66 research outputs found

    IN MEMORY OF EMIL G. RACOVITZA (1868–1947) – HIS IDEAS REVERBERATE IN OUR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

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    The ideas of E. G. Racovitza which led to the development of biospelaeology (biospeology, is the term used by Racovitza and adopted here) are reviewed. We emphasize the important research programme named Biospeologica which allowed to implement practical investigations on the subterranean animals due to enthusiastic cooperative work of many scientists. It leads to the exploration of many caves and other hypogean habitats. It is stressed out that the aim of Racovitza’s efforts was to stimulate scientists to contribute with their research to the development of an encyclopedic view of the “Natural History of the Subterranean Domain”. Examples from our own research reflect such ideas. We adopted Racovitza’s views on the phylogenetic systematics, on the way to identify the relict aspect displayed by many subterranean animal groups. Also it is pointed out the importance of Racovitza’s ideas for reconstruction of the dynamic dispersion of homogeneous phylogenetic animal lineages in time and space. Such ideas help us to develop biogeographic scenarios which are important for understanding earth’s history. It is confirmed this way that the ambitious programme of Racovitza, became during the time a real research tradition that merits being pursued by young naturalists interested in solving exciting problems related to the origin and evolution of the subterranean domain and its ecosystems

    From Naples 1963 to Rome 2013 - A brief review of how the international research group on Ostracoda (IRGO) developed as a social communication system

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    The 1st International Symposiumon Ostracoda (ISO) was held in Naples (1963). The philosophy behind this symposiumand the logical outcome of what is nowknown as the International Research Group on Ostracoda (IRGO) are here reviewed, namely ostracodology over the last 50 years is sociologically analysed. Three different and important historic moments for the scientific achievements of this domain are recognised. The first one, between about 1963 and 1983, is related to applied research for the oil industry aswell as to the great interest in the better description of the marine environment by both zoologists and palaeontologists. Another important aspect during this period was thework by researchers dealing with Palaeozoic ostracods,who had their own discussion group, IRGPO. Gradually, the merger of this latter group with those dealing with post-Palaeozoic ostracods at various meetings improved the communication between the two groups of specialists. A second period was approximately delineated between 1983 and 2003. During this time-slice, more emphasis was addressed to environmental research with topics such as the study of global events and long-term climate change. Ostracodologists profited also from the research "politics" within national and international programmes. Large international research teams emerged using new research methods. During the third period (2003-2013), communication and collaborative research reached a global dimension. Amongst the topics of research we cite the reconstruction of palaeoclimate using transfer functions, the building of large datasets of ostracod distributions for regional and intercontinental studies, and the implementation of actions that should lead to taxonomic harmonisation. Projects within which molecular biological techniques are routinely used, combined with sophisticated morphological information, expanded now in their importance. The documentation of the ostracod description improved through new techniques to visualise morphological details, which stimulated also communication between ostracodologists. Efforts of making available ostracod information through newsletters and electronic media are evoked

    The formative years of a biologist at “Institutul de Speologie Emil Racoviţă” [Emil Racovitza Institute of Speleology]

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    A brief biographic sketch of the author’s scientific education and the research activities at “Institutul de Speologie EmilRacoviţă” is presented. The text is offered as an homage to the centennial anniversary of this institution with its important contributionto the Romanian cultural activities (1920–2020

    Recherches sur les Ostracodes Entocytheridae. Données sur \u3cem\u3eSphaeromicola cebennica juderthiei\u3c/em\u3e nov. ssp. et \u3cem\u3eSphaeromicola cirolanae\u3c/em\u3e Rioja

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    Sphaeromicola cebennica juberthiei n. ssp., a cavernicolous ostracod found in the South of France (Système de Cent Fons and Avencas, Herault), is described here. The new subspecies differs from Sph. cebennica cebennica (found in a cave from Ardèche) by the smaller carapace and a reduced distal bristle on the ‘finger” of the male copulatory organ. The affinities and differences between the European Sphaeromicola and Sph. cirolanae from Mexico are discussed. The genus Sphaeromicola is divided into two groups of species: the group topsenti and the group cirolanae. Some observations on the mating process of Sph. Cebennica juberthiei are presented. A precocious sexual behaviour of the female in the last post-embryonic instar is recorded. This type of behaviour seems to be a characteristic of the Entocytheridae

    Three groundwater Candoninae (Ostracoda) from Romania

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    Description of Mixtcandona botosaneanu, Mixtacandona loffleri and Phreatocandona motasi, are presented. The first two species belong to the group laisi-chappuisi and have been found in porous and karstic aquifers in Southwest Romania in or near the Lower Danube Valley. Phreatocandona motasi occurs in a porous aquifer in the Olt Valley, at Jiblea, near Calimanesti. Biogeographical information on the present distribution of the Mixtacandona of the group laisi-chappuisi and on the subterranean Candoninae from the Lower Danube Valley in Romania is given

    Ostracodes du sud de la France 2. Pseudocandona simililampadis n.sp.

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    The description of Pseudocandona simililampadis n. sp. is presented. The new species belongs to the group schellenbergi and has been found in the karstic system of the Vidourle river at Sauve (Gard)

    Ostracodes hypogés du sud de la France. 1. \u3cem\u3eMixtocandona juberthieae\u3c/em\u3e n.sp.

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    The description of Mixtacandona juberthieae n.sp. is presented. The new species belongs to the group taurica and has been found in the karstic system of the Vidourle river at Sauve (Gard)
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