula oycoviensis).
We work in teams and collaborate with experts from other institutions (Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Faculty of Science Charles University, Czech Academy of Sciences, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic).
