Projects

A SELECTION OF ONGOING PROJECTS AT OUR INSTITUTE

Two in one: Can grassland biodiversity be restored through soil carbon sequestration? (2025-2027)

Temperate grasslands represent hotspots of plant diversity and an important soil carbon (C) pool. In the past, large grassland areas have been converted to arable land, their plant diversity destroyed, and soil C was released to the atmosphere. Soil C stock and plant diversity often remain low even after the arable land has been restored back to grassland. Plants and soil mutually interact and sowing of a proper seed mixture may trigger restoration processes, which mechanisms are, however, unclear. Here, we will explore the effects of plant functional groups and respective species on C sequestration mechanisms in soils modified by former tillage and disentangle the species-specific mechanisms through which plants affect C sequestration. We will focus on the effects of root and rhizobiome exudates and plant above and belowground biomass on soil faunal and microbial communities as the main drivers of C sequestration. The project consists of field observations, a greenhouse experiment, and two laboratory experiments where C fluxes will be tracked using stable isotopes. Provider GA ČR/standard project. The Institute for Environmental Studies is in the role of investigator, the responsible person is dr. Ondřej Mudrák, co-investigator dr. Veronika Jílková (UPBB, Biological centre).

Coupling of the plant leaf economic spectrum, litter decomposition, and soil biota: When do they fit together? (2025-2027)

Important part of the plant leaf economic spectrum is its effect on nutrient cycling through the ecosystem, which largely works through the litter decomposition. Species differ in their litter decomposability, but there can be substantial differences also within species due to intraspecific trait variability. These highly affect soil biota decomposers, which are site specific and often adapted to local litter. The higher effectivity in decomposition of local litter by local biota, so called home field advantage (HFA), was indeed often found, but often also not. The reason for this discrepancy can be either the functional breadth of the decomposers (ability to decompose broad litter spectrum) or successional maturity of the explored ecosystem as plant-soil interactions needs time to stabilize. The project will test through the set of field and laboratory experiments whether effective litter decomposition under the HFA occurs mainly in the longterm stable communities, and if the small scale disturbances can alter HFA by altering decomposer community and plant functional traits. Provider GA ČR/standard project, The Institute for Environmental Stuies is co-investigator (responsible person dr. Onřdej Mudrák), investigator University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Science (responsible person prof. Jan Lepš).

TQ03000234: Ameliorative potential of pioneer tree species in restoration of calamitous clearings and degraded sites (2024-2025)

Pioneer trees can provide improved growth conditions for climax trees, e.g. they adjust the microclimate, limit the competition of the undergrowth and change the soil properties. This project deals with the possibility of imitating this natural process in forest management and restoring degraded soils using pioneer trees. Aims of the project are (i) to evaluate the melioration potential of pioneer tree species in the context of requirements of different target species (ii) to determine which factors (soil properties, light) influence or indicate the prosperity of target trees in the undergrowth of pioneer trees and outside it, (iii) to compare the management practices of pioneer tree stands in effects on soil, light and growth of pioneer tree species, (v) to prepare a certified methodology, workshops and conferences dedicated to the appropriate selection of preparatory tree species, their tending and melioration effect within restoration of large-scale clearings and degraded habitats with regard to the requirements of the target tree species composition. Provider:TAČR, call: 2. VS SIGMA DC2. The Institute for Environmental Studies is in the role of co-investigator, the responsible person is dr. Olga Vindušková.

Centre of Environmental Research: Waste management, circular economy and environmental security (CEVOOH) (2021-2026)

The aim of the project is to build a long-term, professional, interdisciplinary, research base made up of key research organizations with experience and expertise to carry out research in the field of waste and circular management in a broader context. The Center, formed by a consortium of eight research organizations and universities, is focused on conducting research in the thematic areas related to the Czech Republic’s transition from a linear to a circular economic model. This project is co-financed with state support of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic as part of the Program Environment for Life. The investigator is the Czech Environmental Information Agency, while Charles University - Faculty of Science is project partner (coordinated by prof. Cajthaml on behalf of our Institute). More information about the project here.

GACR22-03426L: PlumeBaSe - Tracing of ship plumes and impact to seawater (2022-2025)

PlumeBaSe aims at a detailed analysis of the composition of organic aerosols released by the combustion of fossil fuels on ships and their fate in the marine environment. By following the Plume aerosols and their transformations from the smokestack to the Baltic Sea water, we bridge the gap between atmospheric and marine sciences. The increasing global transport of goods via waterways augments the pressure on marine ecosystems. Large ships disperse, besides gaseous pollutants, huge amounts of particles which contain trace metals and organic pollutants into the atmosphere, from where they eventually settle and reach the water column. Adverse impacts of the acidic oxides and organic pollutants on the environment are widely recognized. Less is known about the ship-derived aerosol deposition to surface seawater and its contribution to marine pollution. Especially the ageing processes during atmospheric transport and in the water column, including UV radiation or reactive oxygen species mediated transformations, are not well understood although transformation products can have different effects on biota and their structure dictates their fate in the environment. To fill this knowledge gap, PlumeBaSe integrates multifaceted environmental samplings to provide an unprecedented coverage of ship emission transport and ageing. Provider: GA ČR and DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Charles University, Faculty of Science as a project partner (responsible person form our Institute dr. Hovorka). More about the project here.

DRP0401520: Conspiro - Breathing Together for Cleaner Air, SMF Interreg Danube (2024-2025)

An international project led by experts from the Faculty of Science, Chales University in Prague, the aim of which is to prepare a large European project to improve the state of air pollution in small municipalities during the heating season using measurements with the participation of residents, education and communication with the public. The goal is to measure air pollution in municipalities during the heating season and improve the current situation through education and communication with the public. To achieve these goals, the project will use a combination of innovative methods: professional air quality monitors; cheap monitors for loan to municipalities, schools and citizens; measurement of vertical profiles and spatial distribution of pollution using drones and airships; direct chemical analyzes of polluted air samples in cooperation with the University of Bundeswehr Munich. The project is the result of international cooperation between several institutions, where the Faculty of Science of Charles University is in the role of coordinator (Laboratory of air quality) - responsible person dr. Hovorka, Society SCIENCE IN (Coordinator), Faculty of Education, University of Heidelberg (Germany), Research Center of the Academy of Sciences and Arts (Slovenia), National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Bulgaria), Bundeswehr University of Munich. The project was supported as part of the SMF Interreg Danube call and you can learn more about it here.

NU_21-04-00405: A new model of schizophrenia based on Gnathonemus petersii enriched on the evaluation of electrocommunications and social behaviour (2021-2024)

The behavioral repertoire of currently used model organisms of schizophrenia does not allow for the modeling of substantial positive (auditory hallucinations, disorganized speech), negative (alogia) and higher cognitive symptoms with speech as a common denominator. Finding a more suitable model organism is essential. The aim of the project is to determine the phenomenological, constructive and predictive validity of a new model based on the species Gnathonemus petersii (G. petersii) in three pharmacological models (glutamatergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic). Provider Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, call: AZV CZ - Czech Health Research Council. The Institute for Environmental Studies as a co-investigator (responsible person: dr. Petra Horká).

SOMForClim: Soil organic matter fractions and soil carbon storage as affected by forest type and climate change (2022-2024)

Temperate forests hold a great potential for storing soil organic C (SOC). The bulk SOC, however, is partitioned into fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) that differ in terms of formation, persistence, and function. As a result, the fractions might be differently affected by carbon (C) input chemistry (quality) and climate change. Here, we compare the amounts of C in SOM fractions among deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forest soils along the soil profile. We also determine how the formation and persistence of SOM fractions are affected by C input quality (i.e., litter leachates vs. root exudates), increased temperature, and soil fauna and microorganisms. The proposed project consists of field samplings and observations, a slightly manipulated field experiment that explains a part of the process, and two heavily manipulated laboratory experiments that explain the process in detail. Finally, the acquired data are compiled and used to improve a soil C model. Provider: GAČR, call: STANDARD. The Institute for Environmental Studies is in the role of co-investigator, the responsible person is dr. Olga Vindušková.

FINISHED PROJECTS

Airborne measurements of aerosol particle distribution in coal power plant emission exhausted through cooling towers, contractual research, Sev.en Energy (2021)

Size segregated aerosol particle removal efficiency by air purifiers, contractual research, Philips ČR s.r.o. (2020)

Methodology of experimental power determination of large-dimension aerosol sources, TAČR, TH02030238 (2017-2020)

Airborne measurements of aerosol particle distribution in coal power plant emission exhausted through cooling towers, contractual research, Sev.en Energy (2019)

Conspiro – Breathing Together for Cleaner Air, 4EU+ alliance, Copenhagen/Heidelberg Univ. (2019)

Conspiro – Breathing Together, Danube Strategy Project Fund 06_ECVII_PA06 (2018-2019)

Completion and modernization laboratory equipment for aerosol source apportionment, CZ.05.2.32/0.0/0.0/15_017/0002651 (2017-2018)

Child exposure to aerosol particles inside bicycle trailer during usual ride, GAUK, 1474217 (2017-2018)

Center for studies of toxic properties of nanoparticles – CENATOX, GAČR-P503-12-G147 (2012-2018)

Environmental Research Programme (PRVOUK)

The goal of the program is to contribute to the knowledge of individual biotic and abiotic components of the environment and their mutual interactions, including interactions with human society. Work to increase the quality and international impact of environmental research within the UK. At the same time, contribute to the solution of current practically applicable questions important for further conceptual decision-making in the field of the environment. The program connects current modern practices in the study of ecosystems of the abiotic environment and biodiversity with the study of environmental behavior and attitudes of human society, including tools that can be used to regulate this behavior. At the same time, the study of these processes on various time-space scales and the mutual interaction of processes with different time-space dynamics is important.