There have been few attempts to reveal the effect of pre-

Pleistocene climatic changes and tectonic shifts in Europe

on the current distribution patterns, and these are mainly
on the level of distinct species (Veith
et al
. 2003; Crochet
et al
. 2004; Fromhage
et al
. 2004). In the study of a widespread
west Palearctic freshwater crustacean,
Asellus aquaticus
,
in the northwestern Dinaric Karst, molecular divergences
indicated splits pre-dating the major Pleistocene glaciations
(Verovnik
et al
. 2004).
Asellus aquaticus
probably originates
in temperate northern Asia because most of
Asellus
species
have a predominantly east Palearctic distribution. The
species has not yet invaded the westernmost part of Europe
(Henry & Magniez 1983). It is present in a wide array of
freshwater habitats including rivers, lakes, springs and
subterranean waters, even brackish waters (Gruner 1965)