A5030220303- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Marine and environmental studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Global Trade and Competitiveness
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Gut microbiota and health
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Heavy metals in environment
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Animal and Plant Science Education
National Museum of Natural History
2015-2024
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2015-2024
University of Vienna
2017-2023
BOKU University
2023
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research
2019
Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds
2014-2015
University of Florida
2010
Kresna Gorge and the broader Struma River Valley in south-western Bulgaria host high species diversity, including of conservation importance locally restricted distribution. Precise published data on amphibian reptile distributions, however, are limited incomplete. Here we summarised 2834 precise distribution records from herpetofauna region, focusing four key importance: Testudo graeca, T. hermanni, Elaphe quatuorlineata Zamenis situla. We identified three areas for within study area,...
ABSTRACT The advanced snakes (Alethinophidia) include the extant with a highly evolved head morphology providing increased gape and jaw flexibility. Along other physiological morphological adaptations, this allows them to immobilize, ingest, transport prey that may be disproportionately large or presents danger predator from bites, teeth, horns, spines. Reported incidents of failing consume being injured killed during feeding mostly reflect information in form natural‐history notes. Here we...
The widespread relationship between salt excreting structures (e.g., glands) and marine life strongly suggests that the ability to regulate balance has been crucial during transition in tetrapods. Elevated natremia (plasma sodium) recorded several snakes species development of a tolerance toward hypernatremia, addition gland development, critical feature evolution snakes. However, data from intermediate stage (species lacking glands but occasionally using salty environments) are draw...
In the present study, we investigated and documented morphology of male copulatory organs (hemipenes) in fifteen wide-ranging snake species. The species represent four families (Boidae, Colubridae, Lamprophiidae, Viperidae) ten genera. We applied same preparation techniques for all species, successfully everting expanding completely. detailed description general was based on 31 specimens. Our data were compared with published observations point out some incorrectly described details previous...
A decreased tannin load during 2006–2007 in a northern Florida blackwater river allowed us to make observations on the ecology of Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis), species otherwise usually studied clear, spring-fed rivers. We conducted capture–mark–recapture study this protected and recorded locations marked individuals throughout > 7.4-km site for 5 months. Large cooters can be highly vagile are capable covering long distances rapidly (> 1.5 km day), with few found from...
Abstract. Dice snakes (Natrix tessellata, Laurenti, 1768) inhabit oligohaline and brackish waters along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, where they often forage at sea. Under these conditions, this species should tolerate highly variable blood plasma sodium concentrations for extended time periods, but effect of high to cell morphology physiology is largely unknown. In experiment, we placed adult dice in with different salinity 84 h, representing three typical saline which live forage: 0.2 ‰...
Different snake species may be active at various times of the day. In Europe, most are predominantly diurnal, but about a third partially or principally crepuscular and/or nocturnal. Here, we report first instance multiple in situ observations and nocturnal activity V. ammodytes Bulgaria. Overall, usually as result general herpetological surveys chance between 2001–2020, recorded crepuscular/nocturnal twenty-seven individuals from both sexes all age classes (juvenile to adult), observed...
Machine learning approaches for pattern recognition are increasingly popular. However, the underlying algorithms often not open source, may require substantial data model training, and geared toward specific tasks. We used open-source software to build a green toad breeding call detection algorithm that will aid in field analysis. provide instructions on how reproduce our approach other animal sounds research questions. Our using 34 sequences 166 audio files without had an accuracy of 0.99...
Although Morimus asper , in particular the ssp. funereus, is considered as widespread throughout Bulgaria, a current national mapping of species missing. Thus, here we present first exhaustive study on distribution M. Bulgaria. Our research combined 967 georeferenced presence records from scientific publications, museum collection National Museum Natural History-BAS, well authors’ and citizen scientists’ field observations. An Ecological Niche Model (ENM) was generated using software MaxEnt...
We summarise the distribution of two species genus Natrix occurring in Bulgaria, based on records from 147 peer-reviewed publications, grey literature, and data repositories, combined with unpublished data. This is first extensive mapping for N. natrix; fall 560 cells 10-km MGRS/UTM grid, which 102 (18.2%) were published information we could not confirm new data, 175 (31.2%) confirmed, 283 (50.5%) localities. For tessellata increased number by 64% compared to 2011 mapping, identifying 445...
The Snake-eyed Skink’s intra- and inter-specific interactions their impacts on the individual (e.g. injuries) have received little attention so far. As part of copulation, male lizards bite females; observations confirm an old report that bites occur in fore side body, along with more recently published information about back side. Additionally, out 435 individuals observed situ , 10 had missing extremities (toes, ankles, etc.); however, further studies should identify causes such injury,...
We present briefly the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in Special Protected Area “Besaparski ridove” southwestern Bulgaria, based on a 2 × km UTM grid. Between 1998 2008, we identified 24 species, failed to verify literature data only for fossorial boa, Eryx jaculus. documented five new amphibian species region (Salamandra salamandra, Triturus karelinii, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Rana dalmatina, R. graeca) four (Testudo graeca, T. hermanni, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Zamenis...
Snakes rely heavily on chemical cues when foraging, searching for mates, etc. Snakes’ sex attractiveness pheromones comprise mainly heavy, semi-volatile compounds such as ketones. Here we investigated the composition of skin secretions adult Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) individuals. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and identification was performed using commercial mass spectral libraries retention times. relative concentrations all detected tested...
Current habitat management of the peripheral, regionally unique, and isolated Balkan capercaillie Tetrao urogallus rudolfi Dombrowski, 1912 meta-population in Bulgaria is based on obsolete knowledge spatial requirements species. Thus, we studied availability patterns use by Capercaillie adult males, at home range scale to inform contribute conservation-oriented threatened subspecies its habitats. The field study was conducted during 2014–2015 northeastern part Rila Mtn., Southwestern...