2026/06/11 by Spassimir Tonkov · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Marine and environmental studies #Soil and Environmental Studies
paper · doi:10.3897/ab.e178106
openalex publication_date 2026/06/11 · openalex created_date 2026/06/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/19
The updated and revised edition of this book presents and discusses the results from the palynological and paleoecological studies conducted in Southwestern Bulgaria with my participation over the period 1985-2025. This montane area rich in numerous lakes, peat bogs and mires is located in the central part of the Balkan peninsula and has always played an important role in unravelling the Late Quaternary vegetation history in Bulgaria. The modern development and achievements of the research methods applied (pollen analysis, plant macrofossil determination, radiocarbon dating, sediment and geomorphological analyses, charcoal analysis, archaeobotanical research, computer software, etc.) allowed to evaluate and synthesize in details the available paleoecological information on the vegetation development in this part of the country for the last 30000 years. It was also important to demonstrate the millennial role of humans in the transformation of the natural environment after the establishment of agriculture and the practice of stockbreeding.The content follows the structure of the first edition published in 2021. Two new chapters are included related to the vegetation history in the Western Rhodopes and Vitosha mountains. Of particular interest and importance is the long pollen core from Mire Kupena in the Western Rhodopes Mountain which extends back to the Middle Pleniglacial. The results from the investigation of several new sites in the Rila Mountain are also included in the relevant chapter. In addition, where appropriate new pollen and plant macrofossil diagrams, figures, tables, photos and references were added. The final chapter is a summary about the overall picture and the specifics of the postglacial vegetation history in the study area.In the course of the preparation of this edition several outstanding scientists who had a major influence on my scientific career passed away, namely Prof. Elissaveta Bozilova, Prof. Hans-Jürgen Beug, Prof. Göran Possnert and Prof. Angel Velchev. I would like to dedicate this book to their memory, and also to the members of my family for their unreserved support and encouragement.It is a pleasure to extend my gratitude to the Director of the Pensoft Publishers Prof. Ljubomir Penev for his interest in paleoecology, the financial support, and all the facilities provided by his staff to prepare the book for publication. I am thankful to Vasil Peev for the preprint and graphical design.I will be glad if this edition attracts the interest of scientists working in the fields of Quaternary pollen analysis and vegetation history, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, paleogeography, landscape ecology, forestry and archaeology.Sofia, April 2026 Prof. Spassimir Tonkov, PhD, DSc