Polina Nikova

Personal information

Contacts

pknikova@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5701-0926
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VPLF5XgAAAAJ&hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/polina-nikova-260a111b1/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Polina-Nikova

Curriculum vitae

2024—2027: PhD Student in Ecology and Ecosystem Conservation at IBER-BAS

Thesis topic: "Vertebrate invasive alien species in Bulgaria: distribution and pathways of introduction and spread" with supervisors Assoc. Prof. Teodora Trichkova and Assoc. Prof. Yordan Koshev

2023—2024: Assistant at IBER-BAS

2021—2023: Biologist at IBER-BAS

2021—2023: MSc Applied Hydrobiology and Aquaculture, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Bulgaria

Dissertation topic: "Distribution and pathways of introduction and spread of two invasive alien species of fish in the region of Sofia City" with supervisor Assoc. Prof. Teodora Trichkova. The two species of interest were the pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) and the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). This topic involved a desk study in order to fill out a methodology for invasion pathway analysis developed by the ESENIAS-TOOLS project (2015—2017) as well as gathering distribution data in the field and interviewing fishermen specifically about the largemouth bass. It was found that the pumpkinseed was the dominant species in the region and that fishermen show great interest in introducing the largemouth bass to Bulgaria. Pumpkinseed fish are introduced and dispersed via unintentional pathways and natural dispersal, while the largemouth bass does so via intentional pathways and natural dispersal.

2017—2021: MBiol Ecology and Conservation Biology student at the University of Leeds, England - First Class

Dissertation topic: "Preventing the spread of invasive species in water supplies of Yorkshire Water" with supervisor Prof. Alison M. Dunn. The project explored the effectiveness of chlorine as a biosecurity treatment against Dikerogammarus villosus and Crassula helmsii for equipment and Ca(OH)2 in the treatment of water transfers between reservoirs against Dikerogammarus villosus and Dreissena polymorpha.

2012—2017: PSHS American College Arcus, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria - Bulgarian Diploma of Secondary Education and International Baccalaureate Diploma

Research interests

invasive alien species, freshwater ecology, conservation biology, climate change, environmental law

Publications

Bobeva, A., Nikova, P., Borissov, S., Koshev, Y., Todorov, V., Dimitrova, B., Ignatov, M., Rolečková, B., Uhlíková, J., Kachamakova, M. 2025. Recolonisation or invasion? First insights into the origin of the newly established beaver populations in Bulgaria using eDNA. Journal of Vertebrate Biology, 74(24119). https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.24119

Nikova P. K., M. Kachamakova, Y. Koshev. 2024. Assessing the Establishment of American Mink (Neogale vison) Escapees from the Fur Industry in Bulgaria. Ecologies 5(4): 610-626. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5040036

Affiliation

Department

Aquatic Ecosystems

Division

Biodiversity and Processes in Freshwater Ecosystems

Research group

Lentic Ecosystems

Хронология

Член от

3 години 13 седмици