Teodora Marius Teofilova (1)* and Nikolay Dyankov Kodzhabashev (2)

1. Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBER), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
(BAS), 1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria. *Е-mail: oberon_zoo@abv.bg

2. Department of Hunting and Game Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Forestry, 10,
Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria. Е-mail: ndkodjak@abv.bg

The present study adds new data to the list of Carabidae species from the Eastern Rhodope Mts. of Bulgaria, and reveals some patterns of the species composition from zoogeographic, ecological and conservation point of view. A total of 5915 specimens of 138 species belonging to 50 genera and 19 tribes are found, including 13 endemic species and subspecies, one relict and some rare and stenotopic species. This represents, respectively, 18.5 % of all established for the Bulgarian carabid fauna species and 40 % of the genera. Eleven genera (Acupalpus Latreille, 1829, Anchomenus Bonelli, 1810, Anisodactylus Dejean, 1829, Carterus Dejean & Boisduval, 1829, Demetrias Bonelli, 1810, Elaphrus Fabricius, 1775, Gynandromorphus Dejean, 1829, Olisthopus Dejean, 1828, Parophonus Ganglbauer, 1891, Tachys Dejean, 1821 and Tachyura Motschulsky, 1862) are new for the Eastern Rhodope Mts. Two of the genera (Carterus and Gynandromorphus) are also new for the whole Rhodope Mts. The subgenus Philochthus Stephens, 1828 is new for the Eastern Rhodopes and subgenus Phyla Motschulsky, 1844 is new for the whole Rhodope Mts. Among the species, 60 species are new for the Eastern Rhodopes, and 24 species of them are new for the whole Rhodope Mts. The richest tribes are Harpalini (46 species), Amarini (14 species), Lebiini (11 species) and Carabini and Sphodrini (10 species each). Pterostichini and Bembidiini are represented with nine species each. Zoogeographical analysis shows that the Mediterranean faunal type prevailed. In relation to their life forms, zoophagous carabids predominate, presented by 78 species (56.5 %). Mixophyitophagous are 60 species (43.5 %). Most of the ground beetles are mesoxerophilous (51 species, 37 %).

Yuliya V. Kladko (1)*, Vera E. Benkova (1), Larisa N. Skripal’shсhikova (1),
and Alexander N. Tashev (2)

1. Laboratory of Tree Ring Research, V.N. Sukachev Institute of Forest of the Siberian Branch
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk, Akademgorodok, 50/28, 660036, Russia.
E-mails: kladaJ@mail.ru*, benkova@yandex.ru, lara@ksc.krasn.ru

2. Department of Dendrology, University of Forestry, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1797 Sofia,
Bulgaria. E-mail: altashev@mail.ru

The research undertaken focused on trunk diameter growth dynamics of seven woody species widely used in urban community gardening in Siberian cities: Picea pungens, Betula pendula, Ulmus pumila, Populus balsamifera, Sorbus aucuparia, Padus maackii, Malus baccata. Diameter growth rate was used as indirect indicator of the extent to which industrial pollutions may affect woody species in community gardening. Greening of large industrial city Krasnoyarsk was under study. Five sample sites differing in content of industrial pollutions were established within the districts of the city. It was reviled that in the Downtown greenings being under heavy recreation and vehicle-caused pollutions S. aucuparia, P. maackii, P. pungens, B. pendula and P. balsamifera could be successfully used rather than U. pumila and M. baccata. Greenings heavily polluted by nonferrous metallurgy enterprises should be composed with tolerant M. baccata, B. pendula, U. pumila and P. maackii, and; at that time P. pungens, S. aucuparia and P. balsamifera could not be recommended for planting hear. In greenings heavily polluted by heat power plants and chemical (pulp and paper) enterprises should be composed with tolerant P. pungens, S. aucuparia, P. maackii. B. pendula, U. pumila, P. balsamifera, M. baccata could not be recommended for planting there. Greenings, if planted in accordance with this recommendations, can be highly effective in fulfilling environmental, protective, sanitary, and esthetic functions in industrial cities. It should be taken into account in the implementation of management programs and development strategies for Siberian urban greenings.

Stoyan Stoyanov

Wildlife Management Department, University of Forestry, 10 St. Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria. E-mail: stoyans@abv.bg

Hunting exhibitions are valuable sources of morphometric data. Although considering only two craniometric measurements, i.e. maximum length and zygomatic breadth, a huge data base has been created. Trophies from almost all predator species are presented at hunting exhibitions and measured, thus making it possible to collect much more craniometric data in addition to the standard trophy evaluation. However, the CIC (Conseil International de la Chasse) have firmly established and appropriate criteria for awarding medals for only a very few carnivore species. Golden jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) is hunted as a game species in many European countries, following its ongoing expansion, but still very few trophies are presented and measured at hunting exhibitions. Often different criteria have been applied for awarding medals to jackal trophies decided on an ad hoc basis by the evaluation committees. Recently, new criteria for awarding jackal trophies were officially adopted by CIC in the latest edition of the Handbook for the Evaluation and Measurement of Hunting Trophies. However, not so many trophies of jackal skulls were measured since then and it seems that these criteria are determined arbitrarily and are not based on research or large amounts of data. Bulgarian territory is considered the core area of Golden jackal distribution in Europe with the highest population density, but morphometric studies, including skulls from Bulgaria, are very scarce and local so far. In the present research an extensive morphometric data of jackal skulls from Bulgaria and Romania was analysed to suggest and justify new criteria for awarding medals to jackal trophies. Statistical distribution of trophy scores was approximated by normal distribution with mean and variance calculated from the large Bulgarian sample. According to the results, gold medals must be awarded to a trophy scoring 27.00 CIC points and above, silver – from 26.50 to 26.99 and bronze – from 26.00 to 26.49.

Atinç Pirti

Department of Surveying Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa Campus, 34220 Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey. E-mail: atinc@yildiz.edu.tr

The hybrid techniques (rapid static/total station) can be very helpful technology for centimetre and millimetre level positioning in the woodland. Point Positioning with CORS GNSS (Continuously Operating Reference Stations Global Navigation Satellite System) in the woodland is a significant challenge in terms of time saving to obtain high accurate coordinates of the points. The time for integer carrier-phase ambiguity solution takes approximately one-hour or more time for point positioning under the woodland with GNSS surveys. In this study, hybrid techniques for estimating point coordinates under woodland has been performed, which gives the positioning results with millimetre and centimetre level accuracy and nearly 30 minutes are required to provide the new point location in the woodland. The proposed method may also have practical usage for forest-woodland areas applications with desired accuracy at mm level, which is reached in a short observation time. A fieldwork has been performed to obtain coordinates of the point (K) in woodland with CORS GNSS system and supplementary measurements by establishing two control points (T1, T2) observed by rapid static method located at the border of the woodland. On the other hand, the coordinates of point (K) have been also gained by using a static method (3 hours observation). The coordinate differences (static-hybrid) show that a satisfactory solution for woodland is reached at mm level in a short observation time.

Gabriela Petrova* and Rossen Tzonev

Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology and
Environmental protection, 8 Dr. Tzankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria. *E-mail: gabrielapetrova@biofac.uni-sofia.bg

A new classification approach of the forest vegetation in Etropolska Stara Planina Mt. is applied in the paper. The dominant and most widespread forest stands in the region have been investigated. They are represented mostly by Fagus sylvatica, Carpinus betulus, Quercus petraea, Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa, etc. In total, 71 relevés collected according to the Braun-Blanquet’s methodology have been analyzed. As a result, five associations and three forest communities without phytosociological rank were identified. They were classified into four alliances and two classes: Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae with Luzulo-Fagion sylvaticae, Fagion sylvaticae and Carpinion betuli, and Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae represented by the alliance Alnion incanae. The vegetation of the studied area demonstrates high similarity with the mesophilous to mesohygrophilous deciduous forests typical to Southeastern and Central Europe.