FIRST RECORD OF MARASMIUS LIMOSUS AND PHOLIOTA CONISSANS (BASIDIOMYCOTA) IN BULGARIA

The paper provides information on the first finding of Marasmius limosus Quél. and Pholiota conissans (Fr.) M. M. Moser in Bulgaria. Both fungi were found as saprotrophs on decaying leaves and stems of Typha angustifolia L. in the karstic swamp Dragomansko Blato. Morphological data obtained by light microscopy are provided for both species. The easy recording of both species in the swamp in the middle of October allows the suggestion for further autumn searching for macromycetes in wetlands

RED LIST OF BULGARIAN ALGAE. II. MICROALGAE.

The Red List presented in this paper is focused on Bulgarian non-marine microalgae which face a risk of extinction. The assignment to each IUCN Red List category is according to the seven specific criteria and their relative values in the new method for an evaluation of the threatened status of microalgae (STOYNEVA-GÄRTNER ET AL., this volume). The list contains 756 taxa (613 species, 82 varieties and 61 forms) from 7 divisions, classified in six IUCN categories and shows that threatened microalgae represent 14% the total algal biodiversity of Bulgaria

REVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES ON PSEUDOGYMNOASCUS DESTRUCTANS STUDIES WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIES FINDINGS IN BULGARIA

Emerging infectious diseases are a well-known threat to the wildlife and require complex research. There is a rapidly accumulating knowledge on the infectious disease of bats, named firstly White Nose Syndrome (WNS) and afterwards – White Nose Disease (WND), and its causative agent – the pathogenic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Although mass mortality of bats, known since a decade, is currently restricted to North America, the pathogen is of global concern as a potential threat to other hibernating bat populations. Therefore five years after the first comprehensive synthesis on the fungal ecology and relevant knowledge gaps (FOLEY ET AL. 2011), we decided to summarize the published information on the pathogen morphology, reproduction, ecological requirements, geographic distribution and systematic position. In addition, the present review compiles the available data on the affected bat species, mechanisms of WND, on the host response and on the effective treatment strategies with possible methods for fighting the pathogen to reduce the mortality in affected regions as well. Special attention is paid to the finding of the fungus in Bulgarian caves

CONTENTS 1. А NEW METHOD FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE RED LIST THREAT STATUS OF MICROALGAE

Although the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria is a widely internationally used system for classifying species at high risk of extinction, the micro-organisms are still practically excluded from the appropriately enlisted taxa. The present paper provides a method, which gives means to assess microalgae threat status much more objectively than it was possible before and in this way to achieve quite high degree of generalization in work with this peculiar group of organisms. The method described below uses the widely accepted standard IUCN Red List system of categories, but proposes their assignment on the basis of a complex application of seven criteria relevant to microalgae and classical data, available for them. These criteria can be interpreted in the same way for all taxonomic groups of algae and for all possible territorial levels (local, national, regional, global). The criteria are denominated with Latin capital letters A-G and each of them has a numerical expression with values (points) ranging between 4 and 1. The final assessment of the threat status is done on the basis of the total amount of points (T), which ranges between 7 and 28. In this way each alga is supplied with a formula (a combination of letters and numbers), which indicates its threat status and in the same time outlines its most critical, “weak spots” on which special attention has to be paid when conservation measures have to be proposed. As it is exemplified in detail in the paper, the formula could be expressed in a table or in a text format, in full or in a short version, depending on the needs of the relevant studies or proposals (e.g. Anabaena lapponica Borge [VU - A3 B4 C4 D2 E2 F2 G3], or Anabaena lapponica Borge [VU - A3 B4 C4 D2 E2 F2 G3 T20], or Anabaena lapponica Borge [VU - T20]), or Anabaena lapponica Borge [VU])

Diversity of the Summer Phytoplankton of 43 Waterbodies in Bulgaria and Its Potential for Water Quality Assessment

The general awareness of the threats on biodiversity and water quality raised the number of studies that use phytoplankton in assessment procedures. Since most metrics require obtaining mean values, this paper presents data that may help speed up field work and find indicators for a rapid water quality assessment based on single samplings, allowing simultaneous work on many sites. The phytoplankton from 43 Bulgarian waterbodies collected during three summer campaigns (2018, 2019, 2021) at sites selected after drone observations was studied by conventional light microscopy (LM) and an HPLC analysis of marker pigments. Our results allowed us to recommend drones and the HPLC application as reliable methods in rapid water quality assessments. In total, 787 algae from seven phyla (53 alien, new for Bulgaria) were identified. Chlorophyta was the taxonomically richest group, but Cyanoprokaryota dominated the biomass in most sites. New PCR data obtained on anatoxin and microcystin producers confirmed the genetic diversity of Cuspidothrix and Microcystis and provided three new species for the country’s toxic species, first identified by LM. A statistical analysis revealed significant correlations of certain algal phyla and classes with different environmental variables, and their species are considered promising for future search of bioindicators. This is especially valid for the class Eustigmatophyceae, which, as of yet, has been almost neglected in water assessment procedures and indices

Pilot application of drone observations and pigment marker detection by HPLC in studies of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in Bulgarian inland waters

peer reviewedThis paper describes the first use of aerial observations by a drone as an additionalmeans for choosing sampling points during field studies of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) in selected Bulgarian waterbodies and the use of HPLC analysis of marker pigments for the fast determination of phytoplankton composition and biomass. The selection of waterbodies was based on the authors’ personal expertise and data collected over a 25-year period. In all sites chosen by drone, there were high levels of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins were present: microcystins (MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR in Durankulak Lake and MC-LR and MC-RR in the Sinyata Reka Reservoir), cylindrospermopsin (in the Vaya Lake and in the Mandra Reservoir) and saxitoxins (in Durankulak Lake). The finding of cylindrospermopsin is the first in Bulgaria, the detection of saxitoxins is the first for Durankulak Lake and the microcystins records are the first for Sinyata Reka Reservoir. Considering the high total number of wetlands in Bulgaria, many of which are lowland, small and shallow and therefore vulnerable to CyanoHABs, we recommend further use of drones and HPLC in monitoring, which should speed up detection and reduce sampling efforts while enabling valuable information to be gathered

Assessment of cyanoprokaryote blooms and of cyanotoxins in Bulgaria in a 15-years period (2000-2015)

The scientific and public awareness of hazardous photosynthetic prokaryotes (cyanobacteria/cyanoprokaryotes) and especially the contamination of drinking-water reservoirs with cyanotoxins is world-wide increasing. Recently much more attention has been paid to the events and results of mass proliferation of these toxic organisms even in South-East European countries in spite of the fact that, as a rule, they are not controlled by national legislation.The present paper presents a summary of results of such studies carried out in summer-autumn periods of the last 15 years (2000-2015) in Bulgarian water bodies differing by location, morphometry and trophic status, incl. drinking water reservoirs, recreational lakes and sites of nature conservation importance. A multivariate analysis allowed to outline the distribution patterns and environmental drivers of the planktonic cyanoprokaryote assemblages in relation with the available data on the water bodies, highlighting species composition and abundance of the main taxa, including potentially toxic species. Samples analysis by HPLC-DAD and/or LC/MS, ELISA and in vitro cytotoxicity tests allowed detection of microcystins, nodularins and saxitoxins. Toxin concentration ranged between 0.1 and 26.5 µg L-1 in water samples and between 10.9 and 1070 µg g-1 (d.w.) in concentrated (net) samples. Despite the fact that microcystins were not found in all studied water bodies and that the recorded levels were still lower in comparison with some other European countries, the fact that cyanotoxins were detected in 16 water bodies (incl. 3 drinking water reservoirs) could serve as an alert for the need of recognition of cyanotoxins as a new health risk factor in the country. Therefore, permanent monitoring with identification of toxins in water bodies at risk and activities for limitation and control of toxic blooms are urgently needed, in combination with increase of the attention to the effects of cyanotoxins on both human health and health of aquatic ecosystems in Bulgaria