Holocene succession of European mollusc fauna

Abstact Study of Quaternary mollusc succession has a long-term tradition in Europe. It is because mollusc shells used to be commonly and numerously preserved in calcareous quaternary sediments of various origins. Since the second half of the last century, these successions are used as proxy data in paleoecological studies. Based on knowledge of recent ecology and composition of Quaternary assemblages, mollusc species can be divided into ten ecologicalgroups used for a reconstruction of paleoenvironment. The ecological group of strictly forest species is crucial for central European fauna. . This group indicates the canopy forest with its characteristic microclimatic conditions, which represents zonal ecosystem of Central Europe. Indication value of molluscs for canopy forest habitats used to be in question in other parts of Europe except of Central Europe. That is why this theses reviewed available information on mollusc successions of strictly forest species across Europe based on a maps of known strictly forest species occurrences during the Late Glacial and Holocene. This visualization indicates the general movement patterns of strictly forest mollusc fauna from the Late Glacial to present. The main methodical problems in the study of Holocene mollusc succession are also commented