Ecology of aquatic insects and other invertebrates
My research group combines empiricial and theoretical approaches to understand the mechanisms and processes that shape biodiversity and underlie community structure in aquatic habitats, with emphasis on various human impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Our model groups are predatory insects but we also work with other freshwater invertebrates. We do field surveys and run both indoor and outdoor experiments to understand the effects of climate change, pollutants and other stressors on macroinvertebrates and fish. Our facilities include an array of heated mesocosms on the campus and laboratory equipment to measure predator-prey interactions and to run respirometry, behavioural and physiological assays. We combine these empirical approaches with simulation modelling. See projects and students for details.
Selected papers: Boukal et al (2007, 2015, 2019), Dijoux and Boukal (2021), Kolar et al (2019, 2020, 2021), Klecka and Boukal (2012, 2013, 2014), Mocq et al (2021), Sentis et al (2015, 2017ab).
Beetle-specific activities (mostly from the past)
Czech Water Beetle Group is a working group with a fairly loose structure, founded in 1996 and formally part of the Czech Entomological Society. Members and affiliates in alphabetical order: David Boukal, Milan Boukal, Martin Fikacek, Jiri Hajek, Alois Hamet, Vojta Kolar, Vaclav Krivan, Jaroslav Stastny (chairman), Michal Straka, Jan Sychra, Dusan Travnicek, Zdenek Vancl.
We have summarized all important information on the distribution and bionomics of Czech water beetles in the
Catalogue of water beetles of the Czech Republic,
which appeared at the end of 2007.
Download reporting form for trapping data (in Czech) /
Škrtací list pro data z pastí ke stažení.
Previous faunistic surveys in the Czech Republic:
Mapping of current populations of diving beetle Graphoderus bilineatus (co-investigator, 2009-2010)
Trebonsko Protected Landscape Area (participant, 2004-2006)
Novohradske hory Mts. (main coordinator, 2001-2003)
Palava Biosphere Reserve (main coordinator, 1999)
Our expertise includes identification of water beetles (as well as other major freshwater insect groups), sampling design and modern statistical analyses of the data.
Detailed information on sampling techniques in tropical streams is here
(old frames version).
Taxonomy
My pet study objects are tiny beetles from the families Elmidae and Dryopidae.
I described some Oriental and Australian species and genera
(Boukal 1997, Jäch and Boukal 1995, 1996, 1997, Kodada and Boukal 2000, 2003, Kodada et al. 2022).
Contact information:
Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia &
Biology Centre AS CR, Institute of Entomology, Laboratory of Aquatic Insects and Relict Ecosystems
Branisovska 31, CZ-37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
tel: +420 387 772 327, fax: +420 387 775 367
email: boukal_AT_entu.cas.cz
© 2009-2022 David Boukal | last modified 28 April 2022 | based on A. Viklund's template