Themes for Bachelor's Thesis
Students can contact following possible supervisors and ask them more about their themes:
(instead of these themes students can contact and ask about possibility to make their Bc. Theses each of their teachers, too)
Themes for Bachelor's Thesis for: 2024/2025
From conventional crop protection practices to biological control: A paradigm shift
Supervisor: Pratik Pravin DOSHI, PhD, Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management; e-mail: pratik.doshiuniba.sk
Agriculture is the main occupation for food production. Different agricultural crops are grown around the world based on geographical locations. Infestation by insect pests and infection by plant pathogens are one of the most important causes for declining yield around the globe. Some insect pests and plant pathogens attack multiple plant hosts; hence they are prioritized for control measures. Traditionally, chemical pesticides have been used to control such insect pests and plant pathogens. However, due to the long and indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides, these important pests and pathogens are becoming resistant. Additionally, chemical pesticides also contaminate soils and indirectly affect human health. Therefore, research is now shifting toward sustainable control of plant pests and diseases and biological control has emerged as a top contender. Based on the literature, this thesis will show the transition from the use of chemical pesticides to biological control against selected major plant pests and diseases and discuss their potential for future research.
Keywords: crop protection, biological control, IPM, insect pests, plant pathogens
References:
1. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.1988.0001
2. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/3/596
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964419301586
4. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/S13593-021-00689-W
Trap colour preference of selected groups of insects
Supervisor: MSc. Jozef BALCERČÍK, Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management; e-mail: jozef.balcercikuniba.sk
Trapping of insects provides valuable data on abundance and relative representation of taxonomic groups for ecological studies and is carried out by a variety of methods. They are adapted to the group of insects under study. One of the factors that affects the success of the capture is the color of the traps used. The aim of the work is to compare and characterize the preference of selected taxonomic groups of insects for the color of capture traps based on a literature review of scientific articles published so far and using original capture data.
The Necessity of Creative Tools and the Possibility of Applying Ecological Materials in the Context of Environmental Education.’
Supervisor: MSc. Art. Andrea GOGOVÁ, PhD., Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management; e-mail: andrea.gogovauniba.sk
The aim of the work is to apply interdisciplinary cooperation to reach effective environmental education. The goal of the thesis is to create a methodology for applying creative strategies in the implementation of environmental education to a selected environmental problem and the application of new ecological materials in the implementation of an educational object. This will be developed in cooperation with the material library of the Slovak Design Center LOMA Bratislava (which collects samples of standard and experimental materials from all over the world).
Hybrid and microbial-based approaches for removal of recalcitrant micropollutants
Supervisor: Ing. Hana HORVÁTHOVÁ, PhD., Department of Geochemistry, e-mail: hana.horvathovauniba.sk
Micropollutants – inorganic or organic substances originating from the pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetic, or plastic industries can be found in the environment in trace amounts but they still threaten the health and balance of ecosystems. These substances usually occur as mixtures with complex structure resistant to individual methods of removal. In such cases, it is necessary to lay out a sequence consisting of various complementary remediation approaches The thesis will review the available options for their removal employing innovative integrated remediation approaches and microorganisms.
Microbial leaching of the potentially toxic metals
Supervisor: Ing. Hana HORVÁTHOVÁ, PhD., Department of Geochemistry, e-mail: hana.horvathovauniba.sk
In Slovakia, there are many localities (mainly former mining areas) where the concentration of heavy metals and metalloids exceeds the safe limits. A promising approach for their diminution in rock environments is biological leaching with autochtonous (naturally occurring) and introduced microorganisms. The thesis is focused on the theoretical exploration of the microbial (bacteria, microscopic fungi) metabolism and a nutrient amendment to the release of metal contaminants sequestered in the rock environment and modification of their chemical state with the aim of their mobilization, relocation to the water phase, and accumulation. Design of the technology for large-scale leaching will be included.
Themes for Bachelor's Thesis for: 2023/2024
Microbial leaching of the potentially toxic metals
Supervisor: Ing. Hana HORVÁTHOVÁ, PhD., Department of Geochemistry, e-mail: hana.horvathovauniba.sk
In Slovakia, there are many localities (mainly former mining areas) where the concentration of heavy metals and metalloids exceeds the safe limits. A promising approach for their diminution in rock environments is biological leaching with autochtonous (naturally occurring) and introduced microorganisms. The thesis is focused on the theoretical exploration of the microbial (bacteria, microscopic fungi) metabolism and a nutrient amendment to the release of metal contaminants sequestered in the rock environment and modification of their chemical state with the aim of their mobilization, relocation to the water phase, and accumulation. Design of the technology for large-scale leaching will be included.
Iron bionanoparticles and their application for decontamination of the groundwater and rock environment
Supervisor: Ing. Hana HORVÁTHOVÁ, PhD., Department of Geochemistry, e-mail: hana.horvathovauniba.sk
Iron bionanoparticles are active Fe complexes prepared from plant-based waste and various iron precursors. The material has a wide perspective in the removal of both organic and inorganic contamination. The thesis aims to research the potential mechanisms of bionanoparticle interaction with different kinds of environmental contaminants.
Genetically modified plants and their possibilities in the solve of environmental problems
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Marianna MOLNÁROVÁ, PhD., Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management; e-mail: marianna.molnarovauniba.sk
Utilization of algae for remediation
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Marianna MOLNÁROVÁ, PhD., Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management; e-mail: marianna.molnarovauniba.sk
Themes for Bachelor's Thesis for: 2022/2023
Preparation and characterization of mineral-like compounds including iron hydroxides/oxides for environmental remediation
Supervisor: MSc. Olivier MONFORT, PhD., Department of Inorganic Chemistry, e-mail: monfort1uniba.sk
Use of industrial minerals in environmental protection
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. MSc. Peter UHLÍK, PhD., Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology; e-mail: peter.uhlikuniba.sk
Student: Šimon Anton Brezovský
Microplastic contamination in macrozoobenthos belonging to different functional feeding groups
Supervisor: MSc. Barbora ŠTEVOVE, PhD., Department of Ecology; e-mail: barbora.stevoveuniba.sk
Student: Alica Janotová
The invasive potential of Reynoutria japonica in the world and in Slovakia
Supervisor: RNDr. Jana RUŽIČKOVÁ, PhD., Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management; e-mail: jana.ruzickovauniba.sk
Student: Natela Voskanyan
Themes for Bachelor's Thesis for: 2021/2022
Regenerative Agriculture as a Tool for Soil Carbon Sequestration
Supervisor: MSc. Peter HANAJÍK, PhD., Department of Pedology; e-mail: peter.hanajikuniba.sk
Student: Alexandra Obdržálková