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The purpose of this study is to make an inventory of the relicts in the flora of Lozenska Mt., to clarify their origin, taxonomical, ecological and phytogeographical structure and to evaluate their role for the formation of the contemporary flora and vegetation, economic uses and measures for their con- servation. The study was conducted in the period 2017-2019. In order to cover the maximum area and different ecological niches, the sampling was conducted using the transect method. The surveyed territory and its two geographic regions, north-west and south-east, were divided into four sub re- gions (parts) and 19 transects were used for possible comparisons. The biology and ecology of the relict plants was made, thus allowing to group the species in biological and ecological groups, based on life forms, floristic and phytogeographical elements, synanthropy and economic uses. As a result, 61 species and three subspecies, belonging to 48 genera and 35 families, were identified as relict taxa. These number represent 7.4% of the whole flora of Lozenska Mt. (823 species) and 17.6% of the relict species in Bulgarian flora. Tertiary were 93.4% of the mountain’s relicts. The families with the richest number of relict species were Salicaceae (9 species) and Ranunculaceae (4 species). The genera with the largest number of relict species were Salix (5 species) and Populus (4 species). The most relicts (73.7% from their total number on the territory of the mountain) were registered in the south-west part of the mountain, while the smallest number (52.5%) was found in its north-east and south-east parts. The phanerophytes (dominated by the threes) prevailed with more than 60%, followed by the hemicryptophytes (16.4%) and geophytes (13.1%). Most of the relicts on the territory of the Lozenska Mt. have Euroasiatic (17.7%) and sub-Mediterranean (17.7%) origin. The established relicts are pre- dominantly heliophytes (61.3%), mesotherms (86.9%) and mesophytes (59.0%). Each of the studied species is a plant with economic benefits: forestry (36.1%), non-wood resources (88.5%) or ornamental uses (54.1%). Salix caprea and Polygonatum odoratum are included in the Bulgarian Biodiversity Act (2002). The other relict species fall under provisions of different laws, such as the Medicinal plants Act, Forestry Act, Biodiversity Act, including NATuRA 2000 legislative base.

The paper gives information for 17 dolichopodid species collected from the park of the Forest Research Institute, Sofia. Two species (Lamprochromus kowarzi and Syntormon pseudospicatum) are recorded as new for the fauna of Bulgaria. Habitat preferences of the identified species are discussed. Two species dominate the study area: Hercostomus nanus dominates from early June to mid-July and then Sybistroma obscurellus dominates from mid-July to the second half of October.

Th is study explores the invasive alien fl ora of Lozenska Mountain, southwestern Bulgaria (maximum height 1190 m, area 80 km 2 ). Th e aims were to (i) describe the taxonomic and ecological structure of the invasive alien fl ora in Lozenska Mountain, and (ii) provide data on the local distribution of the globally most widespread invasive species. Ten transects of diff erent lengths (from 4 to 12 km) in diff erent parts of the mountain covering the most characteristic habitats were surveyed between April 2017 and October 2018. Altogether, 27 invasive alien species (IAS) and 4 potentially invasive alien species (PIAS) belonging to 17 families of fl owering plants were encountered. Th ese represent 3.46% of the fl ora of Lozenska Mountain, and 45% of all the IAS in Bulgaria. Seven species (Acer negundo, Ailanthus altissima, Amorpha fr uticosa, Bidens fr ondosus, Fallopia × bohe mica, Opuntia humifusa and Robinia pseudoacacia) are highly aggressive. In the biological spectrum of IAS, therophytes predominate (29%), followed by hemicryptophytes (19.4%). Th e majority of IAS originates from America (65.6%) and Asia (19.5%). 64.5% of the IAS were deliberately introduced. Th e established invasive species on the territory of the mountain are predominantly heliophytes (90.3%); microthermophytes (71.0%); high humidity species (38.7%); mesophytes (54.8%), mesooligotrophs (58.1%) and basophilic species (80.6%). Th e most widespread species are Robinia pseudoacacia, Erigeron canadensis and Xanthium italicum. Most of the IAS were found in one transect only. Th e highest percentage of species cover (over 80%) was reached by plants adapted to specifi c habitats: aquatic (Elodea canadensis), riparian (Impatiens glan dulifera, Fallopia × bohemica) and anthropogenically heavily disturbed terrains (Sorghum halepen se). Th ere is a substantial threat of IAS irruption on the territory of Lozenska Mountain for the following habitat types (reference codes according to Annex I of the Directive 92/43/EEC): 3150 (Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition vegetation) and 3270 (Rivers with muddy banks with Chenopodion rubri p.p. and Bidention p.p. vegetation) included in Natura 2000.