Modern distribution patterns of snails and plants in the Western Carpathian spring fens: is it a result of historical development?
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of Molluscan Studies |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Snails; plants; rich fens; distribution patterns; historical development; Western Carpathians |
| Description | The aim of the study was to investigate the modern distribution pattern of snails in the Western Carpathians (Czech Republic and Slovakia) and compare it with the modern distribution pattern of plants, in which a conspicuous species turnover occurs on the scale of only tens of kilometres. We found that Western Carpathian fen vegetation as well as the fens snail assemblages display a clear geographical gradient within a rather small area, independently of any climate or other environmental variation. Historical development seems to be one of the most important variables constituting qualitative characters of modern fragmented communities. On a small scale it can influence especially organisms with slower migration rates, such as molluscs. |
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