Diversification of the Balkan fauna: its origin, historical development and present status.

Abstract

The paper presents the specific history of the lithosphere, as well as the geomorphological and paleontological characteristics of the territory of South Europe and Mediterranean, as one of prerequisites of the adequate biogeographic, biome and ecosystem diversity of the Balkan Peninsula. Results of various studies on the biodiversity of certain categories of fauna as well as of general biodiversity of particular regions (i.e. countries) on the territory of Balkan Peninsula, conducted by different authors, point to the necessity of unifying the research methods and criteria used in these investigations. According to the author, the best solution would be a realisation of a adequate common research project on the geographical distribution of the biodiversity of the fauna on the Balkan Peninsula as a whole.