INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL VARIABILITY OFCOHOMOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF CRIMEAN MOLLUSKS BREPHULOPSIS-CYLINDRICA (MENKE, 1828) (GASTROPODA, PULMONATA, BULIMINIDAE)

Influence of environmental factors on geographical (intrapopulation) v ariability of conhological characters (both quantitative and qualitati ve) was demonstrated for Crimean endemic Brephulopsis cylindrica. Gene ral morphometric character - total size of shell - was calculated on t he base of principal component analysis and has negative relation with the level of climate aridity. The shape of shells from geographically different population is not connected with this hydroclimatic index. The portion of coloured morphs increases with altitude. It can be expl ained as an adaptation of molluscs to the high level of insolation ('' mountain melanism''). Variability of frequency of individuals with pat al plica in aperture of B. cylindrica does not connect with any hydroc limatic parameter used in the analysis. It can be explained by mutatio n process or interspecific hybridisation with close species B. bidens in the area of their joint habitat.