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Despite its ecological importance, little information is available regarding spatial and seasonal changes in the testate amoebae community in peat bogs. The objectives of this study were to examine the structure of communities and horizontal distribution of testate amoebae fauna, to improve the understanding of factors affecting the distribution of moss testate amoebae communities and to analyze the seasonal changes in testate amoebae communities in a Sphagnum-dominated peat bog (eastern Poland). A total of 45 testate amoebae species were identified in the samples. The highest species richness occurred in hollows dominated by <italic>Sphagnum angustifollum</italic>, much lower numbers of taxa were observed in hummocks dominated by <italic>Sphagnum magellanicum</italic> and <italic>Polytrichum</italic>. The Monte Carlo permutation test showed the significance of Ntot, temperature, pH, and the depth to the water table for the variability of testate amoebae in all microhabitats. Species found in spring samples were associated with the increased Ntot content. Species occurring in summer samples were associated with the increasing pH gradient and species developing in late spring and autumn preferred a greater depth to the water table.
</abstract>

Despite its ecological importance, little information is available regarding spatial and seasonal changes in the testate amoebae community in peat bogs. The objectives of this study were to examine the structure of communities and horizontal distribution of testate amoebae fauna, to improve the understanding of factors affecting the distribution of moss testate amoebae communities and to analyze the seasonal changes in testate amoebae communities in a Sphagnum-dominated peat bog (eastern Poland). A total of 45 testate amoebae species were identified in the samples. The highest species richness occurred in hollows dominated by Sphagnum angustifollum, much lower numbers of taxa were observed in hummocks dominated by Sphagnum magellanicum and Polytrichum. The Monte Carlo permutation test showed the significance of Ntot, temperature, pH, and the depth to the water table for the variability of testate amoebae in all microhabitats. Species found in spring samples were associated with the increased Ntot content. Species occurring in summer samples were associated with the increasing pH gradient and species developing in late spring and autumn preferred a greater depth to the water table.

Ecology of testate amoebae (Protists) in a <italic>Sphagnum</italic>-dominated peat bog and the relationship between species assemblages and environmental parameters

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Ecology of testate amoebae (Protists) in a -dominated peat bog and the relationship between species assemblages and environmental parameters

Despite its ecological importance, little information is available regarding spatial and seasonal changes in the testate amoebae community in peat bogs. The...

Ecology of testate amoebae (Protists) in a Sphagnum-dominated peat bog and the relationship between species assemblages and environmental parameters

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Sep 22, 2016

Page range: 344 - 352

Received: Sep 21, 2015

Accepted: Dec 23, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0031

© 2016 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland. All rights reserved

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.