0000000000113749
AUTHOR
Horea Olosutean
Does Population Density Determine the Mating Strategy in Males of the Water Strider Aquarius paludum?
Mating behavior of a large Aquarius paludum paludum (Fabricius 1794) (Hemiptera: Gerridae: Gerrini) population was investigated on several field surveys during the mating season. Both types of mating behavior known for semi-aquatic true bugs were observed in the studied population: aggressive Type I mating for non-territorial males and unaggressive Type II mating for the territorial males. Some males establish individual territories at the lake shores that they defend for around one hour and switch to aggressive mating if they fail to attract a female to mate, while most males remain non-territorial. Radial 1–1.5 meter territories were aggressively defended from other males, conflicts being…
Influence of enzyme-aided extraction and ultrasonication on the phenolics content and antioxidant activity of Paeonia officinalis L. petals
Peony is a less utilized herbaceous plant of ornamental and medicinal relevance. The petals are rich in bioactive phenolics and hence, the development of efficient extraction is required for maximum recovery and bioactivity. In this study, the optimal conditions for the ultrasound-assisted extraction of peony phenolics were first investigated by comparing to conventional extraction and testing the data fit by mathematical models (linear, two factor interactions, quadratic) followed by investigation of cellulase pre-treatment combined with ultrasonication. High amounts of flavonoids, phenolics and tannins were extracted in 30 min under ultrasound conditions of 150 W, 40 kHz, 50 % amplitude, …
Methods for Modeling Ecosystem Services: A Review
Abstract Modeling ecosystem services (ES) is an essential tool for the development of strategies that will ensure their future supply, provision and quantification. Given the rapid development in this area of research, a review of the different approaches used to model ES was performed, using an analytical framework based on five criteria for comparing the existing methodological approaches: the types of ES, availability of data sources, spatial scale, types of models used and the possible outcomes of the models. Regulating services were the most commonly modeled, followed by provisioning, cultural, and supporting services. The most frequently used data for modeling were secondary data (alr…
Water striders (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Gerridae) of Romania with an update on the distribution of Gerris gibbifer and G. maculatus in southeastern Europe
The Romanian fauna comprises two species of Aquarius Schellenberg, 1800, eight species of Gerris Fabricius, 1794 and one species of Limnoporus Stål, 1868, and we hereby update the distribution and provide insights on the phenology and ecology of all eleven species in this country. We furthermore update the distribution of the two closely related species Gerris gibbifer Schummel, 1832 and G. maculatus Tamanini, 1946 in southeastern Europe. Gerris maculatus is recorded for the first time from Hungary, Montenegro and Slovenia, and the first detailed localities from Romania and Serbia are given. All bibliographic records of G. gibbifer from Romania, Macedonia and Serbia are based on misidentifi…
Are aquatic and semiaquatic true bugs (Hemiptera: Nepomorpha; Gerromorpha) distinct aquatic communities? A case study in homogeneous habitats
We investigated the environmental factors influencing Nepomorpha and Gerromorpha in lentic, highly vegetated habitats from the Danube Delta. We collected 7032 individuals from 12 species from 23 ha...
Aquatic and Semiaquatic Heteroptera (Nepomorpha) from the Strei River Basin
Abstract During a field campaign in the Strei River basin in August 2014, seven suitable habitats for aquatic and semi-aquatic true bugs were identified from the confluence of the Strei River with the Bărbat River down to the confluence with the Mureș River. Forty-eight individuals belonging to 15 species and nine families of aquatic and semi-aquatic true bugs were sampled. We mention two species considered rare in Romanian fauna: Hebrus montanus and Microvelia pygmaea. The statistic-mathematical analysis showed the similarity of the true bugs’ communities from habitats with similar conditions, as well as the relation of each species with particular habitat conditions, emphasizing the fact …
EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY (50Hz) MAGNETIC FIELD INFLUENCES PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER
The influence of 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field on physico-chemical properties of water was studied. Tanks with distilled water (120 mL) were individually exposed to action of homogenous 50 Hz magnetic fields, using a Helmholtz coils system. For magnetically exposure have been used different values of magnetic flux density (between 1 and 5 mT) and different durations of exposure (between 5 and 240 minutes). By means of this experimental study the physico-chemical properties of exposed water samples compared with the control ones have explored. Density, viscosity, surface tension, pH, oxygen concentration and electrical conductivity were recorded. Some physico-chemical parameters analyzed i…
Activated Sludge Systems as Diferential Equations: A Fresh View on the Classical Models for Wastewater Treatment Plants
Abstract Present in the theory and practice of wastewater treatment for over 50 years in consistent numbers, activated sludge models are widely used by plant operators. The early stage models, based on differential equations were synthetized and reinterpreted, presenting new insides that can help to a better understanding of the processes involved in the wastewater treatment. A consistent symbology is presented, for a much homogenous perspective, and the obvious similarities between several equations from the models are pointed out. The incomplete information from the models is emphasized, showing their amount of providing supplementary data for plant operators and researchers in the field,…