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This work represents the first study of the floristic diversity on Bulgaria’s ancient mounds. The objective of this research was to assess the importance of the mounds for the preservation of the native vascular and cryptogam flora. Our sampling design included 111 ancient mounds distributed throughout the country. We recorded a total of 1059 vascu...
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... Across all plants growing on the mounds, 853 were diagnostic of 40 different vegetation classes. Most numerous were the grassland specialists and generalists, and Festuco-Brometea diagnostic species constituted 44% of all identified plants ( Figure 5). There were 193 species diagnostic of anthropogenic vegetation (classes Artemisietea vulgaris, Papaveretea rhoeadis, Chenopodietea, Epilobietea angustifolii, Polygono-Poetea annuae and Sisymbrietea) and their per mound abundance was relatively low (on average from 2.2 ± 1.8 SD for Chenopodietea to 7.87 ± 3.5 SD species for Artemisietea vulgaris). ...
Context 2
... diagnostic for Quercetea pubescentis prevailed with the highest average Across all plants growing on the mounds, 853 were diagnostic of 40 different vegetation classes. Most numerous were the grassland specialists and generalists, and Festuco-Brometea diagnostic species constituted 44% of all identified plants ( Figure 5). There were 193 species diagnostic of anthropogenic vegetation (classes Artemisietea vulgaris, Papaveretea rhoeadis, Chenopodietea, Epilobietea angustifolii, Polygono-Poetea annuae and Sisymbrietea) and their per mound abundance was relatively low (on average from 2.2 ± 1.8 SD for Chenopodietea to 7.87 ± 3.5 SD species for Artemisietea vulgaris). ...
Citations
... Most of them were built by the Yamnaya Culture (also known as the Pit Grave Culture), between 3300 and 2500 BC (Gimbutas 2000). Later other nomadic Indo-European tribes (such as the Scythians and Sarmatians), ancient Turkish cultures (e.g., Cumanians, Kipchak, and Khazar groups) and the Thracians also built mounds (Gołębiowska-Tobiasz, 2013; Deák et al., 2016;Apostolova et al., 2022). The main function of the burial mounds was to provide an iconic monument for the buried person. ...
... Recently, the importance of kurgans as sacred sites in biodiversity conservation have become increasingly recognised. Studies have focussed on grassland covered kurgans situated in transformed landscapes of Hungary, Ukraine, and Bulgaria where steppe habitats have become especially endangered (Sudnik-Wójcikovská et al., 2011;Lisetskii et al., 2014;Deák et al., 2020;Dembicz et al., 2020;Apostolova et al., 2022). These studies revealed that kurgans can act as biodiversity hotspots and safe havens for grassland plant and animal species even with large-scale transformation of the neighbouring landscape. ...
In the Eurasian steppes, ancient burial mounds called ‘kurgans’ are among the most widespread manmade structures. These sacred sites hold cultural values and often provide safe havens for grassland-related plant species. We aimed to establish links between the cultural and natural values of kurgans through a comprehensive multi-layered evaluation of history, cultural attributes, botanical composition, and landscape history on selected mounds situated in Hungary, Romania, and Serbia. We evaluated factors that can support or endanger the grasslands on kurgans and assessed whether there are synergies or trade-offs between the presence of the cultural and natural values. We found that kurgans act as cultural hotspots in transformed landscapes, and we found the following evidences for the synergies between cultural and natural values: i) Extensive land use and management connected to the cultural functions could considerably contribute to the preservation of grassland specialist plants on the mounds. ii) In the studied landscapes, in the past three centuries, the vast majority of grasslands were converted into croplands in the studied landscapes, but the cultural importance of the kurgans could hinder their destruction through demolishment by ploughing or construction works. We also found an important trade-off: built cultural objects not only decreased the area of grassland cover but also supported the establishment and spread of several weedy and invasive species. Consequently, to preserve the valuable natural-cultural systems it is essential to focus efforts on the maintenance of the already existing, traditional cultural functions and not the establishment of new objects.
... Recent ecological studies revealed that millennia-old steppic burial mounds also have a high importance in maintaining steppe biodiversity both in natural landscapes of Central-Asia characterized by vast pristine grasslands (Deák et al., 2017), and in transformed European landscapes characterized by ploughlands, afforestations and urban areas (Sudnik-Wójcikowska et al., 2011;Deák et al., 2016;Dembicz et al., 2020;Apostolova et al., 2022). ...
... The biodiversity potential of kurgans was demonstrated by regional surveys from Ukraine (Sudnik-Wójcikowska et al., 2011), Hungary (Deák et al., 2020) and Bulgaria (Apostolova et al., 2022;Fig. 1 (Deák et al., 2020). ...
... Former studies focusing on certain regions revealed that millennia-old kurgans that hold dry grasslands can fulfill an important ecological role by functioning as habitat islands and providing refuge for grassland species in transformed landscapes (Sudnik-Wójcikowska et al., 2011;Deák et al., 2020;Dembicz et al., 2020;Apostolova et al., 2022). Deák et al. (2020) pointed out that kurgans surrounded by arable land, but still with grassland vegetation have a comparable number of grassland plant and invertebrate species to those located in protected areas characterized by semi-natural landscapes. ...
Civilizations, including ancient ones, have shaped global ecosystems in many ways through coevolution of landscapes and humans. However, the cultural legacies of ancient and lost civilizations are rarely considered in the conservation of the Eurasian steppe biome. We used a data set containing more than 1000 records on localities, land cover, protection status, and cultural values related to ancient steppic burial mounds (kurgans); we evaluated how these iconic and widespread landmarks can contribute to grassland conservation in the Eurasian steppes, which is one of the most endangered biomes on Earth. Using Bayesian logistic generalized regressions and proportional odds logistic regressions, we examined the potential of mounds to preserve grasslands in landscapes with different levels of land‐use transformation. We also compared the conservation potential of mounds inside and outside protected areas and assessed whether local cultural values support the maintenance of grasslands on them. Kurgans were of great importance in preserving grasslands in transformed landscapes outside protected areas, where they sometimes acted as habitat islands that contributed to habitat conservation and improved habitat connectivity. In addition to steep slopes hindering ploughing, when mounds had cultural value for local communities, the probability of grassland occurrence on kurgans almost doubled. Because the estimated number of steppic mounds is about 600,000 and similar historical features exist on all continents, our results may be applicable at a global level. Our results also suggested that an integrative socioecological approach in conservation might support the positive synergistic effects of conservation, landscape, and cultural values.
... In light of these considerations, eight research articles [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] and two reviews [16,17] were published in the journal Plants, in the Special Issue "Floristic Studies in the Light of Biodiversity Knowledge and Conservation". ...
... The authors concluded that, given the economic potential of Aeluropus lagopoides as a forage plant and sand stabilizer, the conservation of its habitats is of great importance, adding that this grass could be integrated as a promising forage candidate in saline-affected areas, even in the dry season. Apostolova et al. [12] presented a survey on the vascular and cryptogamic floristic diversity of ancient mounds in Bulgaria, demonstrating that as many as 98% of the more than one thousand vascular plant taxa recorded were native species. In addition, the lichen Arthopyrenia salicis A.Massal. was reported for the first time from Bulgaria. ...
... Plants 2023,12, 2973 ...
Floristic studies are often considered “simply” traditional research [...]
... The earliest lichen study from Bulgaria was conducted by Kazandzhiev (1900) and some others works have been published subsequently, reporting new records for the country but it was not until 2005 that Mayrhofer et al. (2005) updated the knowledge of Bulgarian lichens. Later contributions by Spier et al. (2008), Ivanov (2010), Pedashenko et al. (2013), Shivarov et al. (2016), Gärtner et al. (2019), Mayrhofer et al. (2020), Guttová et al. (2020), Shivarov et al. (2021), Apostolova et al. (2022) and Denchev et al. (2022) expanded the number of Bulgarian lichens and lichenicolous fungi. In general, the Bulgarian Cladoniaceae records are dispersed in many publications and no monographic studies exist (e.g. ...
... It was reported of Balkan Range, Fore-Balkan, Pirin Mts., Rila Mts., the Rhodopes Sofia region and Mt. Sredna Gora floristic regions (Suza 1929, Szatala 1930, Zhelezova 1956, Popnikolov & Zhelezova 1964, Pišút 1967, 1969, Mayrhofer et al. 2005, Ivanov 2010, Pedashenko et al. 2013, Shivarov et al. 2016, Apostolova et al. 2022, Denchev et al. 2022. It is new to Thracian Plain and Strandzha Mt. floristic regions. ...
... The species is widely reported in the Balkan Range, Fore-Balkan, Pirin Mts., Rila Mts., River Mesta, the Rhodopes, Sofia region, Stranzha Mt., Tundzha Hilly Plain, Vitosha region and Znepole floristic regions (Kazandzhiev 1900, Suza 1929, Szatala 1930, Cretzoiu 1936, Popnikolov 1931, 1937, Lambrev et al. 1962, Zhelezova 1963, Popnikolov & Zhelezova 1964, Pišút 1969, Radanova 2002, Mayrhofer et al. 2005, Spier et al. 2008, Ivanov 2010, Shivarov et al. 2016, Gärtner et al. 2019, Apostolova et al. 2022, Denchev et al. 2022). ...
Burgaz, A. R., Mrquez, R. & Pino-Bodas, R. 2022. The Cladoniaceae (Lecanorales, Ascomycota) from Bulgaria. Herzogia 35: 510 540. A study of the Cladoniaceae has been carried out in Bulgaria, based on new collections from 61 different localities. Thirty five species were found (34 Cladonia and 1 Pycnothelia species), seven of which are new records to Bulgaria, Cladonia asahinae, C. conista, C. cyathomorpha, C. diversa, C. magyarica, C. novochlorophaea and C. peziziformis. As a result of this study the total number of Bulgarian Cladoniaceae species rises to 55, belonging to two genera, Cladonia and Pycnothelia. Our study provided a more comprehensive distribution range and chemical variation for each species in Bulgaria. A new chemotype is described for C. rangiformis, containing atranorin, fumarprotocetraric, psoromic, rangiformic and norrangiformic acids. This one is rarer than the other chemotypes of the species. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA, IGS rDNA and rpb2 were carried out to confirm the identity of C. magyarica in Bulgaria. Additionally, ITS rDNA of other species was also sequenced to confirm the identifications. A new key to all the Cladoniaceae taxa known from Bulgaria is included. Burgaz, A. R., Mrquez, R. & Pino-Bodas, R. 2022. Die Cladoniaceae von Bulgarien. Herzogia 35: 510 540. Eine Studie der Cladoniaceae, beruhend auf neuen Aufsammlungen von 61 Lokalitten, wurde in Bulgarien durchgefhrt. 35 Arten (34 Cladonien und eine Pycnothelia) wurden gefunden, davon sind 7 neu fr Bulgarien: Cladonia asahinae, C. conista, C. cyathomorpha, C. diversa, C. magyarica, C. novochlorophaea und C. peziziformis. Damit steigt die Zahl der aus Bulgarien bekannten Cladoniaceae auf 55, zu den zwei Genera Cladonia und Pycnothelia gehrig. Unsere Studie erlaubt eine genauere bersicht ber Verbreitung und chemische Variation der Arten. Fr C. rangiformis wird ein neuer Chemotyp beschrieben, enthaltend Atranorin, Fumarprotocetrarsure, Psoromsure, Rangiformsure und Norrangiformsure. Er ist seltener als die beiden anderen Chemotypen der Art. Phylogenetische Analysen, beruhend auf ITS rDNA, IGS rDNA and rpb2 wurden zur Absicherung der Identitt von Cladonia magyarica in Bulgarien ausgefhrt. Darber hinaus wurde auch fr andere Arten ITS rDNA zur Besttigung von Artansprachen sequenziert. Ein Bestimmungsschlssel fr alle aus Bulgarien bekannten Cladoniaceae ist beigefgt.
... Along with their historical and cultural value, ancient mounds also serve as stepping stones for seminatural vegetation in a human-modified landscape. Their role as biodiversity hotspots, along with other semi-natural fragments such as field margins and road verges, in an otherwise homogenous agricultural landscape has been recently studied [5,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. ...
... The total species richness increases during the natural recovery process, and with the progression of the successional stages, the cover of target species increases. A previous study of the flora of Bulgarian mounds established that they maintain a considerable share of the national flora with the prevalence of Festuco-Brometea representatives [23]. Therefore, we expected dry grassland specialists as target species. ...
... In the advanced vegetation of the studied mounds, we observed several competitors, such as Bothriochloa, Stipa, and Festuca, which are also among the target species, which appear as evidence of successful natural recovery with native plants, well adapted to the environment. The results showed that the relatively small mound size favored the fast development of vegetation similar in species composition to semi-natural communities commonly established on ancient mounds in Bulgaria [23]. The advanced stages of the natural vegetation recovery included some rare and important conservation species such as Achillea clypeolata, Linum thracicum, Salvia aethiopis, and Silene frivaldszkyana, which further emphasizes the successful outcome of the recovery. ...
As a distinctive component of the cultural landscape in Eurasia, burial mounds are well known for their historical value. Recently their role as biodiversity hotspots, especially in the homogenous agricultural landscape, has become particularly important. Archaeological excavations, although necessary, are destructive to the natural elements on the mounds. Restoration and vegetation recovery after such disturbances are needed for the preservation of biodiversity and for the cultural landscape integrity. In this study, we aimed to find out how effective is the natural vegetation recovery on the mounds after archaeological excavations. Successional stages between 2- and 30-years post-excavations have been studied. Vegetation sampling was performed on 15 mounds within 300 plots (1 × 1 m). Spontaneous succession was found to start immediately, and during the first decade, anthropophytes prevailed. In the subsequent years, their cover significantly decreased at the expense of species typical for the natural communities in the surroundings. Total species richness increased with the successional age and the vegetation composition became more similar to the semi-natural communities commonly established on mounds in Bulgaria. In the advanced successional stages, we registered a high rate of heterogeneity on the mounds, facilitated by the establishment of target plant species with different ecological requirements, including bryophytes. Provided the obtained results, we conclude that the natural vegetation recovery on the excavated and subsequently recovered mounds were very successful, and the current practice must continue in the future.
... The appearance of the catalogue in 2005 definitely stimulated research of both Bulgarian and foreign lichenologists on the study of lichenized fungi in Bulgaria. During this period, numerous papers, related to lichenized or lichenicolous fungi in Bulgaria, or taxonomic treatments citing specimens from Bulgaria have been published: Aguirre-Hudson et al. (2005), Otte (2005), Otte et al. (2005), Denchev et al. (2006), Guttová et al. (2006Guttová et al. ( , 2014Guttová et al. ( , 2019Guttová et al. ( , 2020, Hertel (2006), Schiefelbein (2006), Slavíková-Bayerová & Orange (2006), Titov (2006), Vondrák (2006Vondrák ( , 2007Vondrák ( , 2010Vondrák ( , 2012, Vondrák & Hrouzek (2006), Vondrák & Slavíková-Bayerová (2006), Czarnota (2007), Krzewicka et al. (2007), Obermayer (2007), Slavíková-Bayerová & Fehrer (2007, Śliwa (2007, 2009) , Vondrák & Šoun (2007, Vondrák & Šoun ( , 2008a, Brodo et al. (2008Brodo et al. ( , 2019, Hawksworth et al. (2008), Hertel & Leuckert (2008), Knudsen & Kocourková (2008, Lisická et al. (2008), Šoun & Vondrák (2008), Spier et al. (2008), Vondrák et al. ( , b, 2009aVondrák et al. ( , b, c, 2011Vondrák et al. ( , 2012aVondrák et al. ( , b, 2013Vondrák et al. ( , 2016Vondrák et al. ( , 2020, Arup & Åkelius (2009), Breuss (2009, Gaya (2009), Kukwa (2009Kukwa ( , 2011, Randlane et al. (2009), Saag et al. (2009), Stoykov (2009, 2020a, Cornejo & Scheidegger (2010), Farkas (2010Farkas ( , 2011Farkas ( , 2014Farkas ( , 2020, Ivanov (2010), Lendemer et al. (2010), Rosato & Arup (2010), Şenkardeşler (2010a, b), Roux et al. (2011), Šoun et al. (2011), Atanassova & Mayrhofer (2012), Gaya et al. (2012), Krzewicka (2012), Scheidegger et al. (2012), Schmitt et al. (2012), Widmer et al. (2012), Wilk (2012), Arup et al. (2013), Nikolova et al. (2013), Pedashenko et al. (2013), Shivarov (2013Shivarov ( , 2017Shivarov ( , 2019, Shivarov & Stoykov (2013), Tehler et al. (2013), Hafellner et al. (2014), Muggia et al. (2014a, b), Shivarov & Lőkös (2015), Frolov et al. (2016Frolov et al. ( , 2021, Shivarov et al. (2016Shivarov et al. ( , 2017Shivarov et al. ( , 2018Shivarov et al. ( , 2021, Bancheva et al. (2017), Fačkovcová et al. (2017Fačkovcová et al. ( , 2019Fačkovcová et al. ( , 2020, Navarro-Rosinés & Roux (2017, Schultz (2017), Vladimirov et al. (2017a, b), Hafellner (2018), Gärtner et al. (2019), Gyosheva & Stoykov (2019), Voglmayr et al. (2019), Zakeri et al. (2019), Hafellner & Mayrhofer (2020), Kunev et al. (2020), Mayrhofer et al. (2020), Orange (2020), Starosta & Svoboda (2020), Malíček et al. (2021), Apostolova et al. (2022). It is worth noting studies on the Physciaceae (Atanassova & Mayrhofer 2012;Mayrhofer et al. 2020) and the Verrucariaceae (Shivarov 2015) in Bulgaria. ...
A checklist of all taxa of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi recorded from Bulgaria is presented. The lichen biota as currently known includes 1137 taxa (1115 species, 5 subspecies, and 17 varieties) of lichenized fungi, 46 species of lichenicolous fungi, and 28 non-lichenized fungi traditionally included in lichenological literature. Lepra corallina is reported for the first time from Bulgaria. An index of synonyms based on literature records from Bulgaria is appended. It includes 1761 infrageneric names.
Place names are an important but vanishing part of cultural diversity, and their relevance for environmental sciences is increasingly acknowledged. Still little is known about whether the diversity of toponyms affects human–nature relationships and the decisions of humans on how to use certain parts of the landscape.
To investigate this question, we combined approaches from social sciences and ecology in a comprehensive multidisciplinary survey of 1521 cultural landscape features in Hungary. The landscape features studied were ancient millennia‐old burial earthen mounds built by nomadic steppic tribes, that often hold the last remnants of grassland vegetation and provide safe havens for grassland specialist plant and animal species in the intensively used agricultural landscapes of Eurasia. In our research, we (i) compiled a comprehensive database of the mounds in the 5150 km²‐sized study region, (ii) collected all toponyms of the mounds recorded since the 18th century, (iii) derived the height and distance from settlements for each mound and (iv) visited all the mounds in a field survey, and evaluated their vegetation naturalness.
We found that despite the intensive landscape transformation in the region, and independently of topographical factors, a higher number of toponyms was associated with a higher degree of naturalness of the vegetation on the landscape features. Independently of the protective effect of the height of the mound against ploughing, and the distance from settlements that reflects to decreasing land use intensity, we found that the vegetation on the mounds with more names had a higher degree of naturalness.
Synthesis and applications. Cultural recognition of these places has eroded considerably in the past centuries, but its effect is still noticeable, suggesting an extinction delay of culture‐driven biodiversity patterns. Our results suggest that reestablishment of the lost cultural connections between people and nature can contribute to reversing the deterioration.
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