DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.59277/TISER.2024

ISSN: 0301-9187

EISSN: 2067-9033

SOMMAIRE

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Emile G. Racovitza (1868–1947): his views on the advancement of biospeleology are still useful today

DAN L. DANIELOPOL, IONEL TABACARU

Cuvinte cheie: biospeleology, research methods, taxonomy, systematics, phylogenetics

Articol: The views of EMILE G. RACOVITZA proposed in his Essay on biospeleological problems (1907) represent a scientific revolution. The major contribution of RACOVITZA to the development of biospeleology, as modern research, is exemplified through excerpts from his publications dealing with various aspects of taxonomy and systematics of cave fauna. We show that RACOVITZA considered taxonomy an important factor for the advancement of biospeleological research. The present contribution documents the long-term effort of RACOVITZA to establish robust taxonomic methods which support the development of new directions in biospeleology, related to the origin and evolution of those organisms. This essay offers a snapshot of the original ideas of RACOVITZA and in this way contributes to keep alive the legacy of a remarkable scientist.

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Contributions to the study of the Trichoniscidae (Isopoda, Oniscidea). II. Analysis of the morphological characters

IONEL TABACARU, ANDREI GIURGINCA

Cuvinte cheie: Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiamorpha, Orthogonopoda, Synocheta, Trichoniscidae, differential characters

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.59277/TISER.2024.01

Articol: Following an introductory presentation of the problems raised by the examination of the morphological characters according to the phylogenetic systematics, a detailed analysis of the morphological characters of the family Trichoniscidae within the context of the characters of the representatives of the suborder Oniscidea, is achieved, based on the author’s personal data and an examination of the literature. Starting from this analysis we argue once more the author’s conclusions concerning controversial issues: the monophyly of the terrestrial isopods; the dichotomy of the suborder Oniscidea; the dichotomy of the infraorder Ligiamorpha; the dichotomy of the monophylum Orthogonopoda.

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A new record of the species Haplophthalmus movilae Gruia & Giurginca, 1998 (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Trichoniscidae, Haplophthalminae)

ANDREI GIURGINCA

Cuvinte cheie: Isopoda, Oniscidea, Trichoniscidae, Haplophthalminae, Haplophthalmus movilae, Movile Cave

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.59277/TISER.2024.02

Articol: The species Haplophthalmus movilae, long considered as restricted to the sulfidic groundwater ecosystem of Movile Cave was collected from an endogeous location outside the cave. This outlines the endogeous origin of the four species of Oniscidea inhabiting Movile Cave and possible movement of certain species between this cave and other ecosystems.

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First record of Theridiosoma gemmosum (Araneae, Theridiosomatidae) in the Romanian fauna

AUGUSTIN NAE

Cuvinte cheie: Theridiosoma gemmosum, Araneae, new record, Romania

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.59277/TISER.2024.03

Articol: The Araneae species Theridiosoma gemmosum is cited for the first time in Romanian fauna. Also, the genus Theridiosoma and Theridiosomatidae family are new recorded for Romanian fauna. The original illustrations contribute to a better knowledge regarding morphological characterization of the species. The currently known distribution of this species is also given.

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Preliminary assessment of Stracoş Cave and its surface delineated protection area for a sustainable tourism development

DANIELA BORDA, RUXANDRA BUCUR, LIVIU BUZILĂ, IOAN COCIUBA, LILIANA JARDA, AUGUSTIN NAE, EUGEN NITZU, ANDREI GIURGINCA, IOANA NAE

Cuvinte cheie: Stracoș Cave, geology, climate, plant communities, physical-chemical water profile, microbial indicators, aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates, bats

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.59277/TISER.2024.04

Articol: Tășad protected area includes geological, archaeological and speleological reserves with scientific, educational and tourism values. In the context of recently touristic development of Stracoș Cave, our study aims to complete the existing data. Following objectives were established: (1) geological re-mapping on surface and underground, (2) assessment of the environmental features of cave and surface area, (3) biological mapping of Stracoş Cave, (4) delineation of the surface protection area of the cave. We have continuously registered temperature and relative humidity in the cave, seasonally measured the physical-chemical parameters of springs and cave waters and quantified the microbial indicators. We also assessed the plant communities from the surface, the aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, bats and other vertebrates from the cave. Our results include a new and detailed geological map of the Stracoș-Tășad area and revealed a good status of the forest ecosystems with a moderate anthropogenic impact. Springs showed a physical-chemical profile typical for karstic areas, with trace minerals originating in the volcanic tuff intercalation from the sedimentary rocks, and low pollution with ammonia and phosphates, while the cave waters indicated nitrate presence, a high turbidity and high microbial content. The aquatic invertebrates were represented by 12 supraspecific taxa, of which copepods, amphipods and oligochaetes, were most frequent. Terrestrial cave fauna was represented by trogloxene, troglophile, guanophile, and parasitic species of Isopoda, Opiliones, Acari, Araneae, and Coleoptera. Bat colonies of Rhinolophus spp. were observed in the cave, in the swarming and transitional time, with R. euryale as the most numerous species. On the basis of the overall assessment of the cave and surface, we delineated the surface protection area for Stracoș Cave. These findings represent a base point for the management that need to be addressed and for future monitoring and protecting measures, in view of the natural heritage preservation.

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Natural tracers (silica, barium, rubidium and uranium) provide insights into the karst hydrology of Grijii Valley (Vâlcan Mountains, Romania)

HORIA MITROFAN, CONSTANTIN MARIN, NICOLAE CRUCERU, GABRIEL CONSTANTINESCU, CORNEL NAIDIN, ALIN TUDORACHE, LUCICA NICULAE, MARIUS VLAICU

Cuvinte cheie: natural tracers, allogenic recharge, silicate rocks, autogenic recharge proxy, Vâlcan Mountains

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.59277/TISER.2024.05

Articol: When underground flows in a karst region are derived not only from autogenic, but also from allogenic recharge, natural chemical tracers can be used for distinguishing between these two contributing inputs. And since allogenic recharge prevalently originates in weathering of silicate rocks, the most appropriate natural tracers are those which are more abundant in such formations than in carbonate ones. Moreover, the tracers must not interact with the limestone or dolomite rocks hosting the underground flow-paths. The karst setting addressed by the present study includes a sinking stream, a cave intercepting the sunken streamflow, and three karst springs, two perennial, and one temporary. The objective of the present study was to assess, for the concerned setting, the capability of four natural tracers, SiO2, Ba, Rb and U, of tracking the specific contributions of allogenic and autogenic inputs along underground karst flow-paths. Those chemical constituents were noticed to comply with the specified requirements for natural tracers, as their maximum concentrations were recorded in the swallet flow, and gradually declined toward the cave stream, then further to the temporary spring. The latter was thus proven to act as an overflow of a currently inaccessible underground course, which is supplied by the cave stream, but whose final outlet is not yet identified. Alternatively, the perennial springs resulted to be proxies of two chemically distinct autogenic inputs: one supplementing the groundwater flow between the swallet and the cave stream, and the other contributing to the flow between the cave stream and the temporary karst spring. It is worth mentioning that so far, the four indicated natural chemical tracers have been only sporadically utilized in karst aquifers with allogenic recharge.

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Trachelipus razzauti (Arcangeli, 1913) (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) and Typhloiulus serborum Ćurčić & Makarov, 2005 (Myriapoda: Diplopoda) – new species for the Romanian fauna

ANDREI GIURGINCA

Cuvinte cheie: Isopoda, Oniscidea, Trachelipus razzauti, Myriapoda, Diplopoda, Typhloiulus serborum, new records for Romania

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.59277/TISER.2024.06

Articol: A new species of Oniscidea, Trachelipus razzauti, and a new species of Diplopoda, Typhloiulus serborum, are recorded first time for the Romanian fauna. Both species have been “discovered” in the collection of the “Emil Racoviţă” Institute of Speleology.

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DR. MARIA GEORGESCU (14th July 1931 – 21st July 2024)

ANDREI GIURGINCA, IONEL TABACARU

Cuvinte cheie: Maria Georgescu, in memoriam

Articol:

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