The theme of the United Nations World Soil Day on 5th December 2020 is "Keep soil alive, Protect soil biodiversity". Soil scientists of the Biology Centre CAS are joining this year's appeal of the Day, since the appeal is closely correlated with their research results. It is therefore no coincidence that one of their papers was highlited by the Soil Biology & Biochemistry journal as an example...
The article in Biological Reviews highlights the importance of ants and termites for ecosystem processes and summarize the available literature about the interactions between these two insect groups. Predatory ants seems to be able to regulate termite populations and thus affect decomposition of plant-derived organic matter.
For 40 years (1979 - 2019), we have been engaged in soil research. The Institute of Soil Biology is part of the Biology Centre, one of the major institutions of the Czech Academy of Sciences . We apply our knowledge systematically to different branches of soil biology from the level of single molecules up to the entire ecosystems. Through this we hope to get an insight into this complex living...
The increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotic drugs is one of the major challenges facing human and veterinary medicine in the 21st century. Both research and practice recognize that antibiotic resistance (ATB-r) is a complex environmental and evolutionary problem, demanding a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in ATB-r spreading in the environment.
Tree species with high amounts of nitrogen, and low amounts of calcium and poorly decomposable compounds (e.g., lipids, lignin) in their root tissue increase the stability of carbon (C) stored in soil.
Soil is an amazing organ of the planet, all living creatures die one day and they become completely recycled for future uses. Only thanks to this constant recycling can our body can consist of the same atoms as the bodies of dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. Soils, or specifically soil organisms, represent the most important recycling station in the earth.
Soils play a key role in climate regulation, nutritious diets, agricultural livelihoods, and biodiversity. But soils have dropped down the EU policy agenda, despite their importance for society and nature. There are many opportunities for policy to safeguard the future of Europe’s soils and play its part in reversing global trends in soil degradation, says a new report of EASAC. One of the...
At the end of June 2017, Václav Pižl finished the second term of office in the position of the Director of the Institute of Soil Biology. The leading of the Institute he handed over to his successor and current deputy, Karel Tajovský, but he will continue to research in the field of soil zoology focused on biology and ecology of earthworms.
Libor Grubhoffer will be a new Director of the largest scientific institution in South Bohemia - Biology Centre (BC) CAS. On Monday, June 26, he was appointed by the president of the Czech Academy of Sciences Eva Zažímalová. His term of office is five years and begins on July 1, 2017. Libor Grubhoffer replaces Miloslav Šimek, who has been in charge of the institution since 2012.
The next Central European Workshop on Soil Zoology, the 14th in order, is postponed to the year 2018. We hope that new three-year periodicity will be more suitable for participants