Gana GechevaPlovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski" · Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection
Gana Gecheva
Assoc. Prof.
About
73
Publications
36,244
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
566
Citations
Introduction
Additional affiliations
October 2006 - present
Publications
Publications (73)
Екологията е съвременна, фундаментална, биологична наука, която се нарежда сред най-актуалните през последните десетилетия. Нейна основна задача е изучаването на структурата и функцията на природата и поради широкия обхват на екологичните изследвания, в тях се прилагат много и разнородни методи.
Настоящото ръководството има за основна образователна...
The importance of adequate biological assessments of rivers based on aquatic assemblages is essential to establish recovery measures. Macrophyte and macroinvertebrate communities react differently in time and in response strength to diverse stressors. Our hypothesis was that each group response is a result of specific and combined abiotic factors a...
Typology systems are frequently used in applied and fundamental ecology and are relevant for environmental monitoring and conservation. They aggregate ecosystems into discrete types based on biotic and abiotic variables, assuming that ecosystems of the same type are more alike than ecosystems of different types with regard to a specific property of...
This manual has been created to support the work of employees in
the state and private structures dealing with parks and green areas in the settlements
places. It can also be used by biologists and naturalists. The chapters
are arranged chronologically, presenting the features of abiotic,
biotic and anthropogenic environmental factors in parks and...
For the first time, a macrophyte-based assessment of ecological status was related to the accumulated heavy metals and trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in aquatic plants. Three moss and two vascular plant species were applied as biomonitors: Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw., Leptodictyum riparium (Hedw.) Warnst., Platyhy...
Typology systems are frequently used in applied and fundamental ecology and are relevant for environmental monitoring and conservation. They aggregate ecosystems into discrete types based on biotic and abiotic variables, assuming that ecosystems of the same type are more alike than ecosystems of different types with regard to a specific property of...
The moss Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. was used as biomonitor in three urban and five mountain sites with different pollution loads. The concentrations of 22 macro-and microelements were determined in moss-bags and were compared with those of the same elements in moss samples naturally growing in the Rhodope Mountains area. Most of the elements had hi...
Upland rivers across Europe still exhibit undisturbed conditions and represent a treasure that we cannot afford to lose. We hypothesize that the combination of pristine and modified conditions could demonstrate biological responses along the stressor gradients. Thus, the response of aquatic macrophyte communities to anthropogenic stressors along up...
We have obtained a new class of ordered pairs of multivalued maps that have pairs of coupled fixed points. We illustrate the main result with two examples that cover a wide range of models. We apply the main result in models in duopoly markets to get a market equilibrium and in aquatic ecosystems, also to get an equilibrium.
Moss-bags were applied to study the effect of contamination in three standing water bodies in Bulgaria (Kardzhali, Studen Kladenets and Zhrebchevo Reservoirs), the first two with old industrial contamination and the last polluted with short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. collected from background (unpolluted) sit...
The Balkan Vegetation Database (BVD; GIVD ID: EU-00-019) is a regional database, which was established in 2014. It comprises phytosociological relevés covering various vegetation types from nine countries of the Balkan Peninsula (Albania – 153 relevés, Bosnia and Herzegovina – 1715, Bulgaria – 12,282, Greece – 465, Croatia – 69, Kosovo – 493, Monte...
Eutrophication impact on key aquatic communities (phytoplankton, macrophytes and
macrozoobenthos) was studied in three standing water bodies in Bulgaria (Kardzhali, Koprinka
and Batak). The reservoirs had a high summer nutrient level and were between eu- and
hypertrophic category. In the meso-eutrophic condition the highest number of phytoplankton...
For the first time, transplants with moss-bags and mussels together were applied to study the water quality in standing water bodies. The tested species: Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. and Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) were collected from unpolluted sites and analyzed to obtain background levels. Then, the moss and mussels were left in cages for...
Moss biomonitoring technique was used for the first time in the Western Rhodopes for studying the air pollution in 2014-2015 in the framework of the International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE-ICP Vegetation). The study...
One of the most phytotoxic air pollutants is ozone, which can cause considerable damage to vegetation: visible leaf injury, reduction in yield quantity and quality and reduction in photosynthesis, alterations to carbon allocation, and in the sensitivity to biotic and abiotic stresses. Ozone is a secondary pollutant and prevailed at high concentrati...
Organic pollutants are dangerous toxicants in aquatic ecosystems. Priority substances enter aquatic organisms through water, food and sediments. In literature, data for organic pollutants in the aquatic biota mostly concern di erent sh species. Therefore, if focused on the protection of aquatic environment, the level of information of organic pollu...
Several phytomonitoring surveys in urban ecosystems have been undertaken during the last years. The questions about the role of natural variables in conditions of increased anthropogenic pressure, as well as the background levels of pollutants in the background sites in urban areas, are still open. Our study was focused on bioaccumulation of heavy...
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the national classifications of good ecological status to be harmonised through an intercalibration exercise. In this exercise, significant differences in status classification among Member States are harmonized by comparing and, if necessary, adjusting the good status boundaries of the national...
For the first time a complex study of the bioaccumulation of 22 macro- and microelements, as well as of 18 rare earth and radioactive elements in mosses was applied in the territory of Western Rhodopes. The research is a part of the international program (ICP Vegetation, UNECE) that has been carried out in most of the European countries since 1987....
Atanasovsko Lake (7.200 ha, Southeast Bulgaria) incorporates diverse habitats and lies along the Europe's second largest migration route, Via Pontica. The dynamics of environmental conditions, factors controlling water quality and ecological status (water chemical parameters and biological quality elements) were studied for three years. The key fac...
Microorganisms inhabiting freshwater environments are an integral part of the aquatic ecosystems. Very few data are available regarding the profiles of the microbial communities in the reservoirs in Bulgaria, despite their key role in the biogeochemical processes. In the present study, we provide the first comprehensive metagenomic analysis on the...
Aim
We studied global variation in beta diversity patterns of lake macrophytes using regional data from across the world. Specifically, we examined (1) how beta diversity of aquatic macrophytes is partitioned between species turnover and nestedness within each study region, and (2) which environmental characteristics structure variation in these be...
Historically, in river ecosystems close attention has been paid to aquatic vascular macrophytes, but recent literature shows the important role of bryophytes, especially in undisturbed conditions. For this reason, we explore whether aquatic bryophyte patterns change in altered physical habitats and in eutrophication along highly seasonal streams in...
The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in 1987. It is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) in Bangor. It is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) o...
This study reports data on the diversity of bryophytes in the Bulgarka Nature Park. The registered 55 species belonged to 23 families and 46 genera. Six species were with conservation status; 2 were assessed as Not Evaluated. The main threats were assessed and measures towards bryophyte conservation were proposed.
The moss analysis technique was applied to monitor 10 heavy metals and toxic
elements deposition. Our study was the first attempt to assess spatial patterns in a
border mountain region (area 8732 km2) with a low population density and high
proportion of protected territories. The obtained results did not correlate to the results
from areas with low...
This study aims to review Bulgarian data from the last four European Moss Surveys. For the first time temporal trends in the period 1995–2010 were analysed. Atmospheric pollution during a 15-year period, assessed by Hypnum cupressiforme showed a serious decline for Pb, Cu, Cd, V and Fe. Nevertheless, the highest Pb concentration for Europe was foun...
Biomonitoring of heavy metals in mosses was originally established in
1980 as a Swedish initiative and has since then been repeated at
five-yearly intervals with an increasing number of countries
participating. The idea of using mosses to measure atmospheric heavy
metal deposition is based on the fact that carpet forming mosses
obtain most trace el...
Ex situ experiment was focused on the impact on physiological effects of the 3 metals Cd, Ni and Pb, defined as priority contaminant substances by the European Water Directive (2000/60/EC; WFD, 2000).
The current synopsis reviews the types of aquatic habitats, that are located in the city of Plovdiv and analyses their importance for the biodiversity. Studies of the biodiversity in urban landscapes are of particular importance because they are still scarce. Several plant and animal groups are studied in the city of Plovdiv –
mosses, mollusks, fis...
Taxonomic composition and abundance of summer phytoplankton were studied in 78 lakes in Bulgaria. The Hungarian Assemblage index was applied for the first time on various Bulgarian lake types and 27 phytoplankton functional groups were identified. The dominant functional groups differed based on lake type and trophic status. Functional groups’ freq...
Over the past decade new ecological indices based on phytoplankton and macrophytes were developed as part of the tools for
assessment of the ecological status of water bodies. This study demonstrates the applicability of two of them (Assemblage
index /Q/ and Algae Group Index /AGI/) for evaluation of water bodies from a lake type L4 as well as thei...
The legal requirements stated in the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) have led to increased activity concerning macrophyte indicator metrics in Europe. Nevertheless in Bulgaria such indexes are still under consideration because of the lack of official methodologies. The macrophyte surveys undertaken as a part of two EU-funded projects are a uniqu...
Research has been carried out of the main characteristics of phytoplankton communities in order to assess the ecological status and ecological potential of the types of lakes in Bulgaria, according to the requirements of WFD 2000/60/EC. Eighty lakes/reservoirs have been researched on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The assessment was mad...
The study focused on sampling procedures and analysis of biological and physico-chemical quality elements (according to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD)) and aimed at defining reference conditions and sites, maximum ecological potential, specific physico-chemical and hydromorphological conditions for assessed surface water types of “rivers” a...
The technique of moss analysis provides an alternative, time-integrated
measure of the spatial patterns of heavy metal and toxic elements deposition
from the atmosphere to terrestrial ecosystems within the framework of The
International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural
Vegetation and Crops (UNECE ICP-Vegetation). Our stu...
Aquatic mosses and sediments were monitored along Topolnitsa River Basin (Bulgaria), copper-producing and mining region. Six mosses were applied as biomonitors: Bryum turbinatum, Fontinalis antipyretica, Leptodictyum riparium, Platyhypnidium riparioides, Rhizomnium punctatum and Sciuro-hypnum plumosum. Background levels were determined for both pla...
Bryophytes are non-vascular plants that are in a close relationship with their immediate environment. They often have large biomass in freshwater ecosystem and high level of production. Moreover, their tissues contain elevated amount of C, N and P, and cell walls have high cation exchange capacity. Aquatic bryophytes can be used to assess freshwate...
This work focuses on an integrated approach for lake ecological status assessment, elaborated according to the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Data from five lowland and semi-mountain lakes in Bulgaria (Southeast Europe) collected from two years (2011-2012) form the basis for an integrated assessment and the definition...
Bryophytes are non-vascular plants with large
biomass and high production level in freshwaters. Aquatic
bryophytes are used to assess the ecological status. They are
a stress-tolerant group, and many species have a wide trophic
range. Aquatic bryophytes are used as indicators by the
presence or absence of a pollutant, or as monitors to measure
poll...
The ‘normative definitions’ of ecological water quality classes given by the Water Framework Directive (WFD) are narrative descriptions of the conditions present in water bodies of different qualities relative to reference conditions found in unimpacted sites. Defining the type-specific reference conditions for water bodies and finding biological m...
The composition of aquatic bryophyte and vascular plant assemblages, and 4 environmental variables (water velocity, shading,
mean depth, and substrate type), together with altitude, ecological status, and river type were monitored at 223 sites along 204 rivers
during 2009 in the Pontic Province and Eastern Balkan Ecoregions, Bulgaria. The relations...
Aquatic macrophytes were studied at nine near-natural river sites together
with water chemistry (pH, electrical conductivity, nitrate nitrogen, orthophos-
phates, total N and P) and physical characteristics (substrate type, shading,
flow velocity, mean depth and width). Reference Index reflecting general degra-
dation was applied to assess the ecol...
A field bioassay was carried out to assess the impact of "NIRVANA" (active substances imazamox and pendimethalin) and "STOMP 330 EC" (active substance pendimethalin) herbicides residues to the soil mezofauna. The investigated herbicides caused changes in the community structure of the soil mezofauna. Highest negative impact (suppression of all stud...
Heavy metal and toxic element levels in moss Platyhypnidium riparioides
and vascular plant Veronica anagallis-aquatica were used for indicating the sta-
tus at three sampling stations in Topolnitsa River Basin. Sediments employed
additionally to assess sources of pollution in the studied region were in strong
positive relationship with aquatic moss...
Bryophyte species composition and 26 common physico-chemical and inorganic chemical parameters were assessed at 23 selected sites in the Maritsa River (BG) over a 4-year period. Principal components analyses (PCA) of both bryophytes and water variables distinguished different locations in the ecosystem. The data imply that the content of elements m...
The study comprises preliminary results of survey on bryophyte diversity in protected
areas in the city of Plovdiv and biomonitoring urban air pollution with moss Hypnum cupressiforme.
The finding of 2 species with conservational value (Isothecium myosuroides Brid., Grimmia crinita
Brid.) suggests that surveys of bryophyte biodiversity across prote...
The research was conducted through the period 2008 - 2009 in the Upper Thracian Lowland: Maritsa River in the city of Plovdiv, flood area near the bridge at UFT; Eastern Rhodopes: Varbitsa River at around 3 km south of the town of Kardzhali; Perperek River, within the village of Perperk; a pond in the village of Chernoochene. The material was colle...
The aquatic macrophytes of lakes, situated in the whole territory of Bulgaria, were monitored during 2009. Six lake groups were established using differences in characteristics reflecting altitude, high calcium content and salinity, and altered hydromorphology and/or artificial origin. Abundance and species composition were assessed at each lake ac...
The distribution and abundance of aquatic bryophytes, and 10 physico-chemical parameters of river water have been studied in 204 river sites in Bulgaria, 15 river types. Forty-nine bryophyte species were registered at 51 sites. The commonest species were Platyhypnidium riparioides, Fontinalis antipyretica, Brachythecium rivulare and Leptodictyum ri...
The Water Framework Directive 2000/60/;> requires new ecological approaches towards water resources sustainable management on the basinprinciple and new concept for assessment the water bodies ecological status to be applied. Current research aims at establishment of the rivers ecological status in the Arda River sub-basin. Data on Biotic Index at...
The aim of the current study is to investigate the abundance of thefreshwater pulmonate snail Radix auricularia among different aquatic plants communities, with the view of understanding if there is any particular habitat preference, comparing two freshwater basins having similar environmental conditions. The freshwater plant species were collected...
This study aims at first cross-border assessing of 10 heavy metals and toxic elements accumulation in the tissues of moss Hypnum cupressiforme reflecting wet and dry atmospheric deposition during 3-years period in Southwestern Bulgaria and Eastern FYROM. It is a part of the Bulgarian participation in the European moss survey 2005/2006 (United Natio...
First cross-border atmospheric pollution of 11 heavy metals and toxic elements assessed by Hypnum cupressiforme was reported for a part of Southeastern Europe (Southeastern Bulgaria and European Turkey). Moss monitoring technique followed the main requirements of European Moss Survey. Moss samples were collected in April 2006 both in Bulgaria and T...
Aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. pigments ratio
(chlorophyll a and b) was investigated under controlled conditions to study chlorophyll
response to the effects of copper, cadmium and lead. Тhe species was selected both due
to its proven role as a biomonitor and morphological characteristics of its leaves. It was
established that the moss...
A study on the effects of five increasing copper concentrations on three hydrobiotic species ex situ was carried out. The individuals of this research are gathered from various habitats of the Maritsa River, from unpolluted ponds. The researched indices are as follow: chlorophyll content of the aquatic bryophyte species Amblystegium riparium; hemat...
Heavy metals Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu and toxic element As as well as the macronutrients N, K, Ca, Mg,
Fe, P, Mn, S, Al and Na were measured in water and in the 17 aquatic bryomonitors sampled from 23
locations in the Maritsa River (East Aegean Sea Area, Bulgarian territory). These species are used to
evaluate the distribution of elements along the r...
The Maritsa river flow has been studied for five years. The biological object used is aquatic bryophyte species. The main results of passive and active biomonitoring of inorganic element content are given. The data about bryophyte species composition (66 mosses and 4 liverworts, 3 rare species and 1 – endangered included; 2 species registered for t...
The paper deals with the bryophyte composition (moss and liverworts species, rare and endangered included), bioconcentration capacity of 17 species, as well as inorganic element content of water and sediments at 23 locations along the whole Bulgarian stream of the Maritsa River. The aquatic submerged moss Fontinalis antipyretica was studied for its...
This study aimed at first cross-border mapping of 10 heavy metals and toxic elements accumulation in moss Hypnum cupressiforme reflecting wet and dry atmospheric deposition in Southeastern Bulgaria and European Turkey. It is a part of the European moss survey 2005/2006. Data obtained from 114 sites, covering 35,736 km2, showed different deposition...
Questions
Questions (2)
The developed methodologies for macrophyte-based assessment have values for ecological status classes. The WFD also requires assessment of 'heavily modified water bodies' in terms of ecological potential. I am thinking if the given methodology reflects general degradation (i.e. including physical alterations), is there a need of separate scale with values for ecological potential? Thank you for your comments in advance!
I am interested particularly in assessment of ecological status of hypersaline lakes according to the WFD. If there is a full description of a method based on aquatic macrophytes, I would be grateful. Any suggestions and commets concerning status of hypersaline lakes and/or reference conditions are also welcome.
Network
Cited
