12.11.2024 20:07

Clarifying the presence of Pseudosuccinea columella (Say, 1817) (Gastropoda: Hygrophila: Lymnaeidae) in Serbia

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-107]
We report the first record of Pseudosuccinea columella (Say, 1817) from Serbia. This finding in the Tamiš River clarifies its presence in Serbia which was questioned in the 2021 checklist, as it was previously confused with succineid gastropods. The habitat is described in detail and its possible way of introduction is discussed.

22.10.2024 17:49

Helix lutescens (Gastropoda: Helicidae) expands its range in Ukraine

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-97]
We analysed the records of Helix lutescens in Ukraine from the 19th century to the present. We found that the range of this species has expanded significantly. At the beginning of the 21st century, H. lutescens was discovered for the first time in six administrative regions of Western (Transcarpathian), Central (Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kirovohrad) and Eastern (Donetsk) Ukraine. The expansion of the range of H. lutescens due to anthropochory is also the case in other European countries, as evidenced by literature data and some observations in the iNaturalist citizen science database.

18.09.2024 20:28

Vodní měkkýši lomů ČSA a Vršany – počátek kolonizace [Aquatic molluscs of the quarries ČSA and Vršany – the beginning of colonization]

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-84]
In 2022 and 2023, aquatic molluscs were surveyed in brown coal quarries ČSA and Vršany, northwestern Bohemia, where mining is ending and reclamation is in progress. Most water bodies were artificially created and relatively young, though some older habitats were present at the quarry edges. In the quarry ČSA, 20 species (17 gastropods, 3 bivalves) were recorded at 40 sites, while 13 species (10 gastropods, 3 bivalves) were found at 39 sites in Vršany. Molluscan communities were generally species-poor, particularly in deeper waters without shallows or with dense reed growth. Shallow, vegetated areas were more favorable. Physa acuta was the most frequent species. Three non-native species (Physa acuta, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, Ferrissia californica) were confirmed, and no protected or endangered species were found.

24.06.2024 18:14

Malacological news from the Czech and Slovak Republics in 2023

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-69]
This paper presents important faunistic records conducted in the Czech and Slovak Republics during 2023. We also include records generated before 2023, which have yet to be published, mainly because their correct identification was unavailable earlier. In a separate section we present records of unintentionally introduced species, reported for the first time for the countries from greenhouses (Dryachloa dauca and Guppya gundlachii). The first outdoor colony of Melanoides tuberculata was found in a stream artificially heated by wastewater from the Dukovany nuclear power plant and Planorbella duryi found in a brook with thermal water flowing from the Sliač spa. Records of native species include findings of protected and rare species (e.g., Aplexa hypnorum, Ladislavella occulta, Daudebardia brevipes, and Theodoxus danubialis), but also still poorly known species (Ampullaceana lagotis and Pyramidula saxatilis). During 2023, many new records were made for non-native and currently spreading species as for example Clathrocaspia knipowitschii, Corbicula fluminea, Hygromia cinctella, Krynickillus melanocephalus, Sinanodonta woodiana, and Tandonia kusceri.

24.06.2024 18:14

Měkkýši jihovýchodních údolí Prahy [Molluscs of the southeastern valleys of Prague]

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-42]
By the standards of Prague, its south-eastern part represents a less diversified part of the city in terms of relief and geological composition. The present article describes the development of terrestrial mollusc fauna since the beginning of explorations of this area in the 1940s and a comparison with the current in-depth exploration. Currently, 82 species have been recorded here (6 bivalves, 12 aquatic snails, 64 land gastropods). Most of the mollusc fauna occur in the linear vegetation along the waterways, suitable for the ecological group of less demanding forest snails dominating the entire Prague area. Specific to this part of the city are several more sensitive forest snails, which are the relicts of certainly much more widespread forest communities in the past. The first findings of Daudebardia brevipes and the non-native species Deroceras invadens and Lucilla scintilla in the wild nature of Prague are significant.

06.06.2024 13:42

Ranská jezírka – významná lokalita vodních měkkýšů na okraji Žďárských vrchů [Ranská jezírka – an important site of aquatic molluscs on the edge of the Žďárské vrchy]

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-37]
The Ranská jezírka are system of water bodies located in a forest complex on the western edge of the Žďárské vrchy PLA. These water bodies were created by flooding of depressions after surface mining of iron limonite ores. Currently, there are several larger and a number of smaller oligotrophic to mesotrophic pools covered with various types of littoral vegetation. Aquatic molluscs of this isolated and biologically interesting site were studied in 2023. In total, 15 species (6 gastropods and 9 bivalves) were found at 7 sites. Molluscan communities in water bodies with poorer vegetation were species-poor while water bodies more overgrown with littoral vegetation were inhabited by relatively species-richer communities. The rare and endangered bivalve Sphaerium nucleus was found. No non-native species were found.

13.05.2024 12:49

First occurrence of Melanoides tuberculata (O. F. Müller, 1774) in an open environment in the Czech Republic

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-34]
The invasive species Melanoides tuberculata (O. F. Müller, 1774) is reported from the open environment from the Czech Republic for the first time. An abundant population was found in the artificially heated Skryjský potok, a stream which flows from the cooling reservoir below the Dukovany nuclear power plant. The species is unlikely to occur outside the heated water due to its affinity for warm water.

06.03.2024 12:07

Měkkýši národní přírodní rezervace Jazevčí v CHKO Bílé Karpaty [Molluscs of Jazevčí National Nature Reserve in the White Carpathians PLA]

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-6]
The Jazevčí National Nature Reserve is located in the southern part of the White Carpathians PLA near the Javorník nad Veličkou village. The reserve protects a heterogeneous landscape with meadows, groves, springs, and creeks. This diversity is reflected in the mollusc assemblages, which contain nine out of ten ecological groups. In total, 58 mollusc species are known from the reserve, 56 being terrestrial gastropods with one aquatic snail and one bivalve. Most diversity consists of forest species, followed by the euryvalent and hygrophilous species. Three species are listed in the Red List of Threatened Species: Daudebardia brevipes (VU), Bythinella austriaca (NT), and Vertigo angustior (VU), the latter also being internationally protected under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. Vertigo angustior was found in a deciduous forest, a habitat highly unusual for this species. Trochulus villosulus, a rare species, was found in a wet meadow near the Velička stream. As most species diversity is found in groves and forests, a non-intervention regime is suggested to retain their species diversity, while meadows should be managed extensively by kettle grazing or mowing.

23.01.2024 13:28

Vodní měkkýši Odlezelského jezera [Aquatic molluscs of Lake Odlezly]

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2024-23-1]
The Odlezelské jezero National Nature Monument was established to protect Lake Odlezy, the youngest natural lake in the Czech Republic, situated near Odlezly in western Bohemia. This lake was created in 1872 by a landslide that blocked the stream. The aquatic molluscs of this unique site were studied in 2013 and 2023. Altogether, 16 species (8 gastropods and 8 bivalves) were found at 13 sites. Molluscan communities in the streams, springs and small wetlands surrounding the lake are very poor, consisting of 1–4 species. In contrast, 13 species were found in the lake. Particularly notable are the probably extensive populations of mussels Anodonta cygnea and Unio tumidus, which are rare in western Bohemia.

11.12.2023 13:07

Měkkýši přírodní rezervace Jedlový důl v CHKO Jizerské hory (Česká republika) [Molluscs of the Jedlový důl Nature Reserve in the Jizerské hory Protected Landscape Area (Czech Republic)]

[https://doi.org/10.5817/MaB2023-22-56]
The Jedlový důl Nature Reserve is located in the central part of the Jizerské hory PLA near the village of Josefův Důl in northern Bohemia. The reserve protects a geomorphologically important mountain valley with rocks, waterfalls, semi-natural forests on talus slopes, and rare montane plant and animal species. The local mountain biotopes are quite acidophilic, represented by a few springs, mountain brook, beech woods, and mixed talus slope forests with the predominance of spruce. Thus the surveyed malacofauna with 18 species (17 terrestrial gastropods and 1 bivalve) is relatively poor. Currently, forest and ubiquitous species are dominant there and are widespread in the Jizerské hory PLA.