Nikolay Velev

Mantle vegetation includes plant communities dominated mostly by shrubs and occurs in habitats where the typical tree layers meet difficulties to evolve. This study was conducted in three areas of Bulgaria – Western Balkan Range, Western Sredna Gora Mt. and the Fore-Balkan. Numerical classification and ordination were performed by PC-ORD and JUICE software packages. Diagnostic species were determined by calculating the Phi-coefficient. Two associations and one plant community of the Berberidion alliance were recognized – Corno-Ligustretum Horvat ex Trinajstić ---amp--- Z. Pavletić 1991, Pruno spinosae-Ligustretum vulgaris Tüxen 1952 and Elytrigia repens-Crataegus monogyna community. The latter considered as a successional stage of shrub encroachment into the grasslands. Its species composition is very close to that of the ass. Corno-Ligustretum. The species composition of ass. Pruno-Ligustretum represents a mixture of species characteristic for dry and mesic grasslands, fringe and f...

Biodiversity can buffer ecosystem functioning against extreme climatic events, but few experiments have explicitly tested this. Here, we present the first multisite biodiversity × drought manipulation experiment to examine drought resistance and recovery at five temperate and Mediterranean grassland sites. Aboveground biomass production declined by 30% due to experimental drought (standardised local extremity by rainfall exclusion for 72-98 consecutive days). Species richness did not affect resistance but promoted recovery. Recovery was only positively affected by species richness in low-productive communities, with most diverse communities even showing overcompensation. This positive diversity effect could be linked to asynchrony of species responses. Our results suggest that a more context-dependent view considering the nature of the climatic disturbance as well as the productivity of the studied system will help identify under which circumstances biodiversity promotes drought resistance or recovery. Stability of biomass production can generally be expected to decrease with biodiversity loss and climate change.

The study represents a pilot scientific research of flora, mycota and vegetation within the Dupkata Reserve. Twenty three species, referred to 2 divisions, 3 classes and 16 families are recorded for the bryoflora. One of them is listed in the Habitat Directive. The vascular flora is presented by 103 species from 38 families. Forty eight vascular plants are considered as medicinal plants. Forty two species of larger ascomycetes and basidiomycetes are found in the reserve. Three of them are of high conservation value. The vegetation cover is consisted mostly of floristically poor communities of Spruce forest and mixed Spruce and Scots pine forests. Habitats within the reserve are presented by six types according to the Habitat Directive classification.

Conservation of plant diversity is a priority in the environmental policy of Bulgaria. The book presents the main result – a pilot network of small protected sites for the conservation of rare plants using the model of plant micro-reserves – of a project funded by the Life+ Programme of the European Commission. Included are 3 species of bryophytes and 44 species of vascular plants for which in the period 2010–2014 were declared 58 protected sites and, additionally, for 4 sites proposals have been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Water for legal protection. For each species is given its conservation status in Bulgaria, short morphological description, original data on the biology, habitats, distribution in the country, threats to the populations, and the taken and the still needed conservation measures. For each protected area is provided the exact location and size, a short presentation of the habitats and plant species with conservation value, and limitations specified ...

This study focuses on mesic and xeric grasslands of mostly secondary origin, and that are influenced by human activity. Mesic grasslands are traditionally used for hay-making, and xeric ones for pastures. Over the last 20 years, livestock farming in Bulgaria has significantly declined so that less grass is needed. Many types of grasslands are no longer used and lots of abandoned fields can be found nowadays in Bulgaria. The analyses in this study are based on 868 releves collected on xeric and mesic grasslands according to the methodological approach of Braun- Blanquet. As a result, five alliances within two classes are recognized: the class Festuco-Brometea, represented by three alliances, namely Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati, Chrysopogono-Danthonion calycinae and Festucion valesiacae, and the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, represented by two alliances, namely Arrhenatherion elatioris and Cynosurion cristati. The majority of the managed grasslands are situated in close proximity to s...

... Moenchia mantica --- . - 5 --- 12 --- 4 Veronica officinalis --- 1 --- 5 --- 6 --- 2 Nardus stricta --- 1 --- 5 --- . - 2 Alchemilla vulgaris sl --- . - 3 --- . - ... Poa annua --- 1 14.8 11 --- 6 --- 2 Trifolium repens --- 56 --- 73 --- 71 13.7 81 Veronica serpyllifolia --- . 11.6 9 --- 6 --- 4 ...