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The thesis summarizes the actual knowledge about classification and stratigraphic distribution of phyllocarid crustaceans in Ordovician to Devonian sediments of the Barrandian area. The thesis includes revision of systematic position and classification of individual taxa, mainly on the basis of data and observations published outside of the Czech Republic. The photographic documentation of selected specimens housed in institutional collections is newly provided.

1 Abstract In recent years, the term small carbonaceous fossils (SCFs) has been established to accomodate fragile organic-walled fossils of micro- to mesoscopic size that are usually extracted by means of the 'low-manipulation HF extraction' method. This method has so far only been utilized by several authors and no reports have been published on the usage of the method on samples from the Barrandian area. To test the applicability of the method, samples from the Barrandian area were processed. The samples came from eleven localities representing six stratigraphic units (Paseky Shale, Jince Formation, Letná Formation, Kosov Formation, Daleje Shale and Roblín Member). All the units have been studied before by 'standard' methods of palynological processing. Various previously unreported fossils are described, including wiwaxiid sclerites, putative chaetognath remains and acritarch clusters. Furthermore, it is discovered, that the 'low-manipulation HF extraction' can also be used for extraction of originally calcareous fossils. The pilot study provides a further proof that the 'low-manipulation HF extraction' is a useful tool with the potential to significantly expand our knowledge of fossil assemblages. Key words: Small carbonaceous fossils, Cambrian, Ordovician, Devonian, Barrandian area

This diploma thesis is focused on morphological studies and taxonomic analyses of small regular and irregular echinoids found at the Nebužely locality; at this locality clastic sediments of Teplice Formation of Bohemian Cretaceous Basin are exposed. Presence of the belemnite Praeaxtinocamax bohemicus makes possible to assign the outcrop to late Turonian. Detailed morphological study of more than one hundred specimens enabled to distinguish four echinoids species (Echinogalerus, Glyphocyphus, Nucleolites, Phymosoma), less favourably preserved and/or very limited material is classified as belonging to two orders (Cidaroida, Holectypoida) and one family (Phymosomatidae), respectively. The next part of the thesis contains a possible palaeoecological reconstruction of the environment at the studied locality. Based on bathymetrically indicative molluscs, a shallow−water palaeoenvironment is suspected for this locality. Key words: echinoid, Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, Turonian

This thesis deals with the topic of eocrinoid echinoderms from the Barrandian area (Příbram- Jince Basin, mid-Cambrian, Drumian). The thesis is presented as a compilation of five published papers and an introduction. The introduction is an overview of current knowledge about eocrinoid echinoderms. It also includes links to new information from the five included papers, and serves as a unifying element for these professional publications. The topic of the thesis is focused on a revision of selected specimens of eocrinoid echinoderms, and the study of their ontogeny, phylogeny, palaeoecology and systematic position. This thesis has also improved our understanding of early evolution of basal blastozoans. This is the first study of Cambrian ontogenetic development on eocrinoid material from the Czech Republic. Complete ontogeny was described on the genus Akadocrinus, and it was possible to establish two basic phases in the development of this genus: pre-epispire-bearing phase and epispire-bearing phase. The new primitive blastozoan Felbabkacystis is described from the Jince Formation - its unique body plan highlights evolution of the body wall among blastozoans. Palaeoecology and phylogeny of the genus Vyscystis was studied, and phylogenetic analysis suggests a basal position of lepidocystoids among...

The thesis deals with the problematics of Small Carbonaceous Fossils (SCF). In the first part of the thesis the term SCF is defined and the presentation of the main palynological approaches used for extraction of SCFs follows, together with an explanation of preservation processes of non-biomineralized organic structures in sediments. The explanation of significance for palaeontology and related disciplines is discussed. The main part of the thesis constitutes of descriptions of the individual published SCFs from the late Ediacaran up to the Devonian, together with stratigraphic context and lithology of the published material. The list of taxa, that were possible to identify among obtained SCF material, is included. All the localities of Phanerozoic age are further plotted into paleogeographic maps corresponding with the appropriate periods. The broad scope of SCF's paleogeographic provenance and the possibility of extraction of SCF from a wide spectrum of lithologies, deposited in various sedimentary environments is discussed and the potential of further studies of SCFs is outlined. Key words: organic microfossils and macrofossils, early Paleozoic, taphonomy, palynological preparation methods

The term "genal caeca" refers to branching and anastomosing ridges developed with varying intensity on free and fixed cheeks and preglabellar field in many trilobites, including the trilobites from Barrandian area of the Czech Republic. This diploma thesis presents the first detailed study of the morphology of genal caeca preserved on cephalons of Cambrian trilobite genera Ptychoparia Hawle & Corda, 1847, Mikaparia Kordule, 2006 and Conocoryphe Hawle & Corda, 1847 from Příbram-Jince and Skryje-Týřovice basins of the Barrandian area. Based on a detailed morphological description and measurements, separate fields of genal caeca occurrence were defined and frequency of their preservation on the studied specimens was compared. The variability of the number of ridges in each field and the frequency of their preservation do not show any convincing connection with cranidial size of the specimens or the locality. Keywords: trilobites, Barrandian area, genal caeca

This thesis is focused on an overview of recent knowledge of sea urchins in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. In the first part is a summary of basic information about Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, including chronostratigraphic, lithostratigraphic classification and palaeogeography. The second part of the thesis contains an overview of partial synonymy of echinoids of the given regional - geological unit. Mentioned are also strata, from which are sea urchins described. Key words: sea urchins, Bohemian Cretaceous Basin

This diploma thesis presents the first study focused on the ontogenetic development of eocrinoid echinoderms in the Czech Republic. Parsley's work (2012) on ontogeny of the genus Gogia from south China is the model study. The aim of this thesis is a comparable study of ontogeny of eocrinoid echinoderms from Cambrian of the Barrandian area. Akadocrinus jani Prokop, 1962 was studied. Using detailed morphological description and measurement of various parameters, three different ontogenetic stages have been established: juvenile ontogenetic stage, mature ontogenetic stage and gerontic ontogenetic stage. Thecal height is the deciding factor for the determination of the specific ontogenetic stage. Further, during ontogeny of this species some trends in changes in the size of body parts are observed (e.g., changes in the diameter of thecal plates). In-depth study of morphological details showed that the originally distinguished two species, Akadocrinus jani Prokop, 1962 and Akadocrinus nuncius Prokop, 1962, represent one species only. Keywords: eocrinoid echinoderms, Akadocrinus jani, ontogeny.

Scolecodonts (= jaws of the polychaete worms) have always been a relatively neglected group of microfossils. In the Prague Basin (Czech Republic), only two major studies exclusively focused on scolecodonts have been published. The aim of the present research was to fill in this gap - by a restudy of the historical collections of Žebera and Šnajdr, and its comparison with results gained from newly collected late Silurian samples and scolecodont faunas from other areas. It has turned out that the jawed polychaete fauna in the Prague Basin was much more diversified than previously reported. The last report on late Silurian scolecodonts by Šnajdr (1951) concluded that there are four determined and two species left in open nomenclature present. Restudy of the original collection has shown that there are at least 11 different species from families Mochtyellidae, Polychaetaspidae, Ramphoprionidae, Paulinitidae, Atraktoprionidae, Skalenoprionidae and Hadoprionidae. The new collection from similar stratigraphical level gained at least 25 species, including one newly described ("Mochtyella" pragensis). The taxonomic re-study also focused on the species Kettnerites kosoviensis that is a type species of the genus and was described in the Prague Basin. The new samples come from the limestone which is in contrast to...

The Solenopleurid trilobite Sao hirsuta Barrande, 1846 is known from "Middle" Cambrian sedimentary rocks of the Czech Republic, Germany and Spain. It is one of the first trilobites on which ontogenetic development was described in detail (Barrande, 1852). This diploma thesis is the first modern revision of the ontogeny of this species for more than fifty years. Thesis is primarily based on quantitative methods and a detailed study of morphology of the exoskeleton. Changes in the dorsal exoskeleton during ontogenetic development of S. hirsuta, including the discovery of intrainstar morphological and size variability and the transition from isometric growth to the alometric growth, were described in detail by using quantitative methods (biometric measurements and geometric morphometrics). In the protaspid period different instars of S. hirsuta were recognized. Detailed morphological studies revealed several different morphotypes of protaspid stages. Some of which may represent different taxa. The morphology and the condition of the hypostome was described, including changes of hypostome during ontogeny. The study of segmentation in the species S. hirsuta shows hypoprotomeric development with the initial accumulation phase, middle equilibrium phase and terminal depletion phases. Key words: Sao...

Two sections, Všeradice and Kosov, represent continuous sedimentary succession situated in the Prague Basin. No detailed research on stratigraphical level equal the N. kozlowskii graptolite zone focusing on chitinozoans, has not yet been conducted in the Prague Basin and is also very scarce globally. Limestone beds, examined for chitinozoans, were not very productive. Chitinozoan reaction on extinction is visible, if we compile data from both sections. The pre-extinct chitinozoan fauna is characterized by the Conochitinidae family. Samples from the post-extinct interval contained no chitinozoas. The interval of fauna recovery is characterized mainly by the Eisenackitina genera. In this interval, global zone for the uppermost Ludfordian, represented by E. barrandei, can be confirmed. In agreement with all the published literature, we have not found E. philipi, index taxa of the former global zone in the Prague Basin. E. lagenomorpha appears stratigraphically only slightly below E. barrandei and therefore it cannot substitute E. philipi, as it is used in Baltika region. chitinozoa, Prague Basin, Kozlowskii, Lau, extinction, Ludfordian, stratigraphy

of Mgr. Martin Valent doctoral thesis Hyoliths of the Barrandian Area The submitted Ph.D. thesis summarizes recent information on comparatively poorly known group of invertebrates - the hyoliths. The first part of the thesis is composed by six main chapters focussed in detail on various aspects of hyoliths; major characteristics and ecology of hyoliths, progress in systematic of hyoliths, principles of hyolith classification, stratigraphical and palaeogeographical distribution of hyoliths, hyoliths within the Bohemian Massif and morphology of hyoliths. Up-to-date information has been included in all chapters. New data were published in five author's papers on hyolith colour patterns, systematics of hyoliths, pattern of palaeogeographic distribution and palaeoecologic interactions between hyoliths and various elements of the Cambrian invertebrate fauna. Short appendage consists of the Czech-English-Chinese terminological dictionary, simplifying study of Chinese literature.

This work deals with systematics of eocrinoid echinoderms but also with their morphology and classification within the echinoderms. Two theories concerning systematic of eocrinoid echinoderms are compiled in this work. UBAGHS (1967) suggested the first version of systematics. SPRINKLE (1973) suggested the second one, still used version of systematics. Work is also focused on the occurrence of eocrinoid echinoderms in Cambrian and Ordovician rocks of the Barrandien area.

The thesis summarizes the current state of knowledge about the ontogeny of trilobites. The introductory chapters describe the basic morphology and anatomy of trilobites, and also mention their ecology, occurrence and feeding habits. In the main part of my thesis, I first summarized the existing research in this area, and also dealt in detail with methods of preservation of trilobite larvae, their reproduction, growth, embryology, postembryonal development, segmentation and ecology. I also mentioned the possible usage of this knowledge in other fields (stratigraphy, biogeography, etc.). The last section is a contemporary view on the systematics of trilobites and their position within the Arthropoda.