Laboratory of Natural and Anthropogenic Ecosystems

Head of Laboratory: Associate Researcher, PhD Anatol Tarita
Tel: 022 72 17 74; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Laboratory staff and areas of activity:

• Head of Laboratory: Anatol Tarita, Dr in Biology, Associate Researcher (Eco-pedology, Eco-toxicology, Soil Protection),

tel.: +373 22 72 17 74; e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Coordinators of scientific researchers:

• Maria Sandu, Dr in Chemistry, Associate Researcher (Analytical Chemistry, Natural Water Quality and Chemistry), tel. (+373) 22 72 55 42; e-mail: [email protected];
• Raisa Lozan, Dr in Chemistry, Associate Researcher (Analytical Chemistry, Atmospheric Precipitations and Natural Water Quality and Chemistry), tel. (+373) 22 72 55 42; e-mail: [email protected];
• Nina Liogchii, Dr in Biology, Associate Researcher (Biodiversity and Bio-indication), tel. (+373) 22 73 19 18, e-mail: [email protected];
• Vladimir Brega, Dr in Chemistry, Associate Professor (Soil, Atmospheric Air, Water, Biota Quality, Pollution Sources), tel. (+373) 22 73 19 18, e-mail: [email protected];
• Valeriu Brasoveanu, Dr in Biology (Soil / Atmospheric Air Quality, Pollution Sources), tel. (+373) 22 73 19 18, e-mail: [email protected].

Senior scientific researchers:

• Elena Moşanu, Dr in Chemistry (Ecological Chemistry, Natural Water Quality and Chemistry), tel. (+373) 22 72 55 42, e-mail: [email protected];
• Vitalie Ajder, Dr in Biology (Biodiversity, Avifauna), tel. 022 73 19 18, e-mail: [email protected];
• Fasola Regina, Dr in Biology (Biodiversity, Biota, Pollution Sources), tel. 022 73 19 18, e-mail: [email protected]

Scientific researchers:

• Liliana Motelica, Specialist in Biology (Radioecology), tel. (+373) 22 73 19 18 , e-mail: [email protected];
• Alexandr Zlotea, Specialist in Water Chemistry, tel. 022 72 55 42, e-mail: [email protected]

Junior scientific researchers:

• Anna Comarnitchi, Specialist in Agroecology, tel. (+373) 22725542, e-mail: [email protected]
• Elena Cojocaru, Specialist in Ecology and Greenery Landscape Design, tel. 022 73 19 18, e-mail: [email protected]

Research directions:

• Assessment of the state of natural / anthropized ecosystems, scientific argumentation of the protection status of their natural heritage;
• Integrated assessment of the anthropogenic impact on Natural State Protected Areas (NSPA) in order to conserve and extend them in the context of the requirements of EU Directives;
• Creating, maintaining and completing the database of the Cadastre of Natural State Protected Areas, highlighting and scientific argumentation of new protected natural areas;
• Assessment of the anthropic impact on the components of the environment in local and cross-border context;
• Estimation of the Atmospheric Purity Index and the degree of air pollution;
• Assessing the quality of surface and groundwater, calculating the critical loads of pollutants and their irrigation coefficients;
• Estimation of the degree of transformation of water pollutants and of the self-purification and nitrification capacity;
• Estimating the impact of atmospheric precipitation on the acidification / eutrophication process of the soil / surface waters;
• Quantitative and qualitative monitoring of atmospheric deposits and calculation of soil charge with mineral ions through rainwater;
• Modeling the dispersion of pollutants according to meteorological parameters.
• Complex assessment of the radioecological status and elaboration of scientific criteria for radioecological monitoring in the ,,human-biosphere” system in the Republic of Moldova.

Spectrum of competence:

Members of the laboratory have core specializations in the following areas:

• Environmental Impact Assessment and Estimation of harm to environment;
• Expertise on biodiversity, environmental impact and monitoring; 
• Expertise on the status of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, state-protected natural areas, biodiversity conservation;
• Ecological expertise in natural water protection issues;
• Quality control of natural waters and assessment of the factors that make their composition change;
• Elaboration of technologies to improve drinking water;
• Assessment of natural water quality and optimization of ecological wastewater treatment technologies;
• Harmonization of environmental standards (CT-24 ,,Water Qualityˮ, CT-2 ,,Food Productsˮ);

Objectives:

1. Evaluation of the environment state and its quality development;
2. Researches on the monitoring of environmental factors quality;
3. Evaluation of human activities impact on environmental factors quality in the territory of the State Protected Natural Areas (SPNA) and ecosystem ,,Hâncesti Forestˮ;
4. Studies of impact and risk assessments (analysis of appearance causes and its dimensions in concrete situations), identification of specific elements, development of sustainable management plan (conservation measures and rehabilitation) of SPNA with the purpose fund SPNA expansion in the context of the requirements of the EU Environmental Directives, International Environmental Conventions and Agreements;
5. Highlight and eliminating of anthropogenic hazards that threaten the integrity of the SPNA and species conservation, determination of optimum conditions for restoring the environment (pollution of water sources, accumulation of persistent pollutants in ecosystems);
6. Research of the base gamma radiological level, assessment of migration processes of Cs137 and Sr90 radionuclides in the environment (soil, vegetation) and the creation of a database referring the natural and anthropological radioactive contamination;
7. Evaluation of air quality according to criteria foreseen by the Geneva Convention (1979) and International Programme of Cooperation (ISP Forest, 1985);
8. Structural-functional restoring of degraded ecosystems (pollution of water sources, accumulation of persistent pollutants, heavy metals in ecosystems);
9. Elaboration of programs and development studies to provide quantitative and qualitative water resources, reevaluate the potential of water in relation to the requirements of sustainable development of the society in accordance with the strategy and environmental policies;
10. Integration of environmental requirements into sectored policy, public environmental information and education, its attracting in taking decisions on conservation and rational use of natural resources domain that is an integral part of the national heritage.
11. Assessment of anthropogenic impact on forest ecosystems in the Republic of Moldova by biological monitoring connected to EMEP network and to mapping the RM territory on the pollution degree with sulfur and nitrogen oxides ;
12. Compilation of the register of lichenoflora and bryoflora of forest ecosystems and recommendation of true species in testing the atmospheric air quality;
13. Study of the correlation between species diversity, abundance, frequency and degree of toxicotolerance of bioindicators, especially lichens, depending on the host species, altitude and air pollution expressed by the Air Pollution Index (IPA) and Air Quality Assessment Grades (AQAG);
14. Scientific argumentation of the correspondence of the protection categories of state protected objects and the proposal of new areas for the extension of the Fund of State Protected Natural Areas (FSPNA).

Basic achievements (relevant scientific works):

• Institute of Ecology and Geography, according to GD no. 414 of 02.05.2000, is responsible for the creation, completion and possession of the the database of the Cadastre of (FSPNA). In 2020, the FSPNA the database of the Cadastre for SPNA in the river basins of the Prut and fl. Rivers was systematized / adjusted / verified / formed / printed Dniester, (SPNA from Causeni and Stefan Vodă districts not studied.) In print and electronic format-Word - IV volumes, based on the data accumulated within the Application Project 15.817.02.21A: ,,Integrated assessment of the anthropic impact on the representative ecosystems in the purpose of conservation and expansion of SPNA in the context of the requirements of the EU Directivesˮ with the implementation period 2015-2019. The database was presented to the Environmental Agency for keeping the Register of the automated information system of FSPNA.
• The ecological Passports of 10 new representative natural areas were elaborated (total area 1 382.8 ha) and proposed to MARDE / Environmental Agency to be evaluated in order to include them in the Annexes of Law no. 1538/98, objective provided in the National Environmental Strategy, 2014-2023 (SPNA to be extended up to 8% of the country's territory);
• The Management Plan of the Wetland of International Importance RAMSAR ,,Lakes of the Lower Prut” was elaborated. ISBN 978-9975-3232-5-3; Management Plan of the ,,Cărbuna” Nature Reserve - EMERALD site. ISBN 978-9975-3482-4-9;
• The national standard was developed and approved (2020): „Water quality. Determination of ammonia content. Calculation methodˮ.

The following were elaborated:

• Expertises on new and imported technologies for water treatment and purification (49) and Environmental permits (21); Opinions on draft laws or other normative acts (61) in 2010-2020;
• Instruction on the assessment of the damage caused to soil and water resources (M.O. no. 186-188 of 15.10.2004);
• Methodological guide: Methods and rules for evaluation and management of soil quality: Gh. Jigau, Gh. Grigheli, A. Tarita, Gr. Stasiev, V. Lungu, N. Danilov, O. Galbura, N. Chiriac. Chisinau: Tanavius, 2007, 87 pp. ISBN 978-9975-9632-2-0;
• Scientific-practical guide: Guide for the customs officer regarding the regulation of the import / export of substances that destroy the ozone layer, as well as of the equipment and products containing such substances: Anatol Tarita. Chisinau, 2015. 158 pp. ISBN 978-9975-3047-0-2.
• Scientific-practical guide: Surface water pollution index. Case study - surface waters from the Hârjauca forest district: Maria Sandu, Anatol Tarita, Elena Mosanu, Sergiu Turcan, 2017, 38 p .;
• Scientific-practical guide: Norms of the Republic of Moldova on water quality and protection: quality parameters of surface, groundwater and wastewater discharge: Maria Sandu, ,,Primex-Comˮ, 2018. 74 p. ISBN 978-9975-3232 -2-2;
• Scientific-practical guide: Water quality indices (case studies: waters of the Republic of Moldova). Maria Sandu. Chisinau, 2019, 67 pp. ISBN 978-9975-3319-6-8.
• Scientific-practical guide: Code of good practice in the field of cold and air conditioning. Anatol Tărîță. Chisinau, 2019. 156 pp. ISBN 978-9975-87-508-0.
• Scientific-practical guide for scientific researchers, students, masters, doctoral students, professors in the field of environment and water protection. Technologies for water treatment for human consumption, domestic, industrial, rainwater and leachate wastewater treatment, specialized in the Republic of Moldova. Maria Sandu. Chisinau, ,,Primex-Comˮ, 2020, 160 pp. ISBN 978-9975-3347-4-7.

Have been published:

• 15 collective monographs, 12 patents in the field of natural water protection and analytical chemistry, about 750 scientific articles:
  • Starea Mediului în Republica Moldova: Raport Naţional, Chişinău, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006; 2007-2010;
  • Raisa Lozan, Anatol Tărîță, Maria Sandu. Starea geoecologică a apelor de suprafață și subterane în bazinul hidrografic al Mării Negre (în limitele Republicii Moldova). Chișinău: S.n. (Euroofset), 2015 326 p. ISBN 978-9975-9611-2-7;
  • Begu A., David A., Liogchii N. ş.a. Starea mediului şi patrimoniul natural al bazinului Dunării (în limitele Republicii Moldova). Ch: Bons Offices, 2012. 260 p. ISBN 978-9975-80-633-6;
  • Brega V., Ţăranu M., Scorpan V., Braşoveanu V. Republic of Moldova’ s greenhouse gas inventory. Quality assurance/quality control and inventory uncertainty. Journal of environmental research and protection, Year VIII, no. 26. Cluj-Napoca. Romania, 2011. p. 11-16;
  • Metode şi instrucţiuni pentru controlul calităţii apelor: Maria Sandu, Raisa Lozan, A. Tărîţă, V. Ropot, Chişinău: „Euroofset”, 2010, 173 p. (reeditare);
  • Organochlorine compounds in aquatic sediments of the Republic of Moldova: Tarita A., Terytze K. Environmental Forensics (Tbilisi, Georgia 12-16 September 2011), 70-77 p.;
  • Fluxurile de ioni minerali şi metale grele pe sol cu apele din precipitaţii: Raisa Lozan, A. Tărîţă, Maria Sandu. Buletinul AŞM. „Ştiinţele vieţii”, nr. 3, 2008, p. 153-158;
  • Rezervaţii de resurse pedologice protejate de stat: A. Tărîţă, E. Sergentu, Tatiana Balan, V. Cerbari, „Noosfera” nr. 3, 2010, p. 74-86;
  • Tărîță, A., Lozan R., Sandu M., Stegărescu V., Cozari, F. Evoluţia calităţii factorilor de mediu în Ariile Naturale Protejate de Stat (Monumente Naturale Hidrologice). Buletinul Academiei de Ştiinţe, Ştiinţe ale Vieţii. 2013, 1(319). p. 21-32. ISSN 1857-064; 
  • Tarita A., Lozan R., Sandu M, Gaidău A., Sidoren Iu. Quality of running water from Dniester river hydrographic basin (in limits of the Republic of Moldova). Scientific Annals of the Danube Delta Institute, Vol. 20. 2014. pp. 71- 76. doi: 10.7427/DDI.20.11.
  • Izvoraş cu apă dulce. Alcătuitor Sandu M. Chişinău: Mediul Ambiant PP, 2008, 80 p.;
  • Abundenţa geochimică şi contaminarea cu metale grele a sedimentelor de râu: A. Tărîţă, Raisa Lozan, Maria Sandu, Diana Procopii, Noosfera, nr. 4, 2010, p. 47-54;
  • Calitatea apei izvoarelor şi cişmelelor din bazinul hidrografic al răului Prut (r-nele Briceni, Edineţ, Rîşcani): Sandu M., Sergentu E., Tărîţă A., Spătaru P., Moşanu E., Lozan R. în: Mediul Ambiant, Chişinău, 2009, nr. 4(46), p. 36-40, ISSN 1810-9551;
  • Izvorul - indicator al stării ecologice a teritoriului (r-nele Orhei, Teleneşti şi Şoldăneşti): Lozan R., Tărîţă A., Sandu M., Gladchi V., Moşanu E., Procopii D., Spătaru P., Jabin V., Ţurcan S. În: Mediul Ambiant, Chişinău, 2011, nr. 2(56), p. 15-20, ISSN 1810-9551;
  • Transformările substanţelor organice în apele de suprafaţă din Republica Moldova. Petru Spătaru. Autoreferat al tezei de doctor în chimie, Chişinău, 2011, 35 p.; 
  • Donica A. Bioindication with moss in the recreational areas of Chisinau city. Proceeding of international Conference „Enveronment and global warming”. În Collected Papers. New Series. Nr. 3(82). Tbilisi, 2011. p. 293-297;
  • Liogchii N., Begu A. The role of natural reservations of medicinal plants in biodiversity’s conservation. International Journal of Ecosystems and Ecology Sciences (IJEES).V. 3/2. Albania. Tirana, 2013. p. 197-202;
  • Liogchii N., Begu A., Brega V. Preliminary considerations concerning the role of Stanca forest ecosystem in the conservation of biological diversity. Muzeul Olteniei, Studii şi comunicări, 27(1), Craiova, 2012. p. 173-179;
  • Stegărescu V., Motelica L., Fasola R., Brega V. Impactul metalelor grele asupra unor ecosisteme din bazinul fluviului Nistru. Chimia Ecologică şi estimarea riscului chimic. Ed. XII-a. Ch.: CEP UCM, 2012. p. 52-54. 
  • Liogchii, N.; Begu, A.; Donica, A. The Geological and Paleontological Natural Monuments – habitats for biodiversity conservation. International journal of ecosystems and ecology science (IJEES). Albania, Tirana, 2014, 4/4. 93-98. ISSN 2224-4980. Index Copernicus ICV= 2013: 5.96.
  • Begu, A.; Brașoveanu, V.; Liogchii, N.; Brega, V. Mosses and lichens – bioindicators of heavy metals pollution of forest ecosystems. Aerul şi apa componente ale mediului. Romania, Cluj-Napoca, 2014, 56-61. ISSN 2067-743X. 
  • Stegărescu V., Motelica L., Ciolacu E., Vatamaniuc G., Roşca I. Situaţia radioecologică a pădurilor din partea de nord a Republicii Moldova. Horticultura modernă – realizări şi perspective”. Vol. 42(1) Chişinău: UASM, 2015. p. 389-392. 
  • Stegărescu V., Motelica L., Ciolacu E., Roşca I., Vatamaniuc G. Evaluarea recentă a zonei intens poluate din raionul Soroca, drept consecință a accidentului de la CNE Cernobîl. „Problemele ecologice și geografice în contextul dezvoltării durabile a Republicii Moldova: realizări și perspective”, 14-15 septembrie 2016, Chișinău, Republica Moldova. Iași: Vasiliana ʹ98, 2016. p. 266-270. 
  • Tarita, Anatolie, Mosanu, Elena. INFORMATIVE INVENTORY REPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA 1990-2017. UN Environment small-scale funding contributions for ,,Supporting National Planning for action on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants” initiative of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition within the project “Institutional strengthening support to scale up action on short-lived climate pollutants in the Republic of Moldova”. Chapter 4. INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND PRODUCT USE (NFR sector 2). pp. 125-160. 2020.
  • Sandu, M.; Tărîţă, A.; Lupaşcu, T.; Dragalina, G.; Moșanu, E. Impact of ethanol, methanol and sulfide on the nitrification process of ammonium ions in natural waters. In: Academic Journal. Present Environment and Sustainable Development. Vol. 14, no.1/ 2020. p. 255- 263. ISSN 2284 – 7820. Clarivate Analytics - Emerging Sources Citation (ISI Index). DOI: 10.15551/pesd2020141020.
  • Sandu, Maria; Tărîţă, Anatolie; Lozan, Raisa; Moşanu, Elena. Indicele de nitrificare a ionilor de amoniu în apele afluenţilor de dreapta ai fluviului Nistru (Răut, Bâc, Botna). Buletinul AŞM. Ştiinţele vieţii. 2020, nr. 1(340), p. 168-175. ISSN 1857-064X.
  • Liogchii, N.; Begu, A.; Brașoveanu, V.; Fasola, R.; Motelica L.. Starea ecologică a unor arii protejate din Regiunea Centrală a Republicii Moldova. În: Materialele conferinței științifice naționale cu participare internaţională. Învățământ Superior: Tradiții, Valori, Perspective. 29 – 30 septembrie 2020. Vol. 1. Stiințe exacte și ale naturii. P. 126-139. ISBN 978-9975-76-312-7.
  • Fasola, R.; Liogchii, N. Pașaportul ecologic al „Defileului Racovății de Sud” și argumentarea statutului de Monument al Naturii Mixt. În Materialele Conferinţei ştiinţifico-practice „Instruire prin cercetare pentru o societate prosperă” consacrată jubileului „90 de ani ai Facultăţii Biologie şi Chimie” 21-22 martie 2020, UST. Volumul I, Biologie. p. 76-86. ISBN 978-9975-76-307-3.
  • Liogchii, N.; Fasola, R. Starea ecologică actuală a ariilor protejate din raionul Anenii Noi. În Materialele Conferinţei ştiinţifico-practice „Instruire prin cercetare pentru o societate prosperă” consacrată jubileului „90 de ani ai Facultăţii Biologie şi chimie” 21-22 martie 2020, UST. Volumul I, Biologie. p. 104-113. ISBN 978-9975-76-307-3.
  • Tărîță, A.; Sandu, M.; Moșanu, E.; Cozari, T.; Lozan, R. Evaluarea componenței fizico-chimice și indicii de calitate a apelor conexe ariilor naturale protejate de stat din raionul Anenii Noi. În Materialele Conferinței științifico-practice „Instruire prin cercetare pentru o societate prosperă” consacrată jubileului „90 de ani ai Facultății Biologie și chimie” 21-22 martie 2020, UST. Volumul I, Biologie. p. 143-154. ISBN 978-9975-76-307-3.
  • Sandu, M.; Tărîță, A.; Lozan, R.; Moșanu, E.; Țurcan, S.; Goreacioc, T. Indicele de nitrificare a ionilor de amoniu оn apele din fluviul Nistru. În Culegere de articole ,,Provocări și tendințe actuale în cercetarea componentelor naturale și socio-economice ale ecosistemelor urbane și rurale”. MECC, IEG, US ,,Dimitrie Cantemirˮ, ADRNord; Chișinău 2020. p. 154-160. ISBN 978-9975-89-160-8.

Projects implemented / in progress:

The laboratory is involved in several international projects, in partnership with the European Community, and in national projects, with funding from the Structural Funds.