Nedko Nedyalkov - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Nedko Nedyalkov
New records of Suncus etruscus (Soricidae, Mammalia) and its current status in Bulgaria
Historia naturalis bulgarica, Jul 1, 2024
Research Square (Research Square), Oct 14, 2022
The family of Erinaceidae comprises 26 extant species in the subfamily Erinaceinae of spiny hedge... more The family of Erinaceidae comprises 26 extant species in the subfamily Erinaceinae of spiny hedgehogs and the subfamily Galericinae of silky-furred gymnures and moonrats. These animals inhabit various habitats from tropical forests to deserts in Eurasia and Africa. Previous studies hinted that species diversity was likely underestimated. Moreover, erinaceids are among the oldest known living placental mammals originating more than 60 million years ago. The rich fossil records represent both living subfamilies and an extinct subfamily Brachyericinae. Comprehensive understanding of evolutionary history and taxonomic diversity is hampered by the unavailability of samples and the incorporation of molecular and morphological data. Here, we sequenced mitochondrial genomes from museum specimens and morphological data to reconstruct the genealogical relationships of Erinaceidae. Our results nely resolved interspeci c relationships of living species and unveiled underestimated species diversity not only in Hylomys as revealed in previous studies, also in Neotetracus gymnures and Atelerix, Hemiechinus, and Paraechinus hedgehogs. The two extinct subfamilies, Brachyericinae and Erinaceinae were supported as sister taxa. There is a hint of a close relationship between fossil Galerix and Southeast Asian Hylomys. These ndings highlight the potentiality of museomics but also found an overestimation of divergence times using mitogenomes as revealed in previous studies.
Turkish Journal of Zoology, 2016
During the last decade I collected extensive new information about the distribution of the Grey h... more During the last decade I collected extensive new information about the distribution of the Grey hamster (Cricetulus migratorius) in Bulgaria, mainly through the study of pellets of birds of prey and owls. New data about the dental morphology and morphometrics, distribution, and current status of the Grey hamster in Bulgaria are presented. The Grey hamster has been found in the diet of the Barn owl (Tyto alba), Little owl (Athene noctua), and Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca). It contributed a negligible part of the studied pellets: only 0.06% of individuals from 27,449 small mammals. The presence of the species was confirmed only in southeastern Bulgaria, while in northern Bulgaria the species went extinct. The species' distribution in the Balkans is discussed.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts, Apr 15, 2022
ARPHA Conference Abstracts, Sep 11, 2019
Grey voles (subgenus Microtus), widespread in Eurasia, may be important pests and could cause ser... more Grey voles (subgenus Microtus), widespread in Eurasia, may be important pests and could cause serious damage to agricultural grain fields. In Bulgaria two morphologically similar species are present (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778 and M. rossiaemeridionalis Ognev 1924), which are impossible to identify in the field. Despite their importance as pests, very little is known about their current status and distribution. Here we cotributed new databased on karyological examination of 27 individuals of voles. We summarized all available information on the distribution of the voles-20 published and 11 unpublished locations. Both species co-occurred together in north Bulgaria; in Thrace and the SE only M. rossiaemeridionalis is distributed. Microtus rossiaemeridionalis seems to occupy lower elevations, while in the mountain areas (above 1000 m) only M. arvalis is found, which corresponds well with the data from neighboring countries. The taxonomy of both species in Bulgaria is discussed.
Biologia, Mar 23, 2021
The penis of the recently described mole Talpa martinorum and its relative, the European mole Tal... more The penis of the recently described mole Talpa martinorum and its relative, the European mole Talpa europaea, are described and compared. Considerable differences in the morphology of the glans penis were found: the apical part is narrow and rod-like in T. martinorum and conical in T. europaea; the keratinous papillae covering the basal part of the glans are shorter and in fewer groups in T. martinorum than in T. europaea. The os penis is nearly 30 % longer in T. martinorum than in the other species. The corpora cavernosa in both mole species are well developed and uniformly organized from the base of the penis to its apical region. The urethra is dorsoventrally flattened and widened in the apical part. Seasonal development of the keratinous papillae is observed in both species: they are found only during the breeding season. This phenomenon has never been reported before in any mammalian group.
Diversity
Predator–prey interactions may be linked to different temporal or spatial patterns, including dyn... more Predator–prey interactions may be linked to different temporal or spatial patterns, including dynamics in prey populations. Therefore, understanding the adaptive capacity and how top predators respond to shifts in prey abundance and availability is crucial for their conservation. In this study, we investigated the diet pattern of the endangered Eastern Imperial Eagle facing long-term and large-scale changes. We studied the abundance variation of its profitable prey, sousliks, and how it reflected on eagle population trajectories in a regional and temporal context. We found a significant diet alteration expressed in large decrease of brown hare (β2 = −0.83), poultry (β2 = −0.81), gulls (β2 = −0.71), and water birds (β2 = −0.57), and an obvious increase of northern white-breasted hedgehog (β2 = 0.61) and doves (β2 = 0.60). Raptors and owls raised their participation (β2 = 0.44), but white stork and different reptiles supplied more biomass. Abundance of European souslik decreased throu...
Russian journal of theriology, 2022
We report the changes in the distribution of three alien mammal species in Bulgaria, the coypu My... more We report the changes in the distribution of three alien mammal species in Bulgaria, the coypu Myocastor coypus, the muskrat Ondatra zibethicus, and the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides after their entry into Bulgaria in the fifties and sixties of the last сentury. The data has been summarised from field surveys, reviews from scientific literature, analyses from official databases of national institutions and organizations, databases compiled from volunteers and hobbyists, etc. After its introduction in 1953, M. coypus rapidly spread in Bulgaria and there are more than 417 records of the species. Today it is the most widespread invasive mammal in the country. O. zibethicus was introduced in 1956, and is known from only 22 records. However, this species was able to cross the physicogeographic barrier of the Balkan Mountains in 2007, which is a strong evidence for its invasive capabilities in the territory. The first observations of N. procyonoides were reported in 1968. There are currently 75 records of the species coming from almost the entire territory of Bulgaria. The majority of the records (77.4%) are between sea level and 199 m a.s.l. and 56% of them are in national protected areas. The most frequently observed negative impacts are described and recommendations are made for further study and reducing the populations of the invasive mammals.
The family of Erinaceidae comprises 26 extant species in the subfamily Erinaceinae of spiny hedge... more The family of Erinaceidae comprises 26 extant species in the subfamily Erinaceinae of spiny hedgehogs and the subfamily Galericinae of silky-furred gymnures and moonrats. These animals inhabit various habitats from tropical forests to deserts in Eurasia and Africa. Previous studies hinted that species diversity was likely underestimated. Moreover, erinaceids are among the oldest known living placental mammals originating more than 60 million years ago. The rich fossil records represent both living subfamilies and an extinct subfamily Brachyericinae. Comprehensive understanding of evolutionary history and taxonomic diversity is hampered by the unavailability of samples and the incorporation of molecular and morphological data. Here, we sequenced mitochondrial genomes from museum specimens and morphological data to reconstruct the genealogical relationships of Erinaceidae. Our results finely resolved interspecific relationships of living species and unveiled underestimated species div...
Russian journal of theriology, 1970
We report the changes in the distribution of three alien mammal species in Bulgaria, the coypu My... more We report the changes in the distribution of three alien mammal species in Bulgaria, the coypu Myocastor coypus, the muskrat Ondatra zibethicus, and the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides after their entry into Bulgaria in the fifties and sixties of the last century. The data has been summarised from field surveys, reviews from scientific literature, analyses from official databases of national institutions and organizations, databases compiled from volunteers and hobbyists, etc. After its introduction in 1953, M. coypus rapidly spread in Bulgaria and there are more than 417 records of the species. Today it is the most widespread invasive mammal in the country. O. zibethicus was introduced in 1956, and is known from only 22 records. However, this species was able to cross the physicogeographic barrier of the Balkan Mountains in 2007, which is a strong evidence for its invasive capabilities in the territory. The first observations of N. procyonoides were reported in 1968. There are currently 75 records of the species coming from almost the entire territory of Bulgaria. The majority of the records (77.4%) are between sea level and 199 m a.s.l. and 56% of them are in national protected areas. The most frequently observed negative impacts are described and recommendations are made for further study and reducing the populations of the invasive mammals.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts
Antarctica peninsula periphery islands undergo one of the most dramatic ecological changes due to... more Antarctica peninsula periphery islands undergo one of the most dramatic ecological changes due to ongoing global warming. The front fields of the Antarctic glaciers are extreme environments and pioneering sites for ecological succession. Rising temperatures lead to deglaciation in the Antarctic habitats, and the new terrain is subjected to the process of soil formation and microbial colonization. In the present study, we investigated the formation of pathogenic fungal soil microbiomes as an effect of forefield deglaciation. Soil samples were taken from two different forefields, one formed several years ago and the other freshly uncovered. Both habitats were in the vicinity of the Perunika Glacier situated in the northeastern direction of Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island, the second largest island from the South Shetland Archipelago, about 100 km north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Total DNA was extracted and targeted ITS amplicon sequencing was applied. The ITS marker sequences were ...
ARPHA Conference Abstracts
The Forest Dormouse, Dryomys nitedula, has a wide geographic distribution, from Switzerland in th... more The Forest Dormouse, Dryomys nitedula, has a wide geographic distribution, from Switzerland in the west, through eastern and southern Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus, to central Russia, central Asia and Mongolia in the east. Previous phylogenetic studies revealed highly divergent lineages in some part of the distribution, suggesting that the history of the species might be complex and a revision of the taxonomy might be warranted. In order to clarify the status of the subspecies identified in previous studies, we increased the current Genbank dataset (n=106) by analyzing >150 samples from Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, and Greece. Preliminary phylogenetic analyses, based on cytochrome b, show the presence of five super lineages with two highly divergent lineages in Iran and Russia. These preliminary results will be completed by additional samples from Mongolia and Afghanistan. This study should help shed light on the evoluti...
A review on the composition of the small mammals in Vrachanska Planina Mts. was completed using p... more A review on the composition of the small mammals in Vrachanska Planina Mts. was completed using published and author's data. A total of 27 species occur within the territory. All of the species found are typical for the region. The species with the highest conservation status, the European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus, disappeared from the region in the early 1950s. In the last years activities on its recovery were carried out. We analyze the threats for the small mammals and propose conservation activities to improve their conservation status.
Методика за оценка на състоянието на добруджанския хомяк (Mesocricetus newtoni)/ Methodology for assessing the status of the Romanian hamster Mesocricetus newtoni
Методика за оценка на състоянието на обикновения хомяк (Cricetus cricetus)/ Methodology for assessing the status of the Common hamster (Cricetus cricetus)
Ecological characteristics of the zoocoenoses and classification of the animals' habitats from Sarnena Sredna Gora Mts
Supplementary material 1 from: Demerdzhiev D, Boev Z, Dobrev D, Terziev N, Nedyalkov N, Stoychev S, Petrov T (2022) Diet of Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Bulgaria: composition, distribution and variation. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e77746. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e77746
Figure 1 from: Demerdzhiev D, Boev Z, Dobrev D, Terziev N, Nedyalkov N, Stoychev S, Petrov T (2022) Diet of Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Bulgaria: composition, distribution and variation. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e77746. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e77746
Biodiversity Data Journal, 2022
The Eastern Imperial Eagle (EIE) is a top predator exploiting different prey in different parts o... more The Eastern Imperial Eagle (EIE) is a top predator exploiting different prey in different parts of its distribution. In this study, we summarise data collected over a long period of time (for 25 consecutive years), identifying key prey species in the different regions, as well as clarifying seasonal preferences in the eagle’s diet. Most studies on the EIE food composition covering different parts of the species distribution range analyse the breeding season, while data about the winter diet are scarce. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study detailing the differences in EIE’s dietary preferences between the breeding and the winter periods. We identified 4891 specimens belonging to 196 different taxa, which represents the most comprehensive study considering the diet diversity of this threatened species. Mammals represented the largest proportion of the diet, followed by birds and reptiles. Northern White-breasted Hedgehog was the most common prey, accounting for 25.7% ...
Figure 2 from: Demerdzhiev D, Boev Z, Dobrev D, Terziev N, Nedyalkov N, Stoychev S, Petrov T (2022) Diet of Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Bulgaria: composition, distribution and variation. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e77746. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e77746
New records of Suncus etruscus (Soricidae, Mammalia) and its current status in Bulgaria
Historia naturalis bulgarica, Jul 1, 2024
Research Square (Research Square), Oct 14, 2022
The family of Erinaceidae comprises 26 extant species in the subfamily Erinaceinae of spiny hedge... more The family of Erinaceidae comprises 26 extant species in the subfamily Erinaceinae of spiny hedgehogs and the subfamily Galericinae of silky-furred gymnures and moonrats. These animals inhabit various habitats from tropical forests to deserts in Eurasia and Africa. Previous studies hinted that species diversity was likely underestimated. Moreover, erinaceids are among the oldest known living placental mammals originating more than 60 million years ago. The rich fossil records represent both living subfamilies and an extinct subfamily Brachyericinae. Comprehensive understanding of evolutionary history and taxonomic diversity is hampered by the unavailability of samples and the incorporation of molecular and morphological data. Here, we sequenced mitochondrial genomes from museum specimens and morphological data to reconstruct the genealogical relationships of Erinaceidae. Our results nely resolved interspeci c relationships of living species and unveiled underestimated species diversity not only in Hylomys as revealed in previous studies, also in Neotetracus gymnures and Atelerix, Hemiechinus, and Paraechinus hedgehogs. The two extinct subfamilies, Brachyericinae and Erinaceinae were supported as sister taxa. There is a hint of a close relationship between fossil Galerix and Southeast Asian Hylomys. These ndings highlight the potentiality of museomics but also found an overestimation of divergence times using mitogenomes as revealed in previous studies.
Turkish Journal of Zoology, 2016
During the last decade I collected extensive new information about the distribution of the Grey h... more During the last decade I collected extensive new information about the distribution of the Grey hamster (Cricetulus migratorius) in Bulgaria, mainly through the study of pellets of birds of prey and owls. New data about the dental morphology and morphometrics, distribution, and current status of the Grey hamster in Bulgaria are presented. The Grey hamster has been found in the diet of the Barn owl (Tyto alba), Little owl (Athene noctua), and Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca). It contributed a negligible part of the studied pellets: only 0.06% of individuals from 27,449 small mammals. The presence of the species was confirmed only in southeastern Bulgaria, while in northern Bulgaria the species went extinct. The species' distribution in the Balkans is discussed.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts, Apr 15, 2022
ARPHA Conference Abstracts, Sep 11, 2019
Grey voles (subgenus Microtus), widespread in Eurasia, may be important pests and could cause ser... more Grey voles (subgenus Microtus), widespread in Eurasia, may be important pests and could cause serious damage to agricultural grain fields. In Bulgaria two morphologically similar species are present (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778 and M. rossiaemeridionalis Ognev 1924), which are impossible to identify in the field. Despite their importance as pests, very little is known about their current status and distribution. Here we cotributed new databased on karyological examination of 27 individuals of voles. We summarized all available information on the distribution of the voles-20 published and 11 unpublished locations. Both species co-occurred together in north Bulgaria; in Thrace and the SE only M. rossiaemeridionalis is distributed. Microtus rossiaemeridionalis seems to occupy lower elevations, while in the mountain areas (above 1000 m) only M. arvalis is found, which corresponds well with the data from neighboring countries. The taxonomy of both species in Bulgaria is discussed.
Biologia, Mar 23, 2021
The penis of the recently described mole Talpa martinorum and its relative, the European mole Tal... more The penis of the recently described mole Talpa martinorum and its relative, the European mole Talpa europaea, are described and compared. Considerable differences in the morphology of the glans penis were found: the apical part is narrow and rod-like in T. martinorum and conical in T. europaea; the keratinous papillae covering the basal part of the glans are shorter and in fewer groups in T. martinorum than in T. europaea. The os penis is nearly 30 % longer in T. martinorum than in the other species. The corpora cavernosa in both mole species are well developed and uniformly organized from the base of the penis to its apical region. The urethra is dorsoventrally flattened and widened in the apical part. Seasonal development of the keratinous papillae is observed in both species: they are found only during the breeding season. This phenomenon has never been reported before in any mammalian group.
Diversity
Predator–prey interactions may be linked to different temporal or spatial patterns, including dyn... more Predator–prey interactions may be linked to different temporal or spatial patterns, including dynamics in prey populations. Therefore, understanding the adaptive capacity and how top predators respond to shifts in prey abundance and availability is crucial for their conservation. In this study, we investigated the diet pattern of the endangered Eastern Imperial Eagle facing long-term and large-scale changes. We studied the abundance variation of its profitable prey, sousliks, and how it reflected on eagle population trajectories in a regional and temporal context. We found a significant diet alteration expressed in large decrease of brown hare (β2 = −0.83), poultry (β2 = −0.81), gulls (β2 = −0.71), and water birds (β2 = −0.57), and an obvious increase of northern white-breasted hedgehog (β2 = 0.61) and doves (β2 = 0.60). Raptors and owls raised their participation (β2 = 0.44), but white stork and different reptiles supplied more biomass. Abundance of European souslik decreased throu...
Russian journal of theriology, 2022
We report the changes in the distribution of three alien mammal species in Bulgaria, the coypu My... more We report the changes in the distribution of three alien mammal species in Bulgaria, the coypu Myocastor coypus, the muskrat Ondatra zibethicus, and the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides after their entry into Bulgaria in the fifties and sixties of the last сentury. The data has been summarised from field surveys, reviews from scientific literature, analyses from official databases of national institutions and organizations, databases compiled from volunteers and hobbyists, etc. After its introduction in 1953, M. coypus rapidly spread in Bulgaria and there are more than 417 records of the species. Today it is the most widespread invasive mammal in the country. O. zibethicus was introduced in 1956, and is known from only 22 records. However, this species was able to cross the physicogeographic barrier of the Balkan Mountains in 2007, which is a strong evidence for its invasive capabilities in the territory. The first observations of N. procyonoides were reported in 1968. There are currently 75 records of the species coming from almost the entire territory of Bulgaria. The majority of the records (77.4%) are between sea level and 199 m a.s.l. and 56% of them are in national protected areas. The most frequently observed negative impacts are described and recommendations are made for further study and reducing the populations of the invasive mammals.
The family of Erinaceidae comprises 26 extant species in the subfamily Erinaceinae of spiny hedge... more The family of Erinaceidae comprises 26 extant species in the subfamily Erinaceinae of spiny hedgehogs and the subfamily Galericinae of silky-furred gymnures and moonrats. These animals inhabit various habitats from tropical forests to deserts in Eurasia and Africa. Previous studies hinted that species diversity was likely underestimated. Moreover, erinaceids are among the oldest known living placental mammals originating more than 60 million years ago. The rich fossil records represent both living subfamilies and an extinct subfamily Brachyericinae. Comprehensive understanding of evolutionary history and taxonomic diversity is hampered by the unavailability of samples and the incorporation of molecular and morphological data. Here, we sequenced mitochondrial genomes from museum specimens and morphological data to reconstruct the genealogical relationships of Erinaceidae. Our results finely resolved interspecific relationships of living species and unveiled underestimated species div...
Russian journal of theriology, 1970
We report the changes in the distribution of three alien mammal species in Bulgaria, the coypu My... more We report the changes in the distribution of three alien mammal species in Bulgaria, the coypu Myocastor coypus, the muskrat Ondatra zibethicus, and the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides after their entry into Bulgaria in the fifties and sixties of the last century. The data has been summarised from field surveys, reviews from scientific literature, analyses from official databases of national institutions and organizations, databases compiled from volunteers and hobbyists, etc. After its introduction in 1953, M. coypus rapidly spread in Bulgaria and there are more than 417 records of the species. Today it is the most widespread invasive mammal in the country. O. zibethicus was introduced in 1956, and is known from only 22 records. However, this species was able to cross the physicogeographic barrier of the Balkan Mountains in 2007, which is a strong evidence for its invasive capabilities in the territory. The first observations of N. procyonoides were reported in 1968. There are currently 75 records of the species coming from almost the entire territory of Bulgaria. The majority of the records (77.4%) are between sea level and 199 m a.s.l. and 56% of them are in national protected areas. The most frequently observed negative impacts are described and recommendations are made for further study and reducing the populations of the invasive mammals.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts
Antarctica peninsula periphery islands undergo one of the most dramatic ecological changes due to... more Antarctica peninsula periphery islands undergo one of the most dramatic ecological changes due to ongoing global warming. The front fields of the Antarctic glaciers are extreme environments and pioneering sites for ecological succession. Rising temperatures lead to deglaciation in the Antarctic habitats, and the new terrain is subjected to the process of soil formation and microbial colonization. In the present study, we investigated the formation of pathogenic fungal soil microbiomes as an effect of forefield deglaciation. Soil samples were taken from two different forefields, one formed several years ago and the other freshly uncovered. Both habitats were in the vicinity of the Perunika Glacier situated in the northeastern direction of Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island, the second largest island from the South Shetland Archipelago, about 100 km north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Total DNA was extracted and targeted ITS amplicon sequencing was applied. The ITS marker sequences were ...
ARPHA Conference Abstracts
The Forest Dormouse, Dryomys nitedula, has a wide geographic distribution, from Switzerland in th... more The Forest Dormouse, Dryomys nitedula, has a wide geographic distribution, from Switzerland in the west, through eastern and southern Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus, to central Russia, central Asia and Mongolia in the east. Previous phylogenetic studies revealed highly divergent lineages in some part of the distribution, suggesting that the history of the species might be complex and a revision of the taxonomy might be warranted. In order to clarify the status of the subspecies identified in previous studies, we increased the current Genbank dataset (n=106) by analyzing >150 samples from Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, and Greece. Preliminary phylogenetic analyses, based on cytochrome b, show the presence of five super lineages with two highly divergent lineages in Iran and Russia. These preliminary results will be completed by additional samples from Mongolia and Afghanistan. This study should help shed light on the evoluti...
A review on the composition of the small mammals in Vrachanska Planina Mts. was completed using p... more A review on the composition of the small mammals in Vrachanska Planina Mts. was completed using published and author's data. A total of 27 species occur within the territory. All of the species found are typical for the region. The species with the highest conservation status, the European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus, disappeared from the region in the early 1950s. In the last years activities on its recovery were carried out. We analyze the threats for the small mammals and propose conservation activities to improve their conservation status.
Методика за оценка на състоянието на добруджанския хомяк (Mesocricetus newtoni)/ Methodology for assessing the status of the Romanian hamster Mesocricetus newtoni
Методика за оценка на състоянието на обикновения хомяк (Cricetus cricetus)/ Methodology for assessing the status of the Common hamster (Cricetus cricetus)
Ecological characteristics of the zoocoenoses and classification of the animals' habitats from Sarnena Sredna Gora Mts
Supplementary material 1 from: Demerdzhiev D, Boev Z, Dobrev D, Terziev N, Nedyalkov N, Stoychev S, Petrov T (2022) Diet of Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Bulgaria: composition, distribution and variation. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e77746. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e77746
Figure 1 from: Demerdzhiev D, Boev Z, Dobrev D, Terziev N, Nedyalkov N, Stoychev S, Petrov T (2022) Diet of Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Bulgaria: composition, distribution and variation. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e77746. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e77746
Biodiversity Data Journal, 2022
The Eastern Imperial Eagle (EIE) is a top predator exploiting different prey in different parts o... more The Eastern Imperial Eagle (EIE) is a top predator exploiting different prey in different parts of its distribution. In this study, we summarise data collected over a long period of time (for 25 consecutive years), identifying key prey species in the different regions, as well as clarifying seasonal preferences in the eagle’s diet. Most studies on the EIE food composition covering different parts of the species distribution range analyse the breeding season, while data about the winter diet are scarce. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study detailing the differences in EIE’s dietary preferences between the breeding and the winter periods. We identified 4891 specimens belonging to 196 different taxa, which represents the most comprehensive study considering the diet diversity of this threatened species. Mammals represented the largest proportion of the diet, followed by birds and reptiles. Northern White-breasted Hedgehog was the most common prey, accounting for 25.7% ...
Figure 2 from: Demerdzhiev D, Boev Z, Dobrev D, Terziev N, Nedyalkov N, Stoychev S, Petrov T (2022) Diet of Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Bulgaria: composition, distribution and variation. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e77746. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e77746