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New paper on impacts of inland navigation and land on European freshwater biodiversity

 
Фиг. 1Europe’s large rivers host a wealth of Europe’s freshwater biodiversity and are vital socio-economic systems. On the other hand, inland navigation in Europe  is a low-carbon form of transport and is likely to increase in the coming years. However, we currently lack knowledge on how this would impact biodiversity at large scales and interact with existing stressors. An international team of scientists, with the participation of Assoc. Prof. Vesela Evtimova from IBER - BAS, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution the results of a pan-European study on the impact of inland navigation on river benthic invertebrates and fish. The research included almost 20,000 observations from over 4,000 sampling sites spanning the past 32 years.
 
Фиг. 2Among the findings of the scientists were that ship traffic was associated with loss of taxonomic and trait diversity, losses in rare taxa and establishment of invasive species, with effects being cumulative. For instance, ship traffic was especially harmful for benthic taxa and those preferring slow flows. These effects often depended on local land use and riparian degradation. In fish, negative impacts of shipping were highest in urban and agricultural landscapes.
 
Фиг. 3This study goes beyond existing work in showing that inland navigation affects the whole 35,000 km European inland waterway network and threatens biodiversity, building on previous work that focused on only sections of a particular river at a particular time. Integrative waterway management accounting for riparian habitats and landscape characteristics could help to mitigate these impacts.

For full text, see the following link.

Figure captions:
Fig.1. Data on macroinvertebrate (a, purple dots, n = 1,668) and fish (b, purple dots, n = 2,381) communities across Europe. Large rivers and navigated canals are shown with blue lines (Sexton et al., 2024).

Fig. 2. Macroinvertebrate trait responses to various navigation pressures (text), while accounting for environmental variables (Sexton et al., 2024).

Fig. 3. Fish trait responses to various navigation pressures (text), while accounting for environmental variables (Sexton et al., 2024).
 
/IBER-BAS, 29.05.2024./

On May 21, we celebrate 32 years since the creation of Natura 2000!

 

In 1992 the NATURA 2000 network was founded in the European Union. Scientists from the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBER-BAS) actively participate in the creation and development of the ecological network in the country.

 

The EU annouces 21 may as NATURA 2000 day. Today we celebrate 32 years since the establishment of the NATURA 2000 network. For the event, Assoc. Prof. Yordan Koshev from IBER-BAS, participant of the project titled “Securing the recovery of the endangered Saker Falcon in Bulgaria and Southern Romania” (LIFE20 NAT/BG/001162) presented in front of Bulgarian media the importanve of protected areas and about conserving Bulgarian nature. The highlight of the conversation were the following species of conservation concern: European ground squirrel (souslik), Saker falcon, Imperial eagle and others.

For more information, please visit Bulgarian News Agency (link).

/IBER-BAS, 21.05.2024./

 


Trends in ecological quality of European rivers: improving but still some way ahead before reaching the goal

 
During the Anthropocene, humans and society are severely impacting on river ecosystems: directly, e.g. river regulation or/and pollution, or indirectly through facilitating the spread of invasive plants or animals, global or regional climate change, etc.
 
Within the framework of a pan-European study led by Dr. J. Sinclair and Prof. Dr. P. Haase from the Senckenberg Research Institute & Natural History Museum in Germany, rivers in 23 European countries have been studied, of which three are in Bulgaria. Members of the team are Chief Ass. Dr. V. Tyufekchieva and Assoc. Prof. Dr. V. Evtimova from IBER-BAS. Results regarding the ecological quality of rivers of 1,365 sites based on analyses of benthic macroinvertebrates are published in the last issue of Nature Ecology & Evolution titled "Multi-decadal improvements in the ecological quality of European rivers are not consistently reflected in biodiversity metrics". The researchers established the quality has increased for the period 1992-2010, however they warn that the quality is still not good enough for almost 60% of the rivers or streams. This positive trend stalled around 2010 (for full text see here).
 
A larger study led by prof. Dr. P. Haase (SRI & NHM), published in 2023 in Nature titled "Multi-decadal improvements in the ecological quality of European rivers" are not consistently reflected in biodiversity metrics, found that the biodiversity of riverine macroinvertebrate communities showed a sustained recovery trend for the period 1968-2010. Again, the restoration processes reached a plateau in 2010. Co-authors in the publication are Assoc. Prof. Dr. V. Evtimova, G. Georgieva, Chief Ass. Dr. V. Tyufekchieva, Prof. Dr. Y. Uzunov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. E. Varadinova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Y. Vidinova from IBER-BAS.
 

/IBER-BAS, 21.03.2024./


ESENIAS and DIAS Conference 2023 and 12th ESENIAS Workshop

 

The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS (IBER-BAS) was the host of the Joint ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference 2023 and 12th ESENIAS Workshop ‘Globalisation and invasive alien species in the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions – management challenges and regional cooperation’, which was held on 11–14 October 2023, in Varna, Bulgaria.
 
The conference was organised jointly by IBER-BAS, the Faculty of Agronomy, University of Forestry, Institute of Oceanology, BAS (IO-BAS), East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS), Danube Region Invasive Alien Species Network (DIAS), International Association for Danube Research (IAD), and SuEkos, Türkiye. The conference was supported by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the National Science Fund of Bulgaria (Project КП-06-МНФ/34/25.08.2023) and NeoBiota.
 
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Vladimirov, Director of IBER-BAS, welcomed the participants. Welcome addresses were presented also by Dr. Teodora Trichkova on behalf of ESENIAS and DIAS, by Dr. Kremena Stefanova, Vice Director of IO-BAS, by Academician Julian Revalski, President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and by Mr. Julian Popov, Minister of Environment and Water of Bulgaria, presented by Ms Kalina Stoyanova from the National Nature Protection Service Directorate.

More than 100 participants from 15 countries attended the conference. A total of 105 communications, including 13 keynote presentations, 33 oral presentations and 59 posters were presented within 11 oral and 3 poster sessions. The abstracts were published in a Book of Abstracts. Selected full papers will be published after peer-review in "Phytologia Balcanica" and "Transylvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research".

Based on their presentations four young scientists were awarded by the Scientific Committee. Assistant Polina Nikova from IBER-BAS received NeoBiota Best Talk Award for her presentation titled ‘First documented records in the wild of American mink (Neogale vision von Schreber, 1776) in Bulgaria’. Three young scientists were awarded for best zoological presentations by Acta Zoologica Bulgarica – Dr. Halyna Morhun from Ukraine, and PhD students Alexandr Vasiliev from Moldova and Ovidiu Drăgan from Romania.

Further information about the conference and conference outcomes can be found at following links:
- ESENIAS (link 1)
 
/IBER-BAS, 21.11..2023/

Research group blood parasites of birds is a part of International Wildlife Malaria Network (WIMANET): A Global Initiative to Study Vector-Borne Parasites

 
Vector-transmitted pathogens significantly contribute to the global disease burden and are causing increasing concern due to global warming and land use changes worldwide. Among these pathogens, haemosporidian parasites are of particular interest as they are widespread, extremely diverse, and can be associated with health issues for humans, livestock, and wildlife.
 
To address these growing challenges, researchers and scientists worldwide have come together under the banner of the "Wildlife Malaria Network (WIMANET)," a new initiative funded by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). This collaboration seeks to pool resources, expertise, and data from various research groups to tackle the challenges surrounding wildlife haemosporidian parasites on a global scale.

By coordinating and sharing research efforts, WIMANET aims at facilitating large-scale collaborative research initiatives that transcend local and regional boundaries. The COST action WIMANET has the following key objectives:
  1. Common Research Agenda: to encourage researchers to collaborate and exchange knowledge. By working together, the network hopes to address critical questions related to vector-borne parasites at a global level.
  2. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: to foster an interdisciplinary approach by bringing experts from various fields together. These diverse collaborations are expected to yield a more comprehensive understanding of the host-vector-haemosporidian system.
  3. Support for New Researchers: to attract and support researchers from diverse backgrounds, providing them with opportunities for training and collaboration. This inclusive approach aims to expand the network's expertise and strengthen its collective impact.
  4. Engaging Stakeholders: to actively engage with stakeholders, policymakers, and the general public to facilitate knowledge transfer. By raising awareness about vector-borne parasites and their impact, the initiative seeks to garner support for its research endeavors.
By uniting researchers and institutions from around the world, WIMANET holds the promise of advancing our understanding of wildlife haemosporidian parasites and finding effective strategies to tackle the challenges we face with wildlife malaria parasites in a changing world.

For more information about WIMANET, please visit the COST Action CA22108 webpage.
 
Participants:
Prof. Dr. Pavel Zehtindjiev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihaela Ilieva, Ch. Asst. Dr. Martin Marinov, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Coordinators:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov (dimitar.dimitrov@iber.bas.bg) and Ch. Asst. Dr. Aneliya Bobeva (aneliabobeva@gmail.com), Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
 
/IBER-BAS, 20.11..2023/

A new species of Spinturnix from the Turkestani longeared bat Otonycteris leucophaea in Kazakhstan

 
A new ectoparasite species of the Turkestani long-eared bat Otonycteris leucophaea (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), Spinturnix otonycterisi Dundarova & Orlova, 2022 (Acari: Spinturnicidae), has been described by our coleague Heliana Dundarova, together with scientists from Russia and Kazakhstan (link to Zootaxa).
 
Only a few records of the Turkestani long-eared bat are available from Central Asia, where at two localities in Kazakhstan. The lack of information for the Otonycteris leucophaea is also evident in the IUCN Red List, where its status is Data Deficient with unknown population trends.
 
 
 
In addition, the phylogenetic position of the genus Otonycteris is still unresolved, which is confirmed by the pronounced morphological isolation of its specific ectoparasite Spinturnix otonycterisi. It is characterised by a bizarre form of the female dorsal shield and male sternogenital shield, and the absence of dorsal opisthosomal setae amongst others. We expect that this parasite is distributed within the range of its host in Central Asia. A key for the identification of the species of Spinturnix von Heyden, 1826 found in Kazakhstan is provided.

/IBER-BAS, 22.12..2022/

Stay Tuned For The New Edition Of The European Researchers Night 2022 - SEARCH

 
After a one-year break, the next edition of The European Researchers Night 2022 Project will take place on September 30, 2022 with presentations, demonstrations, lectures and meetings with hundreds of scientists from all over the country. Experts will introduce you to news from their research fields. They will comment on current news from the world of science and technology and explain to you the role of science in everyday life and its part in the development of humanity and share with you why they chose the field of science.
 
The code name of the innovative project, in which more than 300 cities in Europe and the world participate in, is SEARCH - Science+Environment+Art=Resilience.
 
The initiative to promote science and its achievements is funded by Horizon Europe 2021 - 2027 of the European Union. This year, 15 main and 16 associate partners from all over the country are participating in the Night and have prepared a special program of events that will last several months. The program covers exciting activities in schools, competitions, meetings with scientists in research institutes and universities, as well as events in public city places, in museums, laboratories and other educational institutions.

More about European Researchers Night 2022 can be found here or at the following links:
 
https://fresher-researchersnight.bg/
https://www.facebook.com/ResearchersBG
https://www.instagram.com/researchersnightsofia/
https://www.tiktok.com/@searchbg?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
 
/IBER-BAS, 28.08.2022/

International Conference on DNA Barcoding and Biodiversity

 
In the period 25-27 May 2022, an International Conference on DNA Barcoding and Biodiversity was held at Park Hotel Moskva in Sofia city, Bulgaria. The conference was organized by the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences within the BULCode project, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science under the National European Scientific Network Program. Partners in the project are the Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Department of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Helsinki, Finland. Some of the leading scientists in the field of DNA-barcoding and metabarcoding were invited, such as Prof. Hugo de Boer from the University of Oslo, Canada, Dr. Čiampor JR from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Prof. Torbjørn Ekrem from the Department of Natural History of the University Museum in Norway, Prof. Paul Hebert by University of Guelf, Canada, Dr. Marko Mutanen from Oulu University, Finland, Assoc. Prof. Laura Parducci from the University of Sapienza in Rome, Italy. More than 120 scientists from more than 40 countries took part in the conference, delivering 21 oral presentations, 9 of which were plenary, and 58 poster presentations (link of event).
 
/IBER-BAS, 31.05.2022/

International Seminar of Ecology – 2022: Actual problems of Ecology

 
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Section "Biology" of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria kindly invite you to attend the "International Seminar of Ecology – 2022", entitled "Actual problems of Ecology".

 
The event will be held Online on September 29th -  30th, 2022.
 

All information is available on the Official website of the event.

DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT AND REGISTRATION FORM SUBMISSION - MAY 31th 2022.
 
/IBER-BAS, 10.05.2022/

BioBlitz survey on invasive alien species

 
BioBlitz survey on invasive alien species (IAS) will be conducted on 21 May 2022, in the region of Pancharevo Lake, Sofia Municipality. The survey has been organised at European level under the COST Action CA17122 Increasing understanding of alien species through citizen science (Alien CSI). Fish Migration Day will be celebrated as an accompanying event. Fish sampling methods will be demonstrated to the participants and they will be informed about the direct and indirect threats to native ichthyofauna arising from changed hydromorphological conditions and other human impact, including invasive alien species.
 
BioBlitz participants are invited to go out and by using the phone applications ‘Invasive Alien Species in Europe’ and ‘iNaturalist’ (BioBlitz IAS Bulgaria project) to take photos and record observations of alien species to collect data for the region. The participants’ observations will help our efforts to document alien and invasive alien species (IAS) of plants and animals of concern to European Union, Bulgaria and the Danube River basin. According to their interests, participants can select and join a field team, focusing on a particular group of organisms (plants, terrestrial invertebrates, aquatic animals). The field teams will be led by experts who will help to sample and identify the target species if necessary, but an active contribution by the participants is expected. For the purpose of recording their observations, the participants will need a phone or tablet.

Further information for the BioBlitz survey, for the apps, and for the IAS, which can be observed and registered in the region, may be found at the following links:
For registration to participate in the BioBlitz and to receive more detailed information please contact us at: Bulgaria.IAS@gmail.com
 
/IBER-BAS, 07.05.2022/

Award for IBER-BAS researchers at the Conference and Exhibition WindEurope – Electric City 2021, Copenhagen, 23-25 November 2021

 
Our colleagues Martin Georgiev and Professor Pavel Zehtindjiev participated in the event Electric City 2021 organised by the WindEurope Association. Their research results presented at the event were highly evaluated and awarded. A brief report prepared by our colleagues is presented below:
 
"WindEurope, formerly known as the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), is an association based in Brussels that promotes the use of wind energy in Europe. It has more than 600 members active in more than 50 countries, including producers with a leading share of the global wind energy market, component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewable energy associations, developers, contractors, electricity suppliers, financial companies, insurance companies and consultants. The WindEurope Electric City 2021 event was the largest forum for the wind industry in Europe in 2021. With nearly 400 exhibitors and 8,000 participants, the event was very productive. It was the Denmark's second most popular Twitter and Linkedin event for the week. It took place on 23-25 November 2021. The event was opened by the Prince of Denmark. At the conference, 253 posters were presented. Eight of them were awarded for contribution, innovation, originality and clarity. One of the awarded posters was presented by Martin Georgiev and Professor Pavel Zehtindjiev."
 
 
IBER participated in the conference with two posters. One of them was based on an experiment conducted at the Biological Experimental Station "Kalimok" in the spring of 2020 (Poster 156: "The effect of sound on bird behaviour, application in wind farms").
 
 
 
 
The second poster was based on an experiment conducted on the territory of the wind farm St. Nicholas in the region of Kaliakra during the spring and autumn of 2020. The award was given for this poster (Poster 155: "Real-time bird detection and collision risk control in wind farms").

 

/IBER-BAS, 07.12.2021/


The Eurasian Beaver is returning to Bulgaria

 
 
A new paper published in Acta Zoologica Bulgarica presented the first record of the Eurasian beaver in Bulgaria considered extinct in our country for more than 150 years. The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Castoridae) was recorded in the northeastern part of the Danubian Plain in Bulgaria (UTM code: MJ12), at about 25 km straight-line distance from the Danube River, 20 km from the Yantra River and about 85 km along the river bed of the Rusenski Lom River from its estuary.
 
The territory falls within Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation BG0000608 "Lomovete" under the Habitats Directive. The first information about traces of the life activity of the species is from mid-September 2020, and the photo registration of an individual was reached in April 2021. During this period, there were similar registrations of beavers in other neighboring territories too, which increases the chances of the species returning to Bulgaria in a semi-natural way.
 
 
The newly established locality represents the southernmost point in the distribution of the species on the Balkan Peninsula, and is also one of the southernmost for Europe..


/IBER-BAS, 25.11.2021/


IBER-BAS is a partner in publishing the database of the primary forests in Europe

 
Primary forests, defined as forests in which traces of human impact are negligible, are rare in Europe and continue to disappear. This publication presents a comprehensive geodatabase and map of known primary forests in Europe.
 
The geodatabase harmonises 48 different, mostly field-based datasets on primary forests and contains 18 411 individual polygons located in 33 countries. On the IBEР side, Prof. Dr. Tzvetan Zlatanov has provided data for primary forests dominated by beech (Fagus sylvatica), spruce (Picea abies) and fir (Abies alba) on the territory of Bulgaria. The data were collected in the period 2013-2019, under a task funded by WWF Bulgaria. For the purpose of identification of a sample of primary forests in Bulgaria, over 300 experimental plots were set in forests over 140 years old, with over 40 of the plots located in primary  forests.

 /IBER-BAS, 18.08.2021/

New book authored by IBER-BAS staff members

 
The book is a results of the team work of scientists from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore with Ethnographic Museum-BAS and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research-BAS in the frame of the "The Garden: Site of Biocultural Diversity and Interdisciplinary Junction" project, funded by National Science Fund in 2016 (DN10/1/13.12.2016). The project explores the "biocultural" - the idea of linking the biological and sociocultural dimensions of the "people - plants" relationship. The object of the research were family/personal home gardens, but also the gardens on the outskirts of the settlements, because they, with the exception of those specialized in certain crops, are characterized by great plant diversity and proximity to home as well as by frequent meetings of farmers with plants. The garden is a biocultural refugium, where valuable genetic resources are preserved and passed down from generation to generation - plants that gardeners define as "ours", as well as knowledge and skills for growing and using them.
 
Free full text can be downloaded here.
 
/IBER-BAS, 22.02.2021/

1st International Conference on Botany and Mycology, Sofia

 
The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is pleased to invite you to attend the 1st International Conference on Botany and Mycology, Sofia. The event will take place on 25-26 October 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the Conference will be held virtually.

Conference topics:

1. Floristics, Plant Taxonomy and Phylogeny
2. Vegetation and Habitats
3. Applied Botany
4. Fungal Taxonomy and Phylogeny
5. Plant and Fungal Conservation
6. Sustainable Use of Plants and Fungi
7. Current Research Projects in Botany and Mycology

For more information, please visit the official website of the Conference.
 
/IBER-BAS, 10.02.2021/

 


First steps in the digitalisation of scientific collections of the National Museum of Natural History of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

 

With a new joint project, the National Museum of Natural History and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, will digitalise one of the largest collections of biological and geological diversity in Bulgaria, stored in the scientific repositories of the two institutes. The first official online meeting conducted on January 12th 2021 has marked the start of stage one of the Distribution of the scientific collections — Bulgaria (DiSSCo-BG).

The aim of the project is till 2027 to be digitalised and make available online a significant part of the scientific collections of invertebrates and vertebrates, paleontological materials of the NMNH-BAS, herbarium, mycological, zoological, paleontological and palynological collections and the collection of live plants of the IBER-BAS. The expectations of scientists are to be covered around 2 million collection items and about 500 000 digital images of samples associated with the database.
 

Securing the infrastructural and technical needs of the collections, development of policies of unification and standardisation of regulations related to the collections access and their databases, selection of database management systems and digitalisation standards in accordance with the best practices of leading institutions, will be the emphasis during the first year of the project. The financial assistance provided by the Ministry of education and science for the first year of the project is 800 000 BGN.

The two institutes are united in the consortium Upgrading a distributed scientific infrastructure: Distributed system of scientific collections-Bulgaria (DiSSCo-BG). The consortium is the Bulgarian link in the European distributed research infrastructure DiSSCo, included in the Roadmap of the European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) in 2018. The project is implemented as part of the National Roadmap for Scientific Infrastructures for the period 2020—2027.

Coordinator:
 
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBER-BAS)
For contacts: Boyko B. Georgiev

Tel:: +359899285317, E-mail: bbg@ecolab.bas.bg, boyko_georgiev@yahoo.com

Partner:
 
National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NMNH-BAS)
For contacts: Borislav Georgiev

Tel.: +359886129564, e-mail: bobivg@yahoo.com

/IBER-BAS, 02.02.2021/


Eurasian Eagle Owl diet reveals new records of threatened giant bush-crickets

 
Bird diets provide a real treasure for research into the distribution and conservation of their prey, such as overlooked and rare bush-cricket species, point out scientists after studying the diet of the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) in southeastern Bulgaria.
 
In their paper, published in the open-access, peer-reviewed journal Travaux du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle "Grigore Antipa", Dr Dragan Chobanov (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgaria) and Dr Boyan Milchev (University of Forestry, Bulgaria) report the frequent presence of the threatened with extinction Big-Bellied Glandular Bush-Cricket (Bradyporus macrogaster) in the diet of Eurasian Eagle Owls, and conclude that the predatory bird could be used to identify biodiversity-rich areas in need of protection.

Detailed press-release on Eurekalert (линк)
 
Additional information could be found on the following links:

/IBER-BAS, 15.01.2021/


Participation of IBER in the COST Action ‘Increasing understanding of alien species through citizen science’ (Alien CSI)

 
IBER-BAS participates in the COST Action ‘Increasing understanding of alien species through citizen science’ (Alien CSI). The Action addresses multidisciplinary research questions in relation to developing and implementing citizen science (CS), advancing scientific understanding of alien species (AS) dynamics, while informing decision-making specifically implementation of technical requirements of relevant legislation, such as the EU Regulation 1143/2014 on IAS, support of the EU biodiversity goals and embedding science within society.

In the frame of the Alien CSI COST Action, IBER has implementеd the project ‘Increasing understanding of alien species through citizen science (Alien CSI): Approaches to citizen science, data management and standards in Bulgaria (No КП-06-COST-13) co-fundеd by the National Science Fund of Bulgaria for the period 2019–2021.

The project objectives are as follows:
 
  1. Horizon scan available and novel technologies for CS in Bulgaria;
  2. Explore novel ways to increase the level of participation in AS related CS and to reach non-traditional audiences of citizen scientists, through translating into Bulgarian the smartphone application ‘Invasive Alien Species Europe’, including invasive alien species (IAS) of plants, animals and fungi of national/ regional concern, and promoting the app among different stakeholder groups;
  3. Coordinate activities related to the collection and validation of data with the ‘Invasive Alien Species Europe’ app in Bulgaria together with the JRC and EASIN;
  4. Review structure of data across existing AS CS initiatives in Bulgaria;
  5. Facilitate IAS data mobilisation, communication and awareness raising in Bulgaria;
  6. Disseminate results and cooperate with other AS CS projects, databases, and networks at regional and European level.
Further information about the Alien CSI COST Action and projects in Bulgaria can be found at the following webpages:
 
More information on project activities of IBER can be found at the ESENIAS webpage
(link).
 
/IBER-BAS, 22.06.2020/

Can DNA document past interactions?

 
The main results from the PhD thesis of the Chief Assistant Heliana Dundarova, Department of Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology, IBER-BAS was published in the Royal Society Open Science. The study was provided under the scientific partnership with colleagues form the Natural History Museum of Berlin, Germany.

The paper called "Patterns of mtDNA introgression suggest population replacement in Palaearctic whiskered bat species" (pdf) is focused on the phylogeographical relationships between Myotis mystacinus and M. davidii, part of the Whiskered bat cryptic complex. The results displayed mitochondrial introgression consequence from the M. mystacinus populations hybridization with the expanding M. davidii populations using mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers.

The study traced the shift of M. mystacinus populations from those of M. davidii on the Balkan Peninsula, under the influence of the changing environment after the last glacial maximum. Further, clarified the taxonomic status of the Balkan populations and confirms that M. m. bulgaricus is a synonym of M. davidii.

Figure 1. Whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus)
Figure 2. Mitochondrial phylogeography of the M. mystacinus and M. davidii complex. (a) Distribution of the Clade M and (b) distribution of the Clade D. (c) Bayesian phylogenetic tree of the partial ND1 gene.

/IBER-BAS, 03.06.2020/


"International Seminar of Ecology- 2020" - dedicated to the 10th anniversary of IBER-BAS

 
During last 13 years, the Seminar of Ecology has become well recognizable and expected scientific forum in the field of ecology. Annually, well known scientists from Bulgaria and abroad are invited to present plenary lectures and to make the auditorium familiar with the achievement and challenges of this branch of the science. Professors, scientists, PhD and Master Degree students take part to present and discuss their results. Very complicated epidemiological situation did not stop the Seminar of Ecology. Online "International Seminar of Ecology - 2020", organized by Section "Biology" – USB and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBER-BAS) was held on April 23rd and 24th in Sofia. The scientific forum was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of IBER - BAS.
 
During the online sessions, a total of 44 presentations were reported as 4 plenary lectures, 18 oral presentations and 22 posters presentations in the six topics of the Seminar as follows:
  • Biodiversity and conservation biology;
  • Biotic and abiotic impact on the living nature and mechanisms of adaptation;
  • Ecosystem research, service and ecological agriculture;
  • Landscape ecology;
  • Ecology and education;
  • Other related topics.
Research teams from various universities, institutes, and organizations, ministries and departments, both from Bulgaria and abroad (Austria, Germany, Egypt, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Czech Republic and Switzerland) participated in the Seminar. Traditionally, six young scientists and students were nominated and awarded with a diploma and books for the "Best oral presentation" and "Best posters presentation".

The Organizing Committee of the "International Seminar on Ecology - 2020" would like to express its gratitude to the Pensoft Publishers Ltd., for  providing  free of charge on-line platform GoToMeeting, that has allowed to perform the Seminar. We also would like to thank the companies BULGAP Ltd., LKB-Bulgaria Ltd. and Pensoft Publishers Ltd. for the financial support provided.

We make our thanks to the governing body of IBER-BAS for the assistance in conducting the Seminar and the books given to awarded young colleagues, to everyone who contributed, assisted and supported this edition of the Seminar, to USB for dissemination of this scientific event. The Organizing Committee was given many positive feedback from the participants - one of the biggest acknowledgments for well done work.

After reviewing, the manuscripts will be published as a supplement to two peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Program and abstract book can be downloaded here.

/IBER-BAS, 15.05.2020/

A paper of authors from IBER-BAS awarded as top downloaded for 2018-2019

 
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is a member of ENRAM (European Network for the Radar surveillance of Animal Movement). This is a research network whose activities were funded by the COST Programme (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) from October 2013 until October 2017.
 
Prof. Pavel Zehtindjiev and Boyan Michev from the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research together with the researchers from across Europe and a wide range of expertise – including ecology, biogeography, ornithology, entomology, meteorology, mathematics and engineering – has joined forces in the field of aeroecology to foster continental-scale remote sensing of animal migration for the first time. Thereby the already existing monitoring efforts and prediction of animal movement patterns can be coordinated and extended to a continental scale.
 
By establishing this coordinated network of international scientists and its multi-disciplinary approach ENRAM has consolidated Europe’s world leading position in the use of radar for animal movement studies, taking this area of science a major step forward.
 
Result of this multidisciplinary research project has resulted in a publication of the first wide picture of bird migration across the European continent and its spatial and temporal dynamics.
 
The published research in leading scientific journal Ecography is recently awarded with a special certificate as TOP DOWNLOADED PAPER for 2018-2019.
 
Publication is available at the following link.
 
/IBER-BAS, 01.05.2020/

A new monograph of authors from IBER-BAS

 

The diversity of the smut fungi of Greenland is presented in a new monograph (The smut fungi of Greenland, MycoKeys 64: 1–164, link ), written by mycologists from Division of Mycology of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Assoc. Prof. Teodor T. Denchev and Prof. Cvetomir M. Denchev, in collaboration with Dr H. Knudsen (Natural History Museum of Denmark). This is a first taxonomic treatment of the smut fungi in Greenland. A total of 43 species in 11 genera are treated and illustrated by photographs of sori, microphotographs of spores in LM and SEM, and distribution maps. Two species are recorded as new from North America. Thirteen species are reported for the first time from Greenland. The most numerous distribution groups are the following: circumpolar–alpine and Arctic–alpine species – 14; circumboreal–polar species – 10; and circumpolar and Arctic species – 6. Only plants belonging to six families, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Juncaceae, Ranunculaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Polygonaceae, out of a total of 55 in the flora of Greenland, host smut fungi. The total number of the host plants (45 species) is 8.5 % out of a total of 532 vascular plants in the flora of Greenland.

This monograph is very useful and will help mycologists studying this interesting group of parasitic fungi, and researchers studying basidiomycetes of the Arctic and Subarctic regions.

/IBER-BAS, 07.03.2020/


International Seminar of Ecology – 2020

 
Section "Biology" of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences kindly invite you to attend the "International Seminar of Ecology – 2020".

The event will be held on 23-24 April 2020 at IBER-BAS, 2 Gagarin Street, Sofia.
 
Deadline of registration and the abstracts submittion: 16 March 2020.

/IBER-BAS, 05.02.2020/

Eurasian African Bird Migration Atlas Project

 
EURING, the European Union for Bird Ringing, has long been keen to develop a continental-scale Migration Atlas that provides an up-to-date synthesis of the migration and movements of birds from the Palearctic-African Bird Migration System. This is about to happen in the near future as a new project is on the way initiated by EURING and the Convention on Migratory Species (often referred to as the Bonn Convention) as a result of funding granted by the Government of Italy under the Migratory Species Champion Programme. The Eurasian African Bird Migration Atlas is the first component of the Convention on Migratory Species Global Animal Migration Atlas. It is a result of the efforts of all Bird Ringing Schemes members of EURING, including the Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (as part of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) which is the national representative.
 
The project about Migration Atlas production is structured in nine modules, researchers have already been involved from a number of European countries and bird ringing centres. The main outputs will be presented as an integrated website combining species accounts, dynamic and static maps, table data etc.
 
The Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (IBER – BAS) has been involved as contractor within one of the most important project modules – the creation of 300 species accounts of the migration and movements of individual species. Dr. Boris Nikolov – as a Head of BOC – is among the four lead investigators responsible to do the task.

More information about the Eurasian African Bird Migration Atlas can be found in EURING’s web-site (link).

 
/IBER-BAS, 16.12.2019/

Plant diversity towards society 2019 International Scientific Conference

 
The International scientific conference "Plant Diversity: sociocultural dimensions and interdisciplinary projections" was held on 21-22 November 2019 at the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The event gathered more than 50 researchers from six European countries. Broad spectrum of themes related to plant diversity, plant and traditional knowledge conservation, cultural, agronomical and socio-economic aspects of plants and bioculturе were discussed during oral and poster presentation sessions. Stockholders from academia, Ministry of agriculture, foods and forestry, as well as producers participated in a Round Table dedicated to policies related to local plant genetic resources.
 
Organizers are grateful to all participants for their active contribution and to the National Science Fund for the generous funding through Project DN10/1/2016 "The Garden: Site of Biocultural Diversity and Interdisciplinary Junction".
 
Book of abstracts (link)
Photos from the event (link)
 
/IBER-BAS, 18.09.2019/

School of ornithology and nature conservation, season 2019

 

Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (IBER-BAS) is organising a School of Ornithology and Nature Conservation "Prof. Dimitar Nankinov", following a 32-year tradition. This educational program is free of charge. The lectures will be held every Tuesday at 18:30 at the meeting hall of the National Museum of Natural History - BAS (shared building with Base 2 of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research - BAS, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia).

Lecturer: Dr Boris Nikolov.

The first lecture will be on 22 October 2019.

/Bulgarian Ornithological Centre, IBER-BAS, 14.10.2014/


A new book has been printed out with autors from IBER-BAS

 

A monograph "Atlas of Sphagnum-dwelling testate amoebae in Bulgaria" (Pensoft Publishers) with authors Dr Milcho Todorov and his PhD student Nikola Bankov (Department of Animal Diversity and Resources) is printed out. A total of 120 species of testate amoebae are described in the atlas, including the majority of recorded Sphagnum-dwelling testate amoebae in Bulgaria. The information for each species included description, ecology, geographical distribution, distribution in Sphagnum mosses in Bulgaria and relevant literature sources, morphometric characterisation, taxonomic notes, synonymous names, etc. Each species is illustrated by nine micrographs, primarily on scanning electron microscope (SEM), to receive information about the shell ultrastructure. Micrographs taken on light microscope (LM) are additionally given for most of them to illustrate the cytoplasm and pseudopodia of live individuals. Since most of the described species appear to be widely distributed in Europe, as well as in many other regions of the world, the atlas may be of interest to all researchers on testate amoebae and can also be used by specialists in ecology, hydrobiology, palaeoecology, environmental monitoring, as well as by lecturers and students in biology.
 
 
/IBER-BAS, 18.09.2019/

Pilot Stocking of Russian Sturgeon and Sterlet in Romania and Hungary

 

 Danube River fauna will be enriched in April 2019 as two important sturgeon stocking events will take place; one on April 18th in Isaccea (Romania) and another on the 12th in Baja (Hungary). These events are part of the MEASURES Project (Managing and Restoring Aquatic Ecological Corridors for Migratory Fish Species in the Danube River Basin).

The aim of this activity is to save and strengthen two highly endangered Danube sturgeon populations by state-of-the-art conservational methods. Stocking of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) will take place in Hungary, and stocking of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) in Romania. The fish will be tagged to enable identification in case of recapture by in-situ surveys, and assist evaluation of survival rates for those released. This will provide valuable insight for larger stocking plans in the future.

Sturgeon and other migratory fish species represent the historical, economic and natural heritage of the Danube. Furthermore, they are indicators of the ecological status of the river’s watercourses, especially concerning the function of the river as an ecological corridor. The fragmentation of rivers by transversal structures like hydropower dams or flood protection measures poses a threat to natural fish populations if they are no longer able reach important habitats like spawning grounds, feeding grounds and wintering habitats.

Transnational management and restoration actions to re-establish these corridors as migration routes, as well as stocking with indigenous species are essential until we have achieved a self-sustaining population again. "Conservational restocking is one of many necessary actions to save endangered fish. In conjunction with the provision and restoration of habitat it is essential to increase the number of animals of species and populations on the very brink of extinction", Thomas Friedrich, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.

The events are organised by the MEASURES Project, which is co-funded by the European Union (ERDF, IPA). For more information, please visit the project website.
/IBER-BAS, 15.04.2019/

"International Seminar of Ecology – 2019", dedicated to 75 years USB and 150 years BAS

 
Section "Biology" of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS kindly invite you to attend the "International Seminar of Ecology – 2019", dedicated to 75 years USB and 150 years BAS. The event will be held on 18-19 April 2019 at IBER-BAS, 2 Gagarin Street, Sofia.
 
Main scientific topics
  1. Biodiversity and conservation biology
  2. Biotic and abiotic impact on the living nature and mechanisms of adaptation
  3. Ecosystem research, services and ecological agriculture
  4. Landscape ecology
  5. Ecology and education
  6. Other related topics
 
 
 
/IBER-BAS, 09.04.2019/

International scientific conference "Plant diversity towards society 2019"

 
The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research and the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences are pleased to invite you to attend the International scientific conference "Plant Diversity: sociocultural dimensions and interdisciplinary projections". The event will be held on 21–22 November 2019 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
 
It focuses on the dynamic human-plant interrelations and impacts, the role of plants in the formation and maintenance of the existential basis, social relations, cultural values and symbols, and vice versa the role of man, their cultural and economic orientations and transformation practices in the plant world. The idea for this conference grew out of the research work of a team from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, which carries out the project "The Garden: Site of Biocultural Diversity and Interdisciplinary Junction", funded by the National Science Fund (Project DN10/1/2016). The garden is the place where, the social and cultural contexts of plant biological features and biocultural plant-human interactions are demonstrated in a particularly distinctive way.
 
Deadline for submission of paper/poster proposals with abstracts: 30 April, 2019

For more information:

/IBER-BAS, 15.02.2019/


New projects of IBER-BAS funded by the National Science Fund

 
IBER is a partner in the implementing of the planned activities of the project "Structure of  Glacial refugia on the Balkan Peninsula and in Bulgaria – analysis of the model of genera Tilia and Ulmus", supported financially by the Science Fund of Bulgaria (contract № KP-06-N26/4, 07.12.2018), with base organization University of Forestry.
 
The main objective of the project is to explore the structure of the glacial refugia and to identify the micro-refugia for the tree species of the genera Tilia and Ulmus in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula.

Balkan Peninsula is one of the main European glacial refugia for many plant species.
The species were selected due to their patterns of distribution – scattered as single trees and small groups within the main forest formations.
 
The preliminary hypothesis is that in Bulgaria and in Balkan Peninsula there are several micro-refugia situated in localities where the conditions were optimal for the development of a particular species during the last glaciations. The micro-refugia will be identified by means of highly informative genetic markers: haploid markers of chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA, and nuclear genetic markers, mostly microsatellites. The identification and localization of the micro-refugia of the target species will help the elucidation of their evolution during the Holocene, on the one hand, and will serve as a basis for delineation of seed zones and conservation of their genetic resources, on the other.

The objective is specified in the following main tasks:
  • Detailed inventory of the distribution of target species down to the level of forestry operational unit (stand). Designing of interactive maps in GIS environment.
  • Establishment of a database of palynological studies on the target species and analysis of the information.
  • Studies on the genetic diversity in representative populations of the target species by means of highly informative genetic markers.
  • Studies on the geographic distribution of the genetic diversity and identification of the micro-refugia.
  • Analysis of the differentiation among the micro-refugia in the different species.
The studies on the glacial refugia and evolution of the species during the Holocene will provide valuable information for conservation of their genetic resources and will allow precise re-evaluation of the breeding zones for collection of reproductive material.
 
Project duration: 2018-2021
Coordinator from IBER-BAS: Dr Ina Aneva
 

GLORIA - BULGARIA

 
In the 2018 National Science Fund competition session, IBER participated with a series of project proposals, including the already approved and funded project “Bulgaria’s alpine plant diversity under climate change pressure: Setup of GLORIA long-term monitoring sites and risk assessment of diversity losses (GLORIA – Bulgaria)” (contract КП-06-Н21/16 - 19.12.2018).
 
The long-term objectives of the project are: 1) to assess the risk of alpine plant diversity loss in Bulgaria caused by climate change and propose appropriate conservation recommendations, and 2) to join the worldwide initiative – GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Aline Environments) for the long-term observation of alpine biota and its response to climate change.

The specific project objectives are:
  1. To select and establish appropriate study regions in two high mountain regions in Bulgaria – Rila and Pirin Mts.
  2. To collect standardised (within the GLORIA network), quantitative data about the alpine plant diversity, i.e. species composition, cover and abundance of species, percentage of unvegetated surface, soil temperature, snow cover period.
  3. To study plant traits which contribute to species survival in extreme environments and adaptation to climate change – special attention will be paid to endemics and taxa of conservation concern.
  4. To assess the risk of biodiversity loss and ecosystem instability due to climate change and propose recommendations for mitigation of the climate change impacts and long-term conservation of the alpine plant diversity.

Despite the fact, the project is for conducting of fundamental research, the obtained results will contribute to conservation of the alpine biodiversity and mitigation of the adverse impacts of climate change. Thus, the project will contribute to solving social problems, especially for maintaining the ecosystem services the alpine biodiversity provides, e.g. supply of drinking water, disaster risk reduction (avalanches, flooding, landslides, substrate erosion), aesthetic appreciation of the alpine species and landscapes (cultural services, crucial e.g. for tourism development). Maintaining rich and healthy mountain ecosystems is crucial for the ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change, that is the use of the biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. This EbA approach has been recognised as a significant strategy for disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), which is defined as “sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems to reduce disaster risk, with the aim to achieve sustainable and resilient development” (CBD Technical Series No. 85).

With this project Bulgaria will join GLORIA – the Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments, a long lasting global network. The project will provide the baseline data for Bulgaria and would contribute to the global assessment of the climate change impacts on alpine biodiversity. Developments of the GLORIA monitoring network are most advanced on a European level, however, they are still lacking on the Balkan Peninsula.

Project duration: 2018-2021

/IBER-BAS, 09.01.2019/


Awarded scientist from IBER-BAS

 
On 11th November 2018, the Day of the National Revival Leaders was celebrated at ‘Prof. Marin Drinov’ Conference Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). On the occasion of the celebration, the Governing Council of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences awarded nine scientists and three teams from the BAS for their scientific achievements – being authors of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals most cited in the respective field according to the Web of Science for 2017-2018. Among the recognised scientists was Teodora Trichkova from IBER-BAS who was awarded for her participation in the international study and as a co-author of the article:

Conservation status of freshwater mussels in Europe: state of the art and future challenges

in the journal Biological Reviews

The awards were presented by the Vice-President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Corr.-Member Konstantin Hadjiivanov and the Chief Scientific Secretary Prof. Evdokia Pasheva.

More information can be found here.
 
/IBER-BAS, 07.11.2018/

School of Ornithology and Nature Conservation

 
Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (IBER-BAS) is organising a School of Ornithology and Nature Conservation, following a 31-year tradition. This educational program is free of charge.
 
The lectures will be held every Tuesday at 18:30 at the meeting hall of the National Museum of Natural History - BAS (shared building with Base 2 of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research - BAS, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia). Lecturer: Dr Boris Nikolov.

The first lecture will be on 30 October 2018.
 
/Bulgarian Ornithological Centre, IBER-BAS, 24.10.2018/

IBER-BAS participated in the 7th Annual Forum of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region

 
The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBER-BAS) participated in the 7th Annual Forum of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (the Danube Strategy, EUSDR), which was held on 18–19 October 2018, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
 
In 2018 Bulgaria is for the first time the rotating Presidency of the Danube Strategy. The Annual Forum was jointly organised by the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and the European Commission, in cooperation with the Danube Transnational Programme. The main focus of the event was on tourism development as a precondition to economic growth and territorial cohesion. During the forum, current activities and projects within the 11 Priority Areas of the EUSDR were presented and discussed by participants at specially dedicated meeting corners.
 
IBER-BAS presented published materials about of the Danube River Invasive Alien Species Network (DIAS) and its activities at the meeting corner of Priority Area 06: Preserving biodiversity, landscapes and the quality of air and soils. Several books related to invasive alien species (IAS) and prepared in the frames of DIAS and East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS) were presented as well.
 
DIAS was established in 2014, with the mission to promote an improved coordination among all actors in the field of IAS within the Danube Region. Since then, several joint projects with the participation of countries in the Danube Region within the frame of DIAS and coordinated by the IBER-BAS, such as Danube – IAS Corridor and Danube–IASapp, have been conducted. Currently, the main focus of DIAS is the completion of the DIAS Strategy and Work Plan. The DIAS Strategy provides the goals and objectives, possible measures and recommendations, and defines relevant actors on seven IAS key topics. The 5th DIAS meeting will be hosted by IBER-BAS in December 2018, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

More information may be found here

/IBER-BAS, 23.10.2018/


IBER-BAS participates in the international project under the INTERREG Danube Transnational Programme

 
The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is a partner in the international project under the INTERREG Danube Transnational Programme, named "MEASURES: Managing and restoring aquatic EcologicAl corridors for migratory fiSh species in the danUbe RivEr baSin". Project duration: 01.06.2018 - 31.05.2021.
 
Sturgeons and other migratory fish species represent a historic, economic and natural heritage of the Danube River Basin and are indicators of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems, especially of the functionality of ecological corridors. Their populations have suffered substantially from overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction and disruption of their migration routes. Habitat fragmentation, as well as the lack of comprehensive knowledge on available habitats for migratory fish and on genetic diversity impede the restoration of migration corridors, vital to secure migratory fish on the long run.
 
MEASURES will pave the way for the establishment of ecological corridors through identifying key habitats and initiating protective measures along the Danube and its main tributaries. A methodology for migratory fish habitat mapping will be developed and tested. A harmonized strategy (including prioritization) for the restoration of ecological corridors will be developed and will support implementation in future management plans. Two pilot actions are envisaged: (1) identify and map key habitats, (2) restocking of two native species to conserve their genetic pool. To achieve the main objectives as well as proper long-term and intersectoral stakeholder involvement, a variety of tools, strategies and pilot actions will be developed and promoted.

MEASURES brings a clear transnational additional value to the Danube Region, as it addresses key objectives of the EUSDR, of the RBMP and targets to align several legal frameworks and EU targets such as the WFD, FD, FFHD and biodiversity targets of the EU by compiling new knowledge and providing guidelines for the transnational management of key habitats of migratory fish to achieve an efficient conservation and re-establishment of these ecological corridors.

The project is composed of six work packages and IBER-BAS is involved in four of them as follows:
  • WP1 Project Management: IBER-BAS will contribute to the project management as a Project Partner (ERDF PP 7) according the Project Management Document with Action Plan included in a Project Handbook established in the beginning of the project. Coordinator of the project from IBER-BAS is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luchezar Pehlivanov, head of the Department of Aquatic Ecology.
  • WP2 Communication activities: IBER-BAS will participate in preparation of internal communication plan and an external communication strategy and will provide content and feedback for the communication materials and will provide required content for the website during all project phases, on achievements and results of the project.
  • WP3 Infosystem eco-corridors: (1) establish a MEASURES Information System (MIS) including all relevant information on ecological corridors for the conservation of long- and medium-distance migratory fish of the DRB and (2) to enhance capacity at national and transnational level by integrating water management and nature conservation and by strengthening the support for the conservation of migratory fish by improving ecological corridors.
  • WP5 Strengthen migratory fish: The objective is to save, revive and strengthen migratory fish populations by the introduction of sciencebased conservation stocking (ex-situ).
Expected benefits for IBER-BAS: Enhance the capacity for scientific and conservation activities concerning sturgeons and the Danube river as a whole through transnational cooperation, data exchange, creating data base and networking; obtaining new knowledge; development of  interrelations with national and local authorities and local stakeholders with regard to raising the support for field and other activities focused on sturgeon revival.

Budget in Euro:
Overall: 2512931,08; ERDF Contribution: 2045645,09; IPA Contribution: 90346,27

For more information:
- Short project description
 
 
/IBER-BAS, 02.08.2018/

IBER-BAS participates in a project funded by the OP Science and Education for Smart Growth

 
Insttitute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research started its participation in a new project funded by the OP Science and Education for Smart Growth 2014-2020, aimed at developing research and innovation capacity in the field of creative and recreational industries. The project "Center for Intelligent Solutions in Creative and Recreational Industries" (INCREA) (BG05M2OP001-1.002-0008-C01) is a joint initiative of 8 research organizations and headed by the Higher School of Management - Varna.
 
Within the framework of the project, IBER-BAS plans to set up an Experimental ex situ lab for conservation of the Bulgarian flora and Biodiversity information transfer center to contribute to providing benefits for entrepreneurship, development of new/improved products and processes, strengthening the intensity of knowledge transfer, the creation of prerequisites for new research and the development of human and social capital.
 
Coordinator for IBER-BAS: Assoc. Prof. Dessislava Dimitrova
 
More information about the participants of the consortium, the aime and activities of the project could be found here.
 
/IBER-BAS, 15.05.2018/

MAES-related activities of IBER-BAS

 
The European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009–2014 through programme BG03 Biodiversity and Ecosystem services funded the national scale mapping and assessment of ecosystems and ecosystem services outside NATURA 2000 at EUNIS 3 level.
 
The mapping and assessment was performed in parallel by several projects, each of whose mapped and assessed one or two of the nine ecosystem types in Bulgaria. The projectspromoted by IBER were: Freshwater Ecosystem Services Mapping and Assessment in Bulgaria (FEMA) – also assessing marine ecosystems, Wetland Ecosystem Services Mapping and Assessment in Bulgaria (WEMA), Assessment and mapping of grassland ecosystems condition and their services in Bulgaria (GRASSLANDS), Mapping and assessment of sparsely vegetated land ecosystem services in Bulgaria (SPA-Ecoservices).  The projects further performed additional activities for some ecosystem types, notably an assessment of Ecological Focused Areas (EFAs) in two pilot locations.
 
IBER-BAS was also a key partner in the horizontal supporting project Methodological Support for Ecosystem Services Mapping and Biophysical Valuation (MetEcoSMap) and in its framework, authored the Methodological Framework for assessment and mapping of ecosystem condition and ecosystem services in Bulgaria (see links in the attached document). It further participated in the IBBIS project, collaborating in the work package on Invasive Alien Species (IAS).
 
A complete update of MAES-related activities of IBER-BAS as of December 2017 can be seen here.
/IBER-BAS, 12.03.2018/

International Gull Meeting
 

With great interest passed the 13th International Gull Meeting (IGM) held between 8th and 11th February 2018 in Ruse, Bulgaria. The event was organized by the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBER-BAS). The International Gull Meeting has a long-standing tradition beginning in the early 90’s in gathering professional and nonprofessional ornithologists from different countries. The meeting was organized for the first time in Bulgaria, and succeed in attracting more than 40 participants from 14 countries.
 
During the IGM were presented reports about the difficulties in identification of the gull species breeding in Central Siberia and the Middle East by Mars Muusse, Netherlands and Amir Ben Dov, Israel. A survey about recent studies on migration of the Audouin’s gull from Croatia using satellite transmitter was presented by Dr. Luka Jurinovic, Croatia. Part of the presented studies also focused on genetics, breeding biology and ecology of gulls from the genus Larus. Part of the presentations are available online on the following link.
 
High interest for the participants was the recently found mixed colony of Caspian (Larus cachinanns) and Yellow-legged (L. michahellis) gulls in the city center of Ruse. Birds of the two species were possible to be observed from the venue of the meeting.
 
On behalf of the organizing committee we would like to thank Ruse Municipality for their collaboration and the opportunity to visit the local landfill during the IGM, where the participants enjoyed and observed the variety of wintering gulls in the region.

Further information: igm2018ruse@gmail.com
 
Coordinator of the meeting: Strahil Peev (IBER-BAS)

/IBER-BAS, 20.02.2018/


Joint Management Committee and Working Groups Meetings of COST action CA15226, "Climate-Smart Forestry in Mountain Regions"

 

During the period 13–15 Feb 2018, Joint Management Committee and Working Groups Meetings of COST action CA15226, Climate-Smart Forestry in Mountain Regions (acronym CLIMO) will be organized by the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBER) and the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics (IPPG) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The meeting will take place at "Park Hotel Moskva" as well as a scientific visit will be organized to Rila Monastery Forest Enterprise and Rila Monastery Natural Park where meetings with local stakeholders have been scheduled.

The main tasks of COST action "Climate-Smart Forestry in Mountain Regions" are to:
 
(i) improve livelihood of inhabitants in mountain regions by sustainably increasing ES provided by forests and their payment;
 
(ii) enhance the adaptation and resilience of mountain forests to climate change;
 
(iii) optimise the CC mitigation potential of mountain forests, focusing on the most efficient and cost-effective mitigation options and capitalising on adaptation-mitigation synergies.

More information about the COST action CA15226, Climate-Smart Forestry in Mountain Regions can be found at the following websites: CLIMO, COST-actions.

/IBER-BAS, 11.02.2018/


"Seminar of Ecology – 2018" with International Participation

 
Section "Biology" of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS kindly invite you to attend the 11th "Seminar of Ecology – 2018" with International Participation.
 
The event will be held on 26-27 April 2018 at IBER-BAS, 2 Gagarin Street, Sofia.

The invitation and the registration form can be downloaded here.
 
Deadline of registration and the abstracts submittion: 26 March 2018.

/IBER-BAS, 26.01.2018/


30-th Anniversary of School of Ornithology and Nature Conservation

 

Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (IBER-BAS) is organising a School of Ornithology and Nature Conservation, following a 30-year tradition!

Join us celebrating the start of the new season on 31.10.2017 at the Aula of the Faculty of Biology, Sofia University (8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd.). Special thanks to our partners for this event - Faculty of Biology at the Sofia University and touroperator Traventuria!

After 7.11.2017 (incl.) all lectures will be held every Tuesday at 18:30 at the meeting hall of the National Museum of Natural History - BAS (joint building with Base 2 of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research - BAS, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia). Lecture duration - 60-90 min. Lecturer: Dr Boris Nikolov.

This educational program is free of charge. It was founded by Prof. Dimitar Nankinov in 1988 and it has considerable contribution in generating and keeping interest towards birds and nature in general in hundreds of people over the years - mainly pupils and students. It proved to be among the very few long-term activities existing entirely on a volunatry basis.

/Bulgarian Ornithological Centre, IBER-BAS, 24.10.2017/


10th Anniversary "Seminar of Ecology – 2017" with International Participation

 
Section "Biology" of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS kindly invite you to attend the 10th Anniversary "Seminar of Ecology – 2017" with International Participation. The event will be held on 27-28 April 2017 at IBER-BAS, 2 Gagarin Street, Sofia.

The Program of the event can be downloaded here.
 
Deadline of registration and the abstracts submittion: 24 March 2017.
 
/IBER-BAS, 24.04.2017/

7th ESENIAS Workshop with Scientific Conference

 
The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBER) will host the 7th ESENIAS Workshop with Scientific Conference entitled: Networking and regional cooperation towards Invasive Alien Species Prevention and Management in Europe, which will be held on 28-30 March 2017, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
 
In recent years, IBER has been working activily on issues related to invasive alien species (IAS). The Institute is a founder and leading organisation of two European regional networks: East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS) and Danube Region Invasive Alien Species Network (DIAS), of which a total of 20 countries are currently members. The aim of the conference is to provide a forum for presentation of multidisciplinary research activities on various topics related to IAS, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in finding solutions at the national, regional and European levels.
 
The topics to be covered at the conference are as follows:
  1. Invasive alien species traits and trends
  2. Vectors and pathways for invasive alien species introductions
  3. The Danube River as invasive alien species corridor
  4. Invasive alien species impact
  5. Invasive alien species prevention and management
 
The conference is funded by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2009-2014, Programme BG03 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, under the project: East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species – A tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS), D-33-51/30.06.2015.
 
The conference announcement may be found here.

Please visit the webpage of ESENIAS for further and more detailed information.

/IBER-BAS, 16.01.2017/


Training Course "Impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services in extreme environments"

 
The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBER-BAS) will host a training course "Impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services in extreme environments" on 03-04 April 2017, in Sofia.
 
The training course has been jointly organised by IBER-BAS, Reykjavik University, Iceland, East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS), and Danube Region Invasive Alien Species Network (DIAS), and funded by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2009-2014, Programme BG03 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, under the project: East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species – A tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS), D-33-51/30.06.2015.

The aims of the course are as follows:
  • Capacity building and increasing awareness on IAS impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services in extreme environments among young scientists and PhD students from Bulgaria and the ESENIAS countries;
  • Imparting basic skills and competencies on IAS, its related terminology, the relevant international regulatory framework, networks, projects and information systems;
  • Networking and cooperation among scientists in the ESENIAS region.
To apply, please submit a filled application form with a short motivation to the Programme committee at the following e-mail address: esenias2017training@gmail.com.

The training course announcement, preliminary programme and information about the invited lecturers may be found here.

The application form may be downloaded here.

For further information, please visit the ESENIAS webpage .
 
/IBER-BAS, 25.02.2017/

10th Anniversary "Seminar of Ecology – 2017" with International Participation

 
Section "Biology" of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS kindly invite you to attend the 10th Anniversary "Seminar of Ecology – 2017" with International Participation. The event will be held on 27-28 April 2017 at IBER-BAS, 2 Gagarin Street, Sofia.

The invitation and the registration form can be downloaded here.
 
Deadline of registration and the abstracts submittion: 24 March 2017.
 
/IBER-BAS, 25.01.2017/

Opening of a permanent exhibition on Invasive Alien Species within the ESENIAS-TOOLS project

 
At 2.00 pm on 26 January 2017, in the Leventis Hall of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, a permanent exhibition devoted to the invasive alien species will be opened. Those species are considered as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity alongside climate change and habitat destruction.
 
The preparation of this exhibition is one of the goals under project: East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species – A tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS), D-33-51/30.06.2015, funded by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2009-2014, within the frame of Programme BG03 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
 
The exhibition has been arranged jointly by IBER and NMNH and its main aim is to inform the public about the threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functions, which are posed by the introduction and spread of alien species in the territory of Bulgaria and Europe as a whole.
 
See here further information about this event and its schedule.

/IBER-BAS, 16.01.2017/


CALL FOR ASSOCIATE PARTNER PROPOSALS

 
Institute of Oceanology – Bulgarian Academy of Science, Varna is opening a procedure for selecting associated partners for the project proposal for "Sustainable Management of the Marine Environment and it’s Resources - SUMMON", funded by the Operational Programme "Science and Education for Smart Growth" 2014-2020 (OP SESG), Priority Axis 1. Research and technological development, procedure title: Creation and development of Centers of Excellence, Specific Objective 1. Enhancing excellent and market-oriented research.
 
For the purpose of this call, associated partner means: all natural persons and legal entities and consortia thereof constituting an interested party with regard to the project implementation and involved in the implementation of the project activities but which do not spend grant funding. Eligible associated partners under the procedure will be legal entities supporting the project implementation.
 

/IBER-BAS, 13.12.2016/


School of ornithology and nature conservation

 

Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (IBER-BAS) is organising a School of Ornithology and Nature Conservation, following a 29-year tradition. This educational program is free of charge.

The lectures will be held every Tuesday at 18:30 at the Мeeting hall of the National Museum of Natural History - BAS (joint building with Base 2 of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research - BAS, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia).

Lecturer: Dr Boris Nikolov.

The first lecture will be on 18 October 2016.

/Bulgarian Ornithological Centre, IBER-BAS, 15.10.2016/

New projects of IBER-BAS funded by Norwegian Financial Mechanism

 

During the last few months a few teams of scientists from IBER-BAS successfully participated in the Programme BG03 "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services", Call BG03.02 "Ecosystems mapping and assessment". Seven proposals were contracted and will be funded under the Programme  BG03 in Bulgaria in the frame of Financial Mechanism of European Economic Area (EES, Norwegian Financial Mechanism). The titles, acronyms and the duration of the projects are presented bellow:

  • ESENIAS-TOOLS: East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species – a tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (June 2015 - April 2016). Project coordinator: Assistent Teodora Trichkova
  • WEMA: Wetland Ecosystem services Mapping and Assessment in Bulgaria (September 2015 - April 2016). Project coordinator: Chief Assistant Nevena Ivanova
  • FEMA: Freshwater Ecosystem services Mapping and Assessment in Bulgaria (September 2015 - April 2016). Project coordinator: Professor Yordan Uzunov
  • GRASSLAND: Assessment and mapping of GRASSLAND ecosystems condition and their services in Bulgaria (September 2015 - April 2016). Project coordinator: Professor Iva Apostolova
  • SPA-Ecoservices: Mapping and assessment of sparsely vegetated land ecosystem services in Bulgaria (September 2015 – April 2016). Project coordinator: Professor Svetlana Bancheva
     

/IBER-BAS, 21.10.2015 г./


CoCoNet documentary

 

As a part of the outreach program, we have produced a 30-min documentary film on CoCoNet, directed by Roberto Rinaldi. It features Marine Protected Areas, ecosystem functioning, and offshore wind farms, with beautiful and colorful footages of both the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
 
Please take a look (link) and show it for various outreach and dissemination activities.

/IBER-BAS, 15.05.2015/

A study of a fluke from the sand gobies in the Black Sea coast highlighted by Springer Animal Sciences

 
Aphalloides coelomicola is a fluke living in the body cavity of sand gobies in European brackish waters. The unusual morphology, life cycle and site of infection of this parasite have resulted into its uncertain position in the classification of trematodes. The recent record of this fluke species from Caucasian Dwarf Goby (Knipowitschia caucasica) in the lagoon Atanasovsko (Black Sea coast of Bulgaria) allowed its characterisation by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy as well as sequencing its 28S rRNA gene. The results revealed the phylogenetic relationships and the position of the genus Aphalloides in the family Cryptogonimidae. The members of this family typically have a three-host life cycle. From evolutionary point of view, the two-host life cycle of Aphalloides is considered secondarily simplified, with sand gobies being simultaneously second intermediate and definitive host of this parasite.
 
This study was presented in a paper by our colleagues B. Stoyanov, B. Neov, P. Pankov, G. Radoslavov, P. Hristov and B.B. Georgiev published in the international journal Systematic Parasitology. It was highlighted on the popular page of Springer Animal Sciences.

Aphalloides cоelomicola alive (video).
/IBER-BAS, 26.04.2015/

A global event for sequencing the oceans: the Ocean Sampling Day results are published

 
The Ocean Sampling Day (OSD) is a simultaneous sampling campaign of the world’s oceans which took place for the first time on the summer solstice June 21st 2014. These cumulative samples, related in time, space and environmental parameters, provide insights into fundamental rules describing microbial diversity and function. On Mach 3rd 2015, some months after the OSD-2014 took place, DNA from the marine microbial communities thriving in the world’s oceans and populating our surface waters, are sequenced and published on European Nucleotide Archive website.

Among the 150 marine research sites worldwide, sampling event in vicinity of Sozopol has been performed by our colleagues N. Todorova, D. Berov and V. Karamfilov from the Division of Functional Ecology and Bioresources of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems, IBER-BAS. This approach is of key importance for predictions and comparisons of both known and unknown genes for innovative ecological knowledge. The study was designed and performed in the frame of the EU-FP7 Project Micro B3 to facilitate a global, coordinated, standardised campaign in marine data collection.
/IBER-BAS, 11.03.2015/

Collaboration between IBER-BAS and CSIE, Yeongwol Insect Museum (Yeongwol, Republic of Korea)

 
On October 2nd 2014 Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Science (Sofia, Bulgaria), on behalf of acting director Dr. Anna Ganeva, and the Center for the Study of Insect Ecology (CSIE) at the Yeongwol Insect Museum (Yeongwol, Republic of Korea), on behalf of the director Dr. Dae-Am Yi, on the basis of the "Memorandum of Understanding" between IBER-BAS and CSIE (concluded on 07 July 2014) have signed a contract for joint research project on the ecology of the dung beetles (Scarabaeus typhon, S. pius, S. sacer, S. armenicus, Gymnopleurus mopsus etc.) for the purpose of preserving the biological diversity of rare species of insects in the Palaearctic region.
 
/IBER-BAS, 24.10.2014/

A new species of the green bush crickets described from the Balkans

 
Significant amount of data have recently been accumulated on the importance of the Balkan Peninsula as a centre of diversification, main refugium for many organisms to survive Pleistocene cooling and warming periods, and a corridor for spreading fauna and flora from Central and Western Asia to Europe. The Balkans are among the richest (or possibly the richest) in biodiversity, but also the poorest studied territories in Europe. As a leading centre for studying biodiversity in Bulgaria, the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS continues surveys in this topic. On October 14th, 2014, an international team of scientists led by Dr. Dragan Chobanov published a paper with a description of the morphology, behaviour, distribution, and distinctive features of a new species of the well known green bush crickets (genus Tettigonia). Tettigonia balcanica Chobanov & Lemonnier-Darcemont, 2014 has been described from Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. The Balkan Green bush cricket inhabits the hilly and mountain belt of all high mountains in Bulgaria and one can hear its characteristic loud song in summertime at such famous and crowded places as the Rila Monastery.

For a detailed information on this topic see:
Chobanov, D., Lemonnier-Darcemont, M., Darcemont, C., Puskás, G., Heller, K.-G. (2014). Tettigonia balcanica, a new species from the Balkan Peninsula (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae). Entomologia 2(2), 209, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/entomologia.2014.209 (pdf)
 
Video (courtesy of Asen Ignatov, National Museum of Natural History, BAS)
 
Photos: Tettigonia balcanica sp. n. in nature: male (A) and female (E).
/IBER-BAS, 15.10.2014/

Celebrating 50 years of The IUCN Red List

 
The IUCN Red List is the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of wild species and their links to livelihoods and a powerful tool to inform and catalyse action for biodiversity conservation.

Dr Simon Stuart, the IUCN chair, appeals to the members of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the public to help spread the word about the importance of the IUCN Red List. "As part of our communications and fundraising campaign to support the 50-th anniversary of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, we have released a stunning video explaining the importance of The IUCN Red List as a powerful tool that drives action for nature conservation. Featuring fabulous images, the video was produced by the photographer and filmmaker Mattius Klum, who is also an IUCN Goodwill Ambassador.", Dr Stuart says.

View the video here, read about the IUCN aims, programs and campaigns, and try help protecting and preserving the World's biodiversity.
 
/IBER-BAS, 14.10.2014/

FP7 EC project WETLANET awarded

 
The National Launching Conference of the EU Program for Research and Innovation "Horizon 2020" is held on 18-19 February 2014 at the Sheraton Hotel, Sofia. During the first day of the conference, 13 projects funded by the FP7 EC Work Programme "Capacities" (REGPOT) were awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria.

We are pleased that one of the awarded projects is the FP7 EC project of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, WETLANET, coordinated by Prof. Boyko Georgiev.
 
List of all awarded projects could be downloaded here.
/IBER-BAS, 19.02.2014/


New books

Three new books were published at the end of 2013 with participation of our colleagues from IBER-BAS.

Michailova, P., Chassovnikarova, T., Ilkova, J., Grozeva, S., Chobanov, D., Warchałowska-Śliwa, E., Simov, N., Atanassov, N., Mitkovska, V. & Dimitrov, H. 2013. Genome biomarker test system for environmental risk assessment. Sofia, Moscow: Pensoft Publishers (ISBN 978-954-642-708-3).
 
The book is published by the financial support of National Science Found (Ministry of Education, Youth and Science of Republic of Bulgaria), project "New Integrated Genome bio marker test system: A useful tool in environmental risk assessment in model invertebrate and vertebrate species" (DO-02-259/2009-2012). The book has open access and could be downloaded from the following link.
 

Uzunov Y., L. Pehlivanov, B. B. Georgiev, E. Varadinova (Editors) 2013. Mesta River: biological quality elements and ecological status. Soia, Professor Marin Drinov Academic Publishing House (ISBN 978-954-322-689-4).
 
The book is a part of the dissemination programme of the FP7 Project WETLANET. It can be found in the central bookstore of the Bulgarian Academy of Science and in the library of IBER-BAS. The books produced with the financial support of WETLANET project could be downloaded from the project website.


Denchev, C.M., Venturella,G. & Zervakis, G. (eds) 2013. Identification and sustainable exploitation of wild edible mushrooms in rural areas. Technological Educational Institute of Thesally, Larissa, Greece, 360 pp. (ISBN 978-960-9510-07-3).
 
The book summarised the results of the project MYCOTICON (Grant Agreement no. 2011-1-GR1-LEO05-06802, Lifelong Learning Programme, Leonardo da Vinci), which was accomplished by a consortium of mycologists from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Cyprus. The Bulgarian team was presented by Prof. C. Denchev, T. Denchev and Dr B. Asyov from IBER-BAS. The book has open access and can be downloaded here.
 
/IBER-BAS, 10.01.2014/

New volume of the series Fauna Bulgarica has been published

 
The Volume 32 of the series Fauna Bulgarica of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research was published. The monograph by Gabriela Georgieva and Gergana Gecheva contains detailed information on the morphology, biology, ecology, distribution and host-range of 36 ixodid ticks recorded in Bulgaria. In addition, the book presents modern methods in fast diagnostic of tick–transmitted diseases, together with an analysis of medical importance and instructions on how to deal with these potentially dangerous ticks.

The monograph could be found at the bookstore of Professor Marin Drinov Academic Publishing House in the building of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and at the bookstore of the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia.
 
/IBER-BAS, 12.09.2013/

The European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) has been formed as a biological species on the territory of Bulgaria, as revealed by a new phylogeographic study

 
The European Ground Squirrel (S. citellus) is an endangered species, with declining population numbers throughout its entire geographical range. It is included in the IUCN Red Data Book of threatened species in the category "Vulnerable" and protected by the Biological Diversity Act of the Republic of Bulgaria.

An international team of researchers, with the participation of Dr. Yordan Koshev of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, examined a large number of samples (915 individuals) from 52 localities across 11 countries. The phylogeographic study showed that the territory of Bulgaria is the centre of the ancestral area of this species. The remaining parts of its European geographical range has been formed as a result of several colonization events driven by glacial and interglacial periods. European Ground Squirrel populations from Bulgaria showed the highest genetic diversity as 5 out of 7 the known genetic lineages occur in this country. The results of this study provide the basis for conservation actions and legislative initiatives in the conservations of this globally threatened species.

More information about phylogeography of the European ground squirrel can be found in the article published in the international journal Molecular Ecology:

Říčanová, Š., Koshev, Y., Říčan, O., Ćosić, N., Ćirović, D., Sedláček, F. and Bryja, J. (2013), Multilocus phylogeography of the European ground squirrel: cryptic interglacial refugia of continental climate in Europe. Molecular Ecology, 22: 4256–4269. doi: 10.1111/mec.12382
 
/IBER-BAS, 09.08.2013/


New data about the largest European water insect

 

A new article published in the open access journal Zookeys provides detailed information on karyotype, the chromosome behavior, and the male reproductive system of the largest European water insect Lethocerus patruelis (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Interesting insights into the life habits and the distribution of the species on the Balkans are also presented. During the last ten years, there are many new records of this species in Southern Bulgaria, providing evidence that the giant water bug is expanding its territory northwards. Such a wide and abundant distribution of the species in these regions would be a further sign of the recent changes of European bug fauna caused by climate change and an important clue for the effects of global warming.

For more information:

  • Grozeva, S., Kuznetsova, V., Simov, N., Langourov, M. & Dalakchieva, S. (2013) Sex chromosome pre-reduction in male meiosis of Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1854) (Heteroptera, Belostomatidae) with some notes on the distribution of the species. ZooKeys 319 (Special issue: Advances in Hemipterology): 119-135 (doi: 10.3897/zookeys.319.4384)

/IBER-BAS, 01.08.2013/


Field guide "Birds of the Balkan Peninsula"

 
The second edition of the field guide for beginners "Birds of the Balkan Peninsula" with authors T. Michev. D. Simeonov and L. Profirov, and illustrated by G. Pchelarov, is printed out. The enlarged and wholly revised edition contains 109 colour plates comprising the information for 22 orders and 516 species of birds found in the Balkan Peninsula. The book comes with a CD with general information about the birds in the Balkan Peninsula.

The official presentation of the book will be held on 08 April 2013, 17:30 at the main foyer of the National Museum of Natural History, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.

/IBER-BAS, 03.04.2013/


New books


At the end of the year IBER-BAS is pleased to announced two new print books. The book "Ecosystems of the Biosphere Reserve Srebarna Lake" was printed as a part of the dissemination activities of the FP7 project WETLANET, cofunded by the National Science Fund of Bulgaria. The book is aimed at summarizing the most of the studies have been carried out during the last two decades on the ecosystems of the lake Srebarna. The books can be found in the bookstore of the Headquarters of BAS.
 

Next week we expect the printed version of the book "Atlas of the gobies (Gobiidae) in Bulgaria" with authors M. Vassilev, A. Apostolou, B. Velkov, D. Dobrev and V. Zarev. The publishing of this book was financed by the project "Black sea gobies (Gobiidae) – biological resource of an uderestimated economical and conservation significance" (DO 02-201/2008), funded by the National Science Fund of Bulgaria. The book presents detailed information about the morphology, synonymy and distribution of the gobies in Bulgaria. In addition to the print version, it is distributed like a pdf-file which can be downloaded here.
 
/IBER-BAS, 14.12.2012/

National Action Plan for conservation of the Dalmatian Pelican

On 14.09.2012 the National Council of Biological Diversity approved the "National Action Plan for conservation of the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) in Bulgaria for the period 2013-2022", elaborated by the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS. Additionally, the action plans for the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) and the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) (elaborated be the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds), were also accepted.

The aim of the National action plan for conservation of the Dalmatian Pelican is to preserve its population in Bulgaria during all periods of its life cycle, i.e. the breeding (with minimum of 100 breeding pairs in 2-3 nesting colonies), migration (between 40 and 530 passing individuals during autumn near Bourgas), wintering (minimum 450 overwintering individuals in the middle of January). The ideal goal of the plan will be a successful restoration of one of the former nesting colony on Persina Island (River Danube) which was existing at the end of 19 century and the restoration of the colonies at the former swamps Mandrensko and Straldgensko.

/IBER-BAS, 20.09.2012/


 


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