Disturbance Ecology Research Group

Ing. Miroslav Blaženec, PhD.

Research Group Head

Research Activities

The research group focuses on the research of disturbances and the impact of global change impacts on forest ecosystems. We examine this issue in 2 related areas.

Diagnosis and prediction of forest ecosystems state

Involves the research focused on the factors affecting the state of forest ecosystems and its components in the laboratory and in the field conditions. In climate chambers, we examine the impact of various factors of the simulated environmental conditions on host plants, in particular changes in the production of metabolites that are related to defence capability and predisposition to attack by bark beetles, but also to the population dynamics. Under field conditions, we use contact (SapFlow, temperature of trunk surface, temperature of cambium, trunk circumference changes) and also contactless (thermocamera, terrestrial laser scanner, weather stations) methods for obtaining informations on condition of trees and environmental parameters. We use as well remote sensing methods for mapping ecosystem structure (UAV with lidar, thermal, hyperspectral and RGB + IR sensors, satellite imagery). The acquired knowledge is the input to the developed decision support system TANABBO.

Chemical communication between trees and bark beetles

Involves the analysis of semiochemicals (substances responsible for chemical communication between individuals of the same species or between species), particularly in the host – phytophage communication system under laboratory and field conditions; using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry coupled with electroantennography (GC-MS EAD).

Research Strategy

  • Clarify the knowledge of the impact of global change and disturbances on the state and subsequent development of forest (especially spruce) ecosystems
  • Clarify the knowledge about the predisposition of spruce trees for the bark beetle infestation and about the mechanisms of host selection
  • Further development of algorithms in decision support system TANABBO for disturbances in spruce ecosystems
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