Simeon Lukanov

Personal information

Contacts

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
Tzar Osvoboditel № 1, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
e-mail: simeon_lukanov@abv.bg
GSM: +359988/396-351
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2546-6590
Scopus Author ID: 55821844300

Curriculum vitae

Date and place of birth: 07.VI.1984, Sofia

Nationality: Bulgarian

Education:
1998-2003: National High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences “Acad. L. Chakalov”, profile “Biology”; First English Language School.
2003-2007: Bachelor in Biology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
2007-2009: Master in Biology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Master thesis: "Biology of the southern crested newt (Triturus karelinii) from two localities near Sofia".
2011-2014: Ph.D student, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". PhD thesis: "Vocal communication and relations in anuran amphibians from the Ranidae family in Bulgaria".

Knowledge and skills:
Languages: English – very good, Spanish – basic, Russian - basic
Computer skills: MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access); moderate experience with statistical and sound-processing software (Statistica 7-10, SoundRuler 0.9), basic experience with geographic information system (ArcGIS 10).
Driving licence: category "B".

Recent projects:
2018-2021: Research of the pheromone communication of the Nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) and its role in the species behavior. Funded under contract KP-06-N21/11 from the National Science Fund of Bulgaria.
2019-2022: An integrative approach for clarifying the prevalence, biologic characteristics and phylogenetic relations among closely related amphibian species (Anura and Caudata) in Bulgaria. Funded under contract KP-06-N31/11 from the National Science Fund of Bulgaria.
2019-2023: COST Action CA18221 PEsticide RIsk AssessMent for Amphibians and Reptiles (PERIAMAR). Funded by the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
2021-2023: Interdisciplinary approach to pesticide risk assessment on model amphibian species. Funded under contract KP-06-COST/2 from National Science Fund of Bulgaria.
2025-2027:A combinatorial approach to identifying anthropogenic impacts on model species of anuran amphibians through bioacoustic monitoring, automatic species recognition and biochemical analyses. Funded under contract КP-06-Аustria/3 from National Science Fund of Bulgaria.
2025-2028:Effects of environmental parameters on physical condition, biochemical profile and population characteristics in protected species of urodele amphibians (Amphibia: Caudata: Salamandridae). Funded under contract КP-06-N81/11 from National Science Fund of Bulgaria.

Current positions:
Associate Professor at the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Subject editor (Herpetology) at North-Western Journal of Zoology.
Chief editor at Acta Zoologica Bulgarica.

Research interests

Ecology, behaviour and conservation of amphibians and reptiles.

Publications

Andonov K., Dyugmedzhiev A., Lukanov S., Slavchev M., Vacheva E., Stanchev N., Popgeorgiev G., Duhalov D., Kornilev Y.V., Nedeltcheva-Antonova D., Naumov B.2020. Analyses of Skin Secretions of Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) (Reptilia: Serpentes), with Focus on the Complex Compounds and Their Possible Role in the Chemical Communication. Molecules, 25 (16) https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25163622

Andonov K., Dyugmedzhiev A., Lukanov S., Vacheva E., Duhalov D., Nedeltcheva-Antonova D., Naumov B. 2023. Chemical map of skins secretions in Old-World snakes. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bse.2023.104713

Andonov K., Dyugmedzhiev A., Lukanov S., Vacheva E., Popgeorgiev G., Nedeltcheva-Antonova D., Naumov B. 2025. Behavioral effects of long-chained ketones in Vipera ammodytes: an experimental approach. Herpetozoa 38: 161-171. https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.38.e151358

Aneva I., Zhelev P., Lukanov S., Peneva M., Vassilev K., Zheljazkov V.D. 2020. Influence of the Land Use Type on the Wild Plant Diversity. Plants 9 (5) https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9050602

Biserkov V., Lukanov S. 2017. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Surveying Freshwater Turtle Populations: Methodology Adjustment. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, Supplement 10, p. 161-163.

Concepción E., Aneva I., Jay M., Lukanov S., Marsden K., Moreno G., Oppermann R., Pardo A., Piskol S., Rolo V., Schraml A., Díaz M. 2020. Optimizing biodiversity gain of European agriculture through regional targeting and adaptive management of conservation tools. Biological Conservation 241 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108384

Dimitrova B., Lukanov S. 2024. Contrasting effects of ammonium nitrate on tadpole survival, growth and behavior in two common anuran species. Ecological Frontiers 44(4): 769-780, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecofro.2024.01.004

Dufresnes C., Lukanov S., Gippner S., Ambu J., Strachinis I., Arsovski D., Monod-Broca B., Cayuela H., Lymberakis P., Canestrelli D., Cogălniceanu D., Poyarkov N.A., Litvinchuk S.N., Suchan T., Denoël M., Jablonski D. 2025. Historical biogeography and systematics of yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variegata), with the description of a new subspecies from the Balkans. Vertebrate Zoology 75: 1-30. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.75.e138687

Dufresnes C., Strachinis I., Suriadna N., Mykytynets G., Cogălniceanu D., Székely P., Vukov T., Arntzen J.W., Wielstra B., Lymberakis P., Geffen E., Gafny S., Kumlutaş Y., Ilgaz Ç., Candan K., Mizsei E., Szabolcs M., Kolenda K., Smirnov N., Géniez P., Lukanov S., Crochet P.A., Dubey S., Perrin N., Litvinchuk S., Denoël M. 2019. Phylogeography of a cryptic speciation continuum in spadefoot toads (Pelobates). Molecular Ecology https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15133

Koleva V., Kornilev Y., Telenchev I., Lukanov S., Hristova B., Natchev N. 2017. Salt tolerance's toll: prolonged exposure to saline water inflicts damage to the blood cells of dice snakes (Natrix tessellata). Web Ecology 17: 1-7. https://doi.org/10.5194/we-17-1-2017

Kornilev Y., Lukanov S., Pulev A., Slavchev M., Andonov K., Vаcheva E., Vergilov V., Mladenov V., Georgieva R., Popgeorgiev G. 2020. The Alien Pond Slider Trachemys scripta (Thunberg in Schoepff, 1792) in Bulgaria: Future Prospects for an Established and Reproducing Invasive Species. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 70 (4): 571-581.

Kornilev Y.V., Popgeorgiev G., Plachiyski D., Dyugmedzhiev A., Mladenov V., Andonov K., Lukanov S., Vacheva E., Slavchev M., Naumov B. 2023. Distribution of the grass snake (Natrix natrix) and dice snake (N. tessellata) in Bulgaria. Historia naturalis bulgarica 45: 239–254.

Lukanov S. 2020. Amphibian and reptile diversity in protected site “Reka Veselina” – current state and prospects for future conservation. Ecologia Balkanica 12 (1): 195-199.

Lukanov S. 2020. First record of underwater sound produced by the Balkan crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi). Acta Herpetologica 15(1): 15-20 https://doi.org/10.13128/a_h-7863

Lukanov S. 2020. Species diversity as an indicator of the heterogeneity of agricultural land in Bulgaria. In: Peneva et al. Biodiversity, green and blue infrastructure and agriculture in Bulgaria. Publishing complex - UNWE, Sofia. pp. 103-116 (in Bulgarian).

Lukanov S. 2022. Inter-pond migration during the aquatic phase by male Triturus ivanbureschi. Russian Journal of Herpetology 29(6): 373 – 376. https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-373-376

Lukanov S. 2024. Not so cryptic–differences between mating calls of Hyla arborea and Hyla orientalis from Bulgaria. PeerJ 12: e17574. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17574

Lukanov S., Atanasova I. 2025. Correlation between individual body condition and seasonal activity in Buresch’s crested newt, Triturus ivanbureschi. Diversity 17(5):350. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17050350

Lukanov S., Atanasova I., Vacheva E., Dyugmedzhiev A., Borissov S., Naumov B. 2025. Morphological variation between Hyla arborea and Hyla orientalis from Bulgaria. Zoologischer Anzeiger 319: 161-172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2025.09.010

Lukanov S., Doncheva T., Kostova N., Naumov B. 2021. Effects of selected environmental parameters on the activity and body condition of the Buresch's crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi) with notes on skin secretions. North-western Journal of Zoology 17 (1): 34-38. https://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/content/v17n1/nwjz_e201508_Lukanov.pdf

Lukanov S., Dyugmedzhiev A. 2023. Photo identification of viperid snakes using pattern recognition software: a case study of Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758). North-Western Journal of Zoology 19 (1): 41-45. https://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/content/v19n1/nwjz_231504_Lukanov.pdf

Lukanov S., Kolev A., Dimitrova B., Popgeorgiev G. 2024. Rice Fields as Important Habitats for Three Anuran Species—Significance and Implications for Conservation. Animals 14(1): 106 https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010106

Lukanov S., Kolev A., Dyugmedzhiev A., Slavchev M. 2024. The lateral stripe – a reliable way for software assisted individual identification for Hyla arborea. Acta Herpetologica 19(1): 69-73. https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-15519

Lukanov S., Lazarkevich I., Dimitrova B. 2022. Persistent Winter Activity in Triturus ivanbureschi Arntzen & Wielstra, 2013 (Amphibia: Caudata). Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 74 (2): 281-285. https://www.acta-zoologica-bulgarica.eu/2022/002573.pdf

Lukanov S., Naumov B. 2017. Amphibians and reptiles. In: Ivanova N. (ed.). Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services of Wetlands in Bulgaria. IBER-BAS, Sofia. pp. 120-123.

Lukanov S., Naumov B. 2019. Effect of anthropogenic noise on call parameters of Hyla arborea (Anura: Hylidae). Ecological Questions 30 (1): 55-60 http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/EQ.2019.006

Lukanov S., Popgeorgiev G. 2017. Lithobates catesbеianus (Shaw, 1802). In Trichkova T., Vladimirov V., Tomov R., Todorov M. (eds.): Atlas of invasive alien species of concern to the European Union, IBER-BAS, ESENIAS, Sofia, p.: 106-109. (in Bulgarian)

Lukanov S., Popgeorgiev G., Tzankov N. 2018. First bioacoustic and morphological data for the presence of Pelophylax bedriagae in Bulgaria. Acta Scientifica Naturalis, 5 (1): 54-63. https://doi.org/10.2478/asn-2018-0008

Lukanov S., Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Tzankov N. 2011. Habitat distribution and vocal activity of the Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus), the European green toad (Epidalea viridis) and Eastern spadefoot (Pelobates syriacus) (Anura: Ranidae, Bufonidae, Pelobatidae) in the protected area of Rupite. Science and Technology 1 (3): 16-20.

Lukanov S., Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Tzankov N. 2011. Call types of the Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus Pallas, 1771) (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae) in Bulgaria. Youth Scientific Conference “Kliment’s Days” Conference proceedings, second book, ISSN: 1314-4960, p. 69-72.

Lukanov S., Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Tzankov N. 2015. A comparative study of the mating call of Pelophylax ridibundus and Pelophylax kurtmuelleri (Anura: Ranidae) from syntopic and allotopic populations. Journal of Natural History. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2013.791942

Lukanov S., Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Tzankov N. 2014. Effects of environmental factors over mating call characteristics of the marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas 1771) in Bulgaria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 66 (2): 209-216.

Lukanov S., Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Tzankov N. 2014. Effects of traffic noise on the locomotion activity and vocalization of the Marsh Frog, Pelophylax ridibundus. North-Western Journal of Zoology 10 (2): 359-364.

Lukanov S., Tzankov N. 2016. Life history, age and normal development of the Balkan-Anatolian crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi Arntzen and Wielstra, 2013) from Sofia district. North-Western Journal of Zoology 12 (1): 22-32.

Lukanov S., Tzankov N., Handschuh S., Heiss E., Naumov B., Natchev N. 2016. On the amphibious uptake of food and prey manipulation behaviour in the Balkan-Anatolian crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi, Arntzen and Wielstra, 2013). Zoology 119 (3): 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2016.02.002

Lukanov S., Tzankov N., Naumov B.2017. First documented records of Pelophylax lessonae (Camerano, 1882) (Amphibia: Ranidae) from Bulgaria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 69 (4): 483-488.

Lukanov, S., Stanchev, N., Vacheva, E., Naumov, B. 2018. A unique case of temporary bloat in Buresch’s crested newt Triturus ivanbureschi Arntzen and Wielstra, 2013. Herpetology Notes 11: 971-973.

Natchev N., Handschuh S., Lukanov S., Tzankov N., Naumov B., Werneburg I. 2016. Contributions to the functional morphology of caudate skulls: kinetic and akinetic forms. PeerJ 4:e2392; https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2392

Naumov B., Lukanov S. 2018. Notes on age-related changes in body size and colorpattern in captive Triturus dobrogicus (Kiritzescu, 1903). Herpetozoa 30 (3/4): 159-168.

Naumov B., Lukanov S., Vacheva E. 2020. Social media in service of biodiversity conservation: providing new locality for Ichthyosaura alpestris (Laurenti, 1768), a glacial relict in Bulgaria. Herpetology Notes 13: 181-183

Naumov B., Lukanov S., Vacheva E., Lazarkevich I., Slavchev M. 2025. Phenology and sex ratio of Triturus cristatus (Laurenti, 1768) (Amphibia: Salamandridae) at its southern range limit. Acta zoologica bulgarica 77(1): 71-84. https://doi.org/10.71424/azb77.1.002822

Naumov B., Lukanov S., Vacheva E., Slavchev M. 2023. Distribution and Ecology of Triturus cristatus (Laurenti, 1768) (Amphibia: Salamandridae) in Bulgaria. Acta zoologica bulgarica 75 (1): 113-122.

Naumov B., Vacheva E., Borissov S., Lukanov S., Dyugmedzhiev A., Lazarkevich I. 2025. On the origin of the easternmost known population of Podarcis erhardii (Bedriaga, 1876) (Reptilia: Sauria). North-Western Journal of Zoology 21(1): 43-49. https://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/content/v21n1/nwjz_e251501_Naumov.pdf

Naumov B., Vacheva E., Lukanov S. 2024. Diet and feeding habits of Triturus cristatus (Laurenti, 1768) (Amphibia: Salamandridae) in its southernmost locality. North-Western Journal of Zoology 20(2): 116-125, https://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/content/v20n2/nwjz_e241505_Naumov.pdf

Popgeorgiev G., Dyugmedzhiev A., Lukanov S., Vacheva E., Slavchev M., Andonov K., Vergilov V., Duhalov D., Krastev G., Stojanov A., Tzankov N., Plachiyski D., Kornilev Yu. V., Naumov B. 2025 Key areas for the conservation of endangered reptile species in the Kresna Gorge, south-western Bulgaria. Historia naturalis bulgarica 47: 39–47. https://doi.org/10.48027/hnb.47.031

Popgeorgiev G., Lukanov S., Dimitrova B., Naumov B. 2024. Importance of agricultural areas for the distribution of protected amphibian species in Bulgaria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 76(1): 87-96. https://www.acta-zoologica-bulgarica.eu/2024/002709.pdf

Popgeorgiev G., Naumov B., Kornilev Y., Vergilov V., Slavchev M., Lukanov S., Dyugmedzhiev A., Stoyanov A., Dobrev D., Tzankov N. 2019. Diversity and Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Bulgarian Part of the Lower Danube. Biodiversity of the Bulgarian-Romanian Section of the Lower Danube, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., ISBN:978-1-53615-664-5, pp 283-314

Robbemont J., van Veldhuijzen S., Allain S., Ambu J., Boyle R., Canestrelli D., Cathasaigh É.Ó., Cathrine C., Chiocchio A., Cogalniceanu D., Cvijanović M., Dufresnes C., Ennis C., Gandola R., Jablonski D., Julian A., Kranželić D., Lukanov S., Martínez-Solano I., Montgomery R., Naumov B., O’Neill M., North A., Pabijan M., Pushendorf R., Salvi D., Schmidt B., Sotiropoulos K., Stanescu F., Stanković D., Stapleton S., Šunje E., Szabolcs M., Vacheva E., Willis D., Zimić A., France J., Meilink W., Stark T., Struijk R., Theodoropoulos A., de Visser M., Wielstra B. 2023. An extended mtDNA phylogeography for the alpine newt illuminates the provenance of introduced populations. Amphibia-Reptilia (published online ahead of print 2023). https://doi.org/10.1163/15685381-bja10144

Simeonovska-Nikolova D., Savov A., Lukanov S. 2016. Spatial relationships of Apodemus sylvaticus and Apodemus flavicolis in a syntopic habitat in Southwest Bulgaria during breeding season. Silva Balcanica 17 (1): 41-50.

Tzankov N., Popgeorgiev G., Naumov B., Stoyanov A., Kornilev Y., Petrov B., Dyugmedzhiev A., Vergilov V., Draganova R., Lukanov S., Westerström A. 2014. Identification guide of the amphibians and reptiles in Vitosha Nature Park. Directorate of Vitosha Nature Park, Sofia, pp. 248. (in Bulgarian)

Tzankov N., Popgeorgiev G., Lukanov S. 2017. Factsheet: Trachemys scripta (Thunberg in Schoepff, 1792). Trichkova T., Uludağ A., Zenetos A., Vladimirov V., Tomov R. Cogălniceanu D. & Duplić A. (Eds.). ESENIAS Scientific Reports 2. East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species – A tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS), IBER-BAS, ESENIAS, Sofia, Bulgaria. Available at: http://www.esenias.org

Tzankov N., Stojanov A., Dobrev D., Lukanov S., Kornilev Y., Andonov K., Vergilov V., Popgeorgiev G. 2017. Trachemys scripta (Thunberg in Schoepff, 1792). In Trichkova T., Vladimirov V., Tomov R., Todorov M. (eds.): Atlas of invasive alien species of concern to the European Union, IBER-BAS, ESENIAS, Sofia, p.: 110-113. (in Bulgarian)

Vergilov V., Hristov G., Lukanov S., Lambevska A., Tzankov N. 2016. First record of Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) in Montenegro. Biharean Biologist 10 (1): 65-66.

Affiliation

Department

Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology

Division

Community Ecology and Conservation Biology

History

Member for

11 years 31 weeks