Testate amoebae of the natural monument bog “Klyukvennoye-2” (Usman pine forest, Voronezh Oblast, Russia)

Abstract

This paper was the first to present the results of investigations of species composition of testate amoebae from different microbiotopes with regard to watering and a substrate type of the protected natural area “ bog Klyukvennoye-2” of Usman Pine Forest. A total of 72 species of testate amoebae were identified. Mesophilic communities of testate amoebae dwelling in the intermediate habitats between moss and aquatic microbiotopes were the richest in terms of species number and abundance. These indicators for the testate amoebae community inhabiting dry sphagnum tussocks turned out to be the least. Arcella gibbosa had the highest abundance among all identified species.

Keywords

• protista
• sphagnobionts
• protected natural areas