Our focus

Our department studies a wide range of topics in the field of evolutionary biology and plant systematics. We are interested in, for example, the evolution and ecology of plant polyploids, the causes and consequences of current and historical migrations, processes and interactions within plant populations, evolution in the world's centres of plant diversity, the dynamics of genome size, and the evolution of reproductive strategies. Great emphasis is placed on rare and vanishing species of our flora, with the aim of understanding their diversity and revealing the causes of their decline. The results of our research find practical applications in nature conservation, agriculture, and pharmacy.

Students are also involved in research as part of their bachelor's, master's, and doctoral theses. In the course of their work, students acquire a broad range of field and laboratory methods, including the processing, evaluation, and presentation of their results. Our research combines field and laboratory-experimental approaches (the exact proportion depends on the chosen topic), so those interested can enjoy not only working with modern molecular and cytogenetic instruments, but also plenty of fieldwork in the fresh air.

We provide teaching in general botany lectures as well as specialised biosystematic and evolutionary courses. Hands-on plant identification during domestic and foreign field trips is an important part of our teaching.

Main areas of research

  • Mechanisms of evolution of polyploid complexes (at the level of individuals, populations, and species)
  • Evolution and conservation status of rare and endemic species of the Czech flora
  • Evolutionary history of plants in the context of Quaternary climate change
  • Evolutionary diversification in the world's centres of diversity (South American high mountains, the Cape Floristic Region)
  • Dynamics of genome size evolution in plants
  • Evolution, diversity, and dispersal of aquatic and wetland plants
  • Dynamics and evolution of reproductive strategies, particularly apomixis
  • Floristic research in Central Europe

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