Volume 11 (2006)
Articles
APHIDS (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) HARMFUL TO THE PLUM TREE (PRUNUS DOMESTICA L.) AND THE COMPLEX OF ENTOMOPHAGOUS INSECTS
ELENA FERARU, GHEORGHE MUSTAŢĂ
The trophic network realized for Prunus domestica L. following the identification of the species and elucidation of the relations among species, is a very complex network. We identified 14 phytophagous species (aphids), 39 predator species, 7 species of primary parasitoids, 12 species of secondary parasitoids, a species that acts both as secondary and tertiary parasitoid and 4 species of parasitoids of the predator species. Brachycaudus cardui L. was attacked by 13 predator species and 2 species of primary parasitoids. Aphidius transcaspicus Telenga (primary parasitoids) was parasitized by Pachyneuron aphidis Bouché (secondary parasitoid). Brachycaudus helichrysi Kalt. and Myzus persicae Sulz. were preferred only by predator species (7 respectively, 18 species of predator insects). For Phorodon humuli Scrk. we identified 16 predator species and only one parasitoid species. This (Ephedrus persicae Frog.) was parasitized by 4 species of primary parasitoids. The richest entomofauna was noted for Hyalopterus pruni Geoff. Thus, we identified 34 predator species and 6 species of primary parasitoids. Among primary parasitods, Ephedrus persicae Frog., Praon dorsale Hal., Praon volucre Hal. and Lysiphlebus fabarum Marshall were parasitized by species of insects that acted as secondary parasitoids (3 species, 2 species, 8 species and respectively, 2 species of secondary parasitoids for the species enumerated above). A special situation was noted for Pachyneuron aphidis Bouché species that was identified both as secondary and tertiary parasitoid. As tertiary parasitoid we obtained this species from Alloxysta semiclausa Kieff. that had parasitized on Praon volucre Hal. (obtained from mummies of H. pruni Geoff.).
ELEMENTS OF ANATOMY (NERVOUS SYSTEM) AT MYZUS SPECIES SULZ. SPECIES (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE)
ELENA FERARU, IRINA TOMA, GHEORGHE MUSTAŢĂ
The first anatomical study on aphids was carried out by Antonio van Leeuwenhoek (1696). Among those that carried out numerous dissections on aphids for to clarify some anatomical aspects we mention: Buckton, 1876; Mordvilko, 1895; Snodgrass, 1935; Börner, 1938, 1949, 1952; Svanvici, 1949; Ponsen, 1972; Dixon, 1975; Kunkel & Kloft, 1977, etc. The largest study of the kind was made by Roberti in 1946. He presented the morphology, the anatomy and the histology at Aphis frangulae Kalt. The illustration is done through black and white drawings. Ponsen (1987) presented the anatomy and physiology of the alimentary tract at some aphids. Anatomically, aphids have very complicated organization if we consider the systematic position of these species. By series of cross and longitudinal sections we managed to distinguish histo-anatomical elements that belong to the digestive apparatus, muscle, nervous, respiratory, glandular and reproduction systems and also of some structures like: dorsal vessel, adipose tissue, etc. We present in this paper aspects of the nervous system at sexuparae of Myzus persicae Sulz.
THE HERPETHOFAUNA OF THE NORTH-WESTERN REGION OF SÃLAJ COUNTY, ROMANIA
SEVERUS-DANIEL COVACIU-MARCOV, ISTVÁN SAS, ALFRED-ŞTEFAN CICORT-LUCACIU, HORIA BOGDAN, RAUL ARDELEAN
Romania’s herpethofauna is until now insufficiently known, with very little data referring to its composition and geographical spreading in comparison with the western Europe countries (Gasc et al 1997). Sãlaj County was not an exception, existing little information about its herpethofauna. Few characteristics of the county’s herpethofauna are mentioned in the volumes referring to the herpethofauna of the P. R. of Romania (Fuhn 1960, Fuhn & Vancea 1961). Later on, data about the amphibians of the region are included in the Amphibians of Romania monograph (Cogalniceanu et al 2000). However, in the specialty literature there is one work dedicated entirely to the herpethofauna of Sãlaj County (Ghira & Ghile 1999). Afterwards, this data was included in a much wider work dedicated to the herpethofauna of Transylvania (Ghira et al 2002). Yet the herpethofauna of Sãlaj County remains uncertain, not being as investigated as other regions from the western part of Romania, regions like Bihor (Covaciu - Marcov et al 2000, 2002, 2003 a, b, c) or Satu – Mare Counties (Covaciu - Marcov et al 2004 a, 2005). All that said, we set off to analyze the composition and the geographical spreading of Sãlaj County’s herpethofauna, this work containing the results of the studies made in the north – western part of this region.
PRELIMINARY DATA CONCERNING THE HERPETOFAUNA IN BACÃU COUNTY
DANIEL GHIURCĂ, CĂTĂLIN RANG, SORIN ROŞU
The data regarding the Romanian herpetofauna are very scarce. The most comprehensive studies in this field are included in the volumes Fauna R.P.R. Amfibia (Fuhn 1960) and Reptilia (Fuhn & Vancea 1961). However the researches didn’t satisfactory cover the surface of Romania so the herpetofauna of Bacãu County was less studied (ªova 1968, Ghiurcã 2004). Concerning these issues we aimed to realize a synthesis of the knowledge regarding the herpetofauna from Bacãu County, based both on the previous studies and our field researches.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON SNAKE POPULATIONS FROM POIANA CU SCHIT – BÂRNOVA FOREST (IAªI COUNTY)
IORDACHE ION, ŞTEFAN R. ZAMFIRESCU, DUMITRU ANTONESEI
In the Bârnova forest, were identified four species of snakes: Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768), Coronella austriaca (Laurenti, 1768), Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758), and Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) [2]. As recent observations lack, the objective of our study was to verify the persistence of the previously identified snake populations in the study area.
THE CENSUS OF THE WATERBIRDS FROM THE VÂLCELE RESERVOIR IN JANUARY 2000 – 2004
DENISA CONETE, ADRIAN MESTECANEANU, RADU GAVA
The census of the waterbirds is a program of valuation of birds on long term, organized by Wetlands International, beginning from 1967. It is carried on every year in 47 countries, between 10th and 20th January. In Romania this program began when the Romanian Society of Ornithology was established.
THE GREAT REED WARBLER’S (ACROCEPHALUS ARUNDINACEUS) BEHAVIOR IN THE PRESENCE OF MAN
CONSTANTIN ION
The Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) is one of the most common passerine birds from the wet areas of Moldavia (Ion, 2005). His breeding places are established in reed beds, very close to the regions where people live. The ornithological specialists (Cramp, 1992, Dowsett, 1978) have distinguished in The Great Reed Warbler’s ethogram (Cociu, 1999), a special behavior in the presence of man. The Great Reed Warblers display different postures and songs when a man appears around their nest, than in the situations when other vertebrate species, mammals or birds come to their territories. It perceives the man like a huge animal, bigger than those animals it enters in contact with, usually: birds, Muskrats or snakes. When a bird appears, (a Heron or a Cuckoo), or mammals, (a Muskrat), The Great Reed Warbler’s reaction is to attack immediately, and to try to chase the intruder. On the other hand, when close to him come big mammals, The Great Reed Warbler’s behavior changes, as it depends on the breeding stage. Man’s presence in its territories produces a great curiosity, but it also produces fear. In many situations we need to expect minutes or even hours in order to observe the Great Reed Warblers near their nests, because they express a lot of circumspection in the presence of man. As the broods hatch, the adult’s behavior becomes more and more brave.
SMALL MAMMALS FROM NATURAL AND ANTROPIC HABITATS IN NORTH-EASTERN ROMANIA – AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY
MARIANA POPOVICI, CLAUDIU NICULAES
The present study compares several natural habitats and agricultural fields with the aim of assessing the effect that human modifications of habitat have on the species composition and relative abundance of small mammals. The field research has been carried out in the summer of 2004, in natural and antropic habitats located in the north-eastern part of the country. The natural habitats were situated in the Ceahlau massif, at different altitudes. They are represented by: a mixed forest (beech and spruce) situated at 900m altitude, near Durau resort; a compact spruce forest, situated at 1500 m altitude, in the south-eastern side of the massif; a clearing also located on the south-eastern side, at 1500m altitude, and the sub-alpine meadow, on the high plateau, at 1800m altitude. The antropic habitats were located in the vicinity of two villages in Botosani County, at 400m altitude: a wheat field near Leorda village; a vetch field, a corn field and an orchard in the vicinity of Roma village.
NEW BIOMETRICAL DATA FOR THE MICROTUS ARVALIS SPECIES PALL. 1779 (MAMMALIA: RODENTIA)
MARIANA POPOVICI
Microtus arvalis is one of the most well-known species of the fauna of small mammals from our country, present starting with the zone of the Danube delta up to the altitude of 1800 m (the Harghita mountains). Regarding the intraspecific taxonomy of this species, Ellerman and the collaborators (1966) recorded the existence of 28 subspecies. In 1908 Miller described the Microtus arvalis levis subspecies after collecting 3 exemplars in Gãgeni, Prahova, this subspecies including the populations of harvest mice from the plain and hill area in Romania. In 1963, Hamar considered on the basis of an exemplary collected in the Bucegi Mountains that the alpine populations belonged to the Microtus arvalis heptneri subspecies. Miller also recorded the subspecies Microtus arvalis angularis, after the material collected in Haþeg, Hunedoara. The latter was recognized by Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, but it wasn’t confirmed by the subsequent researches. (Alexandrina Popescu and D. Murariu, 2001) Taking into account these uncertain data referring to the intraspecific taxonomy of the Microtus arvalis species we consider necessary gathering as many data as possible that could help clarifying some problems of intraspecific taxonomy.
APHIDS (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) HARMFUL TO THE APPLE TREE (MALUS DOMESTICA BORKH.) AND THE COMPLEX OF ENTOMOPHAGOUS INSECTS
ELENA FERARU, GHEORGHE MUSTAŢĂ
The aphids are distinguishable in the fauna of insects in apple tree orchards, especially in mixed orchards from particular gardens in which chemical control is never done, owing to numerical abundance of each species and to a great number of species. The purpose of this study was to identify the harmful aphids to the apple tree of garden (Malus domestica Borkh.) and the predator and parasitoid species identified in colonies of respective aphids.