Plant biomass and prediction of debarking caused by rodents in artificial regeneration of forest stands

Homolka, M., Heroldová, M., Kamler, J

Do black‐backed jackals exhibit spatial partitioning with African wild dogs and lions?

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)We thank Global Vision International, J. Power, W. Collinson and K. Potgieter-Forssman for help with tracking the radio-collared animals. This project was an initiative of the Carnivore Conservation Programme of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa, and the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University, U.K. Funding for J.F.K. was provided by a Research Fellowship from the Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, and a Marie Curie Fellowship from the European Commission, Brussels, Belgium. Sponsorship was provided by Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and De Beers Consolidated Mines.Peer Reviewe

Vole impact on tree regeneration: insights into forest management

Heroldová, M., Homolka, M., Tkadlec, E., Kamler, J., Suchomel, J., Purchart, L., Krojerová, J., Barančeková, M., Turek, K., Baňař, M

Self assembled nanoparticle aggregates from line focused femtosecond laser ablation

In this paper we present the use of a line focused femtosecond laser beam that is rastered across a 2024 T3 aluminum surface to produce nanoparticles that self assemble into 5-60 micron diameter domed and in some cases sphere-shaped aggregate structures. Each time the laser is rastered over initial aggregates their diameter increases as new layers of nanoparticles self assemble on the surface. The aggregates are thus composed of layers of particles forming discrete layered shells inside of them. When micron size aggregates are removed, using an ultrasonic bath, rings are revealed that have been permanently formed in the sample surface. These rings appear underneath, and extend beyond the physical boundary of the aggregates. The surface is blackened by the formation of these structures and exhibits high light absorption

Factors affecting the prey preferences of jackals (Canidae)

Prey selection by carnivores can be affected by top-down and bottom-up factors. For example, large carnivores may facilitate food resources for mesocarnivores by providing carcasses to scavenge, however mesocarnivores may hunt large prey themselves, and their diets might be affected by prey size and behaviour. We reviewed jackal diet studies and determined how the presence of large carnivores and various bottom-up factors affected jackal prey selection. We found 20 studies of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) from 43 different times or places, and 13 studies of Eurasian golden jackals (Canis aureus) from 23 different times or places reporting on 3900 and 2440 dietary records (i.e. scats or stomach contents), respectively. Black-backed jackals significantly preferred small ( 120 kg) hider species and follower species of any body size. They had a preferred and accessible prey weight range of 14-26 kg, and a predator to ideal prey mass ratio of 1:3.1. Eurasian golden jackal significantly prefer to prey on brown hare (Lepus europaeus; 4 kg), yielding a predator to preferred prey mass ratio of 1:0.6, and a preferred and accessible prey weight range of 0 – 4 kg and 0 – 15 kg, respectively. Prey preferences of jackals differed significantly in the presence of apex predators, but it was not entirely due to carrion availability of larger prey species. Our results show that jackal diets are affected by both top-down and bottom-up factors, because apex predators as well as prey size and birthing behaviour affected prey preferences of jackals. A better understanding of the factors affecting jackal prey preferences, as presented here, could lead to greater acceptance of mesocarnivores and reduced human-wildlife conflict

In situ epitaxial MgB2 thin films for superconducting electronics

A thin film technology compatible with multilayer device fabrication is critical for exploring the potential of the 39-K superconductor magnesium diboride for superconducting electronics. Using a Hybrid Physical-Chemical Vapor Deposition (HPCVD) process, it is shown that the high Mg vapor pressure necessary to keep the MgB$_2$ phase thermodynamically stable can be achieved for the {\it in situ} growth of MgB$_2$ thin films. The films grow epitaxially on (0001) sapphire and (0001) 4H-SiC substrates and show a bulk-like $T_c$ of 39 K, a $J_c$(4.2K) of $1.2 \times 10^7$ A/cm$^2$ in zero field, and a $H_{c2}(0)$ of 29.2 T in parallel magnetic field. The surface is smooth with a root-mean-square roughness of 2.5 nm for MgB$_2$ films on SiC. This deposition method opens tremendous opportunities for superconducting electronics using MgB$_2$