BackgroundReliable taxonomy underpins communication in all of biology, not least nature conservation and sustainable use of ecosystem resources. The flexibility of taxonomic interpretations, however, presents a serious challenge for end-users of taxonomic concepts. Users need standardised and continuously harmonised taxonomic reference systems, as well as high-quality and complete taxonomic data sets, but these are generally lacking for non-specialists. The solution is in dynamic, expertly curated web-based taxonomic tools.The Pan-European Species-directories Infrastructure (PESI) worked to solve this key issue by providing a taxonomic e-infrastructure for Europe. It strengthened the relevant social (expertise) and information (standards, data and technical) capacities of five major community networks on taxonomic indexing in Europe, which is essential for proper biodiversity assessment and monitoring activities. The key objectives of PESI were: 1) standardisation in taxonomic reference systems, 2) enhancement of the quality and completeness of taxonomic data sets and 3) creation of integrated access to taxonomic information.New informationThis paper describes the results of PESI and its future prospects, including the involvement in major European biodiversity informatics initiatives and programs.

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The article presents the results of the investigations on diversity and quantitative structure of phytoplankton of different types of aquatic ecosystems within the Republic of Moldova during 2010-2015. The invasive species (native) Merismopedia tenuissima Lemmermann 1898, Synechocystis aquatilis Sauvageau 1892 and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Bornet & Flahault 1886 from phytoplankton composition were identified. The potential growth of these phytoplankton species can lead to algal blooms. Following our investigations, it was established that the biomass of invasive Cyanophyta planktonic species during their intense development can account for about 80-90% of the number of species and for about 40-60% of the phytoplankton biomass.

ABSTRACT. The reintroduction of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Romania started in 1998 and was a complete success in terms of population and natural range enlargement. The habitat modelling capacity of beaver was more and more obvious once with the increase of population densities, demonstrating the high potential of this species to create new trophic niches for other species and implicitly biodiversity enrichment. The study was conducted on a floodplain area near the Bârsa River, where the habitat became a vegetation and fauna paradise, by the constant intervention of beavers that had colonized the area in 2009-2010. In the first stage of this study, the habitats were classified and existing stands, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation was demarcated according to their composition and age (for tree vegetation). Further, a habitat analysis has been performed grounded on the correlation of dendrochronological sampling and satellite images captured between 2005 and 2014. On the basis of the aforementioned method, the right moment for beaver installation within the studied area has been determined quite precisely. This study is a clear example that beavers succeed to use in their best interest the opportunities offered by nature. Moreover, through the changes they produce on the environment, beavers have a strong impact on the natural succession processes.KEY WORDS: beaver repopulation, habitat modelling, beaver impact, dendrochronology. РЕЗЮМЕ. Реинтродукция евразийского бобра (Castor fiber) в Румынии началась в 1998 г. и увенчалась полным успехом в плане роста популяции и расширения ареала. Необходимость оценки емкости угодий становилась все более очевидной с увеличением плотности популяции, демонстра-цией высоких способностей этого вида в создании новых трофических ниш для других видов и косвенного увеличения биоразнообразия. Исследование было проведено в пойме реки Барса, где среда обитания стала природным раем и местом постоянного обитания бобров, колонизировавших этот район в 2009-2010 гг. На первом этапе исследования была проведена классификация биотопов и оценены запасы древостоя, кустарников и травяной растительности по составу и возрасту (после-днее -для деревьев). Далее был проведен анализ биотопов на основе корреляции дендрохроноло-гических проб и спутниковых снимков, полученных в период 2005-2014 гг. На основе вышеупомя-нутого метода достаточно точно был определен момент заселения бобрами района исследования. Это исследование -яркий пример успешного использования бобрами возможностей окружающей среды. Кроме того, путем изменения биотопов, бобры оказывают значительное влияние на сукцес-сионные процессы.КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ СЛОВА: репопуляция бобров, моделирование местообитаний, дендрохронология.

Water quality is one of the key factors in maintenance of fish health. The current article revises the effects of various water quality parameters on fish health, methods of quality analysis and diagnosis of fish health, as well as methods for improving the water quality in fish ponds, aiming to reduce the fish health risks. The synthesis is a joint work of an international consortium formed from scientists of the Institute of Zoology and Ion Ionescu de la Brad Iasi University of Life Sciences, which allows a broader view on the fish health issue for identification of sustainable solutions for fish farmers from the Republic of Moldova and Romania.