Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai Biologia
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Revealing the CRISPR array in bacteria living in our organism
No full textCRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is an immune system used by bacteria to defend themselves from different types of pathogens. It was discovered that this immune system can modify itself in specific regions called spacers due to previous interaction with foreign genetic material from phages and plasmids. Through our research, we have identified in different bacterial isolates CRISPR arrays belonging to the subtypes I-E (present in 42 samples) and I-F (present in 9 samples). The number of spacers in CRISPR arrays was also estimated based on the array length as a possible connection with the systems activity. Our results yielded arrays as small as 200 bp and as large as 1400 bp.
Dobrescu et al (PDF)
Article history: Received: 31 March 2022; Revised: 27 April 2022; Accepted: 9 June 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022
Global warming and avifauna from the Argeş River dam basins (Southern Romania) – long term study case
No full textAn attempt to find a link between the global warming, manifested on local scale, and the dynamics of the winter avifauna recorded on the Vâlcele, Budeasa, Bascov, Piteşti and Goleşti Dam Basins from ROSPA0062 Lacurile de acumulare de pe Argeş was achieved in the paper. Based on the data collected between 1999 and 2020 during the MidWinter (the Winter Census of the Wetland Birds), some major conclusions were drawn: the climate change resulted from the analyse of the air temperature registered in the area and it was noticeable in some measure on the phenology of the birds; it influenced the dynamics of the avifauna, as total number of species and individuals, as well as the strength of every species; also, other local and extern elements, like the process of silting of the dam basins, the direct anthropogenic pressure, were involved here.
Mestecaneanu et Gava (PDF)
Article history: Received: 21 February 2022; Revised: 23 March 2022; Accepted: 20 May 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022
New records and check list of arthropods from two oasis ecosystems in Algeria
No full textAn arthropod sampling survey was performed in two palm groves from the wilaya of Biskra and Ouled Djellal. During 12 months (2020) of survey, the obtained results indicated the presence of 117 taxons divided into 2 classes (Insecta =103 species and Arachnids = 11 species). The species belonged to the orders: Coleoptera, Diptera, Orthoptera, and Hymenoptera. The Coleoptera order was the most represented in the two palm groves (32 from Ouled Djellal (OD) and 6 from Feliache (Fe)). The major trophic guild represented in the oasis ecosystems was the predator guild (OD= 39%, Fe=32%) in comparison to those of phytophagous (OD= 28%, Fe=12%) and pests (OD= 4%, Fe=15%). This indicates an ecological balance in the investigated oasis ecosystems between pests and their predators. The observation of two new species: Scymnus frontalis (Fabricius, 1787) and Diomus zinon (González and Honour, 2011), from the Coccinilidae Family increases the number of predator species of insect pests in the investigated oasis ecosystems.
DeghicheDiab et Deghiche (PDF)
Article history: Received: 25 February 2022; Revised: 25 April 2022; Accepted: 4 June 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022
NYÁRÁDY Erazmus Iulius (Gyula): "Geografia, flora și vegetația Băilor Sărate Sovata din perioada 1940-1945" ("Geography, Flora and Vegetation of Sovata Baths between 1940-1945"), Roman Anamaria & Bartók Katalin (eds.), Kriterion Publishing, Cluj-Napoca, 2021, 267 pp.
No full textBotanical literature was significantly enriched by an outstanding volume printed in 2021. We welcomed the publication of the nearly 8-decade-old manuscript of the famous botanist Erazmus Iulius Nyárády (original title in Hungarian: Szovátafürdő és környékének monográfiája), which deals with the geography, flora and vegetation of Sovata Baths, based on field surveys in the period 1943-44. Nyárády was asked to do this scientific work by Sovata Baths Council.
Frink et Vonica BOOK REVIEW (PDF
Habitat preferences of European green lizard Lacerta viridis (Laurenti 1768) in a protected area, Romania
No full textAnthropic induced changes in land use modify the habitat and microhabitat conditions for many species. Afforestation and grazing abandonment in steppe-like grasslands alters the characteristics of open natural areas. We aim to understand the habitat preferences of the European Green lizard in a nature reserve affected by both processes, using CORINE land cover and data recorded in the field. The results show that the species prefers sparsely shrubbed areas and edge habitat but avoids the interior of the pine plantation and totally open grassland. On microhabitat scale, most preferred structures were shrubs and logs. CORINE Landover data yields statistically less robust information than the microhabitat features recorded in the field Management measures should aim to increase habitat heterogeneity and to decrease compact afforested areas.
Sevianu et al (PDF)
Article history: Received: 1 April 2022; Revised: 29 May 2022; Accepted: 11 June 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022
Leaf heteroblasty and morphotypes of Acer monspessulanum (Djurdjura, Algeria) as revealed by traditional and geometric morphometrics
No full textThe genus Acer which is largely distributed in the Northern hemisphere is represented in Algeria by four species of which Acer monspessulanum is the most common. These four species and their putative hybrids are coexisting in many parts of their Algerian distribution range but their leaf morphology has not been the subject of quantitative analyses despite the interest of such kind of data in taxon delineation particularly in the case of interspecific hybridization. The present work is the first step towards a quantitative analysis of leaf morphology in Acer species in Algeria. We presently relied on traditional and geometric morphometrics methods in the study of Acer monspessulanum subsp. monspessulanum leaf morphology in two sites of the Djurdjura Mountain with consideration of tree and within-shoot effects. The results showed congruence between the two methods which both highlighted the presence of a marked heteroblasty. Basal leaves are twice as large as apical ones for all measured leaf features. The petiole is longer than the blade in basal leaves and inversely in apical ones. The median leaves have intermediate values. The results revealed also the coexistence of two contrasted leaf morphotypes on distinct trees of both sites.
Chikhaoui et al (PDF)
Article history: Received: 7 April 2022; Revised: 27 May 2022; Accepted: 5 June 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022
Breathing chemicals: a review of air pollution over the years
No full textAir is necessary for human survival and the preservation of the environment. The scientific community is concerned about the ongoing rapid expansion of the population, which uses resources faster, and thus the accumulation of an enormous amount of waste will gradually worsen the air quality. The change in the pollutants released in the atmosphere became more complex throughout human history, and they were released in huge quantities. The sources of air pollution vary greatly – from burning fuel, the household, agricultural or mining activities to natural disasters or significant industrial accidents. New techniques that monitor the air composition are being developed to ensure air quality control. The population exposed to these harmful compounds is predisposed to various health concerns, including skin, cardiovascular, brain, blood, and lung illnesses. The substances also contribute to global warming, acid rains and ozone depletion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was noticed that reducing human activities causing pollution leads to improved air quality, which shows that long-term solutions can also be found. This paper aims to offer an overview of the air pollution problems persisting around the globe and present the current state, causes and evolution of air pollution. Some of the solutions we propose in this article include energy-saving, public transportation and material recycling. We also emphasize the need to develop new technologies to control the air quality and implement a sustainable approach.
Totolici et al (PDF)
Article history: Received: 1 April 2022; Revised: 21 April 2022; Accepted: 27 May 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022
Inhibitory potential of some selected essential oils and their main components on the growth and quorum-sensing based pigment production of Serratia marcescens
Get PDFIn this study the antibacterial potential of ten essential oils (EOs) and their main compounds against the development and quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms of the opportunistic bacterium Serratia marcescens was determined. The growth and QS inhibitory effect was evaluated by paper disc diffusion assay. The effect of EOs and components on QS-regulated prodigiosin biosynthesis was also studied.
The results of our study indicated that some of the investigated EOs influenced the development and the QS-based activity of S. marcescens. Oregano and thyme oils showed the most pronounced antibacterial effect and had the strongest anti-QS potential. From the main oil compounds the phenolics, eugenol, carvacrol and thymol, proved to be efficient growth inhibitors. While eugenol and carvacrol had also a strong negative influence on AHL-mediated QS-systems in low concentrations, thymol was not effective in QS inhibition
Cuticle structure of Carpathian endemic species: Trachelipus trilobatus (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) described with the scanning electron microscope
No full textThe cuticle is the interface between an animal and its environment; thus, it has a special importance. In Arthropods, the cuticle is not uniform, having numerous formations, which is also the case of epigeic terrestrial isopods. Our study presents data on cuticle surface morphology, obtained with a scanning electron microscope, of an endemic terrestrial isopod species, Trachelipus trilobatus. Here we present SEM images of some external morphological features of this species, which were previously described only at the light microscope. Although T. trilobatus was frequently encountered in caves, the aspect of its cuticle is characteristic for an epigeic isopod, presenting numerous micro-scales, spines, and tricorn sensilla, which are considered hygroreceptors. This fact proves that originally T. trilobatus is an epigeic species, which secondarily adapted to karst areas with caves. Nevertheless, it regularly leaves the caves and the limestone cracks and emerges on the soil surface. Therefore, T. trilobatus is able to receive information about environmental humidity, especially on the soil surface, which, when unfavorable, causes the species retreat into caves or cracks. Climatic fluctuations from the glacial periods could direct T. trilobatus to this environment and way of life, modifying its morphology, but not its cuticle.
Cupsa et al (PDF)
Article history: Received: 15 February 2022; Revised: 24 April 2022; Accepted: 23 May 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022
Survey of the amphibians in “Fânațele Clujului – Copârșaie”, part of the “Dealurile Clujului de Est” (ROSCI0295) Natura 2000 protected area
Get PDFAs habitat loss poses challenge to conservation, it is becoming increasingly important to address questions about the extent to which connectivity between habitat patches is changing, and how this affects the local population of different species in these patches. The objective of our research was to monitor ponds and the pond-breeding amphibian species in a protected area. Therefore, we conducted day and night surveys, and compare the data collected in 2022 with the results of the latest available survey (2019), to simulate the patch occupancy of amphibian species over a 25-year timeframe. We found that combining the species occupancy data collected from both day and night surveys lead to higher patch occupancy values and higher number of registered individuals, compared to data collected only during daytime. The number of ponds decreased from 2019 to 2022, and further habitat loss could result in the disappearance of the local population if the area continues to dry out. Climate and landscape change could be major contributors to habitat loss in the future, therefore, in order to ensure the persistence of these local populations, we recommend the development of climate and habitat scenarios, and the planning of conservation measures based on these scenarios