Rumyana Kostova

(Associate)

e-mail:

Education

PhD — Entomology (Sofia University, Faculty of Biology), MSc — Zoology of Invertebrates, Entomology, second speciality: Teacher in Biology (Sofia University, Faculty of Biology)

Research interests

Research on beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera), emphasizing on family Carabidae. Involved in different projects for monitoring and assessment of the biodiversity. Statistical data analyses of faunistical and ecological data.

Current projects

2021— “A combined approach to reveal the cryptic diversity of ant genus Messor with emphasis on functional morphology, symbiont complexes, vibroacoustic and chemical communication”, Contract KP-06-N51/6-11.11.2021. Position: expert Coleoptera and Biostatistics.

2018-2024 “Cybertaxonomic approach to phylogenetic studies of model invertebrate genera (Invertebrata, Arachnida, Insecta) clarifyng the problems of origin, formation and conservation of the Invertebrate Fauna of the Balkan Peninsula”. Funded by Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria, Contract KP-06-N21/1-17.12.2018. Position: expert Coleoptera: Carabidae and Biostatistics.

2019—2023 “Structural-functional characteristics and perspectives for the use of endemic, relict conifer communities in Bulgaria in the changing climate conditions.” Funded by Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria. Contract KP-06- N36/13/17.12.2019. Position: expert Coleoptera: Carabidae and Biostatistics.

2023 “SPRING: Strengthening Pollinator Recovery through INdicators and monitorinG in the Eastern Region including Greece, Bulgaria, and Cyprus”. Position: field expert polinators.

2023 “Expert support to the EEA team for the implementation of the pilot project “Coordination and Governance of National Biodiversity Monitoring Schemes” (Governance Sub-Pilot) under the European Biodiversity Partnership Project (Biodiversa+), funded under the Horizon Europe Programme (2021—2027)”, 4423/21.06.2023. Position: Expert methodologies for monitoring and assessment of protected species of invertebrates, fish and mammals.

2022 “Consultation and assistance in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data on natural habitat types and species for the purposes of the National System for Monitoring the Status of Biological Diversity (NSMBD) and the Biodiversity Conservation Policy”, Agreement between NMNH-BAS and MOEW, D-33-19/08.07.2022. Position: expert protected beetle species, biostatistics.

2022 “Action plan for the conservation of the Carabus menetriesi pacholei and Carabus hungaricus in Bulgaria”, in implementation of a project BG16M1OP002-3.020-0002-S01, financed under OP “Environment 2014—2020”. Position: expert ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae).

Most recent publications

Kostova, R., Borissov, S., Bobeva A., Bekchiev, R., 2024. At a crossroads: Genetic lineages and dispersal routes of Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776) s.l. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Bulgaria. — Biodiversity Data Journal, 12: e116619. doi:10.3897/BDJ.12.e116619

Kostova, R., Bekchiev, R., Popgeorgiev, G., Kornilev, Y. V., 2023. First exhaustive distribution and habitat modelling of Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776) sensu lato (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Bulgaria. — Nature Conservation, 53: 39—59. doi:10.3897/natureconservation.53.104243

Kostova, R., Bekchiev, R., 2023. Ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) taxocoenoses from high altitude Pinus peuce and Pinus heldreichii forests in Bulgaria. — Historia naturalis bulgarica, 45 (7): 187—196. [PDF] doi:10.48027/hnb.45.073

Kostova, R., Bekchiev, R., 2023. Data on the distribution of Osmoderma barnabita Motschulsky, 1845 (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) in Bulgaria from 1904 to 2022. — Historia naturalis bulgarica, 45 (6): 155—161. [PDF] doi:10.48027/hnb.45.061

Kostova, R., Bekchiev, R., 2023. Trechus (s. str.) “subnotatus” species group (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Bulgaria. — Zootaxa, 5264 (4): 505—525. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5264.4.3

Bekchiev, R., Kostova, R., 2023. New data about the distribution of Plectophloeus fischeri (Aubé, 1833) and Dicentrius biroi Besuchet, 1999 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) in Bulgaria. — Historia naturalis bulgarica, 45 (2): 39—42. [PDF] doi:10.48027/hnb.45.024

Bekchiev, R., Kostova, R., 2022. The Subfamily Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of South-western Bulgaria: Rila and Pirin Mountains. — Acta zoologica bulgarica, 74 (2): 169—174.

Bekchiev, R., Antov, M., Boyadzhiev, P., Zaemdzhikova, G., Kostova, R., Guéorguiev, B., 2022. Carabus variolosus (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Bulgaria: rediscovered after 111 years. — Historia naturalis bulgarica, 44 (10): 119—123. [PDF] doi:10.48027/hnb.44.103

Zidarova, S., Kostova, R., 2021. A Pilot Monitoring Survey of the Lesser Blind Mole-rat Nannospalax (superspecies leucodon) (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Bulgaria. — Acta zoologica bulgarica, 73 (1): 107—112.

Bekchiev, R., Crevecoeur, L., Gielen, K., Bosmans, B., Smets, K., Kostova, R., 2020. One Hundred Years of Solitude: Rediscovery of the Rare and Protected Beetle Rhysodes sulcatus (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Rhysodidae) in Bulgaria. — Acta zoologica bulgarica, (in print) published online at http://www.acta-zoologica-bulgarica.eu/002372.

— More complete list of publications — section e-Natura | Staff publications