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Division of Paleobotany and Palynology

Tue, 2011-04-26 21:33 — Gergana Vasileva

Research background
 

Main directions and scientific research priorities in the activity of the Division of Palaeobotany and Palynology, of national and international importance are:
  • Earth and Earth evolution studies
  • Biodiversity and biodiversity evolution studies
These priorities are being developed via local, regional and national research projects – subject to the Division’s activity. On international scale this is currently supported by projects as NECLIME (Neogene Climate Evolution in Eurasia); projects with international research institutes, where Bulgarian institutions have agreements for a bilateral cooperation.
 
The activities of the Division, which is an integral part of the Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources associated with the implementation of two of the priority research areas of the Department:
 
(1) Taxonomy and evolution of plants, species content, structure and history of the flora and plant communities, species and habitats with conservation status;

(2) Studying the evolutionary mechanisms of Bulgarian plant genofund since the Tertiary.

With its research on the palaeoflora and climate reconstruction during the Cenozoic, the Division contributes to the priority research programme of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research: “Environment, ecosystem functions, biodiversity and climatic changes”.
 


Methodological group "Palaeobotany"

 
Staff:
Assoc. Prof. Vladimir Bozukov, PhD – Group’s director
Mila Andonova, PhD student, Archaeologist
Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Technician
 

Priority directions of the study of plant macroremains:
  • Diversity and evolution of the Cenosoic flora and vegetation;
  • Identification and species diversity of parasitic micro mycetes on Cenosoic plant macrofossils;
  • Vegetation and climate reconstruction during the Cenosoic;
  • Reconstruction of the climate evolution during the Cenosoic;
  • Archaeobotanical studies (carpology and anthracology): reconstruction of socio-cultural practices of past societies within their palaeo-environment and the human impact on it;
  • Maintenance of the excising Palaeobotanical reference collection and development of a new Archaeobotanical reference collection;
  • Popularization of the Palaeobotany and Archaeobotany on a national and international scale.

Methodological Group "Palynology"

 
Staff:
Prof. Dimiter Ivanov, DSc – Group’s director
Assoc. Prof. Detelina Belkinova, PhD
Assoc. Prof. Maria Lazarova, PhD – volunteer
 

Priority directions of the study of plant microremains:
  • Diversity and evolution of the Cenosoic flora and vegetation;
  • Cenosoic flora and climate reconstruction;
  • Cenosoic climate evolution reconstruction;
  • Morphology of pollen, spores and resting stages of pro- and eukaryote algae;  
  • Taxonomy and ecology of phytoplankton algae;
  • Maintenance of the existing Palynological reference collection;
  • Popularization of the Palynology on a national and international scale.
Other directions:

Melissopalynology (Pollen analysis of bee products)
 


by Dr. Radut.