Molluscan communities were studied at 123 castles in the Czech Republic.
Altogether 70 % of the land snails of the Czech Republic were found at
these sites. A complete literature review on castle-related molluscan
fauna was performed for the Czech Republic. Castes represent significant
refuges for many species, as indicated by the high species diversity and
the presence of rare (21 % of Red List species) and geographically
isolated species (26 % of all species). Castles present a characteristic
set of island habitats markedly differing from the surrounding
landscape. Castes can be considered as man-made ecological phenomena.
Juřičková L., 2005: Měkkýši (Mollusca) hradů jako ekologického fenoménu
(Česká republika) [Molluscs (Mollusca) of castles as an ecological
phenomenon (Czech Republic)]. – Malacologica Bohemoslovaca, 3: 100–148.
Publication date: 26. 7. 2005.