Dr. Fűköh Levente szerk.: Malakológiai Tájékoztató 16. (Eger, 1997.)
STEFFEK, L: Molluscs (Mollusca) of the Morava river basin in Slovakia: Present state of the molluscs fauna
1997 16: 61-71 Molluscs (Mollusca) of the Morava river basin in Slovakia: Present state of the mollusc fauna J. STEFFEK Abstract: In the area covering the confluence of the river Morava with the river Dyje up to its mouth into the river Danube 117 molluscs species, representing almost 48% of the Slovak Malacofauna, have been found. Valvata pulchella, Bithynia leachi, Gyraulus riparius, Gyraulus laevis, Anisus vorticulus, Planorbis carinatus, Cochlicopa nitens, Euconulus alderi, Vertigo angustior, Pseudanodonta complanata, Unio crassus, Unio tumidus, Pisidium amnicum and others belong to endangered species not only in Slovakia, but in the whole of Europe. Key words: Mollusca, faunistics, Morava river basin, Slovakia Introduction The presented contribution represents the first part of a complex ecozoological research of the malacofauna of the Morava river basin. It provides information on the present distribution of molluscs. Many parts of the territory belonging to an inaccessible military zone in 1990 have been preserved in its original natural state. This enabled the fauna and flora diversity - including the molluscs - to be well conserved. Some data about the malacofauna occupying the study area can be found in the reports of Kroupová (1976), Lisicky (1991) and Steffek (1978, 1993). The complex work of Hudec (1962) on the molluscs of the Dolnomoravsky uval vale provides an analysis of the mollusc fauna of certain localities at the Czech side of the river Morava between the towns of Honodin and Lanzhot. Scientific research of the Slovak part of the river Morava alluvium started after 1990, when this border zone has also been opened to the public. First results were presented by authors of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Ruzicka, M. 1994). The aim of the malacofaunistic research was to obtain knowledge about species composition and spatial distribution of molluscs in the study area. Based on this knowledge it would be possible to establish the molluscs gene pool importance. Material and methods Majority of molluscs have been collected along with soil samples (to the depth of 0-10 cm) and they have been studied under the stereomicroscope. Species submitted for anatomical dissection were killed in water and prepared in 70% etylalcohol. Molluscs determination is mainly based on shells description according to Lozek (1964) and Kerney et al. (1983) and the nomenclature is also presented on this base. Characteristics of the area from the malacofaunistic viewpoint From the zoogeographical viewpoint the Morava river basin belongs to the Eurosiberian subdistrict steppe zone. Therefore the representation of typical Pannonian species is considerable. Xerothermic biotopes are far away from the study area, or they appear sporadically
