Summer field trip to Sfântu Gheorghe branch at Ilganii de Jos (Tulcea County, Romania): A naturalistic approach

Abstract

Between July 29 and August 5 2013, near Ilganii de Jos village (part of ROSCI 0065 Danube Delta, Nufăru commune, Tulcea County), on the oldest Danube branch, Sfântu Gheorghe, a personal field trip took place. In order to complete the didactic collections with some new fresh material, both animal and vegetal samples were collected, photographed, preserved and brought back in Bucharest, at U.A.S.V.M. laboratories. With the aid of an entomological net, various terrestrial arthropods (adult and larval insects, opilionids and arachnids) were captured on plants. Many species of the local vascular flora were pressed and dried further in a herbarium. Some of the specimens were already arranged for the use of students in class, like a Decticus verrucivorus (Orthoptera, Tettigonidae) female ovipositor, unionid adductor muscles or water caltrop (Trapa natans, Lythraceae) seeds. Natural phenomenons as mimicry and camouflage were noticed for Hyla arborea/Xanthium italicum or Coreus marginatus/Rumex obtusifolius associations.