The influence of Pleistocene glaciations on the distribution of obligate aquatic subterranean invertebrate fauna in Poland

Dumnicka, Elzbieta; Galas, Joanna; Najberek, Kamil; Urban, Jan

The influence of Pleistocene glaciations on the distribution of obligate aquatic subterranean invertebrate fauna in Poland

2020

Dumnicka, Elzbieta | Galas, Joanna | Najberek, Kamil | Urban, Jan

Almost all the territory of Poland (except for the Carpathians, Sudetes and Kraków-Częstochowa Upland) was glaciated several times. Nevertheless, based on literature data, over 80 stygobiontic invertebrate species have been found there. Three reasons for such a richness have been hypothesized: survival in refugia situated either in non-glaciated areas or in sub-glacial areas, and re-settling of previously glaciated regions through different ways. The distribution of stygobiontic species in Poland is uneven (what was confirmed by statistical analysis) and connected mostly with the intensity of faunistic studies. The highest number of stygobionts was reported in the most intensively studied Carpathians, the largest non-glaciated area in Poland, well known as a faunal refugium. In other non-glaciated regions with distinctly smaller areas, the number of stygobionts is several times lower, but the presence of some endemic species indicates their origin and survival in situ. The occurrence of a few endemic species in glaciated regions could be explained by their surviving in sub-glacial refugia. Other stygobionts (probably except for water mites) recolonized glaciated areas through hyporheic waters of rivers flowing in pro-glacial valleys and currently active riverbeds. Migration of invertebrates through phreatic waters across groundwater divides (possible in two mountain ranges) played a minor role in the present distribution of stygobiontic species.

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