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29 number of framework was set expertly. The next step affected by author of classification is the choice of training objects. For each of the classes 5 objects were considered that cover the range of variability of natural conditions. However, their selection was also a affected by author's choice. Verification and comparison of the results of object-oriented analysis with traditional methods of pixel-based classification showed differences in the of classification methods. In the case of object- oriented analysis spectral information are evaluated for the whole object. The highly heterogeneous objects such information may be averaged out and the object is thus classified as atypical representative of a certain class. Pixel classification methods, however, assess the quality of each pixel of the raster, so that any heterogeneous objects are divided into several classes. Using the results of the supervised classification the accuracy of object-oriented classification has been confirmed, considering a few exceptions. 4.1 THEORETICAL ISSUES Serious question of developing comprehensive landscape typology is the purpose and reason for such action. Pedroli et al. (2006) points to a general demand for accurate, highly detailed and high quality representative spatial information on the status and development of...

In recent decades, we have been facing negative changes to the environment across the world. Landscape changes affected by anthropogenic activities and new forms of land use have led to the decline of suitable habitats, landscape fragmentation, and insufficient landscape management, all of which cause biodiversity loss. One of the basic instruments which should prevent these negative changes is spatial nature protection. Often, it is in opposition to other interests in the area. Due to these different interests, it is essential to know the area and set its values and priorities for nature protection. Šumava National Park was chosen for this study as a relatively large and compact area with a high degree of protection, which is differentiated based on zonation, and also with a good data basis as well as turbulent management development. Using landscape-ecological and geographical approaches, several outputs were subsequently created analysing values and priorities of the area. The aim was to contribute to the debate on the management and zonation of Šumava National Park and protected areas in general. The approach consists of a few steps; first the area was characterized from the physical- geographical, socioeconomic, and management point of view. Moreover, a comparison was made with Bavarian Forest...

The spatial configuration of agricultural land has a fundamental influence on the functioning and processes in the landscape. Its form is a reflection of natural conditions, but also of socioeconomic factors. This thesis deals with the issue in a broader context so that the connections and complexity of the studied phenomenon were outlined. The aim of the thesis was the analysis of the spatial configuration (distribution and size structure of agricultural areas, way, and intensity of land use) of agricultural land in Czechia in relation to natural conditions and evaluation of regional differences. For this purpose, very detailed spatial data of agricultural land use from the LPIS register were used. These data include details about so-called land blocks and parts of land blocks. The analysis was performed by observing several parameters, such as the size of agricultural areas, their altitude, slope, and productivity of agricultural land. These parameters were observed in the size categories of land blocks and parts of land blocks, as well as in landscape types of Czechia. The analysis showed significant differentiation in the size of agricultural areas. The majority of agricultural land is concentrated in a relatively small number of significantly above-average size agricultural areas. For example,...

This thesis focuses on the evaluation of the impact of abandonment of agricultural land on forest stands in the eastern part of the Krkonoše Mountains. The aim of this thesis is to reconstruct the evolution of the forest response to gradual termination of mountain farming. Specifically, I analysed the age structure of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and described the dynamics of secondary forest succession in meadow enclaves around huts. Three main research methods helped meeting the above-mentioned objectives of the thesis. The first is the analysis of old maps. The second is segmentation and supervised classification of aerial photographs. The last is dendrochronological research of the age structures of Norway spruce. Research showed the expansion of forest stands into treeless grassland enclaves. The main driving force behind this process of secondary succession has been the gradual decline of mountain farming. After the end of mountain farming in the middle of the 20th century,the dynamics of forest succession in meadow enclaves increased significantly, with the highest rate of succession in the following 20 years. Forest succession took place mainly along the edges of meadow enclaves. Inside the meadow enclaves, trees were mostly established along streams. The most significant factor that...

The diploma thesis focuses on evaluating the relationship between wilderness and recreation, specifically in the Czech National Park Šumava. Šumava is one of the unique natural sites, not only due to its location in Central Europe, but also due to its unique natural wealth hidden in the heart of Europe. Moors, peat bogs, river springs, but also forest vegetation and much more are among the treasures of this Czech national park. These places are an attraction for many visitors. The work examines how to reconcile these two opposing tendencies. On the one hand, it is a desire to protect the natural environment and, on the other hand, it is the ever-increasing pressure of tourism and recreation. The diploma thesis is divided into two basic parts. The first part is a search of the evaluation of the "wilderness" itself and offers a view of this concept from different angles. It is evident that the view of the wilderness will be different in the world context from what we know from the Czech Republic. Furthermore, it is possible to get acquainted with the influence of recreation on the natural environment, resp. "Wilderness". The work examines the effects of recreation on fauna and flora in the most detail. The practical part of the work addresses the relationship between recreation and "wilderness" in...

6 Abstract The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a widespread species of so-called grazers in Central Europe, which significantly affects the functioning of forest ecosystems. While in most areas of red deer distribution, its stocks are regulated within hunting and forestry management, within the Šumava National Park there is the largest non-intervention area with hunting restrictions in Central Europe outside the Alpine region. The Šumava NP is also dynamic environment. There is a change in habitat conditions started mainly by windstorm Kyrill and subsequent bark beetle gradation. There has also been a change in terms of habitat management (new zoning, different forest management practices). The thesis contains an extensive dataset of a total of 34 doe monitored by GPS telemetry collars, from two time horizons. A spatiotemporal analysis of the preferences of land cover, altitude, slope and orientation of slopes and distance to anthropogenic structures is performed. The results of this analysis reaffirm that the behaviour of deer in the daily and annual cycle is controlled mainly by food requirements and also showed the effect of anthropogenic disturbance, which significantly modifies the pattern of land use due to the distance from the source of disturbance. The current occurrence is still controlled by...

Landscape structure is the outcome of the interaction between landscape and society, which create its appearance and the arrangement of landscape elements in space and time. This thesis is dedicated to change in landscape structure in the project "Heritage of the lost landscapes", which is being handled by a team from the Faculty of Science of Charles University. The theoretical part serves as a clear explanation of the concepts related to the landscape structure, which are subsequently mentioned in the analytical part. The analysis section is devoted to the methodology of the work, where data provided by the leader of the work were used for their harmonisation and analysis. Two time periods were compared to characterise changes in landscape structure: the stable cadastre and the present. Using the Patch Analyst tool, landscape metrics were calculated from the land use and land cover, which were consequently subjected to cluster analysis. To compare the changes in landscape structure, both the cluster analysis and the natural conditions are evaluated, where physicogeographic variables have been selected for typology of model territories based on natural conditions. As a result of the typology of model territories based on changes in landscape structure, 5 clusters have been created to represent the...

Landscape structure is affected by combination of human and natural influences. Changes, which took place in landscape structure of Czechia depends on degree and intensity of human influence in different types of landscape. This work was devoted to problematics of landscape structure changes, which took place between years 1950 and 2018, and how did they affected the landscape microstructure and land cover in different landscape types. These changes were computed in model location of 1x1 km in size, set by random selection in landscape types. These model locations were compared based on aerial photography from fifties of twentieth century and from year 2018, and on their basis were computed landscape metrics and analysed land cover. The changes which took place in these locations were the compared. The calculations had proved the difference in change of landscape structure, especially by homogenization of landscape. In these changes are evident differences, specific for each landscape type. Keywords: landscape structure, landscape heterogeneity, land-use, landscape metrics, change of landscape

The landscape has been profoundly affected by human activity for centuries and the consequences of this interference have been growing in scale with the rising demands of modern society. The processes leading to the landscape's homogeneity, or, on the other hand, its fragmentation, have been focus of many studies which then allow us to understand how the landscape functions in its entirety and are also significant for the process of spatial planning on the local level. The aim of this theses is to assess the changes done to land cover an landscape's (micro)structure with special focus on scattered greenery (non-forest woody vegetation), as well as to examine how these changes have been mapped into the cadastral municipality of Cunkov, located in the Jistebnická vrchovina highlands, throughout the last 180 years. It is then possible to analyze these changes using the GIS and historical materials from three time periods which were beforehand selected - the years 1840, 1953 and 2019. Microstructure of the landscape plays an essential role in landscape's dynamics and for its ecologic stability.

The thesis deals with the evaluation of habitat preferences of the red deer in the Krkonoše National Park. In the context of Central Europe, the Krkonoše Mountains are an important locality in which many rare and protected ecosystems are located. The current management is trying to restore the species composition of the forest, which was abundant in the past and replaced by atypical spruce species. Red deer (Cervus elaphus), which lives in these forests, has no natural enemy in the Giant Mountains, so it is necessary to control the local population and perform selective management for the purpose of forest protection. For proper management planning it is important to know the life strategies of the red deer: the deer's preffered habitat, physical-geographical characteristics that affect its movement and spatio- temporal use of the area. This information can be obtained through GPS-telemetry collar monitoring. The monitoring campaign in the Giant Mountains was carried out between 2014 and 2018 and the resulting data are used in this work. Information on 71 individuals of red deer are processed and subjected to spatio-temporal analysis, which shows that deer behavior is influenced by both daily and annual cycles. Another aspect influencing its movement is the density and intensity of the use of...

European Green Belt, a biological corridor and a remnant of the Iron Curtain, intersecting Europe from the north to the south and extending from the shores of Barents Sea to the shores of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, is utterly unique phenomenon not only because its diversity, position and extend. By the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 significant fragmentation of this area has begun. In this thesis a literature research of landscape connectivity and structure was done. Development of landscape structure in the area of European Green Belt from 1990 to present and its fragmentation was compared in practical part of the thesis. Key words: European Green Belt, landscape structure, landscape fragmentation, landscape connectivity

Africa is a heterogeneous environment that is affected by natural and anthropogenic processes. This thesis uses a review method to characterize the natural environment of the continent, present possible classifications of natural conditions and to describe the transformation of this environment. The main methodological aim of the thesis was to determine areas threatened by biodiversity loss due to anthropogenic pressures based on a new classification of the natural environment on a continental level. This was executed by methods of environmental stratification and subsequent environmental classification. Thus, this thesis presents a classification of the natural environment on the basis of homogenous units determined by bioclimatic variables and terrain, which are subsequently related to the biodiversity of birds, amphibians and mammals and to an anthropogenic influence represented by anthropogenic biomes. Finally, the share of protected areas is executed in relation to this anthropogenic transformation of the natural environment. Therefore, the thesis is quite a unique approach, as it takes into account a combination of both physical and socio-economic factors at a continental level. The final output consists of a map of the anthropogenic transformation of Africa's natural environment in the...

Surface mining and its associated territory disturbance is generally perceived negatively by society. However, these newly transformed regions may be very important areas of conservation from biodiversity point of view of and emergence of refugia. This thesis investigates the dynamics of the coal dumps and the land cover changes in relation to the occurrence of endangered species of Tawny pipit (Anthus campestris) in the North Bohemia. This area is the only breeding region in the country for this species. The aim of this thesis is to describe land cover change on three coal dumps (Tušimice, Bílina a Vršany) within horizon of four years (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017). Moreover, another aim was to asses habitat preferences of Tawny pipit based on ornithological findings for particular year. As it is seen from the results, the most significant change occurred at those areas, which were without vegetation cover in the beggining of monitoring and were cover with vegetation later. The category of herbal vegetation was the one which increased the most, as it was caused by spontaneous succession. It showed up that Tawny pipit's most preferred areas are land cover categories coal dumps surface without vegetation, coal dumps surface with herbal vegetation and category buildings, build-up area and transport...

This bachelor thesis deals with the landscape connectivity and the progressing phenomenon of fragmentation, which prevents animals from moving in the landscape. The issue of connectivity of the landscape is a current theme of nature protection, given the dynamic development of new roads and highways. The aim of this work is to identify the core areas of large carnivores in the model area of the Romanian part of the Western Carpathians and their interconnection through migration corridors. Based on the findings of the brown bear, wolf and lynx and environmental factors, the suitability of the environment for the occurrence of these carnivores was evaluated using the Maxent habitat model. Using the Linkage mapper tool, potential migration corridors between core occurrence areas have been identified based on the lowest cost paths. The results confirm that bear, wolf and lynx prefer areas with little anthropogenic alteration. For this reason, their occurrence and maintenance of genetic variability depends on landscape connectivity. Key words: landscape permeability - landscape fragmentation - large carnivores - Carpathians

Landscape structure has a major influence on functioning and processes in a landscape. The landscape structure is highly dependents on the natural conditions and economic use of the landscape. This thesis devotes to general theoretical issues of landscape ecology, especially landscape structure and its evaluation. The main aim of the thesis was to analyze the landscape structure in landscape types of the Czech Republic and to evaluate whether these types differ in the structure. Landscape structure analysis was performed using landscape metrics calculations based on CORINE Land Cover data. Landscape structure can be characterized by a large number of metrics. The following metrics were selected for the analysis and description of landscape types: Patch density (PD), Mean patch size (MPS), Edge density (ED), Shannon's Diversity Index (SHDI) and Shannon's Evenness Index (SHEI). The metrics were calculated for the whole area of each landscape type and also for all squares 2 km x 2 km covering the whole area of the Czech Republic. Although used data have a relatively low resolution, the calculations and the analysis of variance have shown that the character of the landscape structure differs between the individual landscape types. Keywords: landscape ecology, landscape structure, landscape structure...

Habitat requirements of snow leopard and the level of landscape connectivity of Nepal and Tibet Abstract This master's thesis deals with the issues of assessing habitat requirements of animals and the level of landscape connectivity for their movement. This dynamically developing branch of biogeography has a great potential for application in answering questions about species' conserving and for the understanding of landscape as functionally interconnected complex. In review part of this thesis there are summarized theoretical basics and practical methods of evaluating the level of landscape connectivity. Second part presents the analysis of habitat requirements of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and the level of landscape connectivity of mountainous regions of Nepal and adjacent regions of India and Tibet for its movement. This rare felidae predator is endangered by increasing intensity of human activities in its geographic range as well as by global climate change, which leads to reduction of area of suitable habitat and its fragmentation. For effective conservation of this species it is necessary to understand snow leopard's living requirements and to delineate key areas for its survival. Results of the analysis are discussed with other published researches concerning this topic in final part of this...

This thesis deals with the use of remote sensing data for studying and monitoring vegetation changes. Thanks to archival materials, we can now make extensive studies at the landscape and global level without the need for large-scale old field data. From the Middle Ages, we can rely on different types of maps, for vegetation studies, these are mainly forestry maps. Since the 1930's, aerial photographs have been available in Europe, and satellite imagery was available since the 1970's. Availability and quality of satellite imagery had increased rapidly during my study. The most recent data source are unmanned aerial systems and methods of processing their data, which allow inexpensive detailed mapping of large areas. The presented publications do not only solve ecological research questions, but also contribute to solving current environmental problems in the Czech Republic, from nature conservation in National Parks and protected areas to monitoring of plant invasions. I have used archival forest maps for the reconstruction and analysis of large disturbances (windthrow and subsequent gradations of bark beetle) in forests of Šumava and the Bavarian Forest in 1868-1870. Species composition, as well as environmental factors derived from digital elevation model, were analyzed. The same topic was also...

Classification of natural forests according to environmental conditions Abstract The aim of this thesis is the classification of natural forests of the Czech Republic according to environmental conditions and the creation of a database of relevant environmental factors for localities of natural forests. Natural forests are defined by the Databank of natural forests of the Czech Republic (VRŠKA 2003). The classifications are created on two spatial levels. The first level is the classification of natural forests according to the internal abiotic conditions of the forests and the second is the classification based on the conditions of the external environment, which is in close proximity to the natural forests and influence it. As characteristics of natural forests surroundings the groups of forest types were used as well as the Consolidated layer of ecosystems, which contains information on the anthropogenic influence on the landscape. Cluster analysis in SPSS program was used to create the classifications. Furthermore, the research of forest development of the Czech Republic, basic terminology and definitions related to natural forests, the research of classification issues according to several environmental factors and assessment of the degree of naturalness of forests is elaborated. The results of the work...

Barbora Lachová Praha 2017 1 Geoecological preferences of red deer in the Bohemian & Bavarian Forests NPs Abstract In central Europe, the red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a common species. It's population density is very high in the Bohemian & Bavarian Forest NPs. Therefore, a selective management is used to control red deer population, because of the need to conserve young regrowing forests. Knowledge of a typical habitat, geoecological preferences and space-time use of the environment is very useful for red deer management and for understanding it's life strategies. Data about deer location are most often collected by GPS - telemetry technology. In this thesis, data from thirteen individuals equipped with GPS-collars are processed and analysed. Red deer choose their location primarily according to food resources availability. Movement of red deer individuals is also influenced by human disturbance. In the review part habitat requirements, environmental factors and Bohemian & Bavarian NPs environment characteristics are described.

The aim of the diploma thesis is to present the landscape classification of the Czech hydrometeorological institute's experimental Watersheds in the Jizera Mountains. The classification was developed on the Watersheds of selected physical- geographic characteristics that can influence its rainfall-runoff process. The selected factors were geologic standards, soil cover and characteristics of the relief - inclination, exposition and vegetation types. The landscape cover represents one of the most significant factors that form the surface runoff. The method of cluster analysis, more specifically the method of K-means clustering, was used for the landscape classification. The typology was developed for the abiotic characteristics of the watersheds as well as for the landscape cover. Altogether 5 analyses with different numbers of clusters were produced while creating both classifications. Based on the analyses the watersheds with the most similar abiotic characteristics and landscape covers were defined. The annex of the thesis is the evaluation of the landscape development of the target area from the years 1953, 1986 and 2013.

Model of landscape connectivity for European otter Abstract Landscape connectivity is one of the main functions that mitigate the effects of landscape fragmentation on organisms. It allows organisms to move through habitat areas to natural habitat. Given of the overall decline in biodiversity, conservation of landscape connectivity is one of the main objectives of current nature protection. The greatest impact of landscape fragmentation on the population of European otters is mortality on roads. The most of the dead otters are found every year in the Jihočeský and Vysočina regions. That is why this region is an adequate model area for determining the connectivity of the landscape from the perspective of otters. This thesis deals with landscape fragmentation, habitat connectivity and landscape resistance. CIRCUISCAPE is the main tool used to solve connectivity modelling. From the resulting connectivity, landscape resistance and mortality values, risk areas for migration were selected. The telemetry data from the area around Dačice were used to validate this model. Keywords: habitat connectivity - landscape resistance - telemetry - European otter

This diploma thesis deals with the change of the landscape cover and the use of the landscape of the former Ralsko military training area after 1990. The former VVP Ralsko is located on the area of 250 km2 between Česká Lípa, Stráží pod Ralskem and Mnichovo Hradištěm. Most of its territory lies in the Liberec region and only its southern part reaches the Central Bohemian region. After the departure of the Soviet troops in 1991, the military training area was abolished and on 1 January 1992 the village of Ralsko, which currently has 171 km2 , was formed by merging nine municipalities in its former territory. The town of Ralsko is thus an area with the largest area in the Czech Republic. Between 1993 and 2004, the former military area was decontaminated, during which more than 120,000 pieces of ammunition were found and destroyed. Decontamination of contaminated soils and groundwater is ongoing. Some former military buildings are currently commercially used as warehouses for raw materials. The Military Airport at Hradčany is partly used for sports purposes, and a range of rare game species has been set up in the area of the Židlov tank space, of which the most interesting is the European Tooth (Bison bonasus). In the first part of the thesis there is a search of specialized literature dealing with...

Current approaches of anthropogenic impact on the ecosystems and ecosystem services are within the scope of this master's thesis. The aim of the thesis is, on the basis of current landscape classifications, landscape typologies, and their combination with approaches of ecosystem services classification, to appoint socio-ecological units as functional socio-ecological types of the territory. In other words, on the basis of classification listed, this thesis attempts to prove, that socio-ecological units are functional socio-ecological types of the territory, which should be given proper attention. Socio-ecological landscapes are defined according to degree of anthropogenic impact, selected socioeconomic characteristics, and selected ecosystem services. The thesis focuses on three of four categories of ecosystem services defined in Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - provisioning services, regulating services, and cultural services. As a methodology, the quantitative research was chosen. The research was carried out by data collection and the analysis of statistical data of Czech Statistical Office, Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre, and Statistical Yearbook of Soil Services. The thesis main finding is that social and ecological components of socio-ecological systems are in mutual...

This thesis deals with the landscape fragmentation in relation to the spatial and migration requirements of large carnivores in Western Carpathians region. Based on the data of the model species (Lynx Lynx) occurrence and selected environmental factors, the habitat suitability for Lynx Lynx is discussed using the Maxent habitat model. Employing the Effective Mesh Size method, the current landscape fragmentation caused by the transport infrastructure and urban development is studied in detail in terms of the fragmentation geometry. In addition to the analysis of measure of the current fragmentation, this thesis also includes a prediction of development of the landscape fragmentation in relation to the planned large transport constructions up to the year 2030. Comparing the habitat suitability model with the measure of current landscape fragmentation, the areas with the greatest potential of the Lynx Lynx permanent occurrence as well as the problematic areas in view of the dispersion and individuals migration are determined. Comparing the habitat suitability model with the prognosis of development of the landscape fragmentation, the impact of the planned road constructions on the suitable habitat is assessed.

The river banks are very often colonized by invasive alien plants. The aim of this paper was to monitor the presence of invasive neophytes in riparian vegetation of the Berounka river and to compare the results with those of Boháčková (2007) from the year 2006. The research was completed during August in the year 2015. In every segment of the riparian vegetation were observed the presence and approximate population of seventeen invasive neophytes. In the riparian vegetation of the Berounka river were observed thirteen invasive neophytes on the whole. Impatiens glandulifera occured in the largest number of the segments, very closely followed by Robinia pseudacacia. Reynoutria sp. represented the largest population of individuals in the entire study area. The results of the comparison showed that the invasive neophytes are spreading to new locations but their population is not getting bigger. Key words: invasive neophytes, riparian vegetation, stream, changes in vegetation, monitoring of vegetation

The disturbances are processes, which change the landscape (Bengstsson et al., 2003). In Central European mountains spruce forest, windthrows and subsequent bark beetle (Ips typographus) outbreaks are the most important (Bengstsson et al., 2003; Brůna, 2013; Čada, 2013; Fischer et al., 2002; Matějka, 2013) This scenario was taking place in the study area - the Šumava National Park between 2006 and 2012. The objective was to analyse changes in the land cover caused by the disturbances. The land cover flows were used. The Land cover flows describe changes within land cover types: the area of change from one type into another (Martinez-Fernandez et al., 2015). Layers of the land cover for each year were created; they show the changes mostly in forested landscape. These fourteen-land cover types layers were input into analysis in the Land change modeler for ArcGIS (Clark Labs, 2015). The most important land cover flows were set and further analysis of evaluation in five spatial frames (Physical - geographical typology, Aspect, Elevation, Ecological conditions, Non-intervention and intervention management) were undergone for deeper knowledge about spatial factors of distribution. The Kyrill windthrow in 2007 caused a creation of windfalls (4.73 km2 ), predominantly made from damaged forested area (3.07...

Green Infrastructure of Central Europe Green infrastructure is a strategically planned network that broadens the traditional conservation efforts to encompass the concept of ecosystem services. This study aims to identify green infrastructure network in Central Europe. Method presented in this thesis is an analysis of ecological connectivity based on ecosystem services potential quantified for CORINE land cover classes (Burkhard et al., 2009). Design of ecological corridors between the core areas represented by Natura 2000 sites is dependent on the capacity of ecosystems to provide ecological integrity and regulating services. Analysis was performed in ArcGIS Linkage Mapper extension. Green infrastructure network identifies 17 % of area of Central Europe that provides high values of ecosystem services. Corridors also create linkages between Natura 2000 sites and improve biodiversity conservation as well as they support migration corridors for large mammals. Full implementation of the Birds and Habitats directive and promoting of a European Green Infrastructure are two important targets of The EU Biodiversity strategy to 2020. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

The diverse region of southern Africa is affected by several changes of the natural environment. This thesis characterizes the region of southern Africa and evaluates the state and development of these natural conditions and environmental problems in four main categories of physical geography - climate, vegetation, soils and water. A literature review is compiled and processed focusing on studies by field experts, which describe the main issues in these categories. Particular problems which the region encounters are described on a global, regional and local scale. The main problems are: changes in temperature and precipitation, land cover change, deforestation, desertification, threats to biodiversity, soil erosion and water availability. Overall, changes of the natural environment in southern Africa are caused by climate change and anthropogenic activity. However, human activities cause a greater impact as a result of their "indirect influence" on climate conditions and "direct influence" on vegetation conditions. Key words: Africa, southern Africa, natural environment, climate, vegetation, soils, water

Since alpine and subalpine plant communities including shrubs are sensitive to climate change, they are suitable to study the recent climate change. Dwarf pine (Pinus mugo) is a shrub widespread above alpine timberlines in the Central and Eastern Europe. In this thesis, I studied changes in cover of dwarf pine in the Krkonoše Mts. To analyze spatial changes in the dwarf pine cover, I used a orthorectifications aerial photographs from two different periods 1958/1964 and 2012. I vectorized two areas from the lower limit of dwarf pine distribution and two areas from the upper limit of its distribution. The results did not support previously reported negative relationship between altitude and shrub expansion. Instead, faster expansion was found in the upper limit of the dwarf pine distribution. In addition, I found positive relationship between expansion of dwarf pine cover and initial length of shrub margins. Length of shrub margins seems to be more important for expansion of dwarf pine in the Krkonoše Mts. than altitude. Keywords: dwarf pine (Pinus mugo), expansion, alpine zone, aerial photographs, climate change

This Bachelor thesis shows elementary methods used in landscape genetics. Landscape genetics is a combine field of population genetics and landscape ecology. This field of study uses geoinformatic and statistic methods and methods of its mother fields. Here, the genetic methods from population genetics, will not be shown. This thesis is concern by the methods that are applied in study of the population boundaries and connectivity between populations. History and paradigm of both landscape genetics and Geoninformatic methods are also mentioned, for easier understanding of context. Lastly, most methods here are listed with Geoinformatic systems (GIS), which are computer programs, capable of using these methods and apply them on needed projects. Keywords: GIS, Landscape Genetics, Landscape Ecology, Connectivity, Least-cost path, Circuit theory