Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology

Open Day at the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences

11/7/2025

On November 6, 2025, the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences held an Open Day, in which our Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology also took part. We prepared a program focused on the topic: How plants defend themselves against herbivores.

Visitors, high school students, had the unique opportunity to explore our workplace and learn about our research. The program included a live demonstration of plant defensive mechanisms, including observations under a stereomicroscope.

Abstract: How plants defend themselves against herbivores
For herbivores, plants are the main source of food. To survive, plants have developed a variety of defense strategies. Mechanical defenses include thorns or hairs, while chemical defenses involve toxic or bad-tasting substances. Some plants also release volatile compounds that can warn surrounding plants or attract natural enemies of herbivores.

Photos by Eva Holá

link to the event :
www.bc.cas.cz/novinky/detail/7730-den-otevrenych-dveri-na-biologickem-centru-av-cr/
(in Czech)

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