ASGP (2010), vol. 80: 69-87

MOLLUSCS OF THE EEMIAN INTERGLACIAL IN POLAND

Stefan Witold ALEXANDROWICZ (1) & Witold Paweł ALEXANDROWICZ (2)

1) Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, Poland, e-mail: sz.alex at vp.pl
2) Chair of Environmental Analysis, Cartography and Economic Geology, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland, e-mail: teska4 at op.pl

Alexandrowicz, S. W. & Alexandrowicz, W. P., 2010. Molluscs of the Eemian Interglacial in Poland, Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae. 80: 69-87.

Abstract: Shells of subfossil snails and bivalves commonly noted in deposits of the Eemian Interglacial were used by several authors as more or less important stratigraphic indicators. In Poland, they have been noted in 35 sections, 20 of which are described as basic ones.
Molluscan assemblages found at these sites include 60 species of freshwater molluscs and 58 species of land snails, the former being dominant. Climatic tolerance of particular species is the main attribute deciding on their stratigraphic values. Cold-tolerant snails are typical of the preceding Late Glacial and some of them occur also in early phases of the interglacial, while species connected with moderate climate and warm-demanding ones characterise the middle part of the Eemian Interglacial. The freshwater snail Belgrandia marginata is typical of the climatic optimum of this interglacial. Particular species of molluscs were related to regional pollen assemblage zones of the Eemian Interglacial in Poland.