Czech scientists lead research on pollination and meadow genetics

A large-scale international study led by researchers from Charles University and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic has mapped the relationships between flowering plants and their pollinators. Published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, the research challenges the long-held assumption that interspecies interactions become more specialized toward the equator. Instead, the findings indicate that climate is the primary factor determining the global distribution of these specializations.

In a related ecological effort, scientists from the Botanical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Charles University are researching the genetic origins of seeds used for meadow restoration. DNA analysis of seven meadow species has revealed genetic differences following an east-west gradient in the Czech Republic. The study emphasizes that successful meadow restoration requires using seeds that respect the local genetic heritage to avoid disrupting long-evolved local populations.