Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 35/2. (2015)
Zoology
Aspects regarding fauna from Grädistea Muncelului Cioclovina Natural Park Results and discussions The fauna from PNGM-C is less studied. Entomofauna is varied and quite rich in the park because of the geographical and geological diversity of area. In the park area can meet forests, hills and valleys of rivers, temporary ponds, secondary sylvosteppe grasslands, limestone and sandy areas etc. In the Gradate Godeanu Valley are the most numerous species of insects. So far the study of invertebrate fauna was limited mainly on butterflies, beetles and orthopterans. The most known groups are vertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and bats. According to previous studies (Burnaz, 1987, 1993, Ghira, 1994, 2002, etc.) in the park were registered 114 species from Lepidoptera, mentioned in Park Management Plan. Out of these 29 species belong to diurnal butterflies (Rhopalocera), and 85 species of nocturnal (Heterocera). Among the diurnal species some taxa (Neptis hylas) are less spread in our country. These taxa is strictly protected species of national interest by Government Emergency Ordinance no. 57/2007. Diurnal lepidopters from this protected area belongs to different ecological types: euribionts like Vanessa atalanta, mesophilous and mesohygrophilous from forest (Hipparchia fagi) and species that prefer open habitats such as mesoxerophilous and mesohygrophilous grasslands Lycaena virgaureae, Pyronia tithonus. The macrolepidopters and microlepidopters represent more than 1000 species. Photo 1: Neptis hylas Photo 2: Lycaena virgaureae Three species of beetles are distinguished by their importance: Sophnochaeta dacica (endemic species identified in Tecuri Cave, Duvaluis budai (rare species identified in Ponor Cave) and Procerusgigas (the largest cockroach in Romania, identified in Gradi§tea Muncelului). A study conducted by a multidisciplinary team of French researchers together with the team of rangers and biologists of the park, established in Tampu and Gradate natural forests, the presence of 45 species of saproxilic beetles, belonging to 18 families, located on dead wood. Three species are indicators of naturality, continuity and maturity of these ecosystems (.Endomychus thoracicus, Ceruchus chrysomelinus and Triphyllus bicolor). So far in the park area has been identified 18 species of orthopterans belonging to 8 families. The aquatic fauna is represented by a relatively large number of invertebrates and fish the researches being conducted in collaboration with Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu. From the last category we mentioned: Salmo trutta, Thymallus thymallus, Leuciscus leuciscus, Cottus gobio and Phoxinusphoxinus. The studies on herpetofauna conducted by Ghira I. in 2004, and by biologist and team of rangers from PNGMC in 2014—2015, identified 9 species of amphibians and 11 species of reptiles. All amphibians identified are strictly protected, six of which are species of community interest and 3 species of national interest by the Emergency Government Ordinance no. 57/2007. 109
