Our understanding of species distribution and ecology is critical to properly assess their conservation status. Vertigo lilljeborgi, V. genesii, and V. geyeri have the centre of their current distribution in northern Europe, where their occurrence is relatively frequent. However, to the south their occurrence is fragmented and restricted to sites of late glacial/early Holocene origin. In the last ~30 years, there has been an increase in records, connected with the listing of the latter two species in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive (94/43/EEC). However, there is no comprehensive publication documenting their pan-European distribution. Therefore, we assembled all available data from online databases, books, and scientific literature and combined them with our unpublished records to create distribution maps. The results show a more frequent occurrence in temperate Europe than previously known, especially for V. geyeri. Analyses performed on data from 327 ecologically potentially suitable sites, covering the entire distribution range of the species, have improved our knowledge of their ecology. Vertigo lilljeborgi and especially V. genesii are restricted to areas with lower summer and winter temperatures, and therefore, their further decline is expected in the face of rising temperatures due to climate change. The preference of V. geyeri for higher temperatures, in comparison to the latter two species, may explain its relatively frequent distribution in temperate Europe. Vertigo lilljeborgi favors base-poor sites, while V. genesii and V. geyeri prefer calciumrich sites, with the latter being the most calcicolous. Their need for a stable water regime and lowproductive sites, known from previous studies, was not conspicuous in our results, probably due to the selection of sites well within the species range. Despite the increase in record frequency, these species are still endangered, especially in temperate Europe. Their sites should therefore be strictly protected as sites of high biological diversity and conservation value. Because of their relict nature, these land snails should be considered umbrella species and indicators of well-preserved groundwater-dependent ecosystems in temperate Europe.

• Klíčová slova
• Climate change, EU Habitats Directive, Glacial relicts, IUCN Red List species, Vertigo genesii, Vertigo geyeri, Vertigo lilljeborgi,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Bryophytes dominate some ecosystems despite their extraordinary sensitivity to habitat quality. Nevertheless, some species behave differently across various regions. The existence of local adaptations is questioned by a high dispersal ability, which is thought to redistribute genetic variability among populations. Although Sphagnum warnstorfii is an important ecosystem engineer in fen peatlands, the causes of its rather wide niche along the pH/calcium gradient are poorly understood. Here, we studied the genetic variability of its global populations, with a detailed focus on the wide pH/calcium gradient in Central Europe. Principal coordinates analysis of 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci revealed a significant gradient coinciding with water pH, but independent of geography; even samples from the same fens were clearly separated along this gradient. However, most of the genetic variations remained unexplained, possibly because of the introgression from phylogenetically allied species. This explanation is supported by the small heterogeneous cluster of samples that appeared when populations morphologically transitional to S. subnites, S. rubellum, or S. russowii were included into the analysis. Alternatively, this unexplained variation might be attributed to a legacy of glacial refugia with recently dissolved ecological and biogeographic consequences. Isolation by distance appeared at the smallest scale only (up to 43 km). Negative spatial correlations occurred more frequently, mainly at long distances (up to 950 km), implying a genetic similarity among samples which are very distant geographically. Our results confirm the high dispersal ability of peatmosses, but simultaneously suggested that their ability to cope with a high pH/calcium level is at least partially determined genetically, perhaps via specific physiological mechanisms or a hummock-forming ability.

• Klíčová slova
• Calcium tolerance, Sphagnum warnstorfii, ecotypic adaptation, hybridization, microsatellites, population structure,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH