The purpose of this study is to present the species of community interest identified in the cormoflora of the Transylvanian Plain (Mureş County) as well as to verify in the field the existing chorological information, to select the endangered plant categories and to highlight the main populations of valuable species. Because of the location of the region, the diversity of the reliefs (hills, meadows), the various exhibitions and inclinations of the slopes, the Transylvanian Plain is distinguished by a great diversity of vegetal taxa (Oroian, Sămărghițan, 2014). The target species were the species of community interest listed in the Annexes to the Habitats Directive and those of O.U.G. no.57/2007.
: Orthoptera fauna of Sălaj County, NW Romania is reviewed based on new and literature data. 63 species were collected during field investigations in 2014-2015, thus the known Orthoptera species in the region are 74 (30 Acridoidea, 3 Tetrigoidea, 1 Tridactyloidea, 7 Grylloidea, 33 Tettigonioidea). 9 species are recorded in the county for the first time (Chorthippus mollis, Ch. montanus, Ch. vagans, Euchorthippus pulvinatus, Stenobothrus stigmaticus, Tetrix tuerki, Isophya kraussii, Metrioptera brachyptera, Pholidoptera frivaldszkyi). Isophya kraussii kraussii is a new subspecies for the fauna of Romania. Correct original spelling of the name of Ph. frivaldszkyi (Herman, 1871) is fixed.
An annotated list of six Opiliones species from Sălaj county, Romania, collected during 2014, are presented together with a further species found during the same collecting tour in bordering Satu Mare county. Two species (Opilio ruzickai Silhavý, 1938 and Leiobunum rupestre (Herbst, 1799)) are worth to mention because of their rarity in Romania. The Sălaj population of Gyas titanus Simon, 1879, most probably belongs to the problematic Carpathian race of the taxon, needs further taxonomical investigation.
In 2014 and 2015 several zoological expeditions were carried out in Sǎlaj by the researchers of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. During their surveys 198 adult spider specimens were collected (823 specimens altogether with juvenile and subadult stages), representing 68 species, belonging to 20 families. The current investigations added 47 new species to the arachnofaunistical checklist of Sǎlaj, thus the detailed list now contains 132 spider species respectively.
60 soil dwelling mite species were collected in the framework of this project between 2014 and 2015 in county Sǎlaj. 43 species from the order Mesostigmata, 16 species from the order Oribatida and one species from the order Prostigmata are listed. Two species (Epicrius bulgaricus Balogh, 1959 and Macrholaspis recki Bregetova & Koroleva, 1960) of the found mites are reported firstly from Romania.
We provide 17 data of Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) originating from the Sălaj-region of western Transylvania, Romania between 11. August, 2014 and 9. September, 2015. Geographical, spatial and temporal records are documented for the better knowledge of the species.
The paper presents some new contributions to the Collembola fauna of the county Sălaj in Transylvania (Romania), a region the springtails of which is practically unexplored. 19 species are reported, one of them (Sminthurus nigromaculatus Tullberg, 1871) is new to the fauna of Romania.
Here we present data of 16 diplopod taxa from Sălaj county, Romania. The species list can not be regarded as complete since a systematic diplopod-summary of whole Romania is still lacking, but anyway it represents almost 10% of the presently known diplopod fauna of the country. The most widespread species were Polydesmus complanatus (Linnaeus, 1761) and Megaphyllum unilineautum (C. L. Koch, 1838). All the identified species and subspecies are already known from Romania.
We provide 984 data of 88 collecting events originating from the Sălaj-region of western Transylvania, Romania. These have been assembled in the period between 22. April, 2014 and 10. September, 2015. Geographical, spatial and temporal records to the knowledge of 98 butterflies (Papilionoidea) and 225 moths (Bombycoidea, Drepanoidea, Geometroidea, Noctuoidea and Sphingoidea) are given representing the families (species numbers in brackets) Hesperiidae (8), Lycaenidae (28), Nymphalidae (28), Papilionidae (3), Pieridae (13) Riodinidae (1), Satyridae (17) (Papilionoidea); Arctiidae (11), Ctenuchidae (1), Lymantriidae (1), Noctuidae (119), Nolidae (2), Notodontidae (6) Thyatiridae (4), (Noctuoidea); Drepanidae (3) (Drepanoidea); Geometridae (73) (Geometroidea); Lasiocampidae (2), Saturniidae (1) (Bombycoidea); Sphingidae (2) (Sphingoidea). According to the most recent catalogue of the Romanian Lepidoptera fauna 31 species proved to be new for the region Sălaj. The following 43 species have faunistical interest, therefore they are briefly annotated: Agrochola humilis, Agrochola laevis, Aplocera efformata, Aporophila lutulenta, Atethmia centrago, Bryoleuca felina, Calyptra thalictri, Chazara briseis, Colias chrysotheme, Coscinia cribraria, Cupido osiris, Cyclophora albipunctata, Cymatophorima diluta, Drepana curvatula, Dryobotodes monochroma, Eilema caniola, Eilema palliatella, Eucarta amethystina, Eucarta virgo, Euphydryas aurinia, Eupithecia inturbata, Euxoa cos, Euxoa distinguenda, Everes alcetas, Hemaris tityus, Leptidea major, Lycaena thersamon, Maculinea arion, Maculinea teleius, Maniola tithonus, Meganephria bimaculosa, Noctua interjecta, Nothocasis sertata, Nymphalis xanthomelas, Perconia strigillaria, Phyllophila obliterata, Plebejides sephirus, Pyrgus armoricanus, Rhyacia lucipeta, Scotochrosta pulla, Scotopteryx vicinaria, Selidosema plumaria, Shargacucullia gozmanyi. Amongst them Euxoa cos, Plebejides sephirus and Scotopteryx vicinaria turned to be the most remarkable findings
Diptera specimens were collected between 20142015 and some Polineura species between 2004-2013. We investigated our research in 76 localities in Sǎlaj Județul, Romania. Altogether 516 specimens of 141 species comprised of 37 Diptera families are reported from Sǎlaj Județul 15 species of them proved to be new to the Romanian fauna.
The Chilopoda fauna of the county Sălaj in Transylvania (Romania) were studied in the frame of a cooperation between the Hungarian Natural History Museum and the University Vasile Goldiş during 2014-2015. This region has been relatively unexplored yet, having only data of 13 centipede species. With 20 species reported or revised here, this number is elevated to 24.
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral with various biological effects. Different physicochemical and biological methods have been reported in literature for selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesis. The aim of this study was to use the parsley (Petroselinum crispum) leaves extract in order to prepare SeNPs by an eco-friendly method. SeNPs were characterized from structural and morphological point of view by using analytical techniques such as: dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). DLS method revealed particles with maximum distribution being registered around 400 nm and an apparent zeta potential value of 14.2 mV. On the other hand, the parsley leaves extract was characterized concerning the total phenols content, vitamin C and antioxidant capacity, in order to evidence potential properties as biocatalyst or natural stabilizers for SeNPs synthesis. This study reports for the first time a green approach for SeNPs biosynthesis by using parsley leaves extracts.
An annotated list of the eleven Plecoptera species reported from Sălaj county, Romania, and data of the stonefly material collected in 2014 are given. Four species (Leuctra digitata Kempny, 1899, L. carpathica Kis, 1966, Protonemura aestiva Kis, 1965 and Perla cf. pallida Guérin-Méneville, 1838, sp. II.) are new records for the area. Taxonomical characters of larvae of two species related to Perla pallida Guérin-Méneville, 1838 are briefly discussed. Most of the stoneflies found are common European species, but at least L. carpathica can be considered as a Carpathian endemic.
Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) is currently appreciated as a source of resveratrol, a stilbene with exceptional potential in the management of cardiometabolic disorders and cancer. While the underground parts of plants growing in Asia are particularly researched for the extraction of resveratrol, plant populations growing in Europe have mostly received attention due to their highly invasive character. The potential use of invasive Polygonum cuspidatum is unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate invasive Japanese knotweed populations growing in Romania as a source of plant material for further research of its medicinal potential. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis (TG/DSC) were employed to characterize the rhizome extract. Subsequently, the kinetic response upon treatment with DPPH was monitored as a measure of the antioxidant activity and related to the total phenolic content. The total phenolic content of the extract measured in the current study was 146.34±5.36 mg/g extract expressed as gallic acid equivalents. Our results establish a useful background for the potential inclusion of wild growing knotweed in dietary supplements and cosmetic preparations.
According to European Commission reports published between 2010 - 2013, the development of European economy depends crucially on access to critical raw materials. Following the analysis performed by experts at European level, in 2011 was compiled and published a list of 14 critical raw materials, the so-called EU-14. In 2014 the list was updated with several new elements and one element (tantalum), was withdrawn from the list. The current list, being renamed EU-20, covers 20 critical raw materials including several high tech critical metals. Traditional mine exploitations are concentrated on using the deposits of ore extracted and processed by conventional techniques. The efficiency of metal recovery was variable over time and as a result, a significant amount of metal was discarded, most concentrations exceeding the current minimal permissible threshold. On the other hand, it is necessary the recovery of recyclable waste for reducing the risk of shortage of high tech critical metals. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new technologies for obtaining high tech critical metals, which is applicable to both primary and secondary sources of raw materials. Recovery of high-tech critical metals by processing ore, tailings or mine wastes, and recyclable materials can be successfully done with help of consortia or individual isolates of microorganisms, bacteria or fungi. Microorganisms interact with metals thus altering their physical and chemical condition. Isolation of individual strains and identification of microbial consortia that can be used in the design and development of effective biotechnological processes for the extraction of high tech critical metals is a current challenge of the scientific research in Europe.
Collections were made in 2014-2015 in Sălaj County, Romania resulting 168 Apidae specimens, belonging to 55 species. While the majority of them are common species, Andrena congruens Schmiedeknecht, 1883, Lasioglossum quadrisignatum (Schenk, 1853), and Chelostoma grandis (Nylander, 1852) are very rare species in the Carpathian Basin. Another rare species in Sălaj County were Lasioglossum pallens (Brullé, 1832), Chelostoma campanularum (Kirby, 1802), Chelostoma foveolatum (Morawitz, 1868), Osmia leucomelaena (Kirby, 1802), Melecta albifrons (Förster, 1771), Nomada platythorax Schwarz, 1981, and Bombus argillaceus (Scopoli, 1763). As for zoogeographical evaluation, the main species forming the Apidae assemblages were the widely spread Palaearctic species, as well as Mediterranean elements (Holo-Mediterranean, North Mediterranean, Ponto-Mediterranean). When evaluating the swarming dynamics of bees bivoltine species with long flying period seemed to be the most significant community components. Regarding the ecological or climate endurance characteristics euryoecious eremophilous species appeared to be the most significant.
