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Scientific team
- members
Dr. Momchil Panayotov
Panayotov
University of Forestry
Forestry Faculty
Dendrology Department
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Born in 1976 in Sofia.
EDUCATION:
2003-2006: PhD Student, Dendrology Department, University
of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria
Ph.D. thesis: “STUDY OF ECOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCE ON
THE GROWTH OF THE TREE SPECIES FROM PINACEAE FAMILY
AT THE TREELINE ZONE”
Advisor: Dr. S.Yurukov
2000: I graduated the University of
Forestry and obtained a diploma of Master of Science in
Forestry.
Master thesis: “Research of the Avalanche Activity on the
North-Western Slope of Todorka Peak, Pirin Mountains”
Advisor: Dr. D. Zakov
Average GPA: 5.61 (out of 6.00)
1995: I graduated The “First English
Language School” in Sofia, Bulgaria.
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Natural disturbances at the
treeline in the highest Bulgarian Mountains. Among these
I am most interested in:
- Influence of strong winds on
the growth of natural treeline forests and afforestations.
- Influence of snow accumulation
due to wind transport on the growth of natural treeline
forests and afforestations.
- Avalanche influence on
treeline forests.
- Dendroecological analysis of old
forests:
- Luckily for me and my colleagues we have the possibility
to study some very old and preserved forests at the
treeline. They are composed of Norway spruce (Picea
abies Karst.) and the very interesting (and often
old) Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.)
and Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii Christ.)
Above the treeline there are dense communities of
the dwarf form of Mountain pine (Pinus mugo
Turra ssp. Mugo).
- Natural dynamics and Disturbances
in Norway spruce forests - I have started studies in "Bistrishko
braniste" nature reserve (Vitosha mountain) - a site
affected by windthrow (60 ha) in 2001 and bark beetle
outbreak (after 2003, up to the moment 600 ha). By now
I have presented first results in the "Natural
Hazards and Natural Disturbances in Mountain Forests"
Conference in Trento, 2007;
At the moment I am starting a PostDoc research in the
WSL-SLF in Davos (SWITZERLAND), Forest
and Treeline Ecotone Group, during which I which I
will focus on these forests as well as the Norway spruce
forests in "Parangalitca" Nature Reserve in
Rila Mountains. The main tasks will be to acquire more
knowledge about the disturbances and self-thinning processes
in these sites
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:
- Research of limiting factors at treeline
afforestations on Vitosha Mountain
Short information:
The aim of the study is to determine the influence of
strong winds and snow accumulations on the growth of Macedonian
pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.), Scots pine (Pinus
sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies
Karst) plantations at the treeline, Vitosha Mountain.
It was a part of my PhD research Please
follow the link to learn more about this study
- Research of avalanches along the
Northwestern slope of Todorka Peak, Pirin mountains
Short information:
The aim of the study is to date the falling of big avalanches
along the Northwestern slope of Todorka peak, Pirin mountains
and to determine their influence on natural treeline forests
of Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.) Please
follow the link to learn more about this study
Momchil Panayotov
in front of Pinus heldreichii tree in Pirin mountains |
- Study of the limiting factors at
natural treeline Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) forests
and groups in "Bistrishko braniste" reserve,
Vitosha mountain
Short information:
The aim of the study is to find more information about
natural Norway spruce groups above the treeline in "Bistrishko
braniste" reserve and to date and determine the influence
of natural disturbances on the treeline forests.
- Research of old Bosnian pine (Pinus
helreichii Christ.) forests
Short information: The aim
of the study is acquire more information about natural
Pinus heldreichii forests, their development
in the past and possibly to restore climate conditions
in previous centuries. First chronologies are ready
and under analysis. They are composed of trees of 200
to 500 years of age (max 800). There is potential of
finding older trees. Initial work shows good correlation
between samples and indication of drought conditions.
PUBLICATIONS:
Panayotov, M.P. and Yurukov, S. (2007)
Tree ring chronology from Pinus peuce in Pirin
Mts and the possibilities to use it for climate analysis.
Phytologia Balcanica, 13(3): 313-320
Panayotov, M.P. (2007) Determination
of avalanche events by analysis of tree rings of Pinus peuce.
Econological Engineering and Environmental Protection, No.1:
75-82; in Bulgarian, English abstract; PDF
file
Panayotov, M. (2006) STUDY OF ECOLOGICAL
FACTORS INFLUENCE ON THE GROWTH OF THE TREE SPECIES FROM
PINACEAE FAMILY AT THE TREELINE ZONE - PhD thesis - Extended
Abstract (in Bulgarian, English resume, PDF- 3 MB) and
Full
text (in Bulgarian, PDF, 11 MB)
Panayotov, M.P. (2005) Dendroecological
analysis of the influence of extreme climate events. Forestry
Ideas, 2005, in Bulgarian, English abstract - PDF
file, 0.6 MB
Panayotov M., S. Yurukov (2005): Dendroecological
analysis of the influence of strong winds and snow accumulation
on the growth of trees at the treeline in Vitosha Mountain,
Bulgaria. Tree Rings in Archaeology, Climatology and Ecology
(TRACE 2005) Proceedings, April 21st-23d 2005, Fribourg,
Switzerland: 164-173 -
abstract and full
text (PDF file) available.
Panayotov M (2005): Influence of strong
winds and snow accumulation on the growth and development
of Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.) plantations
in the treeline zone of Vitosha Mountain. "Young Scientists"
Conference Proceedings, May 17-19th 2005, Sofia, Bulgaria.
(
PDF file, Bulgarian language, abstract in English. 1,5MB)
Yurukov S.,Panayotov M., E.Tsavkov and
P. Zhelev. (2005). Dendrological characteristic of Bosnian
pine (Pinus heldreichii Christ) on karst terrains
in “Pirin” National Park. Proceedings of the International
Scientific Conference "Protected Karst Territories
– Conditions, Problems, Perspectives", 18-21. Oct.
2005, Shumen, Bulgaria.(PDF
file, Bulgarian language, abstract in English. 0,5MB)
OTHER INTERESTS:
Interests in outdoor activities and sports like skiing,
mountain biking, mountaineering, hiking, windsurfing.
As one of the keenest fans of
freeride skiing in Bulgaria, I am among the founders of
the Bulgarian Extreme and FreeSkiing Association (BEFSA).
I have a lot of activities in this organization like:
- Leader of the “Education Program
for Safe Practicing of Winter Sports”, which translated
to normal language means that I am very interested in
avalanche awareness education and have taken the responsibility
of BEFSA's attempts to bring more knowledge to the young
freeriders and make their contact with fresh snow safer.
As such, I have been lecturer on avalanche awareness courses
(2003 - 2007) and author of the book “Avalanche safety
- handbook for skiers and snowboarders” published in 2004
by BEFSA.
- Participant in the organization
committees of the International Big Mountain competitions
held in Bansko ski resort in 2002
and 2003.
- Director of organization of
“The
Mad Goat Ride” international freeride competition
held in February 2004 in Bansko ski resort.
- Webmaster of the website of
the Bulgarian Extreme and FreeSkiing Association - http://befsa.com.
Contacts:
Dr. Momchil Panayotov Panayotov
University of Forestry
Forestry Faculty
Dendrology Department
Kl.Ohridski 10 Blvd.
1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
e-mail: panayotov.m@ltu.bg
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