NEW KNOWLEDGE JOURNAL OF SCIENCE ISSN 1314 -5703

ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED CONFERENCE – UARD, BULGARIA 178

PROTECTED AREA GRADINA FLOODPLAIN FOREST –

BIODIVERSITY AND THREATS

MIHAIL KECHEV1, STOYAN GEORGIEV 2, KOYCHO KOEV3

1 UNIVERSITY OF AGRIBUSINESS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

2, 3 PLOVDIV UNIVERSITY “PAISII HILENDARSKI”

Abstract The plant and animal diversity was observed in the period from March to the end of August 2012 in Gradina floodplain forest (Bulgaria). Recently released papers about the forest are summarized herein, too. As a result of this study 33 plant species, 23 of which are medical plants and herbs and 54 animals are pointed out below. The main threats about the protected area are written down and pictures are applied. Key words: Floodplain forest, Bulgaria, Gradina village, protected area, flora, fauna. Introduction What is a floodplain forest: Floodplain forests are highly dynamic ecosystems that occur on river floodplains. They depend on particular flood regimes for their continued existence, as many of their tree species require flood disturbance and newly deposited sediments in order to regenerate (Hughes, F.M.R. 2003). Gradina forest is included in both Natura 2000 Directives – The Birds Directive /Directive 2009/147/EC/ and The Habitats Directive /Directive 92/43/EEC/. The protected area Gradina floodplain forest was declared by order № RD-48/20.03.2006 of the Ministry of environment and water, with a major motive of protecting the habitat of summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.) and natural lowland riparian forest of clear polish (Fraxinus oxycarpa Bieb. Ex Willd.), field elm (Ulmus minor Mill.) and summer oak (Quercus robur L.). Most recently papers about Protected Area Gradina floodplain forest (Georgiev et al., 2011, in press) were published and the forest is floristic characterized. Data for invertebrates are occasional and scarce. Standard Data Form (Natura 2000) contains only two invertebrates – Lucanus cervus and the thick shelled river mussel (Unio crassus). Below are mentioned some new ones, but invertebrates communities need to be reviewed in this forest, because data for many groups of insects and other invertebrates are still unknown.

Studied Area Location: Gradina floodplain forest (fig.1, 2, 3) is situated in the middle course of the Maritsa River in the Upper Thracian Plain – municipality of Parvomay.

Fig. 1. Google Earth map of the investigated

forest Geographic coordinates: 42 ◦ 09 ' 15 " N 25 ◦ 10 ' 34 " E Average altitude: 133 m a. s. l.

Fig. 2. The meadow in the middle of Gradina

forest

Fig.3. Gradina forest in April

NEW KNOWLEDGE JOURNAL OF SCIENCE ISSN 1314 -5703

ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED CONFERENCE – UARD, BULGARIA 179

Material and Methods The forest was visited in the period from March to August 2012 and investigated. Recently published works about Gradina forest (Georgiev, 2011, in press) are summarized in the current paper, too. Insects were collected by means of sweeping. Some pictures were taken during the trips and applied in the paper. Google Earth software (version 6) was used for altitude, geographical coordinates and figure 1. Results Plants. According to recently published papers (Georgiev et al., 2011, in press) the total number of plant species in Gradina forest is 176, as 96 of them are medical plants. Most common plant species in the studied forest are listed below. Dominant tree species: Fraxinus oxycarpa Bieb. Ex Willd., Ulmus minor Mill., Quercus robur L. Conservation plant species: Acanthus spinosus L., Leucojum aestivum L (fig.4), Orchis laxiflora Lam. ssp.elegans (Heuff.) Soo (fig.5), Platantera bifolia (L.) Rich (fig.6).

Medical plants: Acer campestre L., Acer tataricum L., Leucojum aestivum L, Orchis laxiflora Lam. ssp.elegans (Heuff.) Soo, Platantera bifolia (L.) Rich., Mentha aquatica L., Mentha pulegium L., Sambucus ebulus L., Sambucus nigra L., Chaerophyllum temulentum L., Crataegus monodyna Jacq., Geum urbanum L., Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill., Potentilla argentea L., Potentilla pedata Willd., Prunus insititia L., Prunus spinosa L., Pyrus pyraster (L.) Baumg., Rosa canina L., Rubus caesius L., Humulus lupulus L., Thypha latifolia L., Althaea officinalis L.. Climbing plants (lianas): Humulus lupulus L., Clematis vitalba L., Clematis viticella L., Tamus communis L., Rubus caesius L.. Shrubs: Crataegus monodyna Jacq., Ligustrum vulgare L., Acer tataricum L., Cornus mas L., Cornus sanguinea L. ssp. sanguinea L., Carpinus betulus L., Corylus avellana L.

Fig.4. Summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.)

Fig.5. Orchis laxiflora Lam. ssp.elegans (Heuff.) Soo

Fig.6. Platantera bifolia (L.) Rich.

Animals: Mammals: Roe deer - Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758), on 26.08.2012 one roe deer was seen by Kechev and Georgiev. Other mammals listed in Natura 2000 Standard Data Form: Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758), Spermophilus citellus (Linnaeus, 1766), Vormela peregusna (Güldenstädt, 1770), Erinaceus concolor Martin, 1838, Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1778), Glis glis (Linnaeus, 1766), Micromys minutus (Pallas, 1771), Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758). Birds: Alcedo atthis (Linnaeus, 1758), Aquila pomarina Brehm, 1831, Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758), Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758), Coracias garrulus Linnaeus, 1758, Dendrocopos medius (Linnaeus, 1758), Dendrocopos syriacus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833), Dryocopus martius (Linnaeus, 1758), Egretta garzetta

(Linnaeus, 1766), Lanius collurio Linnaeus, 1758, Lanius minor Gmelin, 1788, Lullula arborea (Linnaeus, 1758), Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783), Sylvia nisoria (Bechstein, 1795), Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758), Alauda arvensis Linnaeus, 1758, Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758), Carduelis chloris (Linnaeus, 1758), Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758, Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758, Galerida cristata (Linnaeus, 1758), Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758, Luscinia megarhynchos Brehm, 1831, Otus scops (Linnaeus, 1758), Picus viridis Linnaeus, 1758, Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758), Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 (Natura 2000: Standard Data Form). Reptiles: Elaphe quatuorlineata (Lacepède, 1789), Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758), Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758, Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789, Natrix tessellate (Laurenti, 1768), Coluber caspius Gmelin, 1789,

NEW KNOWLEDGE JOURNAL OF SCIENCE ISSN 1314 -5703

ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED CONFERENCE – UARD, BULGARIA 180

Podarcis taurica (Pallas, 1814), Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758), Lacerta trilineata Bedriaga, 1886, Lacerta viridis (Laurenti, 1768) (Natura 2000: Standard Data Form). Amphibians: Bombina bombina (Linnaeus, 1761), Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870), Bufo viridis Laurenti, 1768, Rana dalmatina Bonaparte, 1840, Hyla arborea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Natura 2000: Standard Data Form). Insects: Glaucopsyche alexis Poda, 1761. On 26.08.2012 a few specimens flew around the bushes and grasses, Kechev. The common scorpionfly Panorpa communis Linnaeus, 1758, leg. Kechev, 26.08.2012, 1 male. In the studied period Kechev collected dolichopodid flies and found 21 distinct species, three of which are new to the fauna of Bulgaria (unpublished data). Lucanus cervus Linnaeus, 1758, (Natura 2000 Standar data form). Threats for Protected Area Gradina floodplain forest To the middle of the past century the entire forest was regularly flooded during the spring (April-May). Nowadays as a result of changing the climate and human activities the forest is much drier as it was in the past. Today the most humid part of the Gradina forest is the northwest site, where is situated the greatest part of the population of summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.). Unfortunately this is the most threatened site of the forest. The main threats to the protected area “Gradina floodplain forest” can be consider as follows:

1. Cutting down of the dominant trees (fig.7). Cut trees are common picture in the northwest part of the forest, where the main population of summer snowflake is located. 2. Unrepaired irrigation canals intersected the forest. The forest is intersected from irrigation canals which are not in very good conditions today. The canals need to be restored for better functioning of the whole ecosystem. 3. Declining of soil condition from trucks. Heavy trucks exporting the timber cross the forest. This drastically worsens the soils condition. 4. Pollution with inorganic matters (fig.8). Visitors and woodcutters pollute the protected area with different materials. The most dangerous are plastic bottles and nylon bags which are not decomposed. 5. Illegal gathering of summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.). Illegal harvesting is not only above-ground part and sometimes is done by uprooting the bulb, causing damage to the population of the summer snowflake. Harvest period coincides with the flowering period of the species, which diminishes the natural recovery of the population. 6. Burning down the common reed Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud. (fig.9) The burning of the common reed can lead to ignition of entire forest, which is baneful for precious plant species listed above.

Fig.7.

Fig.8.

Fig.9.

References: Georgiev, S. & Koev, K. 2012. Floristic characteristic of the protected area Nahodishte na Blatno Kokiche – Gradina village. – In: Petrova, A. (ed.), Proc. VII Natl. Conf. Bot., 29–30.09.2011, Sofia, pp. 225-235. Bulg. Bot. Soc., Sofia. ISBN 978-954-92808-2-1 (in Bulgarian). Georgiev S., A. Tashev, K. Koev. (in press). Eco-Biological Characteristics of Medicinal Plants in the Protected Area “Nahodishte Na Blatno Kokiche” the

Village of Gradina, Parvomay (Bulgaria), Ecologica Balcanika. Hughes, F.M.R. (ed.) (2003) The Flooded Forest: Guidance for policy makers and river managers in Europe on the restoration of floodplain forests. FLOBAR2, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK. 96pp. Natura 2000: Standard data form: BG0000255 Gradinska gora. Available on: http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/natura2000/SDFPublic.aspx?site=BG0000255. (Accessed: 2011).