Search

The Rhodope crystalline massif is an Alpine metamorphic complex exposed across several mountain ranges in southern Bulgaria and northern Greece which has experienced a complex history including continental collision, partial subduction and syn-metamorphic nappe stacking followed by syn- to post-contractional extension. We present new 40Ar/39Ar and fission-track data from samples taken from both sides of the North Rhodopean Detachment that were combined with detailed structural studies to investigate the tectonothermal evolution of the northern Rila Mountains. A migmatite from the hanging wall of the North Rhodopean Detachment yields a 40Ar/39Ar muscovite age of 100.79 ± 0.55 Ma, a zircon fission-track age of 38.6 ± 1.9 Ma, and an apatite fission-track age of 21.4 ± 1.5 Ma. A biotite schist from the footwall of the detachment yields 40Ar/39Ar biotite age of 34.90 ± 0.15 Ma, and zircon and apatite fission-track ages of 35.6 ± 5.6 and 13.3 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. Our new data give evidence of a multistage exhumation of the study area. Late Early Cretaceous (~ 101 ± 0.6 Ma) cooling of the Variscan high-grade metamorphic basement through 440–400 °C was caused by either erosion of the emplacing thrust sheet, or post-contractional denudation. Fast exhumation along the North Rhodopean Extensional System drove a pulse of increased tectonic denudation and cooling during the Eocene (39–35 Ma). Exhumation of the rocks in the northern part of the Rila Mountains below 110 ± 10 °C during the middle–late Miocene was associated with displacement along a system of normal faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on egg parasitoids of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) were conducted during the period 1991-2018 in native localities of the pest on the Balkan Peninsula and in Asia Minor. In Bulgaria the biological material (2510 egg batches and 579273 eggs) was collected in 48 host localities. A number of 650 egg batches and 135611 eggs were studied from the Balkan countries (North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Greece), and in the Asian part of Turkey (Asia Minor), the biological material was examined from nine habitats. Eight species of egg parasitoids (Ooencyrtus pityocampae, Baryscapus servadeii, B. transversalis, Pediobius bruchicida, Anastatus bifasciatus, Eupelmus vesicularis, E. vladimiri and Trichogramma sp.) were found. The total regulating effect of egg parasitoids in Bulgaria was on average 17.6%, and in the other Balkan countries - 24.9%. Trichogramma sp. was found in 63.1% of the analysed samples in Bulgaria and in 55.6% from the neighboring countries. The percent of parasitism of T. pityocampa eggs by Trichogramma sp. was low - on average 0.39% for Bulgaria and 0.73% for the other Balkan countries. The relative share of the species in the total percentage of parasitised eggs for Bulgaria and the other countries was 2.2% and 2.9%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stachys thracica Davidov is a Balkan endemic species distributed in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. In Bulgaria, it is classified as "rare" and is under the protection of the Bulgarian biodiversity law. The aim of our study was to develop an efficient protocol for ex situ conservation of S. thracica and to perform comparative NMR-based metabolite profiling and bioactivity assays of extracts from in situ grown, in vitro cultivated, and ex vitro acclimated plants. Micropropagation of S. thracica was achieved by in vitro cultivation of mono-nodal segments on basal MS medium. Ex vitro adaptation was accomplished in the experimental field with 83% survival while conserved genetic identity between in vitro and ex vitro plants as shown by the overall sequence-related amplified polymorphism marker patterns was established. Verbascoside, chlorogenic acid, and trigonelline appeared the main secondary metabolites in in situ, in vitro cultivated, and ex vitro acclimated S. thracica. High total phenolic and flavonoid content as well as antioxidant and radical scavenging activity were observed in in situ and ex vitro plants. Further, the anti-inflammatory activity of S. thracica was tested by hemolytic assay and a high inhibition of the complement system was observed. Initiated in vitro and ex vitro cultures offer an effective tool for the management and better exploitation of the Stachys secondary metabolism and the selection of lines with high content of bioactive molecules and nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field surveys were conducted on 10-11.05.2023 and 17-18.06.2023 by observation of live individuals or road kills and active searching under stones and artificial materials. A total of 12 species were recorded: three amphibian species and nine reptiles. Six of the reptile species were new records to Mount Ismaros. Now the list of the herpetofauna of the area is consisted of 19 known species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper it is reported the first finding of a representative of the genus Grossuana from the Greek Rhodopes Mts. - Grossuana angeltsekovi Glöer & Georgiev, 2009 which is and the first record of the species for this country. The locality is a karstic spring, Rodopi county, Papikio Oros, near Vronti (= 4 km N of Kerasia) (445 m a.s.l.). The material is stored in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Greece we found one new species of the genus Pseudorientalia, and two new species from Turkey of the genus groups Torosia n. gen., and Pseudamnicola. We compared these species with the known species from Greece and Turkey and we found that all three species are new. The new species are described here as Pseudorientalia tzekovi n. sp., Pseudamnicola vinarskii n. sp. and Torosia proschwitzi n. gen. n. sp. In addition, D. Georgiev collected in Greece Bythinella charpentieri cabirius Reischütz 1988. Because Reischütz did not depict the anatomy of the species (Reischütz 1988), we provide herewith the morphology of the penis for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New data on the species diversity and ecology of some snail species occurring in the island of Samothraki (north Aegean Greece) is presented. This island's malacological aspect has not been studied since 1988. Considering the results from previous molluscan studies on the island, our newly acquired data, and recent taxonomic changes, it was observed that a total of 38 species live on the island. The humid habitats in lowland plan (Platanus orientalis) forests with presence of artificial calcium sources were the richest in snail species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]