Invertebrates
The invertebrate fauna of the territory and the aquatory of the core zone of the biosphere park is rich in geobionites, inhabitants of forests and open areas. According to the literature publications so far, the invertebrates with specific or aggregate localities are 528 species.
As a result of recent studies carried out in the framework of the development of the Core Zone Management Plan in 2015, 178 invertebrate spieces of 4 classes and 63 families were identified. As a result of the latest study and considering the literature data, the total number of registered invertebrates is 691 species (excluding molluscs).
A total of 82 species of molluscs (in the literature for the region 78 species, in the current study – 49 species) were found in the area of the existing Chervenata Stena Reserve – the core zone of the biosphere park. In total, these are 1 species of mussel, 3 types of freshwater and 78 species of terrestrial gastropods., 4 species of them were found for the first time on its territory in the course of this study: Pisidium sp., Grossuana angeltsekovi, Arion cf subfuscus and Galba truncatula.
Species, included in the the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Libelloides macaronius (Scopoli, 1763) (Insecta: Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae); Carabus intricatus Linnaeus, 1761 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Carabidae); Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Morinus asper funereus (Mulsant, 1862) (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae).Totally 5 spieces.
Species, included in Directive 92/43 of the Council of the European Economic Community for the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora: Paracaloptenus caloptenoides (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1861) (Insecta: Orthoptera, Acrididae); Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Morinus asper funereus (Mulsant, 1862) (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae);Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda, 1761) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Erebidae); Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae); Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae).Totally 6 spieces.
Species, included in the Convention for the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Wildlife Habitats: Paracaloptenus caloptenoides (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1861) (Insecta: Orthoptera, Acrididae); Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Morinus asper funereus (Mulsant, 1862) (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Phengaris arion (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae); Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae); Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae).Totally 6 spieces.
Species, included in the European Red List of Threatened Species: Libelloides macaronius (Scopoli, 1763) (Insecta: Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae); Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae); Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae).Totally 4 spieces.
Species, included in the CORINE biotopes project: Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Morinus asper funereus (Mulsant, 1862) (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Argynnis paphia (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae); Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae); Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae).Totally 5 spieces.
Species, included in the Biodiversity Act: Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Cerambycidae); Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae).Totally 2 spieces.
Species, included in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria: Dicyphus martinoi Josifov, 1958 (Insecta: Hemiptera, Miridae); Carabus scabrosus bureschianus Breuning, 1928 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Carabidae); Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Papilionidae).Totally 3 spieces.
Rare, endemic and / or relict species: Megaphyllum rhodopinum (Verhoeff, 1928) (Diplopoda: Julida, Julidae); Rhodopiella beroni beroni(Strasser, 1966) (Diplopoda: Julida, Julidae); Camponotus samius Forel, 1888 (Insecta: Hymenoptera, Formicidae); Orussus abietinus (Scopoli, 1763) (Insecta: Hymenoptera, Orussidae); Eucinetus haemorrhoidalis (Germar, 1818) (Insecta: Coleoptera, Eucinetidae); Amphotis orientalis Reiche, 1861 (Insecta: Coleoptera, Nitidulidae).Totally 7 spieces.
Molluscs
Endemism
The following endemics have been identified:
– local endemic (2 species):Belgrandiella dobrostanica, Macedonica hartmuti;
– endemics for Western Rhodopes (4 species): Laciniaria macilenta, Laciniaria bajula, Bulgarica fraudigera, Tandonia pinteri;
– Bulgarian endemic (4 species): Bulgarica fritillaria, Bulgarica bulgarica, Cattania rumelica, Cattania haberhaueri;
– The Balkans endemic (3 species): Grossuana angeltsekovi, Bulgarica denticulata, Tandonia serbica.
Conservation status:
– IUCN 2011 – LC (33 spieces): Grossuana angeltsekovi, Platyla similis, Agardhiella macrodonta, Sphyradium doliolum, Chondrina avenacea, Vallonia costata, Vallonia pulchella, Acanthinula aculeata, Merdigera obscura, Ena montana, Chondrus zebra, Chondrula microtragus, Chondrula bicallosus, Mastus pupa, Vitrina pellucida, Oligolimax annularis, Eucobresia diaphana, Semilimacella bonelli, Cattania rumelica, Cattania rumelica, Cattania haberhaueri, Cepaea vindobonensis, Helix albescens, Helix lucorum, Helix pomatia, Fruticicola fruticum, Lindholmiola girva, Xerolenta obvia, Pseudotrichia rubiginosa, Perforatella incarnata, Monacha claustralis, Monacha carascaloides, Euomphalia strigella;
– IUCN 2011 – NT (1 spieces): Chondrula tridens;
– IUCN 2011 – VU (1 spieces): Belgrandiella dobrostanica;
– the Biodiversity Act -Annex 4 (2 spieces): Helix lucorum, Helix pomatia;
– extinct (1 species): Bithynia rumelica.
Amphibians and reptiles
The development of the amphibians and reptiles in the core zone of the Chervenata stena Biosphere Park is favoured by the specific habitats formed by the Chepelare and Sushitsa rivers as well as by the Dobrostan karst massif. The valleys of the rivers and adjacent coulees are the haunt for amphibians of international significance, and the old forests are the home of endangered forest lizards.
From the review of the herpetological literature, data on the species composition of the amphibians and the reptiles in the Chervenata Stena biosphere have been found in a total of seven publications. A total of 9 amphibian and reptile species have been reported.
As a result of the field work, totally 16 species of amphibians and reptiles were found in the core zone of the Chervenata Stena biosphere park (6 amphibian species and 10 reptile species). The summary of the published data and the field surveys show that the number of the presented amphibians and reptiles is 21 species, of which 7 are amphibian and 14 are reptile species.
Out of the 59 species of amphibians and reptiles, registered in Bulgaria (not including the two species of sea turtles), 21 species are presented in the core zone of the biosphere park, which gives 35.59% of the amphibian and reptile fauna in the country scale.
Birds
The ornithofauna in the core and buffer zones of the park was studied by a number of authors: Balat (1962), Donchev (1963), Nankinov (1985), Petrov (1988), Petrov (1989), Petrov (1990), Mihaylov and Kodjabashev , Petrov et al. (2006), Petrov and Yankov (2007).
According to recent studies carried out in the framework of the development of the Core Zone Management Plan in 2015, 79 bird species were recorded, of which 38% (30 species) were cited by literature data. The complete list is given in an annex to the plan. Of the 49 species found during the survey, 73% (36 species) are widespread in Bulgaria, the remaining 13 species (Buteo rufinus, Aquila chrysaetos, Bonasa bonasia, Tetrao urogallus, Dendrocopos leucotos, Anthus trivialis, Cinclus cinclus, Regulus regulus, Ficedula semitorquata , Parus ater, Certhia familiaris, Certhia brachidactyla) are inhabitants of typical habitats.
Considering the seasonal dynamics analysis, the highest percentage is of the resident birds (RB) – 67%, 33 species; 31% (15 species) are the migratory birds (MB) and only one species is passing in spring (PMS-Ficedula semitorquata).
Forty-three percent of the species are Palearctic (PA), 17% (8 species) – European (E), 12% (6 species) – Holarctic (HA), 8% (4 species) – European-Turkestan (ET), per 4% (2 species) each of Indo-African (IA) and Mediterranean (M) and per 2% (1 species) each of Paleo-xero-mountain (PXM), Old World (OW), Siberian (S), Paleoemountain (PM) and Turkestan-Mediterranean (TM).
Thirteen of the established bird species fall under the Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria (2012). Endangered by Extinction (EN) are 5 species (Accipiter gentilis – Northern goshawk, Accipiter nisus – little hawk Tetrao urogallus – capercaillie, Alectoris graeca – mountain cricket, Dendrocopos leucotos – white-backed woodpecker), vulnarable (VU) – 5 species (Pernis apivorus – honey buzzard, Buteo rufinus – white-tailed buzzard, Aquila chrysaetos – rock eagle, Dendrocopus martius – black woodpecker, Ficedula semitorquata – semicollared flycatcher), near threatened (NT) – 1 species (Corvus corax – common raven) and least concern (LC) are two species (Bonasa bonasia – hazel, Emberiza cia -head-bearded owl).
43 species of birds, out of 49 species of birds identified in the core zone of the Park, (88%) are protected for the territory of the country, the areals of 11 spieces are a subject to conservation and of 3 spieces:Tetrao urogallus , Alectoris graeca and Columba palumbus are under a conservation regime and controlled use of the nature environment.
Mammals
BATS
Chervenata Stena Biosphere Park is of extremely importance for bats, as there are many caves within its borders, niches and rock slits (part of Dobrostan karst massif). Several caves are a haunt for large colonies, one of which is of European significance for the conservation of this group of animals and is declared a significant underground habitat of bats. Also, old forests are comprised within the boundaries of the core and buffer zones of the park – a refuge for rare and vulnerable forest species.
Nine species of bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis cf. brandtii, Myotis myotis, Myotis blythii, Miniopterus schreibersii, Vespertilio murinus) are published to be observed within the core and buffer zones (Benda et al., 2003, Petrov & Helversen 2011). The reporeted habitats are mostly caves and there are only single messages about forest species. Also, the data from literary sources is concentrated in the area around Martsiganitsa hut and refer mainly to several easier-to-access caves.
All species of bats, identified within the territory of the core and buffer zones of the Biosphere Reserve are with a high conservation status. All of them are included in the Biological Diversity Act – Annex 2 and 3, in Directive 92/43, Red Data Book of Bulgaria, vol. 2 Animals, IUCN.
MAMMALS (BATS EXCLUDED)
The mammal fauna of the Western Rhodopes is generally researched well and the data is summarized in several publications (Mitev, 1973; Ninov and others, 2002; Spassov, Spiridinov, 2006; Zidarova, 2006). Data on the distribution of mammals can also be found in some paperworks on parasites (mainly ectoparasites) on them (Skuratowicz et al, 1982). The publication of Mihailov, Kodzhabashev (1998) gives a list of large mammals, met in the core and buffer zones of the park.
The small mammals of the Western Rhodopes are well researched. They are the subject of a series of publications, dealing with their taxonomy, biology and ecology, purposefully researched by Dimitar Mitev (Plovdiv University ‘Paisii Hilendarski’) and described in his dissertation. The paperwork examines the distribution of small mammals by altitude gradient and their attachment to habitats in the Rhodope Mountains. Additional data on the distribution and taxonomy of small mammals is given by the Czech scientist Vladimir Vohralik (1985).
Large mammals (Macromammalia) are also well researched, especially in the core and buffer zone of the biosphere park because of the neighbouring Kormisosh hunting farm and its regular monitoring and taxing of the game.
On the basis of the reviewed and analyzed literature, the presence of 44 species in the core and buffer zones was identified, which makes 44% of our mammalian fauna (100 species) or 65.7% of the small and large mammals.
The territory of the biosphere park offers a variety of habitats, which is a prerequisite for a rich species diversity of mammals.
The insect mammals (Erinaceomorpha, Soricomorpha) are presented here with 8 species (total 10 for the country). Rodents (Rodentia) are represented by 15 species from 5 families.
PREDATORS
The last survey in 2015 found the presence of the fox (Vulpes vulpes), The wolf (Canis lupus) is located in the high parts of the park. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is established in the high parts around the Martsiganitsa hut and nearby Chervenata Stena peak. Tracks of the wild cat (Felis silvestris) are located near the village of Mostovo. The species is included in the new Red Data Book in the vulnerable category.
The even-toed hoofed mammals (Artiodactyla are represented by the following species: wild goat (Rupicapra rupicapra), wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus).
For mammals, the important places are the elevated parts of the park, where there are various habitats. Such are the wooded habitats near Kh. Martsiganitsa, where the valuable and important species for conservation – brown bear, wolf, otter and chamois are registered, and probably the pine marten which is also found here. There is a mix of various habitats and topographic forms, which favours to the necessary food, shelter and hiding places for these mammals.
As far as the conservation significant species, 4 are declared by Annex 2 of the the Biological Diversity Act – Muscardinus avellanarius, marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna), otter (Lutra lutra) and wolf (Canis lupus). Four of the identified species are enlisted in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria (2011). Under category Vulnerable (VU) – marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna), otter (Lutra lutra), European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) and wolf (Canis lupus); also, in the category of Endangered (EN) – brown bear (Ursus arctos), wild goat (Rupicapra rupicapra), Eurasian golden marten (Martes martes) and wild cat (Felis silvestris).
