Phone: (+359) 2 8167 218
E-mail: rkostova@biofac.uni-sofia.bg;
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Sofia University, Faculty of Biology, Department of Zoology and anthropology, 8 “Dragan Tzankov” blvd, office 264, 1164, Sofia |
Degrees | PhD, Entomology |
Postdoctoral training courses | November 2020: Exploratory Data Analysis. Authorized by Johns Hopkins University and offered through Coursera. Verification: coursera.org /verify/LWDBTK2DFAS6 October 2020. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox. Authorized by Johns Hopkins University and offered through Coursera. Verification: coursera.org /verify/WQ77XFGXCLJU 12-16 April, 2010: “Good practices of Life+ program” 15-18 March, 2010: “Advanced methods in faunal diversity estimating – ecological approaches (GIS)” 22-26 February, 2010: “Molecular taxonomy, phylogeny and ecology” January, 2010: „Е-learning platforms for biostatistics and evaluation systems” November, 2008: “ Moodle – І-st level |
Teaching activities | In Bachelor degree: - Biostatistics - Zoology of Invertebrates In Master degree: - Practicum of Entomology – Coleoptera - Biological control of pest insects |
Research interests | Taxonomy, Faunistics and ecology of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Quantitative methods and analysis in faunal and ecological researches. Monitoring and assessing of rare and protected beetle species. |
Selected 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. https://doi.org/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. 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. 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. Kostova R. & Bekchiev R. 2023. Trechus (s. str.) “subnotatus” species group (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Bulgaria. Zootaxa 5264 (4): 505–525. 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 https://doi.org/10.48027/hnb.45.024 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 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 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, 72 (3): 383-384. Kostova R., Bekchiev R. & Beshkov S. 2019. Coleoptera and Lepidoptera (Insecta) diversity in the central part of Sredna Gora Mountains (Bulgaria). Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta 10: 75–95 Bekchiev R., Guéorguiev B., Kostova R., Chehlarov E. & Sivilov O. 2018. New Records of Rare and Threatened Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) in Bulgaria. Acta zoologica bulgarica 70 (4): 501-506 Sabella G., Bekchiev R. & Kostova R. 2017. Pselaphinae (Coleoptera Staphylinidae) from Sicily and Calabria (Italy). Results from a short entomological expedition in April, 2015. Biodiversity Journal 8 (1): 185–192 Bekchiev R., Sivilov O., Kostova R. & Lapeva-Gjonova A. 2017. Distribution of Amorphocephala coronate (Germar, 1817) (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in Bulgaria. ZooNotes 104: 1-3 Kostova R. & Guéorguiev B. 2016. The ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the Strandzha Mountain and adjacent coastal territories (Bulgaria and Turkey). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e8135. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.4.e8135 Kostova R. 2015. Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) diversity patterns in forest habitats of high conservation value, Southern Bulgaria. Biodiversity Journal 6 (1): 341–352 Bekchiev R., Brachat V., Anlaş S., Özgen I., Yağmur E., Örgel S, Gjonov I. & Kostova R. 2015. Contribution to the Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of Anatolia, Turkey. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 67 (3): 319-324 Gueorguiev, B. & Kostova R. 2011. A new species of Duvalius, subg. Biharotrechus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Bulagaria. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 57 (4), pp. 305–313 Lapeva-Gjonova A., R. Kostova & B. V. Guéorguiev. 2011. New records of myrmecophilous beetles Paussus turcicus I. Frivaldszky von Frivald, 1835 (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Southeastern Balkans. ZooNotes, 21: 1-3. Kostova R. 2009. Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in two biosphere reserves in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. Acta zool. Bulg., 61(2), 187-196. Tasheva-Terzieva E. & Kostova R. 2007 The challenges of e-learning in biostatistics in the aim to join European trends in higher education. Proceedings of the Conference of the Union of Bulgarian Scientists - Stara Zagora. Kostova R. & M. Shishiniova. 2005. Food preferences of Pseudoophonus rufipes De Geer and Pseudoophonus griseus Panzer (Coleoptera: Carabidae) for seeds of weed and cultivated plants. Annuaire de l’Universite de Sofia, 96(4). 137-149. |
Latest Projects | 2021-current „A combined approach to reveal the cryptic diversity of ant genus Messor with emphasis on functional morphology, symbiont complexes, vibroacoustic and chemical communication“, Contract КP-06-Н51/6 - 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-Н21/1-17.12.2018. 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 № BG16М1ОР002-3.020-0002-С01, financed under OP "Environment 2014-2020“. Position: Expert ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). 2016 „Improvement of the information system to the National System for Monitoring of the Biodiversity (IBBIS)". Public Procurement: "Selection of Experts for Development of Indicators for Assessment of Biodiversity - Bulgarian Natural Index (BNI)“ - Expert - Consultant on Invertebrates. Contract №3201/14.03.2016. Position: expert Invertebrates and Biostatistics |
Memberships | Bulgarian Entomological Society |