RESEARCH ON THE POROSITY OF THE MESO-METAMORPHIC CRYSTALLINE SCHIST IN SOME SCREE IN LEAOTA MOUNTAINS

Scree, as the main result of the gelivation (gelifraction) processes, represents a very interesting habitat type through the ecologic particularities it has. The formation and the spreading of scree is strongly related to the type of rock that generated it. Different types of rock lead to a different behavior against gelifraction and also against meteorization and bio-meteorization (chemical and biochemical alteration). Some of the mechanical features of rocks are defining regarding the higher or lower susceptibility of generating scree. The present paper is the result of the research on the porosity of meso-metamorphical crystalline schist extracted from different types of scree located on the north-western side of Leaota Mountains. It represents the continuation of some research of similar researches on limestone scree in the previously mentioned geographical area, leading to the conclusion that one can make a comparison between the two categories of rocks (limestone and schist) regarding their porosity and the way through which this geo-mechanical feature makes its mark on their behavior against the action of external features. The present paper is part of a complex assembly of researches on the way through which the geological component of the mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) (in our case, the scree) leads, in a direct or indirect manner, to defining ecologic particularities of this habitat type and thus it influences the distribution of some zoocoenosis components

STUDY ON THE DEW POINT TEMPERATURE IN AREAS WITH SUPERFICIAL LIMESTONE UNDERGROUND ENVIRONMENT (SCREE) IN THE GHIMBAV AREA, LEAOTA MOUNTAINS, 2014

The dew point of a mixture of a gas (air) and the water vapors represents the temperature at which the cold air becomes saturated in water vapors and they condensate. Sometimes, especially in colder periods, it is more revealing regarding the water quantity in the air as vapors, than the relative humidity indicator. The field observations have shown that, always, in the surveys in the ecologic stationaries I have installed in limestone scree in Leaota Massive, condense is formed on the walls of the PVC tubes, irrespective of the season. The continuous measuring, for a period of several months, of more abiotic parameters, amongst which the temperature of the dew point was carried out with dataloggers, which were installed at different depths in limestone scree. This type of continuous monitoring of abiotic parameters at different scree depths is a premiere for Leaota and even is a first for Romania

STUDY ON THE DEW POINT TEMPERATURE IN AREAS COVERED BY COLLUVIAL MESOVOID SHALLOW SUBSTRATUM (CRYSTALLINE SCHISTS SCREE) IN THE LEAOTA MOUNTAINS, 2014

This paper present and discussed the results of the monitoring of the dew point values, recorded in October and November 2014, in an ecological station in the Leaota Mountains. In this station, two polls were located in areas covered by colluvial mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) formed by epi- and mesometamorphic crystalline schists. In the ecological stations we located in the Leaota Mountains, almost always we found condensation on the walls of the polls tubes placed at different depths. Most often in spring or autumn or in other cold days, the dew point is more revealing regarding the recording actual amount of moisture in the air, than the relative humidity indicator. This work is part of a larger project that seeks correlations between ecological factors (humidity, temperature and dew point) registered in various types of screes (limestone and crystalline schists) and some zoocenotic components (invertebrates). This research aim to know the importance of mesovoid shallow substratum for invertebrates or small vertebrates fauna and represents a premiere for Leaota Mountains, not only regarding the continuous monitoring of some ecologic factors of these types of ecosystems (MSS), rarely researched even at global level, and also regarding the inventory of the invertebrate fauna in scree for these mountains

THE NEED OF EXTENDING THE PROTECTED AREA STATUS IN LEOATA MOUNTAINS

Leaota Mountains have not been studied nearly at all until our researches, from the perspective of the invertebrate fauna. Subsequently to these studies carried out in the north-western sector of this Massive, we have identified 248 taxons at the level of species and other 5, at the level of the genre. The cause of this remarkable biodiversity is represented by the diversified geological and geomorphological composure, alongside with a multitude of micro-climates types, all these taking shape through the development of diverse environmental conditions which are thus responsible for the existence of a very wide invertebrate fauna diversity also, which is though not fully known. In Leaota Mountains, the Natura 2000 ROSCI0102 site was created, with a surface of only 1393 hectares (Antofie and Pop, 2013); when it was created, the existing invertebrate species in these mountains were unknown. The identification, through our researches, of a large number of species, of a endemicity degree of more than 9%, as well as of some new and rare invertebrate species for the Romanian fauna, corroborated with the need of also protecting the karstic relief in this area, leads us to the conclusion that the extension of the protected area status for the north western sector of Leaota Mountains also is extremely necessary

SAXICOLE BRYOPHYTES FROM VÂLSAN KEYS

The paper presents a review of the saxicole species in the Vâlsan Keys and considerations regarding the bryophytic saxicole cenoses from the protected area. To analyze the diversity of the saxicole bryophytes, we considered the number of species, as well as the phytogeografical element, the growth form and the “life strategy” of each species. From the systematic perspective, Vâlsan Keys are featured by a high specific diversity of the saxicole bryophytes

THE ANTHROPIC IMPACT IN THE NORTH-WESTERN SIDE OF LEAOTA MOUNTAINS

Leaota Mountains are located between Bucegi Mountains and the Piatra Craiului Massive, being separated from the last ones through the Bran-Rucar-Dragoslavele Corridor. Their human intervention degree is much lower than in the case of the neighboring Massive, Bucegi, also due to the fact that they are less known by tourists and by the lower degree deforestation which had been made here. Though the tourism has reduced, being limited only to the Cheii Valley and rarely, during summer, to the Ghimbav Valley, can have a negative impact on the environment through the waste left at the camping places or edge of the road or in the waters. It is mandatory, for the area’s sustainable development, the urgent limitation of the negative human intervention

DIVERSITY OF PTERIDOPHYTES IN THE PROTECTED AREA OF VÂLSAN VALLEY

In the Vâlsan Valley there are two categories of regions that have been declared protected areas: The Natural Reserve Vâlsan Valley, code 2125 and The protected natural area of community interest Vâlsan Valley, code ROSCI0268. The aim of the research was to identify the species of pteridophytes in the protected areas, a necessary step for the conservation of their diversity. Within the area researched 26 species of pteridophytes were determined. Specific diversity across the genera identified ranges from 5 to 1, thus: Equisetum (5), Asplenium (4), Dryopteris (4), Polystichum (3) and Huperzia, Lycopodium, Selaginella, Botrychium, Polypodium, Phegopteris, Athyrium, Cystopteris, Gymnocarpium, Matteuccia with only one species. Concerning the abundance of the species identified, the pteridoflora in the area researched is made up of frequent (73%) and sporadic species (27%), such as Huperzia selago, Lycopodium annotinum, Botrychium multifidum, Asplenium scolopendrium, Matteuccia struthiopteris, Dryopteris expansa, Polystichum braunii

INFLUENCE OF HEAVY METALS ON GAMETOPHYTE DIFFERENTIATION IN TWO DRYOPTERIS SPECIES IN ROMANIA’S FLORA

In this work we aimed to study the influence of Zn, Cu and Pb compounds on spore germination and gametophyte development in the species Dryopteris affinis (Lowe) Fraser-Jenkins and Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott. The following initial variants were prepared: V1Cu 140 mg•L-1 Knop solution, V1Zn 300 mg•L-1 Knop solution, V1Pb 300 mg•L-1 Knop solution. From these variants we considered V2 and V32 as the concentrations, respectively, 5 and 10 times higher than the initial ones. The percentage of spores germinated was noted to decrease with the increase in the metal concentration in the solution so that there are significant differences between the control and metal variants; in some variants there was no germination reported: in V3Pb in both species and in V2Pb in the Dryopteris filix-mas. With regard to the gametophyte differentiation in very few variants, the stage of chordate prothallus was reached (C, V1Pb, V1Zn: in the two species). In V2 and V3, regardless of the species and metal, the spores and filaments turn to necrosis

APPLICATIONS OF PTERIDOPHYTES IN PHYTOREMEDIATION

It is considered that ferns could present new adaptations to the action of stress factors as a result of the wide geographical spread and the diversity of the habitats in which they vegetate, adaptations that could allow them, among other things, hyper-accumulation of metals. This article aims at a brief overview of the results obtained in experimental research aimed at using pteridophytes in phytoremediation