Testate amoebae communities from some freshwater and soil habitats in China (Hubei and Shandong Provinces)

摘要

Seventy-eight species and forms of testate amoebae were identified from 29 freshwater and soil habitats in three territories of China (Shandong and Hubei Provinces). Most abundant species from the genera Plagiopyxis, Centropyxis and Trinema represent the globally-distributed and eurybiont group of testate amoebae. The species richness was observed to be the lowest (7–12 species per biotope) in sandy sediments of the Yangtze River, but considerably higher (20–30 taxa) in soil environment. In the range of terrestrial habitats, the most remote communities from Laoshan Mountain in Shandong Province, China manifested the highest difference from others. On the other hand, communities originated in the most distant from industrial center places (Guifeng Mountain in Hubei Province, China) possess the most peculiar species composition including specific Gondwanian taxa (e.g. Nebela bigibbosa). In sum, the results obtained provide the evidence that the community complexity and specificity reduce in the places located within areas that are highly populated and intensively visited by humans.