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The feeding behavior and trophic niche overlap between Stone Marten (Martes foina Erxleben, 1777) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) in two regions of Bulgaria with different human influence were determined. A total of 1,440 fecal samples were collected from agricultural area in the Upper Thracian Plain and from near-natural habitat in Central Stara Planina Mts. In agricultural area, both predators preferred fruits in all seasons, while rodents dominated in winter diets in the mountain area. Our results showed that the Stone Marten and the Red Fox had high trophic niche overlap in both habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we assess the environmental impact of urbanization in three freshwater biotopes, using the levels of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in 10 meristic morphological traits in the Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771)). Two of the studied biotopes are located in the boundaries of the city of Plovdiv (one in the central part, the other in a suburban residential area), and the third is located in the vicinity of the village of Orizare. Our working hypothesis is based on the assumption that urban and suburban sites are more severely affected by human activities than rural sites. However, according to our results, the population of P. ridibundus inhabiting Maritsa River in the central part of Plovdiv City, and that in the suburban zone, have found relatively good living conditions. Contrary to our expectations, the worst environmental conditions were observed in the rural zone, where anthropogenic stress related to intensive pastoral animal husbandry and crop farming was present. The absence of adult individuals in the rural site is also an indicator of unfavorable living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body condition is increasingly used to assess the status of populations and as a proxy for individual fitness. A common, quick and non-invasive approach is to estimate condition from the relation between body length and mass. Among the methods developed for this purpose, the Scaled Mass Index (SMI) appears best suited for comparisons among populations. We assembled data from 17 populations of European green toads (Bufotes viridis) with the aim of devising a standard formula applicable for monitoring this species. The mean value of the exponents describing length–mass allometry in these samples was 3.0047. Hence, we propose using 3 as a scaling coefficient for calculating the SMI in green toads. From the contrast of SMI values for both sexes within populations, estimated with either the population-specific or the standard coefficient, we conclude that applying the standard formula not only facilitates comparisons among populations but may also help to avoid misinterpretation of variation within populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper researches the impact of the urban heat island effect on the species composition and distribution of dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) along the Maritsa River in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The study was conducted on imaginal and larval forms of the species, and the studied area was divided into 3 sub-areas (urban, suburban and rural) according to the proximity to the city center. Along the urban gradient from the rural to the urban zone, an increase in air, water and soil temperature by ≈1-2°C was observed. Differences were found also in the dissolved oxygen in the water, which had the highest values in the rural area (10.70 mg/l) and decreased towards the urban area, where it was 9.03 mg/l. Four dragonfly species were confirmed for the study area, and 2 new species were recorded. The most species were found in the urban zone, probably due to the higher temperatures compared to the other two areas, while at the same time, no larvae were found there, due to the lower amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. The current paper gives a better understanding of the impact that the urban heat island effect has on dragonflies in cities and aims to contribute for timely measures and decisions for the management of wetlands around urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report a peculiar case of deformed carapaces of 4 individuals of the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) from Veleka RIver in "Strandzha" Nature Park. A discussion of their potential causes and comparison with similar cases are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is a review of the herpetofauna of the sourtheastern part of the Black Sea Coast and Strandzha Nature Park. A total of thirty nine species were recorded for both regions (12 amphinian species, 27 - reptiles), of which two newt species (Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus ivanbureshi), ten species of anurans (Bombina bombina, B. variegata, Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis, Pelobates syriacus, Hyla orientalis, Rana dalmatina, Pelophylax ridibundus, P. cf. esculentus, P. bedriage), eleven species of lizards (Mediodactylus daniliewskii, Angius colchicus, Pseudopus apodus, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Lacerta agilis, L. trilineata, L. viridis, Podarcis muralis, P. tauricus, P. erhardii, Darevskia praticola), four species of native turtles and tortoises (Testudo graeca, T. hermanni, Emys orbicularis, Mauremys rivulata) and twelve species of snakes (Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Platyceps najadum, P. collaris, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Dolichophis caspius, Elaphe sauromates, Zamenis longissimus, Zamenis situla, Coronella austriaca, Malpolon insignitus, Vipera ammodytes). A comparison between the species compositon of the herpetofauna between South Black Sea Coast and Strandzha NP is made and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, drone models are becoming more and more diverse with many different shapes and features. Some of them are more compact in shape, others are more stable in flight and with different camera qualities. In our study, we compare two drone models - "Phantom 4 Pro + v2.0" and "Mavic Pro Platinum" as a monitoring tool for freshwater turtles. Total flight covered area is approximately 114 decares (11.4 ha) above two rivers in Strandzha Mts. - Veleka River and Silistar River. The current study has shown that "Phantom 4 Pro + v2.0" is very suitable for wide rivers, where there are no overhanging trees over the riverbed and "Mavic Pro Platinum" is more suitable for narrow riverbeds with overhanging crowns of trees above them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study presents data on the distribution, abundance, density, sex and age ratio of the populations of two freshwater turtle species - Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Mauremys rivulata (Valenciennes, 1833) in selected wetlands in the eastern part of "Strandzha" Nature Park. During the research period were recorded a total of 142 ind. of E. orbicularis and 65 ind. of M. rivulata. Two single localities of the invasive species Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839) have been documented as well. Morphometric characteristics and body condition index of the captured individuals is also presented. Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) were used for video recording of some sections of the studied transects, testing their possible usage for monitoring purposes. The current conservation status and threats for the studied species are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluctuating asymmetry is a result of the organism's inability to develop in a certain way and exhibits disruptions in its early-stage developmental stability. The analysis of fluctuating asymmetry levels in anuran populations allows for a parallel assessment of the quality of the living environment. Meristic traits of anurans, such as colour marks (stripes and spots) on the backside of the body and limbs, are suitable for measuring levels of fluctuating asymmetry. The current study applies the method of fluctuating asymmetry in meristic morphological traits in adult individuals of B. viridis as a biomarker for assessment of the environmental quality of two semi-natural habitats - Halm Bunardzhik Hill (site 1) and Mladezhki Halm Hill (site 2), located in a highly urbanised area of Plovdiv City, Bulgaria. This study recorded low levels of fluctuating asymmetry for individuals of B. viridis from both sites: 0.27 (site 1) and 0.25 (site 2) for both studied hills, respectively. The low asymmetry levels reported for individuals of B. viridis from both sites indicated that their early stages of development had occurred under good environmental conditions, with a minimum risk of disturbances in their developmental stability. These results suggested that the environmental conditions at both sites were good at the time of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fulton's condition factor and the scaled mass index of the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) and the Balkan Pond Turtle (Mauremys rivulata) populations from Silistar RIver in "Strandzha" Nature Park were calculated and compared. E. orbicularis shows greater values of both indices, than M. rivulata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present unpublished data on the diet of three lizards (Lacerta trilineata, Lacerta agilis and Podarcis tauricus) from the Lacertidae family, collected in 1974 in few localities in Southern Bulgaria. The analyzed data showed that the insects (Insecta) are the most numerous and the most frequently met food component and among the non-insect components the spiders and isopods are slightly predominating. The largest niche breadth was recorded in Podarcis tauricus (6.135), followed by Lacerta trilineata (5.263) and Lacerta agilis (4.132). All three studied lacertid species are classified as opportunistic general feeders (polyphages), which may show slight preference towards beetles, ants or spiders, depending on the occupied habitat or the season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the present experiment we aimed to study the possible negative effects of two commonly used insecticides – cypermethrin (CYP) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) on the respiration rate of Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771) after 96 hours and 30 days. We found that both chemicals altered the respiration process; however CYP was determined to be more toxic regarding this particular biological measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study presents data about the variations in body size and color polymorphism of toads from the Bufotes viridis complex inhabiting two semi-natural habitats - "Hulm Bunardzhik" Hill (Site 1) and "Mladezhki hulm" Hill (Site 2) located in a highly urbanized area of Plovdiv City, Bulgaria. The purpose of the analyses was to obtain data allowing a better understanding of the adaptive capabilities of this anuran complex, allowing it to survive in diverse, incl. anthropogenically transformed habitats. The results of our study showed that for the parameter snout-vent length (SVL) the main effect of the habitat (site) was significant, while the effects of sex and the combination sex and site were insignificant. We found significant interactions between all three tested variables (site, sex and combination sex and site) for the parameter body weight (BW). The population from "Mladezhki hulm" Hill was strongly dominated by individuals from the two dark-background morphs (C and D), while the population from "Hulm Bunardzhik" Hill was dominated by the light-colored (A and B morphs) individuals. Our results support the hypothesis that color polymorphism in anurans is also influenced by environmental factors and habitat characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data about the feeding ecology of the green toad (Bufotes viridis complex) from two hills near the city of Plovdiv, Mladezhki Hill and Bunardzhik Hill, are presented. The diet of the green toad consists mainly of insects, predominantly Hymenoptera (mostly Formicidae) and Coleoptera. When comparing the quantitative composition of the trophic spectrum between the two populations, we did not detect statistically significant differences. However, the value of the trophic niche breadth of the population from the Mladezhki Hill was significantly greater than that of the population from the Bunardzhik Hill, indicating that the first population feeds on more diverse prey. The overlapping of food niches between the two populations is low due to the different conditions and microhabitats of the two studied hills. The green toad can be classified as a polyphage (zoophage), which plays an important role in food chains, both in natural and urban ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority pollutants in surface waters according to Directive 2013/39/EC. They are toxic, persistent and tend to accumulate in high concentrations in aquatic organisms. In the present study, zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha was confirmed as a bioindicator for contaminated freshwater ecosystems. We aimed to study the effects of short-term (96 h) and long-term (31 days) exposure to Cd and PAHs on the Condition index (CI) and Soft Tissue Wet Ratio (STWR) in zebra mussel. Overall, we found alterations in both CI and STWR (as compared to the control group) at all tested concentrations, including the one below the allowable concentration according to the EU legislation. These results demonstrated the toxicity of both contaminants. Furthermore, we confirmed that the studied condition indices could be successfully applied as biomarkers as they are fast and low-cost in future monitoring and risk assessment of polluted freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A contemporary review of the studies on the trophic spectrum and feeding ecology of the Bulgarian frogs and toads is presented. The analysis of the Bulgarian herpetological literature showed that currently, there are 18 specialized studies on the diet of the Bulgarian anuran species. Of all 16 anuran species, occurring in Bulgaria, 9 (56.25%) have been studied in connection with their trophic spectrum. For four species (25.00%), there is very little data, and for 7 (43.75%), such studies have not yet been done. All Bulgarian species of amphibians are zoophagous, mainly insectivorous. All studied species are general feeders (polyphages), except Bombina variegata, which shows a slight preference to Coleoptera and Bufo bufo and Bufotes viridis, which show slight preference to Formicidae and Coleoptera. Cannibalism was recorded only in Pelophylax ridibundus. The highest values of the trophic niches breadths are recorded in P. ridibundus, R. graeca, R. temporaria, and R. dalmatina. The trophic niches breadths of the other anuran species found in Bulgaria have significantly lower values, the lowest being in Hyla orientalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape change associated with urbanization presents a great challenge for conservation, because of the way it affects biodiversity. Turtles represent a very important component of the urban ecosystems. The European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (L., 1758) is one of the two native aquatic turtle species, occurring in Bulgaria, including the city of Plovdiv, which is the second largest city in the country and its territory covers mainly the urbanized environment and adjacent terrains. According to the data for the last 100 years, the European pond turtle in the studied region is increasing its distribution range within the city, due to the development of dense system of irrigation canals. The presence of the invasive species Trachemys scripta elegans was registered in the region of Plovdiv City. The abundances and average density of the populations are relatively low and the age structure of the population of E. orbicularis from Maritsa River has the highest percentage of adults and juvenile individuals, indicating that the population of this species in the city is unstable. The main threat to European pond turtle in Plovdiv City is the anthropogenic factor, which is mainly through the loss of suitable habitats on the one hand and the direct destruction of specimens on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species composition and conservation significance of the amphibians and reptiles from three wetlands in Southern Bulgaria, with different degree of anthropogenic influence - Protected Area (PA) "Zlato pole", "Tsalapitsa" Rice-Fields and "Plovdiv" Rice-Fields is presented in the current study. The registered contemporary threats for the herpetofauna in the studied wetlands are listed and discussed. The most dangerous for amphibian and reptile biodiversity and degradation of the habitats remain habitats destruction through drainage and land modification, pollution and direct killing of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unusual breeding site of the Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) is reported from Ropotamo Reserve in the south Black Sea Coast. Few adult and subadult individuals, producing mating calls, as well as eggs and newly hatched larvae were observed in brackish standing water pools on a rocky shore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal and habitat variation of the trophic spectrum of Kotschy's gecko (Mediodactylus kotschyi rumelicus), as well as the species' trophic niche breadth was studied, based on feces analysis. The material was collected in spring and autumn of 2007 and 2008. The diet of M. kotschyi consists mainly of insects (59.51%), and from the non-insect food we registered Aranea (3.46%) and Acari (4.50%). From the insects, largest share have the ants - Hymenoptera, Formicidae (41.18%), followed by Coleoptera (11.77%), represented mainly by the Curculionidae family and Heteroptera (3.46%). In most of the samples (93.41%) were identified a significant amount of plant residues (32.52% of the total food). The taxonomic contents of the gecko's diet remains almost unchanged in the spring and in the autumn. The index of dominance of Berger-Parker (d) showed a moderate value of 0.41 and the trophic niche breadth, calculated with Simpson's diversity index (1/Simpson) was 3.53, which is relatively low value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim in the present study was to give some preliminary data on the effects of Cd, which is considered as priority toxic substance in surface waters according to Directive 2008/105/EO (2008) on the lysosomal membrane stability and respiration rate in two invasive and resilient to changes in the surrounding media freshwater mollusks - Chinese pond mussel (Synanodonta woodiana) and zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in laboratory conditions for 72 hours. Significant decrease in the lysosomal destabilization indices with lower retention time and increase in the respiration rate index were observed in the treated with Cd mussels, compared with the control. In general, the tested species proved to be sensitive to Cd exposure in terms of the two studied biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the present study was to provide some preliminary data on the effects of Cd, which is considered as priority toxic substance in surface waters according to Directive 2008/105/EO on the gill structure and respiration rate of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) under ex situ conditions. We observed significant histological changes, which were grouped as proliferative and degenerative ones, as well as increase in the respiration rate index in the treated with Cd fish, compared with the control. In general, the tested fish species proved to be sensitive to Cd exposure in terms of the studied parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six populations of Zebrina detrita Müller, 1774 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Pulmonata) occuring in different habitats, regions and altitude were studied by shell morphology. The width and height of the shell and its aperture were measured, and also the last whorl height. Their proportions were calculated. Some differences in the shell size were registered in populations situated at different altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study attempts to classify the amphibian and reptilian fauna in urban environment, characterized by: ecological plasticity and habitat preferences; temperature regime; humidity and level of synanthropy. Totally seven amphibian species (Bufo bufo, Bufo viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelobates syriacus, Rana dalmatina and Pelophylax ridibundus) and eight species of reptiles (Mediodactylus kotschyi, Lacerta viridis, Lacerta trilineata, Podarcis tauricus, Emys orbicularis, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata and Dolichophis caspius) are analyzed and classified in ecological groups according to the above mentioned characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to define and to analyze the environmental and territorially-determined factors and constraints influencing the sustainable development and the sustainable management of three protected areas located in the city of Plovdiv. The study sites are natural protection areas of unique nature due their mixed natural and anthropogenic functions. Being integral parts of the city they are balancing the requirements of specialized nature protection with their typical urban recreational role as urban parks. In order to meet the requirements of all these overlapping and sometimes controversial functions, the present study analyses the territorial development factors and constraints through detailed geo-informational models of the territory and its biotic, abiotic, natural and anthropogenic structures. These models were developed as part of the work on the management plans of the three protected sites. The biotic and abiotic factors were investigated through field surveys where all major plant and animal groups were studied. All important species and habitats, all specific threats and conservation problems together with all anthropogenic structures were mapped as parts of the GIS model which then served as a basis for the functional zoning of the three protected territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current synopsis reviews the types of aquatic habitats, that are located in the city of Plovdiv and analyses their importance for the biodiversity. Studies of the biodiversity in urban landscapes are of particular importance because they are still scarce. Several plant and animal groups are studied in the city of Plovdiv - mosses, mollusks, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Their distribution among habitats is presented, as well as specific threats and conservation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study determines the level of synanthropy of the amphibians and reptiles in the city of Plovdiv, based on Nuorteva's Index of synanthropy, with slight modification, proposed here for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study presents briefly the species composition and distribution of the amphibians and reptiles in the Nature Park "Sinite Kamani" in Stara Planina Mnt. Bulgaria, based on a 2x2 km UTM grid. Between 2012 and 2014, we identified total 20 species (7 amphibians and 13 reptiles). We documented three new amphibian species for the region (Hyla arborea, Rana dalmatina and Rana graeca, which is discovered for the area for the first time) and three species of reptiles (Testudo hermanni, Ablepharus kitaibelii and Lacerta trilienata). The contemporary conservation status for each species is presented and conservation threats and problems, specific for the park are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently the problem of the effects of the road network and traffic on the amphibians and reptiles in Bulgaria is poorly studied. During the period March 2002 - March 2004 in the Buffer Zone of Biosphere Reserve "Srebarna" (NE Bulgaria) were built two anti-fire roads from the eastern and western side of the lake in area of grasslands of semi-steppe type, typical for north-eastern Bulgaria. The aim of the constructed roads is to provide access for fire vehicles to areas in and around the reserve. The current study aims to provide data on the impact of road traffic and the newly constructed road network and another previously existing road on the amphibians and reptiles inhabiting the buffer zone of the biosphere reserve "Srebarna". For the entire period of study in the three studied road sections a total of 15 dead specimens of amphibians belonging to 4 species (Bombina bombina, Hyla arborea, Bufo bufo, Bufo viridis) and 70 dead specimens of reptiles belonging to 8 species (Emys orbicularis, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis tauricus, Podarcis muralis, Natrix natrix, Coronella austriaca and Dolichophis caspius) were recorded. Several "hot spots", where most cadavers were recorded are well described and possible conservation measures are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of the threats in the "Stara Reka" reserve and its adjacent subalpine and alpine areas is important since it makes it possible the appropriate conservation measures to be taken in order to prevent or reduce the negative effects on the biodiversity and habitats. The assessment was based on systematic studies and visits in the "Stara Reka" Reserve, located within National Park "Central Balkan" (Bulgaria), during spring, summer and autumn seasons of 2010-2011. A number of threats were recorded, where those by anthropogenic origin were predominating. Tourists have negatively influenced the wild plants such as Allium ursinum, Inula helenium and Primula frondosa by picking them up. Damages were registered on the information system and signs. Waste disposal, fires, poaching and illegal fishing were also some of the recorded threats. Many natural succession changes quite dynamically vary the habitats in the reserve, but the most dangerous for the biodiversity and degradation of habitats remain fires, erosion and introduction of alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on the trophic spectrum of three species of lacertid lizards (Lacerta agilis, Lacerta trilineata and Podarcis muralis) was carried out, based on 20 specimens collected in the period 1967-1973 in various localities in Bulgaria. The analyzed data showed that the insects (Insecta) are the most numerous and the most frequently met among the alimentary components of the total amount of food of the studied stomachs (except for Lacerta agilis, where spiders are slightly predominating). The non-insect components consisted spiders and isopods. The largest niche breadth was recorded in Lacerta trilineata (8.25), followed by Podarcis muralis (5.20) and Lacerta agilis (3.44). The niche overlap between the three species (pair-wise comparison) showed medium values and in our opinion there should not be any serious competition for food resources at the places with sympatric distribution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current paper is to study the distribution of the amphibians and reptiles in the urban habitats in the city of Plovdiv and the changes in species composition from the periphery to the city center, as well as to classify them according to their level of synantropy. The urban habitats occupied by amphibians were clustered into two main groups: (1) aquatic/semi-aquatic habitats and (2) terrestrial habitats. From the group of aquatic habitats clearly distinguished were the rivers, at about 60 % similarity level as the other aquatic habitats were further divided into two groups: (1) standing ponds and (2) irrigation canals with riparian plant communities. The terrestrial habitats were divided into three groups: (1) inner spaces between buildings, courtyards and the ruderal communities; (2) abandoned lands and vineyards and (3) small and large urban parks and high-fruit orchards. The urban habitats inhabited by reptiles were divided into terrestrial and aquatic, where the semi-aquatic habitats were differentiated from the typical aquatic ones at about 60% faunistic similarity level. The terrestrial habitats were further clustered into two major groups with approximately 27% of faunistic similarity. The distribution of the batracho- and the herpetofauna along urban-rural gradient is analyzed and the recorded species are classified based on their habitat preferences and level of sinantropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study compares the egg size (length, width, egg volume and clutch size) between two subspecies of the Kotschy's Gecko - Mediodactylus kotschyi rumelicus and Mediodactylus kotschyi daniliewskii from Bulgaria. Our results showed that M. k. rumelicus from Plovdiv has bigger eggs, compared to M. k. daniliewskii from Sozopol, The South Black Sea Coast and Ukraine, regarding length, width and egg volume. The clutch size between the two subspecies both from Bulgaria and Ukraine is very similar and contains average of 2 eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During our study we identified 23 prey items in 12 prey categories in the trophic spectrum of Anguis fragilis with average number of prey items per stomach 2.87. The most important prey components are snails and slugs (Gastropoda) with 39.14% and beetles (Coleoptera) with 21.72%. The estimated trophic niche breadth is very high - 19.46. The Slow Worm forages primarily at dawn or twilight, and the feeding is most intensive in the summer season. It can be considered "swallowing" predator and a "polyphage" to some extend, capturing only slowly moving prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study reports 29 cases of abnormal amplexus in some anuran species (Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Epidalea viridis, Pelophylax ridibundus, Rana temporaria and Rana dalmatina) from Bulgaria and one from Greece (Rana dalmatina and Rana graeca). Totally six different types of aberrations from the normal amplexus in anurans were detected: multiple amplexus (numerous males and one female); amplexus from the abdominal side; amplexus between two males; amplexus between alive male and dead female; amplexus between specimens from different species and amplexus between a male and inanimate object. The possible reasons for the occurrence of the various cases of abnormal amplexus are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study presents the contemporary status and distribution of the amphibians and reptiles in the city of Plovdiv. To track changes in the status of amphibians and reptiles in the research area through time, a retrospective analysis was made based on available literary data. During the past 100 years four species of amphibians (Triturus karelinii, Lissotriton wdgaris, Bombina bombina, B. variegata) and four species of reptiles (Coronella austriaca, Zamenis longissimus, Elaphe sauromates, Vipera ammodytes) probably have disappeared from the study area; one amphibian species (Bufo bufo) and one reptile (Natrix natrix) have not changed their status, one amphibian (Pelobates syriacus) and two reptile species (Ablepharus kitaibelii, Podarcis muralis) have reduced their localities and four amphibian species (Epidalea viridis, Rana dalmatina, Pelophylax ridibundus, Hyla arborea) and seven species of reptiles (Mediodactylus kotschyi, Lacerta trilineata, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis tauricus, Emys orbicularis, Dolichophis caspius, Natrix tessellata) have increased their localities and frequency of occurrence. The records of the two tortoise species (Testudo hermanni and T. graeca) in the city, and the presence of the Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) should be considered as accidental. Important Herpetological Areas (IHA) in the study region are also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese pond mussel (Sinanodonta woodiana) is a unionid mussel, which is known to accumulate heavy metals, making it useful for biomonitoring. The current preliminary research aimed to study the lysosomal membrane stability in heamocytcs of Sinanodonta woodiana by applying the neutral red retention assay (NRR), as well as changes in the respiratory rate under acute metal exposure. The mussels were treated with different concentrations of Ni and Pb in laboratory conditions for 72 h. After the 72nd h exposure to Ni and Pb the lysosomes retained the dye between 30 to 60 minutes in the mussels exposed to the higher concentrations. The respiratory rate was measured at the 24lh and 72nd hour and it increased in a dose-dependent manner. We can conclude that the acute metal exposure, including all metal concentrations below the allowable concentrations, lead to destabilization of the lysosomal membrane stability and changes in the respiratory rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study analyzes the structure and some features of two urban metapopulations of the Balkan Wall Lizard (Podarcis tauricus (Pallas, 1814)) from Nature Monument (NM) "Mladezhki halm" and Nature Monument "Halm na osvoboditelite" in the city of Plovdiv (South Bulgaria). In both study sites, the Balkan Wall lizard inhabits exclusively the interior of the hills and prefers mainly open areas with rare grass and shrub vegetation. The recorded dominant plant species are not autochthonous for the hills, but gradually displaced with many decorative species, used widely in the gardening and the city parks. The population abundance from both trills is relatively low, with higher values in NM "Mladezhki halm" and generally shows a decrease pattern for the two year period. In the hills of Plovdiv, the Balkan Wall lizard shows a bimodal diurnal and seasonal activity. Both metapopulations showed a sex ratio close to 1:1 with a slight superiority of the females (1:1.29), but with no statistically significant deviation. The age structure of both metapopulations is almost identical - the highest percentage takes the adults, followed by the subadults and juveniles, with no significant deviations from the normal ratio. The possible reasons for the contemporary distribution and population structure of the Balkan Wall lizard are discussed. Historic land use change and its effect on the populations are discussed as well. The main risks for this species in the city of Plovdiv are construction and forestation (destruction of open terrains). Nevertheless, the Balkan Wall lizard seems to have successfully overcome the risks of urbanization and its population seem stable and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study analyzes the types of mortalities of the green toad (Epidalea viridis) in the city of Plovdiv. Among all recorded mortalities (n=42), the road kill was the most common cause of death (65 % of the cases), followed by killing by humans (usually children) - 31%. Killing of green toads by dogs (2%) and domestic cats (2%) has the lowest impact. Both most significant factors (road kill and killing by humans) affect mainly the adult specimens. No statistically significant difference between the mortalities of the two sexes was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current communication reports few cases of unusual winter activity of the Kotschy's Gecko - Mediodactylus kotschyi rumelicus from the city of Plovdiv and Mediodactylus kotschyi daniliewskii from Hrishteni Village (Stara Zagora District) in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]