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Tularemia, also called rabbit fever, is a zoonosis caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. The reservoir is wild animals, especially small rodents, from which the infection spreads to larger rodents and other wild or domestic animals. Transmission to humans occurs when handling a contaminated animal, indirectly by blood-sucking arthropods, via inhalation of contaminated aerosol, or alimentary. The disease occurs in several forms, which are related to the way of transmission. It is more common in agricultural areas and has the character of a natural-focal disease. In the period 2018–2023, he number of reported cases in the Czech Republic was around 60 cases per year; in the South Moravian Region, which makes up a tenth of the total population of the Czech Republic, an average of 12 cases per year, which is a fifth of the all cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly influenced tourism and has led to a change in the consumer behaviour of tourists. The purpose of the study was to find out how the profile of the visitor of the rural area had changed in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The quantitative survey with 1026 visitors was conducted and its results were analyzed within three main segments of visitors – groups with children, couples and the others (without children). The results of the research confirm the persisting fact – due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand in tourism is shifting from urban areas to rural ones, but overall tourists in research rural area can benefit from the fact that it is a relatively small area and can get the best of both rural areas as well as of near cities in the area. Visiting rural areas is generally a shorter-term option for all visitors, which does not require long-term planning. The findings confirmed that rural areas are a great opportunity for domestic tourism. The results bring a deeper and actual insight into the consumer behaviour of tourists in rural areas and at the same time the findings show the possibilities for service quality improvement. Both can be beneficial for service providers as well as destination managers.

In the Central European La Tène period, there is only relatively very scarce evidence of bronze smelting in the form of half-finished products and rejects; the reason for this absence may be their proactive recycling. They only appear in greater quantities from LTC; it is also when we can date five chain-belt elements from Čejkovice presented in this paper. Other evidence of bronze smelting (crucibles, bronze lumps, casting spills) is not rare in South Moravia (it is documented in as many as seven sites in the surroundings of Čejkovice only) prompting considerations on the (de)centralisation of bronze working. At the current state of knowledge, bronze smelting seems to have been quite decentralised in Moravia in the 3rd – 2nd centuries BC. Therefore, it does not seem to have been concentrated only in large agglomerations; for the moment we cannot say much in this respect about other regions including Central Moravia with Němčice nad Hanou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anthropologia Integra is the property of Masaryk University, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Průzkumy Památek is the property of Narodni Pamatkovy Ustav and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the article is to assess the significance of a solitary find of a Roman bronze barrel-shaped bucket and a handle from another bronze vessel. Besides a necessary artefactual analysis, the authors also pay attention to palynological findings and mainly to the interpretation of the find, whose location on a spur above the river Dyje is unusual, without any confirmed relations to the surrounding barbarian settlement from the Roman Period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Czech Republic ranks among the countries with a strong tradition of home food self-provisioning. In this article, we focused our attention specifically to the traditional and frequently neglected phenomenon of rural self-provisioning while newly introducing a data-based analysis of the phenomenon in two areas, i.e., suburbs and peripheries of the South Moravian region. Unlike the research carried out in the CR or EU to date, our survey aims exclusively at the analysis of households with access to land, which allow a more detailed scrutiny of growing a wide range of commodities, the attitudes to it and its perspectives. The results of the field study carried out in 178 rural households in two types of South Moravian regions (suburban and peripheral) from 2017 show the regional differences in food self-provisioning. They also contribute to a better understanding of a phenomenon whose variability within a rural territory is quite known a little. Even though the suburban and peripheral regions have very comparable natural conditions and opportunities of growing crops (a similar type of estate, nearly the same size of the gardens surveyed), we can observe rather remarkable differences, especially in the extent of the areas being farmed and in the scale of breeding domesticated animals (work demanding activities). Compared to that, only negligible differences were found in growing commodities demanding less work (fruit and tomato growing). The identified differences in attitudes to self-provisioning in the observed regions (depending on the varied types of population in the regions) allow for analysing the perspectives of particular self-provisioning activities both in South Moravia and the CR on the whole.

The paper discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural tourism in Czechia. It points out that the catastrophic scenarios of the decline in tourism mainly concern urban destinations focused on foreign tourism. In contrast, rural destinations create an alternative. Some of them have even shown an increase in tourism in the 2020 summer season as compared to 2019. However, this new orientation requires investing in infrastructure, marketing and regional cooperation. Highlights Paper investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural tourism in Czechia. The decline in tourism mainly affected destinations focused on foreign tourists. Czech countryside gained domestic tourists due to natural, gastronomic and local attractions. The specificity of COVID 19 new outbreaks is its local or regional limitation. The COVID-19 epidemy has created an opportunity for the development of rural tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently known collection of gold and silver ancient coins from the Migration Period at Moravia was enlarged almost more than quarter thanks to increased activity of the amateur public in the field of surface prospection with the metall detectors in the various archaeological localities. The analysis of this fund indicated relatively periodical delivery of the Roman coinings to the end of 5th century to Moravia and shown the slightly increased popularity the nominals of Byzantine emperor Iustinianus I. in the time of dominion the Langobards over the southern part of Moravia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Opuscula Historae Artium is the property of Masaryk University, Faculty of Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper is aimed at an attempt to define a smart village in the Czech conditions. It argues that the principles of smart villages are very similar to the concept of sustainability. The analysis deals with preventing rural exclusion, promoting digital technologies for the management of the rural infrastructure, teleworking in rural areas and using ICT for participation and governance. This approach is documented in the case of the South-Moravian Region. It was concluded that it was not so much coverage or accessibility of digital technology that was the main barrier of more intensive use of the smart village concept but rather the lower qualification level and conservatism of rural population is. It is suggested that more attention should be paid to increasing the digital literacy of rural people.

In the Central European La Tène period, there is only relatively very scarce evidence of bronze smelting in the form of half-finished products and rejects; the reason for this absence may be their proactive recycling. They only appear in greater quantities from LTC; it is also when we can date five chain-belt elements from Čejkovice presented in this paper. Other evidence of bronze smelting (crucibles, bronze lumps, casting spills) is not rare in South Moravia (it is documented in as many as seven sites in the surroundings of Čejkovice only) prompting considerations on the (de)centralisation of bronze working. At the current state of knowledge, bronze smelting seems to have been quite decentralised in Moravia in the 3rd - 2nd centuries BC. Therefore, it does not seem to have been concentrated only in large agglomerations; for the moment we cannot say much in this respect about other regions including Central Moravia with Němčice nad Hanou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Invasive mosquito species represent a major threat to human health since they are vectors of many dangerous pathogens such as dengue, chikungunya and zika viruses, necessitating performance of routine vector surveillance. Methodology: Between 2016 and 2020 we performed mosquito monitoring targetted at invasive mosquito species in South Moravia (Břeclavsko and Znojemsko regions) using ovitraps (collection of eggs) and BG-Sentinel traps (collection of adults). Results: The invasive mosquito species Aedes albopistus was found on all study sites. Conclusion: Results indicate possible risk of future establishment of this species due to global climatic changes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field fortifications from the end of World War 2 which were located in South Moravia are almost forgotten nowadays. This paper presents first results of archaeological research of their remains. Recently, relics of field fortifications have been registered during rescue excavations on 13 construction sites. In the vicinity of the town of Brno, parts of Wehrmacht trench systems, which defended whole town, have been excavated and documented on several sites. Several dozen small infantry entrenchments have been recorded near Pasohlávky and Mušov, where serious fights lasted for two weeks. Also, the use of aerial archaeology will be outlined. On five sites, field fortifications have been identified with the help of digital aerial orthophotos (especially historical) and digital elevation model (derived from airborne laser scanning). Results of both excavations and aerial archaeology suggests that archaeology can enhance our knowledge of this kind of relics.

Copyright of Památky Středních Čech is the property of Narodni Pamatkovy Ustav and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studia Archaeologica Brunensia is the property of Masaryk University, Faculty of Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The concept of Green Infrastructure (GI) is still relatively new in the Czech Republic. When looking at the definition of GI, one can recognise a relationship with the Czech Territorial System of Ecological Stability (TSES), which is defined as “an interconnected system of natural as well as modified semi-natural ecosystems keeping the natural balance”. TSES is a designed system and is an integral part of territorial plans. This article focuses on TSES and its relationship to GI, how it is implemented in a Czech case study representing intensively used agricultural region in South Moravia, what the main obstacles are to its implementation and how TSES can contribute to the connectivity of the landscape. Our results show that nearly two thirds of the planned TSES in the case study area already exist to some degree. There is a difference between the number and the area of existing TSES elements: the area of existing elements shows higher relative values than the number. This is mainly due to bio-centres that exist in large forest complexes and their pre-set minimal parameters. Creation of TSES elements increases connectivity of GI, especially those characterised as core areas and bridges

The landscape in several countries of Central and Eastern Europe went through the most dramatic change in the socialist period. Agricultural land was considered only as a productive area. The size of arable land plots increased and stabilizing elements in the landscape were removed. This land consolidation of agriculture has led to the development of soil erosion. This paper presents a case study focused on comparison of landscape structure of model territory in two periods. The first period shows landscape before collectivization of agriculture, and the second one presents current landscape. The research dealt especially with evaluation of ecological stability and water erosion risk of the landscape. The identification of land use trends helps to characterize landscape of the model territory during monitored period. The following trends: decreasing area of arable land, increasing area of built‑up areas and other areas and increase area of vineyards showed different character of current landscape. The evaluation of ecological stability confirmed the loss of stable landscape elements. Based on the calculated values of ecological stability coefficient, the evaluated landscape has degraded from the category of “disturbed landscape capable of self‑regulation” to “devastated landscape”. The results also show the vulnerability of current large plots of arable land and vineyards to water erosion.

The paper deals with the issue of unbalanced tourism development in one of the Czech popular tourism destinations - Mikulov region. This destination is an excellent example of a cultural landscape with the unique environment of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. However, some parts of the destination seem to remain highly underdeveloped compared to the destination's most visited hotspots. The paper aims to evaluate the territorial polarization and sustainable tourism performance using tourism intensity indicators, measuring the volume of tourism in the destination individual parts. The empirical case study uses multiple methods to understand complex relationships among tourism attractivity, the character of visitors' consumption, and tourism impacts. It is based on secondary data from the statistical office, media content analysis, and an in-depth interview with a representative from the regional destination management organization (DMO). The results reveal significant tourism performance differences, especially in the proportion of tourist overnight stays and the distribution of tourism infrastructure. The paper points to the seasonally concentrated visits and negative tourism effects on overcrowded parts of the destination. Finally, it critically interprets the results through visitor management practices and discusses the changes in the distribution of tourism flows in space and time to mitigate negative visitor impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Green Infrastructure (GI) is still relatively new in the Czech Republic. When looking at the definition of GI, one can recognise a relationship with the Czech Territorial System of Ecological Stability (TSES), which is defined as "an interconnected system of natural as well as modified semi-natural ecosystems keeping the natural balance". TSES is a designed system and is an integral part of territorial plans. This article focuses on TSES and its relationship to GI, how it is implemented in a Czech case study representing intensively used agricultural region in South Moravia, what the main obstacles are to its implementation and how TSES can contribute to the connectivity of the landscape. Our results show that nearly two thirds of the planned TSES in the case study area already exist to some degree. There is a difference between the number and the area of existing TSES elements: the area of existing elements shows higher relative values than the number. This is mainly due to bio-centres that exist in large forest complexes and their pre-set minimal parameters. Creation of TSES elements increases connectivity of GI, especially those characterised as core areas and bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeologické Rozhledy is the property of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Archaeology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Agriculture, including the viticulture practices of the 1950s-1980s, has led to a great decrease in diversity and simplification of the landscape. Such an environment does not support biodiversity, thus does not provide an ecosystem service, and is very vulnerable to changes and pest attacks. This agricultural production needs high inputs and so cannot be considered to be sustainable. The aim of our work was to assess the diversity of the vineyard sites of South Moravia according to proportions of noncrop vegetation, cropland and bare soil vineyards. The relationship between land-use and locality was analysed with Canoco 5 software for ordination analysis. Areas with bare soil vineyards, cropland and intensive orchards can be regarded as areas that decrease the diversity of the landscape, while elements such as non-crop vegetation and extensive old orchards support and increase landscape diversity. This landscape with high diversity provides an environment for a number of plant and animal species, which leads to the preservation and support of the biodiversity of the whole ecosystem. The highest landscape diversity was assessed in the Mikulov region, with 12% non-crop vegetation and the Strážnice region (8%), while the worst situation is in Valtice region, where 53% and in Znojmo 43% of the total are designed for grapevine production (vineyard sites) and used as cropland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archaeologia Historica is the property of Masaryk University, Faculty of Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The landscape in several countries of Central and Eastern Europe went through the most dramatic change in the socialist period. Agricultural land was considered only as a productive area. The size of arable land plots increased and stabilizing elements in the landscape were removed. This land consolidation of agriculture has led to the development of soil erosion. This paper presents a case study focused on comparison of landscape structure of model territory in two periods. The first period shows landscape before collectivization of agriculture, and the second one presents current landscape. The research dealt especially with evaluation of ecological stability and water erosion risk of the landscape. The identification of land use trends helps to characterize landscape of the model territory during monitored period. The following trends: decreasing area of arable land, increasing area of built-up areas and other areas and increase area of vineyards showed different character of current landscape. The evaluation of ecological stability confirmed the loss of stable landscape elements. Based on the calculated values of ecological stability coefficient, the evaluated landscape has degraded from the category of "disturbed landscape capable of self-regulation" to "devastated landscape". The results also show the vulnerability of current large plots of arable land and vineyards to water erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to compare two methods of farming, especially their effect on water soil erosion. The examined methods were (1) large-scale farming, where more than 50% of the land was leased, and (2) small-scale farming, where the land was almost exclusively privately owned. The research area was 8 cadastres in the district of Hodonín, South Moravia, Czech Republic. In these cadastres 48 land blocks representing both large-scale and small-scale farming (i.e. owners and tenants) were chosen. The long-term average annual soil loss caused by water erosion (G) was calculated using the erosion model USLE 2D and ArcGIS 10.1. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used for the statistical evaluation of the data. The difference between the soil loss (G) on land blocks farmed by small producers (owners) and large producers (tenants) was significant (p < 0.05). Differences between the values of the cropping-management factor (C) were not statistically significant (p = 0.054). Based on the analysis of other variables in the USLE equation it can be stated that a continuous slope length, conditioned by the size of land blocks, played an important role in the amount of soil loss caused by water erosion. Above all, to protect the soil from erosion and maintain soil quality it is necessary to reduce the size of land blocks farmed by tenants and improve the crop rotation systems.

Records of spiders of the vineyard terraces from the vicinity of the villages Morkůvky and Mutěnice Jesličky (South Moravia, Czech Republic) are published in the presented work. Spiders were collected by pitfall traping during 30 April – 28 October 2011 and by day and night sweeping of herb vegetation in different dates of 2011. In total 2719 individuals were collected, and identified as 139 species of 23 families. Eighteen species listed in the Red List of threatened species in the Czech Republic were recorded. In vineyard terraces in the vicinity of Morkůvky, 12 threatened species (CR – 2 species, EN – 3 species, VU – 7 species) were found altogether. In the vineyard terraces at Mutěnice, we found 13 threatened spider species (CR – 2 species, EN – 6 species, VU – 5 species). The most significant findings are Alopecosa solitaria (Herman, 1879), Cheiracanthium pennyi O.P.-Cambridge, 1873; Dipoena coracina (C. L. Koch, 1837); Dysdera hungarica Kulczyński, 1897; Eresus kollari Rossi, 1846; Euryopis quinqueguttata Thorell, 1875; Sibianor tantulus (Simon, 1868) and Haplodrassus minor (O.P.-Cambridge, 1879). Besides of these threatened species, we discovered rich spectra of rare spiders related to the well preserved xeric grasslands. Our faunistic results indicate that artificial habitats, such as vineyard terraces, are important refuges for wide spectra of xerothermophilous spiders.

In recent years, rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns have a significant impact on agriculture. This paper presents analyses of selected climatic characteristics of the South Moravian region. The evaluation was based on the data from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Climatic data for future periods were gained using the A1B emission scenario. With regard to the agricultural activity of this region, climatic characteristics (average air temperature, heat waves, average precipitation and periods without precipitation) were selected and compared in the following three periods 1961–1990, 2021–2050 and 2071–2100. The results showed an increase of the average air temperature, increase in the number of tropical days and days in heat waves. It was also found that as a result of rising air temperatures and different distribution of precipitation, the period of drought will significantly prolong in the future. Very unfavourable climate situation is expected in the particular period of 2071–2100 in this region. Increasing drought, predicted by climate models, presents major problem for the agriculture of South Moravia. It is necessary to adapt to these anticipated changes not only in the agricultural activities but also in the landscape management in general.

Air blown sands areas and its habitats are very rare in Europe as well as many spider species, which occure there. Research was focused on spiders of sandy grassland and its ecotones near the town of Hodonín. Three lines of pitfall traps were used (one in grassland and two in its ecotones). Research took place in growing seasons of the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Total number of collected adult spider specimens was 11743, they belong to 160 species and 21 families. It was found out, that 15 following species are included in the Red List of threatened species in the Czech Republic: Critically Endangered – Haplodrassus bohemicus Miller & Buchar, 1977, Sitticus zimmermanni (Simon, 1877), Titanoeca psammophila Wunderlich, 1993, Uloborus walckenaerius Latreille, 1806; Endangered – Euryopis laeta (Westring, 1861), Haplodrassus minor (O. P.-Cambridge, 1879), Micaria dives (Lucas, 1846); Vulnerable – Agroeca lusatica (L. Koch, 1875), Arctosa perita (Latreille, 1799), Haplodrassus dalmatensis (L. Koch, 1866), Myrmarachne formicaria (De Geer, 1778), Pellenes nigrociliatus (Simon, 1875), Scotina celans (Blackwall, 1841), Taranucnus setosus (O. P.-Cambridge, 1863), Titanoeca schineri L. Koch, 1872. Another 19 remarkable species were also found. The finding of one new species for the fauna of the Czech Republic [Sintula spiniger (Balogh, 1935)] and two new for the territory of Moravia [Mermessus trilobatus (Emerton, 1882) and Zelotes exiguus (Müller & Schenkel, 1895)] are the most important.

According to the IPCC it is possible to predict larger weather extremity associated with more frequent occurrence of heat waves. These waves have an impact not only on the health status of the population, on economic, social and environmental spheres, but also on agricultural landscape and production. The paper deals with the issue of climate extremity and addresses mainly the occurrence of characteristic days (tropical, summer, freezing, ice and arctic) and heat waves. The south-eastern Moravia belongs to the warmest regions of the Czech Republic. Since the area is not urban, it is not affected by urban heat islands. Thus, it can be used as a representative area of climate change in terms of weather extremes. Heat wave occurrence and length analysis was performed for the period of 1931-1960 and 1961-2013. In addition, a prospective analysis was carried out for the period of 2021-2100 where the scenario data of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute were used. Between 1961 and 1990, heat waves appeared from June to September. The prediction for the next two decades shows that heat waves may appear as early as May. Furthermore, the average count of days in heat waves increased from 6.13 days (1961-1990) to 36 days (2071-2100). A statistically significant increase in the annual number of tropical days (from 9 to 20 days) was found in the assessment of characteristic days for the period 1961-2013. A highly conspicuous trend was found in July and a prominent trend was identified in May. A statistically highly significant trend was also observed in the annual number of summer days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New excavations in Krumlovský les (the Krumlov Forest, South Moravia) have brought new discoveries concerning the Lengyel Culture (LgK). The mining method using horizontal galleries, detected already in trench no. VI-8-1 in the northern mining area VI, has been confirmed; in the northern area, however, it had been dated solely by the character of the lithic industry. The existence of flint (or chert) mining itself at the outset of this culture is a novelty. At the end of LgK in the Early Eneolithic, mining in mighty shafts in the northern mining area VI of the Krumlov Forest was typical. In one case, two sacrificed women and a new-born were found in the shaft (OLIVA 2010). At the edge of the top of mining area I-East, a general seam lowering by 100--150 cm with undercut walls at the circumference can be supposed in an area of at least 60 square meters. In the chipped industries, prismatic cores dominate always over other reduced cores; pieces with cortex prevail among flakes. Retouched tools do not appear in mining areas, blades are sporadic. Promising cores and good blanks were taken to settlements in the whole south-western part of Moravia for further processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a study of Carabid beetles in two limestone quarries in South Moravia. The first one was a limestone quarry pit called Lesní lom which is located approximately 1 km away from the northern edge of the city district of Brno-Líšeň. The second locality was a limestone quarry of Malá dohoda which is located in a protected landscape area in the northern part of Moravian Karst. Using formaldehyde pitfall traps, 1682 specimens belonging to 66 species were caught in 2012, out of which 847 specimens (49 species) were from the active quarry of Malá dohoda and 835 specimens (40 species) came from Lesní lom quarry which had already been closed for 15 years at the time of research. The most abundant species included Anchomenus dorsalis, Carabus ullrichii ullrichii, C. cancellatus, and Aptinus bombarda. Relict species collected were Aptinus bombarda, Leistus rufomarginatus, and Carabus irregularis irregularis which is together with C. cancellatus, and Cylindera germanica included in the Red List of the Czech Republic. Xerothermophilic species of Carabid beetles found refuge mainly in the quarry marginal sites. In the case of Malá dohoda quarry, the influence of the surrounding PLA Moravian Karst was evident in the distribution of Carabid beetles.

During the vegetation period of 2012, a faunistic survey of carabid beetles was conducted with focus on selected limestone quarries in the Pálava PLA. In the Turold quarry, 39 species in the total number of 270 specimens were captured, while the most abundant species was Carabus cancellatus. In the Svatý kopeček quarry, a total of 36 species with the total number of 420 specimens were collected, the most numerous species here was Pseudoophonus rufipes. Four protected species under the Decree 395/1992 Coll., as amended by Decree No. 175/2006 Coll. – Brachinus crepitans, B. explodens, Carabus ullrichii ullrichii, and Cylindera germanica and 6 species listed in the Red List of the Czech Republic – Licinus cassideus, Carabus cancellatus, Cylindera germanica, Cymindis axillaris, Notiophilus laticollis, and Poecilus sericeus were recorded in the areas investigated. Typical xerothermophilous species preferred the medium-term quarry of Svatý kopeček to the Turold quarry, which has been closed for almost 70 years now.

Faunistic records of spiders (Araneae) in the Nature Monument Jesličky (South Moravia, Czech Republic) are presented. Spiders were collected by pitfall trapping in 2009 and by sweeping of the herb vegetation in 2011. During the both periods a total of 847 specimens were collected, from which 617 adult spiders were determined. We found 88 species belonging to 20 families. Seven species listed on the Red List of Invertebrates of the Czech Republic were recorded: Titanoeca schineri L. Koch, 1872, Scotina celans (Blackwall, 1841), Haplodrassus dalmatensis (L. Koch, 1866), Ozyptila pullata (Thorell, 1875), Ozyptila simplex (O.P-Cambridge, 1862) and Marpissa nivoyi (Lucas, 1846). To the most significant finding belongs a very rare and endangered (EN) Micaria guttulata (C. L. Koch, 1839). A significant and rich finding of bioindicators of the well preserved steppe habitats Atypus piceus (Sulzer, 1776), Eresus kollari Rossi, 1846 and Alopecosa sulzeri (Pavesi, 1873) are to be mentioned.

The black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), an introduced species into the Czech Republic, is planted for its production of valuable timber. A systematic study of the black walnut growth rate at different localities and consequently the creation of standard volume tables under Central European conditions therefore appear to be of high relevance. The aim of our study was to reveal the black walnut growth pattern in its pure stands in two riparian forests along the Morava and Svratka River (Strážnice locality and Židlochovice locality, respectively). To describe and to compare relationships among diameter at breast height (dbh), tree height and age, we used a forest management plan and measured 573 and 670 trees in pure sample stands at Strážnice and Židlochovice, respectively. We found out that the measured mean DBH and mean height were consistently higher in Strážnice, however the relationships of DBH to height, age to DBH, and age to height showed the same pattern at both localities. The mean heights of trees were 16.3, 24.1, 28.7, 31.9, and 34.5 m in 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 year age classes and were consistently taller in comparison with other, mainly European, regions. Therefore our results suggest the high potential of black walnut in timber production in riparian forests in the Czech Republic, mainly in the South Moravian region.

The two-year field trial was established in May 2008 on light soil in the cadastre of Ratíškovice near Hodonín in an arid maize-growing production area. Prior to sowing selected soil conditioners were applied in experimental plots of an area of 864 m2 as follows: zeolite (a mineral of high sorption ca­pa­ci­ty), lignite (the youngest coal containing humus substances) and the supplementary soil substance agrisorb (polymer organic compound capable of holding in its structure and subsequently releasing water) and they were incorporated into a profile of 0.15 m. Including the untreated control the experiment involved 4 treatments. The rates of the conditioners were as follows: zeolite – 3 l . m−2, fraction used 1–2 mm; agrisorb – 20 g . m−2; lignite – 1000 g . m−2. Three types of clover-grass mixtures were sown: landscape mixture with an addition of leguminous plants (seeding rate 200 kg . ha−1), regional mixture (100 kg . ha−1) and annual mixture (70 kg . ha−1). The aboveground biomass taken from an area of 0.05 m2 was sampled in the stage of bud setting with three repetitions to each treatment. In 2008 and 2009 the respective treatments did not significantly change the contents of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the aboveground biomass of the clover-grass mixtures. The differences in the contents of the macro elements were significant only between the individual types of mixtures and were due to their different botanical composition. Between the years 2008 and 2009 no significant differences were discovered among treatments in terms of the contents of P and K in none of the mixtures, but the Mg content decreased in the second year in most treatments by 50 relative % and more. The contents of N and Ca increased significantly in the second year in the regional and landscape mixtures; in the annual mixture also the Ca content. The year-on-year differences however were seen also in the untreated control showing the apparent effect of the year. A longer period of monitoring is necessary if we are to achieve an objective evaluation of the effect of the applied preparations on the chemical composition of the aboveground biomass.

The equable regional development and mitigation of disparities among the individual regions are main objectives of regional policy not only in the Czech Republic but in the whole European Union. The paper presents an analysis of life quality disparities among the administrative districts of the South-Moravian region (Jihomoravský kraj): Blansko, Brno-City, Brno-Province, Břeclav, Hodonín, Vyškov and Znojmo. The region of South Moravia belongs to the regions with a significant economic potential. However, not all districts contribute to this potential equally, the reason being their size, population and life quality. Life quality is affected by the environmental, social and cultural resources and by the region's economic performance. It can be viewed from various aspects. The work is focused on the life quality indicators of social and cultural resources, which assess demographic development, age and intelligence structures, employment, unemployment and labour market, health care standard and civil amenities. The statistical analysis of the acquired data was made by using the methods of regression and correlation analyses and the cluster analysis.