Distribution of Protozoa in Subsurface Sediments of a Pristine Groundwater Study Site in Oklahoma (Journal Version)

摘要

Most-probable-number counting methods were applied to determine the distribution of protozoa in a depth profile at a groundwater microbiology study site near Lula, Oklahoma in January and June, 1985. Aseptic procedures were used to ensure minimal airborne contamination samples. Numbers of protozoa declined with depth, but amoebae or flagellates were present in all samples down to an interface zone just below the water table. Deeper in the profile, only samples from one layer of the saturated zone contained protozoa. The results emphasize the biological variability of deeper subsurface layers.