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Vulko Biserkov

Vulko Biserkov's picture

Personal information

Contacts

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2 Yurii Gagarin Street
1113, Sofia
E-mail: v@biserkov.com

Curriculum vitae

Date and place of birth: 16 May 1959, Petrich

Education:

1982: MSc, Faculty of Biology, St Kliment Okhridski University of Sofia

1989: PhD, Central Laboratory of Helminthology, BAS; thesis: Helminths of Reptiles in Bulgaria

Employment:

1982-1989: Biologist, Institute of Parasitology, BAS

1989-1995: Research fellow, Institute of Parasitology, BAS

1996-2013: Associate Professor, Central Laboratory of General Ecology, BAS

2013-present: Professor, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS

2000-2007: Deputy Director of the CLGE-BAS

2008-2010: Director of CLGE-BAS

2010-2013: Director of IBER-BAS

2014- : Professor, Ecology and Environmental Protection, IBER

Recent Projects:

2023. Development of specific and detailed nature protection objectives at the level of a protected area for three protected areas of the ecological network NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria - BG0001386 Yadenitsa, BG0000495 Rila and BG0002129 Rila-buffer. Funded by: EMEPA-MOEW. Principal investigator.

2021. Development of specific and detailed nature protection objectives at the protected area level for 22 areas of the ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. Financing organization: MOEW
Principal investigator.

2018. Remote sensing methods in the management of vulnerable natural habitats (WP. 1. 7. 1-1). Funded by MES. Principal investigator.

2018. Algorithms for differentiating conventionally and organically grown agricultural crops using data from field surveys, aerial drone photos, and Sentinel-2 satellite images. WP. 2.1.1. Funded by MES. Project coordinator.

2016-2017 Integrated management plan for SCI BG0000573 “Kaliakra Complex”, SPA BG0002051 "Kaliakra" and SPA BG0002097 “White Cliffs”. Funded by EMEPA – MOEW. Project Coordinator, Zoning and Restrictions

2014-2016 Management plan for Managed Reserve “Srebarna”. Funded by EMEPA – MOEW.
Project Coordinator, Protected Areas, Fauna, Natural habitats

2012-2015: COCONET - Towards COast to COast NETworks of marine protected areas (from the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential. Funded by FP7 EC (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IOF Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development, GA No. 287844); IBER-BAS, Principal investigator.

2011-2013: Re-introduction of Saker Falcon in Bulgaria. Funded by International Wildlife Consultants Ltd (UK); IBER-BAS, Principal investigator.

2011-2013: Mapping and Identification of the Conservation Status of Natural Habitats and Species - Phase I. Funded by MOEW-Operational Programme Environment; Consortium “Natura Bulgaria“;
Technical Director.

2009-2012: Marine section of designed gas pipeline “South Stream” in Bulgarian sector of the Black Sea in “feasibility study” (2009) and “design documentation” (2011-2012) stages in the preliminary research on the landfall site of the “South Stream” gas pipeline in the Pasha Dere locality. Funded by “Peter Gaz” LCC, IO-BAS & IBER-BAS, Team leader.

2011-2012: Extension of the ecological network Natura’2000 in the Bulgarian Black Sea to overcome insufficient coverage for sea habitats 1110 and 1170 and the species Alosa immaculatа, Tursiops truncatus and Phocoena phocoena and scientific reserve for habitat 1180 and T. truncatus according to the conclusions of the European topic center for biodiversity from the biogeographical seminar for the Black Sea, held on 15 June 2010, Brindisi, Funded by MOEW, IO-BAS & IBER-BAS, Team leader.

2007-2008: Optimizing of the National Ecological Network Natura'2000 and scientific base for its development; the project of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, assigned as a task by the Ministry of Environment and Waters; leader: Dr. V. Biserkov

2006-2008: Restoring ecological networks across transport corridors in Bulgaria - ALTERRA, Wageningen; funded by BBI MATRA (Holland); Bulgarian coordinator; ALTERRA

2004-2007: Elaboration of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria (Project 4036/2004); funded by the Ministry of Environment and Water; Editor of Volume III “Habitats”, Chief Editor of the electronic version of the Red Data Book (Plants, Fungi, Animals, Habitats)

2004: Identifying important herpetological areas (for tortoises and snakes) with European significance in Bulgaria for the purposes of Natura'2000; funded by MATRA/KNIP Programme, Netherlands, 2004; Team Lader

2003-2006: Biotopic distribution and communities of terrestrial small mammals in the region of the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve; funded by NSF (B 1316/03); leader

Teaching:

1996/1997; 1997/1998; 1998/1999: Course in Zoology, Agricultural Faculty, Slavic University, Sofia
1999/2000: Course in Zoology; Southwestern University, Blagoevgrad
1999/2000: Course in Biological Resources Conservation, Faculty of Biology, St. Kliment Okhridsky University of Sofia

Research interests

Biodiversity of Vertebrates;
Natural habitats and Habitats of species;
Ecology: Landscape ecology, Remote-sensing methods in ecology, Ecology of communities, Ecology of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians;
Conservation Biology: Construction and development of the National Ecological Network Natura 2000, Management and maintenance of protected areas, Reintroduction of birds of prey.

Publications

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Valko-Biserkov/research

1. Belcheva R. G., V. Y. Bisserkov (1984) Kariological Studies on Black Rat (Rattus rattusL.). Cytologia, 49: 573-581.

2. Biserkov V. Y.,R. Hadjinikolova (1992) Polystoma fuscus n. sp. (Polystomatidae) from the Common Spadefoot, Pelobates fuscus (Pelobatidae) in Bulgaria. SystematicParasitology, 25: 145-151.

3. Biserkov, V. Y.,M.-C. Durrette-Desset, T. Genov (1995) Spalacina yanchevi n. g. ,n. sp. (Heligmonellidae), from the lesser mole rat, Spalax leucodonNordmann, (Rodentia: Spalacidae). Systematic Parasitology, 32:27-32.

4. Biserkov V., A. Kostadinova (1995) A 'mini-microtome' for preparing serial sections directly on a light microscope stage. Journal of Microscopy, 179 (1), 90-93.

5. Biserkov V. Y., B. B. Georgiev, T. Genov (1985) Paracapillaria viperae sp. n. (Nematoda, Capillariidae) - a parasite of Vipera ammodytes L. in Bulgaria. Compt.rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 38, 2: 251-254.

6. Belcheva R.G., V. Y. Bisserkov (1982) B-chomosomes in the Black Rat (Rattus rattus) from Bulgaria. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 35, 11: 1577-1580.

7. Belcheva R.G., V. Y. Bisserkov, G. H. Konstantinov, N. L. Ilieva, V. A. Beshkov (1984)Cytogenetic investigations of Lacerta erchardi riveti Chab. (Reptilia: Lacertidae). Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 37, 10: 1411-1413.

8. Belcheva R. G., V. Y. Biserkov, N. L. Ilieva, V. A. Beshkov, P. M. Petkov (1986) Karyological Studies on Lacerta vivipara (Jacq.) Collected in Bulgaria. Cytologia,51: 567-570.

9. Genov T., B. B. Georgiev,V. Y. Biserkov (1984) Anoplocephaloides rauschi sp. n. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae), a parasite of Microtus nivalis Mart. (Rodentia) in Bulgaria. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 37, 6: 795-798.

10. Georgiev B. B., V. Y. Biserkov, V. T. Naydenov, T. Genov (1986) Eudiaptomus vulgaris(Schmeil, 1898) (Copepoda: Calanoida) - an intermediate host of Echinocotyle(Echinocotyloides) ukrainensis Kornyushin, 1969 (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae).Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci. 39, 8: 137-140.

11. Belcheva R.G., V. Y. Bisserkov, N. L. Ilieva, V. A. Beshkov (1987) Karyological investigations of two lizard species of the families Gekonidae and Scincidae. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 40, 12: 95-98.

12. Belcheva R.G., V. Y. Bisserkov, V. A. Beshkov, N. L. Ilieva (1988) Karyological studies of two lizard species of the family Anguidae. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci.,41, 12: 129-132.

13. Belcheva R.G., M. N. Topashka-Ancheva, V. Y. Bisserkov (1990) Karyological studies of Rhinolophus ferumeguinum and Rhinolophus hipposideros (Rinolophidae: Chiroptera)from Bulgaria. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 43, 2: 81-84.

14. Bisserkov, V. Y.(1995) New records of nematodes and acanthocephalans from snakes in Bulgaria. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 48: 11-12, 87-89.

15. Bisserkov, V. Y.(1996) New records of platyhelminth parasites from snakes in Bulgaria. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 49: 1, 73-75.

16. Biserkov V., A. Kostadinova. (1997) Development of the plerocercoid_I of Ophiotaenia europaea in reptiles. International Journal of Parasitology, 27(12): 1513-1516.

17. Biserkov, V. Y., T. Genov, R. Hadjinikolova. (1998) Heligmosomoides glareoliBaylis, 1928 (Nematoda: Heligmosomidae): redescription and synonymy. Systematic Parasitology 41, 179-186.

18. Biserkov, V. & Kostadinova, A. (1998) Intestinal helminth communities in Lacerta viridis Laurenti, 1768 (Reptilia, Lacertidae) from Bulgaria. Journal of Helminthology, 3: 267-271.

19.Kostadinova A., Gibson, D.I., Biserkov, V. & Chipev N. (2000)Re-validation of Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932 (Digenea: Echinotomatidae) on the basis of the experimental completion of its life-cycle.Systematic Parasitology, 45: 81-108.

20. Biserkov, V. Y., H. S. Yildirimhan, G. Buchvarov,I. H. Ugurtas (2000) Polystoma macrocnemis n. sp. (Monogenea:Polystomatidae) from the Iranian longlegged wood frog Rana macrocnemis(Ranidae) in Turkey. Systematic Parasitology, 45: 1-6.

21.Kostadinova A., Gibson, D.I., Biserkov, V. & Ivanova R. (2000) A quantitative approach to the evaluation of the morphological variability of two echinostomes, Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932 and E. revolutum(Froelich, 1802) from Europe. Systematic Parasitology, 45: 1-15.

22. Sharpilo, V.P., V.Biserkov,A. Kostadinova, J.M. Behnke, Y. I. Kuzmin. (2001) Helminths of the sand lizard, Lacerta agilis (Reptilia, Lacertidae), in the Palaearctic: Faunal diversity and spatial patterns of variation in the composition and structure of component communities. Parasitology, 123, 389-400.

23.Yurlova N.I., Vodyanitskaya S.N., Serbina E.A., Biserkov V.Y., Georgiev B.B., Chipev N.H. (2006) Temporal variation in prevalence and abundance of metacercariae in the pulmonate snail Lymnaea stagnalis in Chany Lake, West Siberia, Russia: long-term patterns and environmental covariates. Journal of Parasitology 92(2), 249-259.

24.Pavlova, M., M, Ihtimanska, I. Dedov, V. Biserkov, Y. Uzunov, L. Pehlivanov. 2013. New localities of Theodoxus transversalis (c. pfeiffer, 1828)within european Natura 2000 network on the islands of the lower Danube river. –Acta zoological bulgarica, 65 (1), 121-123. ISSN 0324-0770

25. Naumov, B., V. Biserkov (2013) On the distribution and subspecies Affiliation of Triturus dobrogicus (Amphibia: Salamandridae) in Bulgaria. – Acta zoological bulgarica, 65 (3), 2013: 307-313. ISSN 0324-0770

26. Naumov, B. Y., V. Y. Biserkov. (2014) A Simple Non-destructive Method for the Study of the Palatine Teeth of Triturus Newts (Amphibia: Salamandridae) Acta zool. bulg., 66 (1),: 121-124

27. Ragyov D., V. Biserkov, G. Gradev, I. Ivanov, E. Stoynov, G. Stoyanov, D. Domuschiev, A. Dixon. 2014. Past and Present Status of the Saker Falcon, Falco cherrug (Aves: Falconidae) in Bulgaria. Acta zoological bulgarica, 66 (3), 2014: 299-308. ISSN 0324-0770

28. Antonova V., P. Mitov, I. Dedov, L. Zapryanov, E. Todorov, V. Biserkov. 2015. Inventory of Vertigo angustior Jeffreys, 1830 and Vertigo moulinsiana (Dupuy, 1849)(Gastropoda: Pulmonata) from Natura 2000 Network in Bulgaria. Acta zoological bulgarica, 67(3), 2015: 365-374. ISSN 0324-0770

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

30. Djorgova, N., Ragyov, D., Biserkov, V., Naumov B., Nikolov B. 2021. Breeding Habitat Characteristics of Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus, 1758), Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (Cretzschmar, 1829) and Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus (Tunstall, 1771) in the Balkan Мountain Range, Bulgaria. Acta Zool. Bulg.

31. Djorgova, N., Ragyov, D., Biserkov, V., Biserkov J., Nikolov B. 2021. Habitat preferences of diurnal raptors in relation to human access to their breeding territories in the Balkan Mountain Range, Bulgaria. Avian Res 12, 29.

32. Atanasova D., Bozhanova V., Biserkov V., Maneva V. 2021. Distinguishing areas of organic, biodynamic and conventional farming by means of multispectral images. A pilot study, Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 35:1, 977-993,

33. Natcheva R., Ganeva A., Biserkov V., Biserkov J. 2021. Annual dynamics of specks in the landscape mosaics from Sentinel-2 in a mire at the ecological edge. Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci., 74, 9: 1338-1345.

34. Djorgova N., Ragyov D., Popgeorgiev G., Biserkov V., Biserkov Y., Zlatanova D. & Nikolov B. P. 2022. Habitat Preferences of Three Species of Diurnal Birds of Prey in Relation to their Potential Foraging Resources in the Balkan Mountains Range, Bulgaria. Acta Zool. Bulg., 74 (3), 2022: 385-402.

35. Georgiev B. B., V.Biserkov, T. Genov (1986) In toto staining method for cestodes with iron acetocarmine. Helminthologia, 23: 279-281.

36. Шарпило В. П., В. Й.Бисерков, Х. Мунхбаяр (1987) Новые виды рода Thelandros (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) - паразиты центрально-азиатской агамидной ящерицы Agama stoliczkana (Reptilia: Agamidae). Вестн. зоологии, 6: 3-8.

31. Biserkov, V. Y.,F. Meszaros, T. Genov, N. Chipev (1993) The synlophe of Dessetia moldovensis(Andreiko, 1963) (Trichostrongyloidea, Heligmosomidae), from the Lesser Mole Rat, Spalax leucodon Nordmann, (Rodentia, Spalacidae). Miscelanea Zoologica Hungarica, 8: 5-9.

32. Biserkov, V. Y, F. Meszaros, N. Chipev (1994) On the validity of the species considered synonyms of Paracapillaria sonsinoi (Parona, 1897) (Nematoda: Capillariidae). Parasitologia Hungarica, 27: 53-56.

33. Biserkov, V. Y,N. Chipev (1994) Device and technique for preparing sections of helminths for morphological studies. Parasitologia Hungarica, 27: 88.

34. Biserkov V. Y., T. Genov (1988) On the life cycle of Ophiotaenia europaea Odening 1963. Хелминтология,25: 7-14.

35. Belcheva R.G., V. Y. Bisserkov N. L. Ilieva, V. A. Beshkov (1992) Karyological studies of four species of turtles (Chelonia: Reptilia). Annuaire de l'Univ. de Sofia & quot;Kl. Ohridski", Faculte de biologie, 80: 212-219.

36. Belcheva R. G., M. N. Topashka-Ancheva, V. Y. Biserkov (1992) Kariological study of three species of bats of the family Vespertilioniidae (Chiroptera, Mamalia) from Bulgaria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 45: 72-76.

37. Belcheva R. G., V. Y.Bisserkov, V. A. Beshkov, N. L. Ilieva (1993) Цитогенетични изследвания надесет вида змии (Ophidia: Reptilia) от фауната на България. Annuaire del'Univ. de Sofia "Kl. Ohridski", Faculte de biologie, 82:277-287.

38.Tzvetkov, Y. I. Todev, B. B. Georgiev, V. Y. Biserkov. (1999) Enzootic gnathostomiasis of the polecat (Mustela putorius L.) in Bulgaria. Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2, 1, 47-52.

39. Sichanov D., Chipev N., Biserkov V. (2004)Spatial distribution of terrestrial small mammals in the region of Srebarna reserve. Ann. Univ. Sofia “St. Kl. Ohridski”. 96, 4, 411-421.

40. Sichanov D., Popov V., Biserkov V., Zidarova S. ,Chipev N. (2006) Spatial pattern and diversity of small mammal assemblages in the area of Srebarna Managed Nature Reserve (NE Bulgaria). Acta Zoologica Bulgarica. 58(2), 209-222.

41. Pehlivanov L., Stefanov T., Mihov S., Biserkov V., Vassilev M., Apostolou A., Velkov B. 2011.Recent ichthyofauna in the wetlands along the Bulgarian section of the Danube. Scientific Annals of the Danube Delta Institute, Tulcea – Иomania, vol. 17. 83-88 pp.

42. Grift E., V. Biserkov, V. Simeonova, M. Huijser. 2009. Restoring ecological networks across transport corridors in Bulgaria. Proceedings ICOET, 2009,Session 232, pp 522-566.

43. Бисерков В. Й. (1987) Ролята на влечугите катодопълнителни и резервоарни гостоприемници в циркулацията на хелминти вБългария. В: Съвременни постижения на българската зоология.С., БАН: 81-84.

44.Белчева Р. Г., В. Й. Бисерков, Хр. Л. Илиева, Вл. Бешков, П. М. Петков(1984) Сравнително изучаване кариотипа на 8 вида гущери от род Lacerta(Sauria: Lacertidae). В: Трета нац. конф. по цитогенетика, 8-12 окт.Пловдив, том II: 436-439.

45. Бисерков В., Б. Петров, Б. Наумов, В. Бешков, Д.Добрев, Д. Духалов, П. Стоев, К. Христов, И. Иванчев. Опазванебиоразнообразието на земноводни и влечуги – постижения и предстоящи задачи. с..283-292. В: А. Петрова, Д. Димитрова, В. Владимиров (Ред.) (2005). Съвременносъстояние на биоразнообразието в България – проблеми и перспективи. Доклади нанац. Раб. Среща, 22 май – Международен ден на биологичното разнообразие, София,3-4 май 2004.

46. Бисерков В. 2017. Нови технологични възможности заекосистемни анализи в България. Наука,  Издание на Съюза на учените вБългария, София, том XXVII, кн. 5, с. 16-22. Доклад от IХ-тия „Семинар по екология – 2017 с международно участие“ на секция„Биология“ към СУБ и ИБЕИ – БАН (27 – 28.04.2017 г., София) http://www.bvu-bg.eu/nmvb/nauka/5-2017.pdf

47. Panayotova M., Daskalov G., Todorova V., Georgieva I., Bekova R., Klayn S. and V.Biserkov. 2018. Mapping and Assessment of the Ecosystem Services to Fisheries in the Black Sea. Fourteenth Int. Conf. on Marine Sciences and Technologies. Black Sea 2018. pp 136-140. ISSN 1314 – 0957.

48. Дундарова Х., В. Бисерков, К. Стойчков. 2014.Значение на малките пещери за опазването на пещеролюбивите видове прилепи.         28.03.2014 - 30.03.2014

49. Biserkov V., S. Lukanov. 2015. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveying freshwater turtle populations. 5th International Symposium on Emys orbicularis and the other European freshwater turtles, 19-21August, Kiten, Bulgaria.

50. Djorgova N., D. Ragyov, B. Naumov, V. Biserkov, B. Nikolov. (2017). Nest-site selection of Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) in Balkan Mountain. Seminar of Ecology – 2017 with international participation, Sofia, 27-28 April2017(постер)

51. Kazakov S, Biserkov V., Pehlivanov L., Nedkov S.(2018). Preliminary results of eutrophication assessment in water bodies from Lower Danube floodplain using Sentinel 2 images. Seminar of ecology 26-27 April 2018 Sofia.

52.Biserkov V, Berov D., Tsvetkova N, Biserkov J. (2017). Black Sea ecosystems assessment and mapping: Geodatabase design and workflow specifics. –International Scientific Conference “Mapping and assessment of freshwater and marine ecosystem services in Bulgaria”, 31 March 2017, Sofia.

53.Karamfilov V., Berov D., Biserkov V., Daskalov G., Klayn S., Biserkov J., Todorova V., Panayotova M., Eftimova E., Doncheva V., Vassilev V., Tsvetkova N., Ivanov I. (2017). Mapping of marine ecosystems and their services in the Bulgarian Black Sea region. Evaluation of current condition. – International Scientific Conference “Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Bulgaria – Science in Action” 06 – 07. 02. 2017,Sofia.

54. Biserkov, V., B. Naumov. 2012. Changes after 1948 in the habitats of amphibians and reptiles in the area of the Srebarna lake Biosphere reserve. – In: Uzunov, Y., B.B. Georgiev, E. Varadinova, N. Ivanova, L. Pehlivanov, V. Vasilev (Ed.) Ecosystems of Biosphere Reserve Srebarna Lake, Prof. Marin Drinov Academic Publishing House. pp. 163-183.

55. Biserkov, V. 2012. Changes after 1948 in the habitats of mammals in the area. – In: Uzunov, Y., B.B. Georgiev, E. Varadinova, N. Ivanova, L. Pehlivanov, V. Vasilev (Ed.) Ecosystems of Biosphere Reserve Srebarna Lake, Prof. Marin Drinov Academic Publishing House. pp. 155-162.

56. ГеновТ., Бисерков В., Георгиев Б. (1999) Зоология - кратък курс. София, Академичноиздателство "Проф. М. Дринов" и Издателство "Пенсофт",329 с. Генов Т., Бисерков В.,Георгиев Б. (2002) Зоология - кратък курс. София, Издателство"Пенсофт", 329 с (второ издание).

57. Grift E., V. Biserkov, V. Simeonova. 2008.Restoring ecological networks across transport corridors in Bulgaria. Identification of bottleneck locations and practical solutions. Alterra, Wageningen, UR, 150 pp.

58. Бисерков В. (Ред.). 2007.  Определител наземноводните и влечугите в България. София, Издателство „Зелени Балкани”, 140с.

59. V. Biserkov et al. (Eds) Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 3. Natural habitats. BAS & MoEW, Sofia. 2015. 422 pp.

60. Biserkov, V. 2015. (Editor-in-Chief). Red Data Bookof the   Republic   of   Bulgaria: Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi; Volume 2 – Animals; Volume 3 - Natural habitats., Digital edition, Joint edition of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Environment and Water. http://e-ecodb.bas.bg/rdb

61. Бисерков В. Й. (1989) Хелминти на влечугиот разред Squamata в България - фаунистични,морфологични и биологични изследвания. Централна лаборатория похелминтология при БАН, София.

Affiliation

Department
Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology
Division
Community Ecology and Conservation Biology
Research group
Conservation Biology

History

Member for
12 years 4 weeks