About us
The Functional Landscape portal is operated by the Department of Ecosystem Function Analysis, which is part of the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CzechGlobe). Individual outputs were also developed in cooperation with the Department of Geoinformatics at Palacký University Olomouc.
The aim of the research team is to contribute to the understanding of the impacts of global change on ecosystem functioning, with particular emphasis on aquatic and water-dependent ecosystems. Our research integrates multiple spatial scales and methodological approaches. In addition to original results of both basic and applied research, the outputs include scientifically grounded proposals of mitigation and adaptation measures aimed at reducing these impacts.
Our key activities include:
- Analyses and modelling of selected ecosystem functions of the landscape and research on the energy–material balance of ecosystems and catchments, with regard to their importance under ongoing climatic and environmental change;
- Identification of stressors in riverine landscapes (watercourses and floodplains) and the development of approaches for assessing and improving their ecological status and for preventing hydrological extremes;
- Addressing current challenges in water management under Central European conditions related to the impacts of environmental change, with emphasis on recent advances in ecohydrological research and the development of the European legislative framework in water management.
From a methodological perspective, the study of the main segments of global change impacts (atmosphere and climate, ecosystems, socio-economic systems) focuses primarily on the interactions among all three segments. The principal methodological approach involves the development of models and other tools for studying ecosystem functions and services in relation to key driving forces, particularly climate change and land-use change.
Main Research Directions of the Department
Impacts of Global Climatic and Environmental Change on Selected Ecosystem Functions as a Basis for Ecosystem Services Assessment
- Research on the performance of selected ecosystem functions based on specific biophysical indicators and prediction of their future development considering expected impacts of climate change and land-use change.
- Operation of proprietary observational infrastructure and management of databases necessary to ensure accurate and up-to-date data inputs for calculating indicators of ecosystem function performance.
- Analyses of forest ecosystem responses to environmental change and selected disturbances.
- Development of a platform for assessing landscape vulnerability to climate change impacts, including proposals of typified measures to mitigate identified risks.
- Experimental verification of the effects of different types of measures (especially water-management-related) on the quality of ecosystem functions under diverse natural conditions and under model applications of different land-management approaches.
Impacts of Anthropogenic Pressure and Related Environmental Change on the Quality and Quantity of Surface Waters
- Research on key aspects of river ecosystems under conditions of climatic and environmental change, including impacts on hydrological balance, sediment dynamics, nutrients, pollutants, and biodiversity.
- Development of methodological procedures for assessing individual components of the ecological status of surface water bodies, riparian zones, and floodplains.
- Research on the influence of the presence and parameters of riparian habitats on surface water quality in agricultural landscapes under environmental change.
- Operation of proprietary observational infrastructure focused on continuous monitoring of selected physico-chemical characteristics of surface and subsurface waters.
