International Summer School

"Plant and Fish Biodiversity in the Danube Delta"

within the frame of the CASEE network

Within the frame of the CASEE network, the International Summer School “Plant and Fish Biodiversity in Danube Delta” organized by the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca (UASVM Cluj-Napoca) is currently taking place from 5.-17.07.2014. 15 students from BOKU, UASVM Cluj-Napoca, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Mihai I of Romania” and University of Belgrade are participating this event.

After the welcome and the introduction by the Vice Rector of UASVM Cluj-Napoca Andrei D. Mihalca, the students were familiarized with different topics by experts in the field.

  • fish diversity: Daniel Cocan (UASVM Cluj)
  • fish migration and ecogeochemistry: Andreas Zitek (BOKU)
  • grassland biodiversity: Corina Cătană (UASVM Cluj)
  • biodiversity concepts, patterns and measurement: Radu Constantinescu (UASVM Cluj)
  • forests: Florian Borlea (UASVM Timișoara) and Horia Vlasin (UASVM Cluj)
  • invertebrates: Vladimír Vrabec (CULS)
  • birdlife: Attila Sándor (UASVM Cluj)

During the field trips starting from the Sf. Gheorghe arm of the Danube Delta, the students have the possibility to directly experience the rich biodiversity, and to better understand the theoretical principles behind the analysis and interpretation of biodiversity patterns, also taking into account the needs of local communities depending on the productivity and health of the Danube Delta ecosystem.

Different scenarios of the potential development of the Danube Delta are discussed including possibilities to support the populations of the endangered sturgeon species of the Danube Delta, e.g. by building fish passes at the Iron Gates I and II.

Finally potential future joint activities within the CASEE network of universities are explored, and will strengthen the existing good relations between BOKU and the other CASEE partners. Since many years, successful collaboration exists especially between UASVM Cluj-Napoca and BOKU.

Details about the summer school:

Coordinator: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca (UASVM Cluj-Napoca)

Partners:
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Wien (BOKU)
Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Mihai I of Romania” (UASVM  Timișoara)
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CULS) 

Webpages:
International Summer School “Plant and Fish Biodiversity in Danube Delta”
The ICA Regional Network for Central and South Eastern Europe
Association for European Life Science Universities

14.07.2014