Bulgaria S Biological Diversity

From single-celled organisms in Black Sea sand to endemic cave crustaceans, from mountain glacial relict insects to the most diverse bird fauna in Europe, the fauna of Bulgaria has been a subject of study for more than a century. This is the first English language survey of all vertebrate and many key invertebrate groups of Bulgaria, their faunistics, origin, geographical and ecological distribution, and conservation issues.

The second volume of the series "Biodiversity of Bulgaria" deals with both parts (Bulgarian and Greek) of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains. The book consists of three articles on the flora (1962 species of higher plants) and 45 articles on the fauna (4329 animal species, both vertebrates and invertebrates). The volume contains also zoogeographical analysis of each group, data about relicts, endemics and sites of importance for conservation. The huge amount of information is provided by more than 56 authors from Bulgaria and abroad. The book is indispensable for any zoological library, especially those collecting faunistic surveys, as well as for zoologists, biogeographers, conservationists, collectors and all lovers of nature.

This volume is a collection of reports presented at the International NATO Advanced Research Workshop Conservation of the Biological Diversity as a Prerequisite for Sustainaible Development of the Black Sea Region. The seminar was held at Batumi - Kobuleti, Georgia, on the Black Sea during October 5 -12, 1996 with participants from the countries of the Black Sea Region -Georgia, Russia, the Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, as well as Germany, Italy and the United States of America. The Black Sea Region is an essential and unique part of southern Europe because of its geographical, cultural and historical features. It is the cradle of European civilisation, together with Greece and Rome. For centuries it neighboured onto and interacted with the cultures of the northern and southern Mediterranean, the Christian and Moslim worlds, and was the route of conquerors and migrations of whole nations. Here are closely interwoven the cultures and customs of nations, economic and trade relations, the history of wars and civilised relations of neighbouring countries.