Biodiversa Joint Research Call 2022-2023 on "Improved transnational monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem change for science and society (BiodivMon)"
Looking for :
a partner (for my project)
Contact details
PhD, senior researcher Alexandra Hillebrand-Voiculescu
PhD, senior Scientist grade II with expertise in: cave ecosystems – molecular adaptations of organisms to the subterranean environment, biodiversity and adaptability of caves microbiota, nutrient flow in underground ecosystems, microbiology, molecular taxonomy (through techniques such as DNA isolation/purification from environmental samples/cultures, PCR/qPCR, nucleic acids electrophoresis, DGGE, EcoPLates BIOLOG system, ARDRA; isolation and handling fossil DNA from bones/teeth of extinct species. My expertise is mirrored by 22 ISI papers, 2 books (co-author) and 4 book chapters with more than 800 citations. I conducted (as PI) 5 national grants and was collaborator in 3 international and 9 national scientific grants and in 3 national environment projects. Her managing abilities are illustrated by the positions she has occupied over time: 2004 to date: Head of the Science/Ecological Education/Environment Protection Department of the Group for Underwater and Speleological Exploration (GESS, an environment NGO); 2003 – 2004: Secretary of the Romanian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Our proposal targets the sulphidic aquifer located in South Dobrogea (Romania) with a focus on Movile Cave. Developed in sarmatian limestones, on two levels, one dry and one submerged, Movile Cave harbours the first ever discovered terrestrial ecosystem almost entirely based on chemosynthesis and is a pool of biodiversity. Its biocenosis consists in 52 species of invertebrates (21 aquatic and 31 terrestrial) from which 37 species are endemic for this cave. In the so called Airbells 2 and 3, the air is depleted in O2 and very rich in H2S and CH4. On the surface of the sulphidic water develops a microbial biofilm formed mainly by methanotrophic bacteria and bacteria involved in S-cycle as well as by fungi, in which nematodes and other invertebrates find shelter. Using a metagenomic approach, stable isotopes analysis and state in the art technology to monitor physical and chemical parameters from both water and air, we aim to characterise the microbial diversity of the cave, correlating microorganisms distribution in the cave with the specific features of the underground niches, establishing not only the nutrient flow but also the trophic web among microorganisms and further to the invertebrates.