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Testate Amoeba Communities of Epilithic Mosses and Lichens: New Data from Russia, Switzerland and Italy

Publication date: 17.02.2016

Acta Protozoologica, 2016, Volume 55, Issue 1, pp. 51 - 59

https://doi.org/10.4467/16890027AP.16.006.4047

Authors

,
Yuri A. Mazei
Department of Zoology and Ecology, Penza VG Belinsky State Pedagogical University, Penza, Russia
Department of Hydrobiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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,
Olga Belyakova
Department of Zoology and Ecology, Penza VG Belinsky State Pedagogical University, Penza, Russia
All publications →
,
Olimpia Coppellotti
Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua 35121, Italy
All publications →
Richard J. Payne
Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom
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Titles

Testate Amoeba Communities of Epilithic Mosses and Lichens: New Data from Russia, Switzerland and Italy

Abstract

The testate amoebae (TA) of many potential habitats around the world have been barely investigated but data on species presence and abundance is essential to answering big questions about microbial biogeography and the diversity of protist life. One such habitat lacking basic data is epilithic mosses and lichens with only a small number of samples analysed in previous studies and no systematic attempt to understand potential environmental controls. We use a large dataset (n = 81) from sites in Russia, Switzerland and Italy to demonstrate that testate amoebae in this habitat are both abundant and diverse. The community of our samples was dominated by ubiquitous taxa and differed between the northern (Russia) and southern (Switzerland and Italy) sites, perhaps due to differences in climate or air quality. Community composition, concentration and diversity were explained by moisture content but not by elevation above the ground surface and there were no significant differences between communities of mosses and lichens. Surprisingly our data showed a significant difference between communities of epiphytic and epilithic lichens in the same region sampled at the same time. Our study adds to the evidence that moisture availability is a critical factor in structuring testate amoeba communities across habitats and highlights the paucity of knowledge of TA in many environments.

References

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Information

Information: Acta Protozoologica, 2016, Volume 55, Issue 1, pp. 51 - 59

Article type: Original article

Authors

Department of Zoology and Ecology, Penza VG Belinsky State Pedagogical University, Penza, Russia

Department of Hydrobiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

Department of Zoology and Ecology, Penza VG Belinsky State Pedagogical University, Penza, Russia

Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua 35121, Italy

Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom

Published at: 17.02.2016

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Yuri A. Mazei (Author) - 25%
Olga Belyakova (Author) - 25%
Olimpia Coppellotti (Author) - 25%
Richard J. Payne (Author) - 25%

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Publication languages:

English