About
The research activity of the team is focused on the links between physiological and behavioural patterns in wild and domestic species, with special interest on mammals.
- Feeding ecology, diet selection, digestive efficiency, and role of mineral and amino acids;
- Growth of secondary sexual traits like horns or antlers;
- Reproductive behaviour, milk production and composition, and suckling behaviour;
- Social structures, animal communication, and physiological effects of animal welfare and husbandry practices;
- Haematology, biochemical profiles, and hormonal cycles;
- Food safety, and meat production and quality;
- Metabolic, infectious and foodborne diseases (zoonoses), parasitological monitoring of livestock and wild species, morphological identification of parasitological agents, and typing by molecular methods.
Currently, members of our team are conducting research projects worldwide, with preference to tropical and subtropical areas. Including Czech Republic, Ecuador, Hungary, Mongolia, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Slovak Republic, Republic of South Africa, Spain, and Uruguay.
The activity of the team is based on three main facilities: the Laboratory for Biological Material Analysis, the Laboratory of Animal Behaviour (under construction) and the Common Eland and Guanaco Experimental Farms at Lány.
People
Main researchers
Post-doc
PhD students
- Ing. Anna Bernátková
- Ing. Anna Habartová
- Ing. Veit Ny
Projects
- 2018-2020: Agroforestry-potential for regional development and sustainable rural landscape. Technology Agency of the Czech Republic – programme Eta (TL01000298). Leader: doc. Bohdan Lojka, Ph.D.
- 2016: Team building with foreign scientists: Deer Biology and Production. National Agency of Investigation and Innovation, Uruguay (CHA_1_2016_1_127963). Leader: doc. Francisco Ceacero Herrador, Ph.D.
- 2015- 2017: ProIntensAfrica – Towards a long-term Africa-EU partnership to raise sustainable food and nutrition security in Africa. EU H2020-SFS-2014-1 (project ID 652671). Leader (CULS): Ing. Radim Kotrba, Ph.D.
- 2014-2016: Honest signalling across sexes: links between hierarchical position, sperm quality and horn development in elands Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CIGA20145001). Leader: Jose Luis Ros Santaella, Ph.D.
- 2014-2015: Non-invasive monitoring of reproductive cycle and pregnancy in exotic mammals by laboratory tests of urine, saliva and faeces. Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CIGA20145009). Leader: Ing. Iva Skálová, Ph.D.
- 2013-2015: Factors affecting antler breaking in Spain and Europe: from mineral composition to management. Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain (AGL2012-38898). Leader: Dr. Tomás Landete Castillejos.
- 2014: Essential nutrients in diet selection of key andean mammals: spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (SNESCYT), Ecuador doc. Leader: Francisco Ceacero Herrador, Ph.D.
- 2014: Ecology of three key Andean mammals (spectacled bear, mountain tapir and páramo wolf) in the National Park Podocarpus: basis for an integrated model of conservation. Technical University of Loja (UTPL), Ecuador. Leader: MSc. Rodrigo Cisneros Vidal
- 2012-2014: Assessing the influence of diet, age and function in internal bones: mineral composition and mechanical properties of horns bone core in eland (Taurotragus oryx) and mouflon (Ovis aries orientalis). Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Leader: doc. Francisco Ceacero Herrador, Ph.D.
More info:
https://www.ftz.czu.cz/cs/r-6856-katedry-a-soucasti/r-13883-vyzkumne-tymy-ftz/r-13886-animal-physiology-and-behaviour-research-group
