Distribution patterns of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) along a transect from Greece to the Czech Republic
Abstract
Recent national lists of lycosid spiders were analysed along a transect leading from the Mediterranean to Central Europe (GR - CZ). This transect follows the probable direction of postglacial dispersal of lowland species.
In total, 99 lycosid species were listed in the territory of the transect, 67 of which are lowland species whose ranges, contrary to those of the montane, boreo-montane, and euryzonal species, expanded into Central Europe during the climatic optimum of the Holocene. Particular attention was paid to 34 lowland species, which, dispersing from the Bulgarian Submediterranean Refuge, colonised the Central European Temperate zone lying north of the limit of the Submediterranean.
In addition, the northern limit of the above-mentioned refuge was crossed by 9 Submediterranean species which did not expand as far as the northern limit of the Submediterranean. The natural division into five territories according to the distribution patterns of the lowland species is described and illustrated.