The Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters (FFPW) consists of the Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology in Vodnany (RIFCH), the Institute of Aquaculture and Protection of Waters (IAPW) in Ceske Budejovice, the Institute of Complex Systems (ICS) in Nove Hrady and the International Environmental Educational, Advisory and Information Centre of Protection Vodnany (IEEAIC).
The RIFCH is focused on scientific, and especially applied, research, as well as education and activities in the fields of fisheries and protection of waters. The RIFCH utilizes a small fishpond farm, river fishing preserve, specialized laboratories, aquarium rooms, two experimental facilities for research into reproduction, genetics and the breeding of fish, and the intensive breeding of fish and crayfish, including recirculation systems with water filtration. The IAPW provides research, educational and consulting services focusing on pond aquaculture, nutrition and feeding of fish in ponds and intensive culture of fish. The ICS deals with the study of complex systems in natural and social sciences, with technical and other applications of research results.
Name of the infrastructure: Institute of Complex Systems
Location: Nové Hrady, Czech Republic
Website address: http://www.frov.jcu.cz/en
Contact: Petr Císař, Ph.D.
Facilities
The Institute of complex systems (ICS) is a part of the University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters. The institute is active in the research field of systems biology with focus on complex systems (cell, fish, crayfish, fish school). The institute consists of two laboratories (focused on data measurement, processing and analysis) and one working place (focused on cell culturing methods and biocompatibility). The institute builds on the mathematical, physical, chemical and cybernetic background and applies the knowledge in the field of biology. Several state-of- art methods were developed by the institute: methods for data filtration (LC-MS data), data description and analysis based information theory (clustering of image content). The institute operates computing cluster which can be used for the data processing of large multidimensional datasets. The expertise from the simple image processing tasks to complex data analysis problems can be solved. The main focus is the monitoring systems for fish behaviour in small aquarium and fish tanks and analysis of fish behaviour and appearance changes using image processing methods.
Services currently offered by the infrastructure
Any kind of image processing data can be realised in the area of objects detection and analysis (colour, shape, quantity) with the support in design of systems for visual inspection. The example of realized expertise: crayfish movement detection, fish detection in tanks, pellets detection in tanks, fish and sea horse coloration analysis, cells interior analysis, cells detection. Behaviour analysis services – We offer the analysis of behaviour (movement) of aquatic organisms or objects in the tanks of small aquariums. The statics about the behaviour (speed, space distribution, direction) over the time can be produced.
The services can be realized in the form of consultations of the specific research problem or data processing and analysis or combination of both.
Modality of access
The access will comprise the use of the facilities with regard to experiments and access to the laboratory equipment. Usually, trained and experienced engineer- and technical staff will carry out the standard procedures and the general maintenance. The external user will be strongly integrated in all processes, sampling, data recording, due analyses and assessment, and preparation and dissemination of results. The Facility will provide suitable supervision and guidance for potential inexperienced users to properly carry out the work. Scientific support will include advice on experimental design and methodology, documentation of results for all experiments conducted in the project and appropriate sampling and storage of samples. The technical and management staff will be helpful with the overall project´s implementation.
Unit of Access
One unit of access for ICS is defined as one week. Typical duration of the project is 2 weeks for 1 researcher. The unit of access consists from the analysis of the research problem or dataset following with the proposal of the best solution supported with the testing of different methods for data processing and analysis.