Nesho Neshev (1)*, Mariyan Yanev (1), Anyo Mitkov (1), Cveta Moskova (2),
Georgi Dimitrov (2), and Sonya Goranovska

1. Department of Agriculture and Herbology, Agricultural University of Plovdiv, 12 Mendeleev
Blvd., Plovdiv, Bulgaria. *E-mail: n_neshev85@abv.bg
2. Department of Agronomy, University of Forestry, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1797 Sofia,
Bulgaria.
3. Department of Agrotechnique and Economy of Maize Production, Maize Research Institute,
Agricultural academy, Knezha, Bulgaria.

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is among the most essential oil crops worldwide. The main limiting factor for its growth and development is the uncontrolled weed infestation. Primary method for weed control is the application of herbicides. If applied improperly they can cause herbicidal phytotoxicity. One phenomenon for this stress is the herbicide drift from one field to another. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the response of the conventional oilseed rape variety ‘РТ 225’ to simulated herbicide drift and subsequent ameliorative treatment with plant biostimulant. In this regard, herbicidal drift from a field of Clearfield oilseed rape to the conventional one was imitated. The herbicidal product used was Cleranda SC (17.5 g·L-1 imazamox and 375 g·L-1 metazachlor) used for weed management in Clearfield oilseed rapes. The trial was conducted during 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 on the field of the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Treatments of the trial were: 1. Untreated control; 2. 0.40 L·ha-1 (20 % of the rate 2.00 L·ha-1); 3. 0.60 L·ha-1 (30 % of the rate 2.00 L·ha-1); 4. 0.40 L·ha-1 + Amino Expert® Impuls (selected biostimulant) – 3.00 L·ha-1, and 5. 0.60 L·ha-1 + Amino Expert Impuls – 3.00 L·ha-1. The levels of phytotoxicity were evaluated by the 9-score scale of European Weed Research Society. Parameters as total leaf chlorophyll content, number of primary branches, plant height at the end of the growing season, seed yield, weight of 1000 seeds, and seed oil content were studied. The damages caused by the herbicidal drift were more severely pronounced at 30 % of the solution fallen to the plants. The ameliorative treatment with the plant biostimulant Amino Expert Impuls helped the plants overcome the herbicidal stress, and the plants showed higher results for the studied indicators.

Received: 26 June 2025 / Accepted: 02 October 2025 / Available online: 11 October 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Elena Zdravkova (1)*, Teodora Teofilova (2), Hristo Valchovski (3), and Nikolay Kodzhabashev (1)

1. Department of Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry, Forestry University, 10 Kliment
Ohridski Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria. E-mails: elenavzdravkova@gmail.com*, ndkodjak@abv.bg
2. Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBER), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences(BAS), 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria. E-mail: oberon_zoo@abv.bg
3. Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection ‘Nikola Poushkarov’, 7 Bansko Shose Str., 1331 Sofia, Bulgaria. E-mail: h_valchovski@abv.bg

Between 2016 and 2018, during a study on deadwood biomass stocks and their role in forest ecosystems of the Berkovski Balkan region (Western Stara Planina Mountains, Bulgaria), we investigated earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) captured using pitfall traps. With the help of 156 pitfall traps set in 13 sampling plots, we collected over 500 individuals belonging to 20 species and 9 genera. There are four new records for the region of the Western Stara Planina Mts.: Dendrobaena balcanica (Černosvitov, 1937), Dendrobaena depressa (Fitzinger, 1833), Dendrobaena hortensis (Michaelsen, 1890) and Dendrobaena rhodopensis (Černosvitov, 1937); three of them are new for the whole territory of the Bulgarian part of Stara Planina Mts. as well. Along with these species, we found three Balkan endemics: Cernosvitovia rebeli (Rosa, 1897), Dendrobaena balcanica, Dendrobaena rhodopensis and one rare species: Dendrobaena hortensis. Zoogeographical analysis showed that the peregrine species dominated, which seems typical for the earthworm diversity of Bulgaria. Pitfall trapping proved to be a suitable method for assessing species composition and collecting ecological data on oligochaete communities. It also shows potential for future use in ecosystem biomonitoring. We aimed to survey lumbricid fauna in the Western Balkan forests using а non-traditional method for collection of earthworms.

Received: 27 June 2025 / Accepted: 08 October 2025 / Available online: 16 October 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.  

Rossen Vassilev (1)*, Antoaneta Petrova (2), Kamen Bakardzhiev (3), Momchil Nenchev (4), Boris Assyov (5), and Anita Tosheva (1)

1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, 8 Dragan
Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria. E-mails: rosendv@uni-sofia.bg*, atosheva@biofac.uni-sofia.bg
2. Botanical Garden, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 664, 1000 Sofia. E-mail: petrovabotgar1@abv.bg
3. Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, 6 Triaditza Str., fl. 5, office 504, 1000 Sofia. E-mail: bakardzhiev_kamen@abv.bg
4. Suhata reka, bl. 133, 1505 Sofia, Bulgaria. E-mail: nenchevmomchil@gmail.com
5. Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
E-mail: contact@boletales.com

The flora of Sakar Mt. is far from well-studied. The territory of the mountain is shared between two floristic regions in Bulgaria – Tundzha Hilly Country and Thracian Lowland. The aim of the study is to improve the knowledge of the floristic composition of these regions. We exploited standard methods widely used in floristic research. Resulting from the study we report eight vascular plant species from Sakar Mt. as new for the Tundzha Hilly Country floristic region incl. Pulsatilla montana (Hoppe) Rchb. and Osyris alba L., and three species as new for the Thracian Lowland floristic region incl. Legousia pentagonia (L.) Thell. assessed as Vulnerable in the Red List of Bulgarian vascular plants. The distribution of four species in the Tundzha Hilly Country floristic region is confirmed. The presence in Sakar Mt. of an interesting member of Campanula rotundifolia group is briefly discussed.

30 June 2025 / Accepted: 09 October 2025 / Available online: 16 October 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Аnzhela Dzyba (1)*, Nataliia Boiko (2), and Nataliia Doiko (2)

1. Department of Landscape Architecture and Phytodesign, Education and Research Institute
of Forestry and Landscape-Park Management, National University of Life and Environmental
Sciences of Ukraine, 03041, 19 Horikhuvatskyi Shliakh Str., Kyiv, Ukraine.
*E-mail: orhideya_oncydium@ukr.net
2. The ‘Olexandria’ State Dendrological Park of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
09113 Kyiv region, Bila Tserkva – 13, Ukraine.

In this study, we determined the effectiveness and perceived satisfaction with cultural ecosystem services in Ukraine during the war in six protected areas. The aim of the study was to determine the importance and effectiveness of eight cultural ecosystem services during the war for visitors to six protected parks in four regions of Ukraine. The following methods were used: field survey (route), analytical, systematisation, sociological, socio-psychological and statistical; the Likert psychometric scale was used to survey visitors to protected parks. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. In all parks, female respondents predominated, their participation ranged from 52.8 % to 69.2 %. Park visitors were mainly young people aged 16–30 (from 30.6 % to 77.5 %) and people aged 51–64. During the war, visitors to all studied parks noted the importance and effectiveness of cultural ecosystem services, such as recreation, aesthetics, and natural history. The age groups 16–30 and 51–64 were the most in need of such services. The effectiveness and importance of the service of inspiration were confirmed, while spiritual enrichment scored the lowest among all age groups in the four parks. Almost one third of visitors in four parks offered suggestions for improving environmental quality, with the greatest demand being for enhanced landscaping and an increase in the number of trees. The quality of vegetation and the location of the parks influenced overall visitors’ satisfaction. The results of this research can be used to improve environment quality through urban green spaces and to address community needs via cultural ecosystem services provided by the studied parks.

Received: 25 July 2025 / Accepted: 11 October 2025 / Available online: 24 October 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Ivona Nikolchova* and Georgi Kostov

Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Forestry, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd.,
1797 Sofia, Bulgaria. E-mail: ivona_gn@abv.bg

The rapid and persistent climate change in recent years has amplified the occurrence and spread of various extreme weather events, causing significant socio-economic, ecological, and cultural damages. Forest fires have become constant threat to human life and major challenge to the resilience of forest ecosystems and their ability to recover after severe disturbances. The focus is on the topic of forest vegetation regeneration as first stage of recovery and adaptation. The study, conducted as part of the FIRE-RES project, focuses on the area affected by one of the most severe wildfires near the village of Dabovo (2007), within the jurisdiction of the Regional Forest Directorate Stara Zagora. Due to its characteristics, the area faces constant threat of extreme fires. The objective of the study is to conduct a scientifically grounded assessment of forest resilience and post-fire recovery capacity. To assess regeneration processes, we established methodology for evaluating regeneration and development of understorey vegetation in forest areas affected by fires. Three areas with different exposures, i.e., different types of habitats, were selected within the burned area, where three transects were laid, covering all altitudes within the fire zone. The inventory in the survey plots was carried out by tree species, origin, coverage, and height. The results demonstrate significant relationships between post-fire regeneration dynamics and the structural and ecological condition of the landscape following the disturbance. The real assessment of regeneration after major disturbances allows precise determination of appropriate forestry measures and the creation of a landscape resilient to various challenges. Fifteen years after the Dabovo fire, natural regeneration remains spatially uneven and incomplete, with pioneer species dominating the sun-exposed slopes, emphasising the need for targeted actions to provide ecosystem recovery.

Received: 21 July 2025 / Accepted: 12 October 2025 / Available online: 24 October 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.