Biotic threats to garden monuments: algae, cyanobacteria and invasive plant species (2016-2020)

The project addresses the primary aim of the NAKI programme, to contribute to rational use of public sources to build instruments for conservation, assessment and presentation of the objects of landscape design and of the cultural landscapes (Global Aim No. 2). We will elaborate on working methods, instruments and approaches that will reduce, in a principle way, existing negative biotic factors that threaten garden monuments. Such negative impacts that will be addressed by the project include invasive plant species, with associated introduced pathogens, and microorganism (algae and cyanobacteria) deteriorating water quality and degrading facades and sculptures. 
In the proposed project we will focus on (i) designing sustainable management procedures for cultivated alien plant species in chateau parks and landscape gardens, (ii) creating on-line technology for the in-situ detection of critical parameters of the water quality, together with developing a prototype of the instrument measuring and transmitting data on water quality; (iii) assessment of the biodegradation of facades and statues, that will yield a patent for early warning method to prevent biodeterioration and destruction of sculptures and facades by microorganisms; and (iv) development and testing the technology of non-invasive detection of microorganisms causing the biodegradation of statues, facades and wood.
In addition to the patent, functional prototype, utility pattern, technology, software to identify threat to garden monuments by introduced invasive species, and certified methodologies, there will be special maps of distribution of invasive alien plant species and their threat to the study areas. 

Principal investigator: Jan Pergl 
Projekt is supported by Ministry of Culture CR (project NAKI II) 

Team members from LabGIS: Petr Petřík,  Matěj Man