The expansion of temperate forests was possible
only at the end of the Younger Dryas, and by 6000
yrBP the vegetation was similar to the present. The
distributions of mammalian species that are associated
with temperate and Mediterranean forests, have likely
followed the distribution of forests during the last
glacial-interglacial cycle. Thus, animal distributions
have been severely restricted to small refugia during
the LGM and Younger Dryas. The Iberian, Italian and
Balkan peninsulae have been identified as the three
main glacial refuge areas during the Pleistocene in
Europe [1]. Population and range expansions were
definitely possible in the Holocene after the end of
Younger Dryas.