Cristina Fiera

Biodiversity of Collembola in urban soils and their use as bioindicators for pollution.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of pollutants on the abundance and diversity of Collembola in urban soils. The research was carried out in three parks (Ci!migiu, Izvor and Unirea) in downtown Bucharest, where the intense car traffi c accounts for 70% of the local air pollution. One site in particular (Ci!migiu park) was highly contaminated with Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu at about ten times the background levels of Pb. Collembola were sampled in 2006 (July, September, November) using the transect method: 2,475 individuals from 34 species of Collembola were collected from 210 samples of soil and litter. Numerical densities differed signifi cantly between the studied sites.The infl uence of air pollutants on the springtail fauna was visible at the species richness diversity and soil pollution levels. Species richness was lowest in the most contaminated site (Cismigiu, 11 species), which presented an increase in springtails abundances, though. Some species may become resistant to pollution and occur in high numbers of individuals in polluted sites, which makes them a good bioindicator of pollutants.

New records of Protura (Entognatha, Arthropoda) from Romania, with an identification key to the Romanian species.

Abstract The Romanian Protura were studied based on 175 specimens collected from Romania, along with bibliographic data. The main publication on the Romanian proturans was written by M.A. Ionescu (1951), who described 13 species mainly from soil and forest litter from 15 collecting points. The current paper represents the first study at a national level. Faunal data on Protura were obtained from 22 sites, mostly from forests of the Romanian Carpathians and also from a peri-urban area of Bucharest, which had not been studied before. As a result, the Romanian Protura fauna now consists of 27 known taxa in 6 genera and 4 families. Of the 27 taxa, 15 species are new records for Romanian fauna. An identification key to the Romanian Protura species is provided.

Neutral colonisations drive high beta-diversity in cavernicole springtails (Collembola)

The theory of island biogeography predicts the effects of habitat isolation and size on species richness, community assembly, and the persistence of species. Various studies showed that habitat conditions and the ecology of species are also of relevance in explaining community assembly. Geographically isolated habitats like caves with rather constant environmental conditions provide models to test for the relevance of the above described variables. In this study we analysed springtails living in karst caves of the Romanian Carpathians and Dobrogea region. We considered phylogenetic relatedness, habitat and species characteristics to identify the relevant drivers of community assembly. Our data show that species richness of single caves is low. Neither phylogenetic relatedness nor habitat filtering and competitive interactions seem to shape species composition or to affect species richness. We found that glacial-interglacial cycles with subsequent range contractions and expansions might have led to independent and multiple colonisations of caves. Furthermore, single caves might have acted as refugia and thus might have provided the prerequisite for distinct evolution processes, leading to a high level of endemicity of these animal species.

New Species of Deuteraphorura (Collembola: Onychiuridae) from Romania

Abstract The description of two new species of the genus Deuteraphorura Absolon, 1901 from Doftana Valley, Romania is given. Deuteraphorura dianae sp. nov. has the pseudocellar formula dorsally: 32/033/33353 and ventrally: 3/011/3112. Deuteraphorura doftana sp. nov. is characterized by its dorsal (33/033/33354) and ventral (3/011/3212) pseudocellar formulae. A proposed key to the all species of Deuteraphorura from the world without pseudocelli on the thoracic tergum I is also presented.

THE COMMUNITIES STRUCTURE OF INVERTEBRATE FAUNA FROM RAPE AND ALFALFA CROPS (SINGURENI, GIURGIU COUNTY, ROMANIA) / Structura comunităţilor faunei de nevertebrate din culturile de rapiţă şi lucernă (Singureni, judeţul Giurgiu).

ABSTRACT The present study has been conducted under a bilateral project between Romania and Republic of Moldova, focusing on knowledge of the invertebrates from rape (Brassica napus L.) and alfalfa crops (Medicago sativa L.) from Singureni (Giurgiu County, Southern Romania). The communities structure of invertebrates fauna in term of species composition and numerical abundance were analyzed. In total, 15 species of Collembola from seven families and 38 species of Coleoptera from 17 families were identified. Entomobrya handschini, Lepidocyrtus paradoxus, Isotoma anglicana were abundant in the alfalfa crop and Hemisotoma thermophyla, Protaphorura sakatoi, Orchesella flavescens (Collembola) were abundant in the rape culture. From Coleoptera Order, Dermestes murinus, Brachinus crepitans and Epicometis hirta were dominant in the rape crop. Coccinella septempunctata and Gonioctena fornicata were dominant in the alfalfa. Also, another 385 specimens from different taxonomic groups (Heteroptera, Homoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Thysanoptera, Orthoptera and Araneae) were collected using sweep nets. Some crop pests invertebrates were indicated and the beneficial predators were also revealed. Rezumat Studiul s-a realizat în cadrul unui proiect bilateral (România - Republica Moldova) şi a urmărit cunoaşterea faunei de nevertebrate din două culturi agricole: rapiţă (Brassica napus L.) şi lucernă (Medicago sativa L.), amplasate în localitatea Singureni (jud. Giurgiu). A fost analizată structura comunităţilor de nevertebrate din punct de vedere al compoziţiei specific şi abundenţei numerice. Au fost identificate 15 specii de colembole, aparţinând la şapte familii, şi 38 specii de coleoptere, care fac parte din 17 familii. Entomobrya handschini, Lepidocyrtus paradoxus, Isotoma anglicana au fost abundente în cultura de lucernă, iar Hemisotoma thermophyla, Protaphorura sakatoi, Orchesella flavescens (Collembola) au fost abundente în cultura de rapiţă. Din cadrul ordinului Coleoptera, Dermestes murinus, Brachinus crepitans şi Epicometis hirta au fost dominante în cultura de rapiţă. Coccinella septempunctata şi Gonioctena fornicata au fost dominante în cultura de lucernă. De asemenea, au fost colectate, cu ajutorul fileului entomologic, 385 exemplare de nevertebrate din diferite grupuri taxonomice (Heteroptera, Homoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Thysanoptera, Orthoptera şi Araneae). S-au evidenţiat speciile de nevertebrate dăunătoare şi cele prădătoare, care sunt folositoare culturilor agricole.

Are Certain Invertebrate Species Sensitive Bioindicators of the Air Pollution

The LIFE 02ENV/RO/000461 project is dedicated to the research of the flora and invertebrate fauna in downtown Bucharest, the city area most affected by intense car traffic and the consequent air pollution. The pilot zone is represented by three public parks (Izvor, Cismigiu and Unirea Parks). The zoological samples were collected from the herbaceous layer, from native and ornamental plants and from the soil, according to a transect method, from those park areas closest to the polluted downtown. The preliminary results revealed a change in invertebrate biodiversity. Some of the dominant species in the herbaceous layer are represented by Frankliniella intonsa, Haplothrips niger, Bagnalliella yuccae (Ord. Thysanoptera) Oulema melanopus and Labidostomis longimana (Ord. Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The Curculionidae species are present in the centre of the parks, the edges being populated with Apionidae species (Ord. Coleoptera). In the soil, Lithobiomorpha were more frequent than the other orders of centipedes. The Acari: Parasitus beta, Rhodacarellus pespicuus (Mesostigmata), Glycypagus sp. (Prostigmata) and Tectocepheus sarekensis, Ceratozetes minutissimus (Oribatida) and Cyphoderus bidenticulatus, Protaphorura quadrioculata (Collembola) are characteristic species. Could the dominant species be bioindicators of air pollution? A significant part of the project is dedicated to the study of heavy metal concentrations in those invertebrate species that act as bioindicators responding to the condition of the urban environment.