site.bta A Large Portion of Biodiversity in Bulgaria Still Unknown - Expert

A Large Portion of Biodiversity in Bulgaria Still Unknown - Expert

Sofia, May 21 (BTA) - A large portion of Bulgaria's biodiversity
 is still unknown, mainly micro-biodiversity such as fungi,
bacteria and lichens, Associate Professor Desislava Dimitrova of
 the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences told BTA. "Since we are not
familiar with it yet, we do not know what factors may lead to
its loss," she added.
   
In more than 100 years of active research, Bulgarian zoologists
have registered some 27,000 species and their projected number
is no less than 50,000, said Prof. Boyko Georgiev, who heads the
 institute. Much larger resources are required for an in-depth
study of biodiversity in Bulgaria.
   
The specialists noted that biodiversity loss is being registered
 in Bulgaria, and suggested the causes were loss of habitat,
extreme exploitation, environmental pollution and invasive
foreign species.
    
The average water temperature has been rising in recent years,
Georgiev said. Two species of Ctenophora which feed on floating
fish roe have already been registered, which is one of the main
causes of the depleted population of scad and its harvest.
Almost all ctenophores are predators, taking prey ranging from
microscopic larvae and rotifers to the adults of small
crustaceans. If the rise in temperature persists, the
specialists predict a negative impact on land ecosystems as
well.
   
The second three-volume edition of the Red Book of Bulgaria is
expected to come out by the year's end. It is currently
available online, which specialists say helps more frequent
updating of information.