Distribución, ecología y origen de las poblaciones de Vitrina pellucida (O. F. Müller, 1774) y Cepaea nemoralis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora) en las Cordilleras Béticas Orientales (Andalucía, España)

Abstract

The study of the chorology and ecology of the andalusian terrestrial malacofauna (South of the Iberian Peninsula), has showed the presence of a group of climatic relicts characteristics from the Eurosiberian region, in the Eastern Betics Mountains Chains. The ecology and distribution of two of these species (Vitrina pellucida O. F. Millier, 1774: and Cepaea nemoralis Linnaeus, 1758) is exposed, being the main limiting factor the typical mediterranean summer drought. The adaptative response of these species against the scarcity of water depends on its different ecophysiologies. Vitrina pellucida (eurithermic) lives in low-lands where the availability of water along the year is constant, as well as in dry soils of high mountains because of the cold weather. Cepaea nemoralis (stenothermic) lives only in habitats with wet soils and heavy vegetal cover placed below 1500 m. The absence of similar vegetation over this altitude and the extreme climate conditions of the High Mediterranean Mountains prevents its appearance, contrarily to the High Eurosiberian Mountains.