Search

Rivers and their watersheds have been subject to various changes, including biodiversity, caused by anthropogenic activities. The Danube River and Black Sea basin overlap the geographic range of six species of anadromous fish belonging to the family Acipenseridae. Nowadays, they are endangered or at risk of extinction in the wild due to fragmentation and destruction of natural habitats, blocking their migration to spawning grounds, water pollution, and poaching. This paper presents a review of the historical and current distribution and evolution of the sturgeon populations of sturgeon species in the Danube River basin. Conservation status and measures for species protection, conservation, and restoration at the national, regional, and global levels are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study is to carry out an analysis of energy sources and find a source with the lowest ecological footprint; it is based on a desk study using data from databases that centralize energy sources globally. Currently, energy is sourced from seven types of resources: fossil fuels, hydro, solar, wind, nuclear, bio-fuel (biodiesel, biomass, ethanol, wood, etc.), and geothermal. The combustion of hydrogen obtained by electrolysis is still at the prototype stage. In recent decades, studies have focused on renewable sources, with the main focus on wind and solar energy. In 2019, the global energy produced from renewable sources represented only 7%, registering an increase of only 4% compared to 2000. This small increase indicates the premise of a long transition process, accompanied by increases in energy prices and inefficiency in the current use other alternative energy sources compared with fossil fuels. The most cost-effective energy source of the future is biomass because it is an inexhaustible source of energy, which regenerates at a rapid rate; it is produced naturally without the need for infrastructure and equipment; it fixes the CO2 produced by its combustion during the process of photosynthesis, with zero risk compared to nuclear energy. The extraction of biomass from different crops, including woody species (trees and shrubs), represents a way of reducing the pressure on wild plant diversity. The energy source with the most advantages regarding energy production is plant biomass; future studies should be oriented towards this source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial mud volcanoes usually develop in overpressured, hydrocarbon-bearing sedimentary basins where argillaceous, viscous fluids and gases find passages to the surface. In this study mud samples collected at the Beciu mud volcano area (Romania) were examined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technique. Bacterial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Patescibaceria, Bacteriodota, and Campilobacterota while Archaea by Halobacterota and Nanoarchaeota. All the most abundant taxa can be connected to the characteristic methane production of the onshore mud volcanism and/or the presence of a deep subsurface salt layer. The discharged methane might be utilized by the detected ubiquitous anaerobic methane oxidizers (ANME-1, ANME-2a-2b, ANME-3) coupling the reaction with the sulfate or sulfur reduction by representatives of genera Sulfurovum, Sulfurimonas, Desulfobacterales, Desulfuromonadales, Halanaeroarchaeum, and Halodesulfurarchaeum. In addition to methanotrophs, methylotrophic and acetoclastic methanogens were also detected. Most of the identified OTUs were associated with halophilic taxa. The results suggest that prokaryotes inhabiting the mud volcanoes can be participated in the closely interconnected methane and sulfur cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armored mud balls that form in fluvial environments were observed on the river bed of two small streams from South-East Subcarpathians Bend, in the area of Miocene deposits with salt dia-pirs. Pieces of well-rounded clay mate-rial but with coarse surface were found on the gravel banks as well as partially submerged into stream channel and embedded in soft sediments of stream banks. The surfaces of mud balls, nearly spherical and ranging from 5 cm to 17 cm in diameter, were studded with sand grains and gravel that collected during flash floods as a result of bedload transport. The main source material of the armored mud balls consists of dark clay material detached from the cap rock of the salt massif that is crossed by the two streams. The newly formed armored mud balls, which were found among the gravels on the stream bed following the summer flash flood event from June 2019, supports the fact that these particular sedimentary features form during exceptional floods when pieces of clay material are rolled by the high-energy water flow, which results in acquiring of their spherical shape and the pebble shell. This paper represents the first report on the occurrence of modern armored mud balls formed in a fluvial environment, located in the Curvature Subcarpathians, Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Habitat Directive (HD) is the main strategy for nature conservation in the European Union aimed at stopping biodiversity loss. In this paper, we present the conservation status of those habitat types designated at the European level that occur within the Alpine biogeographic region (ALP) of Romania. The conservation status (CS) of habitats was assessed using data that were acquired as a result of the first national monitoring of species and habitats. This monitoring was completed during the 2007-2012 period following the mandatory requirements that arise from Article 17 of the HD to report the results to the European Commission in 2013. The ALP, which is one of the five terrestrial biogeographic regions that were demarcated within Romania on European criteria, comprises the Carpathian Mountains and covers an area of 46,800 km2. Following the official European methodology, all parameters were evaluated and combined to give the CS of each habitat type. The results show that, out of the 51 habitat types belonging to 6 classes that were identified of European Community importance within the Carpathian part of the ALP bio-region, only 17 habitat types occurred solely in the ALP bio-region. The conservation status of the habitat types was assessed as: ”Favourable” (FV) for eleven types (1 freshwater, 3 temperate heath and scrub, 4 natural and semi-natural grassland formations, 1 rocky habitat, and 2 forest habitats), ”Unfavourable inadequate” (U1) for four types (1 freshwater, 1 temperate heath and scrub, 1 Sphagnum acid bogs habitat, and 1 forest habitat), ”Unfavourable bad” (U2) for one (Sphagnum acid bogs type), and ”Unknown” (XX) for one (Calcareous fens habitat). These are results of the first national assessment in Romania of the CS of species and habitats protected by the HD and the first report to the European Commission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The caves in Hungary have been protected for a long time. The current national legislation on nature conservation states that all known and unknown caves are under ex lege protection but the karst areas above them are not. The territories above the caves can be owned by the state but also some of them belong to private owners, thus a great diversity of economic activities are conducted on them. Anthropogenic activities endanger both directly and indirectly the caves environment and the karst ground waters. The damages and pollution of caves take place through the epikarst systems which are in direct connection with the topographic ground surface. Therefore, it is of special significance to emphasize the natural processes taking place in epikarstic systems as well as to analyze the changes within epikarst terrains caused by human impacts. The effects of human impacts on epikarst system in the area of the Tapolca karst were analyzed both by field and laboratory methods. The historical evolution of land cover and land use was assessed related to the impact on the abiotic elements (soil and karstic cover-deposit, water) in Tapolca area. The intrinsic vulnerability was assessed using the semi-quantitative COP Method. The results show high resource vulnerability in all analyzed epikarstic sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the floristic composition of vegetation for each feature on a beach-dune system sector from the western Black Sea coast, Romania. The studied site is a relatively small fragment of the 10 km shore on the southern part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) that may be susceptible to anthropogenic pressure in the coming years. Out of the 38 identified species, ten are threatened species according to the national Red List of endangered plant species. Compositae and Poaceae are the families with the highest number of species. The analysis of floristic spectrum shows a mixture of elements of plant communities, but Pontic and Ponto- Caspian elements are prevalent. Physiognomically, the foredunes in the Danube delta coast have a typical morphology, with a smooth profile and do not exceed 2 m high. They are vegetated by herbaceous annual and perennial plants, but in terms of abundance the native dune builder rhizomatous grasses are rare. The fore dunes from this Black Sea coast sector serve as vital habitat and refuge for Convolvulus persicus L. within the western limit of its geographical range. This endemic Ponto-Caspian element defines a particular habitat type within the Black Sea biogeographic region: “Pontic shore dunes with Convolvulus persicus L.” Currently, the main threats of this habitat are cattle grazing and the increasing touristic activities (human trampling, horse riding and all-terrain vehicle riding). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the area of the Meledic Plateau it have been developed a great diversity of salt karst genuine features. Dolines, as type of karst macroforms, are the most important element which defines the distinctiveness of the geomorphological landscape from the western part of Meledic Plateau. Due to meteoric water source, the undulating topographic surface has induced freshwater lakes and wetlands. These wetlands are discrete units and biodiversity hot spots that give specificity to general appearance of the landscape. Based on hydrological features and main plant association criteria it has distinguished following types of wetlands: lakes, ponds, marshes, and wet meadows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marsilea quadrifolia L. (water clover) is a unique species from Romanian flora that belongs to Marsileaceae family and one of the most vulnerable plants in Europe due to loss of its habitats. In this paper it is reported the demographic evolution of a new occurred M. quadrifolia population in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and its natural and anthropic threats. The aquatic fern M. quadrifolia has colonized a suitable man-made water body. After a decade of monitoring the demographic trend is positive but the support capacity of habitat for the water clover remains limited in the long term. The population is vulnerable due to succession of vegetation and its vicinity with a human settlement. The establishment of a micro-reserve represents a suitable method to protect and maintain this threatened M. quadrifolia population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of research work concerning the assesse of climate, bioclimate type and growing season length of eastern Danube Delta area are reported. Data from Sulina meteorological station during the period 1961-1990 were analyzed and processed on a monthly basis for computing climate and bioclimate indices, and climate diagrams were constructed in order to evaluate eastern Danube Delta area. This area has a semiarid climate and according to Rivas-Martinez Bioclimatic Classification System has a Mediterranean pluviseasonal continental bioclimate subtype. The thermal growing season length was determined based on 5° C threshold for the second half of 20th century. The mean length of growing season was 254 days, with start day on 20 March and average date of ending on 28 November. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquatic fern Marsilea quadrifolia L is a rare and threatened species in entire Europe due to wetland habitats destruction and changing agricultural practices. To protect it, in situ and ex situ conservation methods are approached in European Union an in other countries. The in vivo and in vitro collections that were developed in botanical gardens in the last two decades are used for reintroduction and for restoration of M. quadrifolia populations in natural sites as well as in agro ecosystems that are analogous to natural habitats. Natural establishment of several M. quadrifolia populations in its natural range is an evidence that it can colonize new suitable habitats, including anthropogenic habitats. Despite conservation strategies approached within the European Union, its area of occupancy has decreased, thereby this species has become vulnerable at European Union level. The main threats are the small size populations, low genetic diversity and genetic erosion of populations, habitat degradation and chemical pollutions of waters by herbicides and fertilizers used in modern agricultural practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On Sărăturile strand plain the natural flora is almost entirely consisted of herbaceous species, the environmental conditions preventing the appearance and natural evolution of trees. The diversity of flora was modified because of the establishment of a tree plantation with alien plant species in order to fix the mobile sand dunes and to improve the environmental conditions in Sf. Gheorghe town. Some of the species became invasive plant species, Hippophae rhamnoides colonizing the sand dunes outside the planted perimeter but contributing the fixation and stabilization of shore sand dunes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the karst areas, the epikarst system is a very sensitive environment, due to its position at the interface between soil and vadose zone. The epikarst is a weathered zone that develops as a result of both abiotic and biotic processes. In this paper we present the result of the complex investigations of epikarst zone which overlap dolines within two typical karst areas (Gömör-Torna and Tapolca) from Hungary, based on multi-criteria analysis techniques (microbiological activity assessed as biomass amount and CO2 production, seasonality of air and soil microclimate, slope orientation and exposition), in order to reveal control factors of karst processes, the territori-al and local distinctions of karst dissolution that occur in the epikarst zone. The data were compared, taking into account the human activities' impact on both sampled study areas. After four years of monitoring, the results show that there are significant season-al and diurnal variations of physical, chemical and biotic parameters of soil that cover and affect the epikarst zone. Spatial variations of these parameters were recorded as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biological invasions pose an increasing risk to nature, social security and the economy, being ranked amongst the top five threats to biodiversity. Managing alien and invasive species is a priority for the European Union, as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Alien plant species are acknowledged to impact the economy and biodiversity; thus, analysing the distribution of such species provides valuable inputs for the management and decision-making processes. The database presented in the current study is the first consolidated checklist of alien plant species that are present in Romania, both of European Union concern and of national interest. This database complements a prior published distribution, based only on records from literature, bringing new information regarding the occurrence of alien plants in Romania, as revealed by a nationwide field survey. We consider this database a valuable instrument for managing biological invasions at both national and regional levels, as it can be utilised in further research studies and in drafting management and action plans, assisting stakeholders in making informed decisions and implementing management actions., New Information: We present the results of the first nationwide survey of alien plant species in Romania, conducted between 2019 and 2022, in the framework of a national project coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests and the University of Bucharest. The present database complements and updates the database published by Sirbu et. al (2022), which included occurrence records published until 2019. The new database includes 98323 occurrence records for 396 alien plant species in 77 families, with most species belonging to the Asteraceae family. One alien plant species in our database, the black locust Robiniapseudoacacia L., had more than 10,000 occurrence records. The distribution database also includes information on newly-reported invasive alien plant species of European Union concern in Romania (i.e. the floating primrose-willow Ludwigiapeploides (Kunth) P.H.Raven) and documents the presence of plants in 44 additional families compared to Sirbu et al. (2022). Each entry includes information on species taxonomy, location, year, person who recorded and identified the alien plant, geographical coordinates and taxon rank., (Paulina Anastasiu, Iulia V Miu, Athanasios A Gavrilidis, Cristina Preda, Laurentiu Rozylowicz, Culita Sirbu, Adrian Oprea, Mihaela Urziceanu, Petronela Camen-Comanescu, Eugenia Nagoda, Daniyar Memedemin, Marius Barbos, Violeta Boruz, Alina Cislariu, Ioan Don, Marius Fagaras, Jozsef Pal Frink, Ioana Mihaela Georgescu, Ovidiu Ioan Haruta, Bogdan-Iuliu Hurdu, Attila Matis, Sretco Milanovici, Sorana Muncaciu, Alina Georgeta Neacsu, Monica Neblea, Alma Lioara Nicolin, Mariana Niculescu, Silvia Oroian, Oliviu Grigore Pop, Daniel I Radutoiu, Mihaela Samarghitan, Ioana Simion, Liliana Cristina Soare, Corina Steiu, Emilia Stoianov, Daniela Strat, Anna Szabo, Paul Marian Szatmari, Corneliu Tanase, Marian D Mirea, Nicolae Manta, Ioana M Sirbu.)

In many fields of life science, visualization of spatial proximity, as an indicator of protein interactions in living cells, is of outstanding interest. A method to accomplish this is the measurement of Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) by means of spectrally resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. The fluorescence lifetime is calculated using a multiple-wavelength fitting routine. The donor profile is assumed first to have a monoexponential time-dependent behavior, and the acceptor decay profile is solved analytically. Later, the donor profile is assumed to have a two-exponential time-dependent behavior and the acceptor decay profile is derived analytically. We develop and apply a multispectral fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy analysis system for FRET global analysis with time-resolved and spectrally resolved techniques, including information from donor and acceptor channels in contrast to using just a limited spectral data set from one detector only and a model accounting only for the donor signal. This analysis is used to demonstrate close vicinity of β-secretase (BACE) and GGA1, two proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease pathology. We attempt to verify if an improvement in calculating the donor lifetimes could be achieved when time-resolved and spectrally resolved techniques are simultaneously incorporated.