Results
Publications
Published articles
Schmeller, D. S., Urbach, D., Bates, K., Catalan, J., Cogălniceanu, D., Fisher, M. C., Friesen, J., Fureder, L., Gaube, V., Haver, M., Jacobsen, D., Le Roux, G., Lin, Y.P., Loyau, A., Machate, O., Mayer, A., Palomo, I., Plutzar, C., Sentenac, H., Sommaruga, R., Tiberti, R. & Ripple, W. J. 2022. Scientists' warning of threats to mountains. Science of The Total Environment, 158611, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158611
Băncilă, R.I., Cogӑlniceanu, D., Manu, M., Plăiașu, R., Stănescu, F., Memedemin, D., Skolka, M., Tofan, L. and Lăcătușu, A., 2023. A Multi-Community Approach in Biodiversity Assessment of a Peat Bog in the Southern Carpathians (Romania) and Implications for Conservation. Environmental Entomology, 52(2), 217-229, https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvad004
Robbemont, J., van Veldhuijzen, S., Allain, S. J., Ambu, J., Boyle, R., Canestrelli, D., ... & Wielstra, B. (2023). An extended mtDNA phylogeography for the alpine newt illuminates the provenance of introduced populations. Amphibia-Reptilia, 44(3), 347-361. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685381-bja10144
Urziceanu, M., Rozylowicz, L., Ștefanescu, D.M., Anastasiu, P., 2024. Monitoring plant diversity in wind farm areas: An approach to early detection of alien plant species. Conservation Science and Practice, 6(4), p.e13109, http://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13109
Drăgan, O., Rozylowicz, L., Ureche, D., Falka, I. and Cogălniceanu, D., 2024. Invasive fish species in Romanian freshwater. A review of over 100 years of occurrence reports. NeoBiota, 94, 15-30, http://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.94.117313
Székely, D., Stănescu, F., Szekely, P., Telea, A. E., & Cogălniceanu, D. 2024. A review of age estimation methods in non‐avian reptiles by growth marks in hard tissues. Integrative Zoology, http://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12808
Scientific Manuscripts (in preparation / under review)
Jacobsen, D. et al. Biodiversity in alpine waters: features, threats, needs and challenges. Biological Reviews. Under review.
Cogălniceanu, D., Ruști, D., Skolka, M., Stănescu F., Vlad, S.E., Tănase, T., Rozylowicz, L. Awaiting discovery: how biases in faunistic surveys hinder conservation in mountain protected areas. A study case from Romania’s oldest national park. Plos One, under second round of revision.
Stănescu F., Drăgan., A.M., Llusia, D., Marquez, R., Cogălniceanu D. Whispers from the Carpathians – passive acoustic monitoring reveals diversity patterns and human impact in a historical scientific reserve. Bioacoustics. In preparation.
National Scientific Talks
Stănescu, F., Drăgan, A.M., Cogălniceanu, D. 2023. Exploring the acoustic heritage of the Carpathians - a case study from Retezat National Park. 2023. Ecologia și Protecția Ecosistemelor, Ediția 14, 1-4 Noiembrie 2023 Bacău, România.
Skolka, M., Cogălniceanu, D., Memedemin, D., Stănescu, F., Drăgan, O., Gavrilescu, C., Șoimu, A., Tănase, T. 2023. Diurnal butterflies from mountainous areas as indicators of the conservation status of habitats. Ecologia și Protecția Ecosistemelor, Ediția 14, 1-4 Noiembrie 2023 Bacău, România.
Ciubuc, C., Cogălniceanu, D., Skolka, M. 2023. Rare species of coleoptera and gastropoda from the Retezat Mountains. Ecologia și Protecția Ecosistemelor, Ediția 14, 1-4 Noiembrie 2023 Bacău, România.
Stănescu, F., Drăgan, A.M., Cogălniceanu D. 2023. Whispers from the Carpathians- exploring the acoustic print of a scientific nature reserve. BIOTA – Biodiversitate, Tradiții, Actualitate, 5-6 Mai 2023, Cluj Napoca, România.
International Scientific Talks
Drăgan, O., Cogălniceanu, D. 2022. Introduced fish species in alpine lakes: a study case from Retezat National Park, Romania. ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference and 11th ESENIAS Workshop, 13-15 November 2022, Demre, Turcia.
Skolka, M., Cogălniceanu, D., Memedemin, D., Drăgan, O., Gavrilescu, C., Tanase, T. 2022. Corytucha arcuata (Say, 1832) (Heteroptera, Tingidae) in alpine habitats from the Romanian Carpathians. Joint ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference and 11th ESENIAS Workshop, 13-15 November 2022, Demre, Turcia
Marius Skolka, Daniyar Memedemin, Ovidiu Drăgan, Carla Gavrilescu: New data on the presence of Sceliphron curvatum (F.Smith, 1870) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in Romania. Joint ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference 2022 and 11th ESENIAS Workshop Invasive alien species under conditions of global crisis. 13–15 November 2022. Demre, Antalya.
Skolka, M., Cogălniceanu, D., Memedemin, D., Drăgan, O., Preda, C. 2023. Climate changes and invasive alien species in Romania – the Corytucha case. Joint ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference and 12th ESENIAS Workshop, 11-14 October 2023, Varna, Bulgaria.
Memedemin, D., Anastasiu, P., Skolka, M., Cogălniceanu, D. 2023. Alien plant species in alpine areas – a case study in Southern Carpathians. Joint ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference and 12th ESENIAS Workshop, 11-14 October 2023, Varna, Bulgaria.
Cogălniceanu, D., Stănescu, F., Topliceanu, S., Sinsch, U. 2023. Age and growth-size variation in the common frog across a latitudinal gradient. 22nd European Congress of Herpetology, 4-8 September 2023, Wolverhampton, UK.
Vlad, S.E., Drăgan, O., Fănaru, G., Vizireanu, M., Topliceanu, S., Stănescu, S., Cogălniceanu, D. 2023. Fish introduction in mountain lakes and its effect on amphibian communities. 22nd European Congress of Herpetology, 4-8 September 2023, Wolverhampton, UK.
Stănescu, F., Cogălniceanu, D. The Common Frog and the Changing Climate: Insights from Skeletochronology. 2024. A-0236, pg. 114. Book of Abstracts. 10th World Congress of Herpetology, 5-9 August 2024. Edit. Indraneil Das. https://2024wch10.com/abstract_book.php
Vlad, S.E., Stănescu, S., Tănase, T., Vizireanu, M., Fănaru, G., Cogălniceanu, D. 2024. The impact of fish stocking on amphibian communities from mountain lakes. Book of Abstracts. pg. 773. Book of Abstracts. 10th World Congress of Herpetology, 5-9 August 2024. Edit. Indraneil Das. https://2024wch10.com/abstract_book.php
Skolka, M., Plăiașu, R., Băncilă, R.I., Ciubuc, C., Memedemin, D., Drăgan, O., Cogălniceanu, D. 2024. The invertebrate fauna of the epigean layer from different types of habitats in the Retezat National Park (Romania), in Travaux du Museum d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa”, Vol.67, Supplement 1 – ZoologyCon 2024, Book of abstracts: p 85, DOI: 10.3897/travaux.64.el40643
Vlad, S.E., Stănescu, F., Tănase, T., Vizireanu, M., Fănaru, G., Cogălniceanu, D. 2024. Are amphibians affected by fish stocking in mountain lakes? From co-occurrence to predation, in Travaux du Museum d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa”, Vol.67, Supplement 1 – ZoologyCon 2024, Book of abstracts: p 174, DOI: 10.3897/travaux.64.el40643
Stănescu, F., Drăgan, O., Drăgan, A.M., Fănaru, G., Cogălniceanu, D. The minnow and the common frog: a story of smooth cohabitation? in Travaux du Museum d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa”, Vol.67, Supplement 1 – ZoologyCon 2024, Book of abstracts: p 173, DOI: 10.3897/travaux.64.el40643
Scientists' warning of threats to mountains
Mountain ecosystems are complex, dynamic and exceptionally fragile. We are only beginning to understand the functional ecology of mountain ecosystems, but international research already suggests that changing species communities will be detrimental to the environment, to biodiversity and therefore to a critical part of Earth’s life-support system.
In this Scientists' warning, we outline major threats to mountains, which are particularly sensitive to global change. For example, climate change is modifying and will continue to modify the occurrence of extreme events, the amount of precipitations (rain and snow), as well as freeze and thaw cycles, with impacts on the onset of snow melt (and thus length of growing season) and water temperatures, aggravating impacts from inappropriate land use practices. Global change with all the different pressures outlined above causes imbalances in the functioning of mountain ecosystems, which lead to changes in vital biological, biochemical, and chemical processes, critically reducing ecosystem health with repercussions for animal and human health.
Because mountain biodiversity is the basis for ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services, changes in mountains will have far reaching impacts for the human society. We therefore call for urgent consideration of mountain ecosystems and their protection in local, regional and global conservation legislation.
To reinforce our message, we kindly invite you to sign the article "Scientists' warning of threats to mountains".
The link to the cosigning form is:
The Royal Society Publishing - Photography Competition finalist 2024
Each spring, shortly after the snow starts to melt in mountain areas starts the migration of the European toad (Bufo bufo) to the breeding sites with sufficient water for egg-laying and tadpole development, such as ponds, lakes, or temporary rain-filled pools.
At a 1050 m reservoir in Romania's Retezat National Park, an intense breeding frenzy was observed, with numerous toads gathering to mate. The male-dominated sex ratio generates fierce competition, with several males piling onto single females, forming chaotic clusters of toads and egg strings all over the place. An interesting fact has been observed in the area, where males of another toad species, the European green toad (Bufotes viridis) participated in the breeding activity. Although hybrid toadlets can sometimes metamorphose, the offspring are not viable. The spread of the green toad in the area is recent, possibly driven by climate change and by the new man-made habitats around the dam.
This interaction is depicted in the image below, showing a less visible European green toad as the second toad on top of the pile.
Behaviour runner-up 'Breeding frenzy' by Ovidiu Drăgan.
Our team member Ovidiu Drăgan is the The Royal Society's Photography Competition finalist and behaviour runner-up in 2024. You may read more details about the competition online at https://royalsociety.org/journals/publishing-activities/photo-competition/2024-winners-runners-up/.
Photo exhibit
The team organized a photographic exhibition to present the project activities and disseminate the results to the public and academic community. Below you may find a small selection of the photos showcased in the hallway of one of the main building of Ovidius University of Constanța.