First of all I'm interested in ravines and small valleys regarding land snails. It is obvious that in the wet ravines and small valleys some invertebrates can occur that not occur on the flat dry plots around, even in the same phytocenosis. Especially this is true for land snails, I’m very familiar with such things for them. But is there some well published data on this topic?
dear Igor,
This may not be what you are looking for, but I did work on valley topography and its effects on species distribution and polymorphism for a few helicids, with reference to changing microclimates. As you say, those of us working on snails know very well that there are catena effects down valley sides, especially where the soils are rather calcium-poor, but I do not know of any set of transects that does this quantitatively. The Czechs have studied variation over short distances, but not specifically in relation to topography. Here are a few papers. There is an older one that I will try to retrieve as a pdf.
Robert
I m also familiar about that, but never heard about puplications concerning this topic. If you do have enough data, than you could do some pioneer work ;-)
dear Igor,
This may not be what you are looking for, but I did work on valley topography and its effects on species distribution and polymorphism for a few helicids, with reference to changing microclimates. As you say, those of us working on snails know very well that there are catena effects down valley sides, especially where the soils are rather calcium-poor, but I do not know of any set of transects that does this quantitatively. The Czechs have studied variation over short distances, but not specifically in relation to topography. Here are a few papers. There is an older one that I will try to retrieve as a pdf.
Robert
Michael, yes, I'm exactly thinking to make such work ;).
Dear Prof. Cameron, thank you very much, this is useful! Right, I think more regarding such things like when Carychium tridentatum is lives in mass in some forest ravines and completely absent on some flat relatively dry plots of the same forest around. It is not so obvious for wet regions, like Carpathians, but it is very clear on relatively dry plains, like in Central Ukraine, also with many other species. But this thing with Cepaea is also interesting and should be considered regarding this topic.
Igor
While not referring directly to your group of organisms, I believe that a publication by Willy Kuschel., 1990, Beetles in a Suburban Island a New Zealand case study, DSIR Plant Protection No. 3 , New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial would be very informative. It deals with Conservation Biology, species diversity, and details of climate and microhabitats. It also discusses contour and coastal substrate affecting the diversity of plants as well.
Dear Igor,
I am studying populations and assemblages of species of invertebrates along altitudinal gradients (valleys, ravines, slopes, etc.). In my google + page (https://plus.google.com/u/0/114814470557298558114/posts) you can find the references of my publications.
Best regards
Antonio
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