Working visit and exchange of experience at the Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology of the Romanian Academy within the RE-CONNECT project

In the period of 10–23 November 2025, a group of researchers of the Institute of Zoology, MSU, and namely Roman Croitor, Dr. Habil. in Biological Sciences, Victoria Nistreanu, Dr. Habil. in Biological Sciences, Alina Larion, PhD in Biological Sciences, Denis Zaharov and Vladislav Mararescul, visited the Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology of the Romanian Academy (Bucharest, Romania).

The working visit was made within the project „The palaeoecology and the extinction of MIS 3 – 1 large mammals of the Carpathian-Dnistrean region: an integrative approach”, with acronym RE-CONNECT and code 25.80013.5107.19ROMD.

The activity of researchers from the Republic of Moldova was oriented towards the morphofunctional, statistical and biometric analysis of the craniodental apparatus, aiming to elucidate the morphological and biomechanical adaptations of fossil mammals to the types of food and to the paleoecological conditions in the Carpathian-Dniester region. The young researchers Denis Zaharov and Vladislav Mararescul got acquainted with the equipment and techniques specific to the partner institution and participated actively in the joint workshop of the Moldo-Romanian team. 

During this period, the official website of the RE-CONNECT project (www.eris-reconnect.com) was also launched, where the objectives, data and research progress are presented. The RE-CONNECT project makes significant scientific contributions by developing advanced methodologies for morpho-osteometric analysis of fossil mammals, creating standardized data sets and applying statistical methods for the reconstruction of missing data, thus providing reproducible and transferable tools for future research.

The social and educational impact of the project consists in the training of doctoral students, the integration of young researchers into international interdisciplinary teams and their access to modern techniques and equipment. At the same time, the project has an important cultural and geopolitical significance, contributing to the reintegration of Moldova researchers into the European scientific and cultural space, highlighting the commitment of the academic community of the Republic of Moldova to European scientific cooperation and exchanges.

Text: Croitor Roman, Dr. Hab.; Larion Alina, PhD 
Photo: Mararescul Vladislav, Zaharov Denis