CLASSIFICATION OF TERRESTRIAL MOLLUSKS BY ECOLOGICAL GROUPS

Abstract

The ecological characteristics of terrestrial mollusks play a crucial role in understanding their biological traits and habitat preferences. This study reviews the ecological classification of terrestrial mollusks, highlighting hygrobionts, xerobionts, and xerohygrobionts based on proximity to water bodies and biotope conditions. The influence of abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity, and wind, alongside biotic factors including plants, fungi, and microorganisms, is considered. Food sources, particularly plants, significantly determine the distribution of mollusks across ecological groups. The study also considers feeding strategies, with Pulmonata representatives classified into eight groups: detritophages, micromycophages, macromycophages, lichenophages, phytophages, oligoxylophages, malacophages, and polyphages. Examples from families Pupillina, Pyramidulidae, Buliminidae, Hygromiidae, and Succineida demonstrate the relationship between diet, habitat preference, and ecological grouping.