Biodiversity And Ecosystem Dynamics Department
The Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (BDE) has an important expertise in monitoring the migrations and behavior of sturgeon species in the Lower Danube River. With more than 8 years of experience in this fields, continuous development of the Department’s scientists and the use of the best monitoring techniques have led to the collection of a unique database, at national and international level, concerning the behavior and migrations of sturgeon species in the lower course of the Danube River. Moreover, the Department’s specialists have experience in monitoring fish species from Romania`s inland waters by conducting scientific fishing using approved electrical fishing equipment. Monitoring of fish species is performed in order to identify the structure and dynamics of the ichthyofauna composition so that the effects of the changes in the aquatic environment due to anthropogenic activities can be quantified. In addition to the experience on monitoring fish species, the specialists of the Department have experience in producing the following:
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Strategies , regional / local policies and programs for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems;
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Monitoring of the conservation state of species and habitats of national and community interest and elaboration of management plans for protected areas;
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Inventories and maps of species / habitats of national and / or community interest;
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Impact assessment and Appropriate Assessment studies on biodiversity, and ecosystem assessment and evolution studies by analyzing the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors.
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Area Of Competence
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Monitoring of turgeon species in the Danube using proprietary monitoring systems based on ultrasonic telemetry and biosounds.
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Assessing the survival of ultrasound-tagged sturgeon juveniles released into the Danube with the aim of sustaining wild sturgeon populations.
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Proposing measures and methods for the renaturation and conservation of biodiversity according to the principles of the EU Taxonomy;
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Assessing changes in natural ecosystems under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors;
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Assessment and detection of degraded ecosystems and research on the development of solutions (especially nature-based solutions) for their ecological reconstruction;
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Modern monitoring technologies through: acoustic telemetry; obtaining biometric parameters by 3D scanning; capturing infrasound produced during spawning period through a specialized hydrophone (INCDPM patent); obtaining the age of sturgeon specimens by spectrometric analysis and mathematical models, etc.
Activities
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Development of interdependence matrices between hydrological and chemical parameters and behavior of ultrasonically tagged sturgeon;
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Development of ultrasonic telemetry techniques;
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Development of impact studies of navigation improvement works on fish fauna composition and dynamics;
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Ultrasonic tagging of sturgeon species using the internal procedure developed within the department and approved by the International Committee of Experts (USA);
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Conduct in-situ monitoring with the VR100 mobile receiver for the identification of ultrasonically tagged sturgeon and bathymetric measurements for the hydromorphological characterization of the areas where sturgeon are staging (potential spawning habitat can be considered as areas where both females and males ultrasonically tagged are staging concurrently for a long period of time, or repetitively);
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Monitoring the behavior of ultrasonically tagged sturgeon species under difficult hydromorphodynamic conditions, such as in areas where "bottom sill" hydro-technical improvements have been made to improve navigation (Bala Arm);
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Conducting scientific electric shore-based fishing from boat for large rivers and by boat for small rivers using approved equipment in the Department;
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Carrying out fishing with nets (corresponding to Order 1369/2018) to complement the electric fishing method in order to have a representative sample to help to characterize the local ichthyofauna as accurately as possible;
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Processing and interpretation of data resulting from the monitoring of ichthyofauna, particularly sturgeon species;
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Conducting studies to assess the conservation status of fish species of national and Community interest and carrying out inventories of ichthyofauna, in accordance with the provisions of the Habitats Directive;
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Monitoring of the conservation status of species and habitats of national and Community interest and elaboration of management plans for protected natural areas, including recommendations for new strictly protected areas;
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Mapping degraded ecosystems and proposing solutions for re-ecologization in order to return the ecosystem to the natural cycle;
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Proposing measures and methods for the restoration and conservation of natural biodiversity;
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Assessment of changes in natural ecosystems under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors;
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Assessment and detection of degraded ecosystems and research on the development of solutions for their ecological reconstruction;
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Development of regional/local strategies, policies and programs for biodiversity conservation and ecological reconstruction of degraded ecosystems;
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Development of strategies, legislative recommendations and programs to improve Romanian aquaculture in order to minimize the demand-supply discrepancy for sturgeon products and by-products, and thus minimize the impact of poaching;
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Obtain in situ data in real time and in an automated way, on 1500 river kilometers from the Black Sea to BaziaÈ™, through the LORA-NET network;
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Technical assistance and expert advice in the areas of competence of the department.
Meet the Team
