Fauna and distribution of Testacea (Protozoa) from Arctic, Antarctic and Tibet

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1003.2010.373

Abstract

Abstract:

Testacea (or testate amoebae, thecamoebians) are free-living amoeboid protozoa inhabiting a shell or test and they play an important role in material cycle and energy flow in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The fauna of Testacea was analyzed from three polar regions of the Earth (Arctic, Antarctic and Tibet). In total, 315 species from 62 genera were recorded in the polar regions, i.e. 232 species (51 genera) in the Arctic, 131 species (30 genera) in the Antarctic, and 173 species (42 genera) in Tibet. In each polar region, the most diverse genera were Arcella, Centropyxis,Difflugia, Euglypha, Nebela; they accounted for 51.3%, 63.4% and 60.1% of the total species number in the Arctic, Antarctic and Tibet, respectively. Seventy-three species (23.2% of all species) and twenty-four genera (38.7% of all genera) were common to the three polar regions. One hundred and sixty-seven species (53.0% of species) were found only in one of the polar regions. Both Assulina muscorum and Centropyxis aerophila were widely distributed with the highest frequency (90%) in 40 subregions from the Arctic, Antarctic and Tibet. Cluster analysis revealed that the highest species-level similarity of Testacea was between the Arctic and Tibet (56.3%). Further, species similarity was the highest between the Arctic and Tibet based on Arcellinida species data, but the lowest based on filose Testacea species. Distinct differences in Testacea fauna indicate that some species are not ubiquitously distributed in spite of better passive long-distance dispersal than macro-organisms. Geographic distributional patterns of Testacea diversity are closely related to body size, habitat type and historical events, and our perception of these patterns are strongly influenced by taxonomic resolution (morphological criteria), sampling effort and spatial scales. We propose that study of genetic diversity among and within common Testacea morphospecies in relation to ecological and historical factors will elucidate geographic distributional patterns within this interesting group.

Key words: testate amoebae, Arctic, Antarctic, Tibet, faunal analysis, geographic distribution

Jun Yang, Humphrey G. Smith, David M. Wilkinson. Fauna and distribution of Testacea (Protozoa) from Arctic, Antarctic and Tibet[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2010, 18(4): 373-382.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1003.2010.373

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2010/V18/I4/373

Figures/Tables 7

References 41

[1]	Beyens L, Chardez D (1995) An annotated list of testate amoebae observed in the Arctic between the longitudes 27˚ E and 168˚ W. Archiv für Protistenkunde, 146,219-233. DOI URL
[2]	Beyens L, Chardez D, van de Vijver B (2000) A contribution to the protist-diversity in the polar regions:testate amoebae data from the Russian Arctic. In: Topic in Ecology: Structure and Function in Plants and Ecosystems (eds Ceulemans R, Bogaert J, Deckmyn G, Nijs I, pp.101-110. University of Antwerp, UIA, Wilrijk.
[3]	Bobrov A, Mazei Y (2004) Morphological variability of testate amoebae (Rhizopoda: Testacealobosea: Testaceafilosea) in natural populations. Acta Protozoologica, 43,133-146.
[4]	Finlay BJ (2002) Global dispersal of free-living microbial eukaryote species. Science, 296,1061-1063. URL PMID
[5]	Foissner W (2008) Protist diversity and distribution: some basic considerations. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17,235-242.
[6]	Green J, Bohannan BJM (2006) Spatial scaling of microbial biodiversity. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 21,501-507. URL PMID
[7]	Heger TJ, Mitchell EAD, Ledeganck P, Vincke S, van de Vijver B, Beyens L (2009) The curse of taxonomic uncertainty in biogeographical studies of free-living terrestrial protists: a case study of testate amoebae from Amsterdam Island. Journal of Biogeography, 36,1551-1560.
[8]	Heger TJ, Mitchell EAD, Todorov M, Golemansky V, Lara E, Leander BS, Pawlowski J (2010) Molecular phylogeny of euglyphid testate amoebae (Cercozoa: Euglyphida) suggests transitions between marine supralittoral and freshwater/terrestrial environments are infrequent. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 55,113-122. URL PMID
[9]	Heino J, Bini LM, Karjalainen SM, Mykrä H, Soininen J, Vieira LCG, Diniz-Filho JAF (2010) Geographical patterns of micro-organismal community structure: are diatoms ubiquitously distributed across boreal streams? Oikos, 119,129-137.
[10]	Laminger H (1972) Notes on some terrestrial testacea (Protozoa, Rhizopoda) from Nepal, Himalaya (Lhotse Shar). Archiv für Protistenkunde, 114,486-488.
[11]	Lara E, Heger TJ, Mitchell EAD, Meisterfeld R, Ekelund F (2007) SSU rRNA reveals a sequential increase in shell complexity among the Euglyphid testate amoebae (Rhizaria: Euglyphida). Protist, 158,229-237. URL PMID
[12]	Laybourn J, Whymant L (1980) Effect of diet on reproductive rate in Arcella vulgaris Ehrenberg (Sarcodina: Testacida ). Oecologia, 45,282-284. DOI URL PMID
[13]	Levander KM (1901) Beiträge zur Fauna und Algenflora der süssen Gewässer an der Murmanküste. Acta Societatis pro Fauna et Flora Fennica, 20,1-35.
[14]	Liu LM (刘乐冕), Yang J (杨军), Zhang WJ (张文静), Yu Z (余正) (2010) Morphometric analysis of six natural popula- tions of Difflugia tuberspinifera (Protozoa ). Zoological Research (动物学研究), 31:435-443. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[15]	Martiny JBH, Bohannan BJM, Brown JH, Colwell RK, Fuhrman JA, Green JL, Horner-Driver MC, Kane M, Krumins JA, Kuske CR, Morin PJ, Naeem S, Øvreas L, Reysenbach A-L, Smith VH, Staley JT (2006) Microbial biogeography: putting microorganisms on the map. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 4,102-112. URL PMID
[16]	Meisterfeld R (2002) Order Arcellinida Kent, 1880, testate amoebae with filopodia. In: An Illustrated Guide to the Protozoa, 2nd edn. (eds Lee JJ, Leedale GF, Bradbury P), pp. 827-860, 1054-1084. Allen Press, Lawrence Kansas, USA.
[17]	Mitchell EAD, Charman DJ, Warner BG (2008) Testate amoebae analysis in ecological and paleoecological studies of wetlands: past, present and future. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17,2115-2137.
[18]	Mitchell EAD, Meisterfeld R (2005) Taxonomic confusion blurs the debate on cosmopolitanism versus local endemism of free-living protists. Protist, 156,263-267. URL PMID
[19]	Nicholls KH (2003) Form variation in Campascus minutus and a description of Campascus simcoei sp. n. (Testaceafilosea, Psammonobiotidae) . European Journal of Protistology, 39,103-112. DOI URL
[20]	O’Malley MA (2007) The nineteenth century roots of ‘everything is everywhere’. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 5,647-651. URL PMID
[21]	Ogden CG, Hedley RH (1980) An Atlas of Freshwater Testate Amoebae. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
[22]	Penard E (1907) On some Rhizopods from the Sikkim Himalaya. Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society,274-278.
[23]	Petz W, Valbonesi A, Schiftner U, Quesada A, Ellis-Evans JC (2007) Ciliate biogeography in Antarctic and Arctic freshwater ecosystems: endemism or global distribution of species? FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 59,396-408. DOI URL PMID
[24]	Porter SM, Knoll AH (2000) Testate amoebae in the Neoproterozoic era: evidence from vase-shaped microfossils in the Chuar Group, Grand Canyon. Paleobiology, 26,360-385. DOI URL
[25]	Raju NS, Suxena MR (1979) Algae and Testacea of the Cho Oyu (Himalayas) Expedition-II; Gyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Euglenophyta, Chrysophyta and Testacea. Hydrobiologia, 67,141-160.
[26]	Richters F (1908) Moosbewohner. In: Nordenskjöld OG (ed) Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Südpolar-Expedition 1901-1903, Zoologie II, 6,1-16.
[27]	Smith HG, Bobrov A, Lara E (2008) Diversity and biogeography of testate amoebae. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17,329-343.
[28]	Smith HG, Wilkinson DM (1986) Biogeography of testate rhizopods in the southern temperate and Antarctic zone. Colloque sur les Écosystèmes Terrestres Subantarctiques, 58,83-96.
[29]	Smith HG, Wilkinson DM (2007) Not all free-living microorganisms have cosmopolitan distributions: the case of Nebela (Apodera) vas Certes (Protozoa: Amoebozoa: Arcellinida ). Journal of Biogeography, 34,1822-1831. DOI URL
[30]	Sørensen TA (1948) A method of establishing groups of equal amplitude in plant sociology based on similarity of species content, and its application to analyses of the vegetation on Danish commons. Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Biologiske Skrifter, 5,1-34.
[31]	Suxena MR (1979) Algae and Testacea from high altitudes of Himalayas-I (collected by N.C.C. Punch Chulli Expedition, W. Himalayas 1970). Hydrobiologia, 65,107-128.
[32]	Wanner M (1999) A review on the variability of testate amoebae: methodological approaches, environmental influences and taxonomical implications. Acta Protozoologica, 38,15-29.
[33]	Wilkinson DM (2001) What is the upper size limit for cosmopolitan distribution in free-living microorganisms? Journal of Biogeography, 28,285-291.
[34]	Wodarz D, Aescht E, Foissner W (1992) A weighted coenotic index (WCI): description and application to soil animal assemblages. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 14,5-13. DOI URL
[35]	Wulff A, Iken K, Quartino ML, Al-Handal A, Wiencke C, Clayton MN (2009) Biodiversity, biogeography and zonation of marine benthic micro- and macroalgae in the Arctic and Antarctic. Botanica Marina, 52,491-507.
[36]	Yang J (杨军) (2006) Taxonomy and Ecology of Freshwater Testate Amoebae from China (中国淡水有壳肉足虫分类与生态学研究). PhD dissertation, Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan. (in Chinese with English summary).
[37]	Yang J, Smith HG, Sherratt TN, Wilkinson DM (2010) Is there a size limit for cosmopolitan distribution in free-living microorganisms? A biogeographical analysis of testate amoebae from polar areas. Microbial Ecology, 59,635-645. URL PMID
[38]	Yang J, Zhang WJ, Feng WS, Shen YF (2005) Testate amoebae (Protozoa: Rhizopoda) from northwest Yunnan, China. Journal of Freshwater Ecology, 20,583-590.
[39]	Yang J, Zhang WJ, Feng WS, Shen YF (2006) Geographical distribution of testate amoebae in Tibet and northwestern Yunnan and their relationships with climate. Hydrobiologia, 559,297-304.
[40]	Yang J, Zhang WJ, Shen YF (2009) Relationships between testate amoebae assemblages (Protozoa) and geographic factors in Yunnan Plateau lakes, China. Journal of Freshwater Ecology, 24,437-443.
[41]	Zhang WJ (张文静), Yang J (杨军), Tian Y (田野) (2010) Structure, movement and reproduction of testate amoebae. Bulletin of Biology (生物学通报), 45(1),12-13. (in Chinese)

科 Family	属数 Number of genera				种数 Number of species
科 Family	北极 Arctic	南极 Antarctic	西藏 Tibet	三极 Three poles	北极 Arctic	南极 Antarctic	西藏 Tibet	三极 Three poles
表壳目 Arcellinida
砂壳科 Difflugiidae	4	1	6	6	47	28	52	79
匣壳科 Centropyxidae	3	1	1	3	32	19	22	37
梨壳科 Nebelidae	2	1	2	2	20	15	13	31
表壳科 Arcellidae	2	2	3	3	14	7	15	20
缝口虫科 Plagiopyxidae	2	1	3	3	9	5	6	12
三角嘴科 Trigonopyxidae	2	2	2	2	9	4	7	12
旋扁壳科 Lesquereusiidae	3	2	3	4	9	2	8	11
隐砂壳科 Cryptodifflugiidae	3	3	2	3	9	7	2	9
拟方壳科 Paraquadrulidae	1	1	1	1	8	1	2	8
微囊壳科 Microcoryciidae	2	2	0	3	4	4	0	7
截口虫科 Heleoperidae	2	1	2	2	5	3	4	6
螺足虫科 Cochliopodiidae	1	0	1	1	4	0	2	5
茄壳科 Hyalospheniidae	1	1	1	1	4	2	3	4
法帽科 Phryganellidae	1	1	1	1	4	2	3	4
微衣壳科 Microchlamyiidae	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
地位未定 Incertae sedis	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1
小计 Subtotal	31	20	29	37	180	100	140	247
丝足类有壳虫 Filose Testacea
鳞壳科 Euglyphidae	5	3	4	5	22	18	15	26
三足虫科 Trinematidae	2	2	2	2	9	6	6	12
足衣虫科 Chlamydophryidae	3	0	2	4	4	0	4	7
鳞盖虫科 Assulinidae	2	1	1	2	5	2	2	5
拟砂壳科 Pseudodifflugiidae	1	1	1	1	4	2	2	5
沙名虫科 Psammonobiotidae	1	1	1	3	1	1	2	4
曲颈虫科 Cyphoderiidae	2	1	1	2	3	1	1	3
双穴虫科 Amphitremidae	2	0	0	2	2	0	0	2
薄壳科 Lieberkuehnidae	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1
小网足虫科 Microgromiidae	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1
保琳虫科 Paulinellidae	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1
地位未定 Incertae sedis	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	1
小计 Subtotal	20	10	13	25	52	31	33	68
合计 Total	51	30	42	62	232	131	173	315

科 Family	属数 Number of genera				种数 Number of species
科 Family	北极 Arctic	南极 Antarctic	西藏 Tibet	三极 Three poles	北极 Arctic	南极 Antarctic	西藏 Tibet	三极 Three poles
表壳目 Arcellinida
砂壳科 Difflugiidae	4	1	6	6	47	28	52	79
匣壳科 Centropyxidae	3	1	1	3	32	19	22	37
梨壳科 Nebelidae	2	1	2	2	20	15	13	31
表壳科 Arcellidae	2	2	3	3	14	7	15	20
缝口虫科 Plagiopyxidae	2	1	3	3	9	5	6	12
三角嘴科 Trigonopyxidae	2	2	2	2	9	4	7	12
旋扁壳科 Lesquereusiidae	3	2	3	4	9	2	8	11
隐砂壳科 Cryptodifflugiidae	3	3	2	3	9	7	2	9
拟方壳科 Paraquadrulidae	1	1	1	1	8	1	2	8
微囊壳科 Microcoryciidae	2	2	0	3	4	4	0	7
截口虫科 Heleoperidae	2	1	2	2	5	3	4	6
螺足虫科 Cochliopodiidae	1	0	1	1	4	0	2	5
茄壳科 Hyalospheniidae	1	1	1	1	4	2	3	4
法帽科 Phryganellidae	1	1	1	1	4	2	3	4
微衣壳科 Microchlamyiidae	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
地位未定 Incertae sedis	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1
小计 Subtotal	31	20	29	37	180	100	140	247
丝足类有壳虫 Filose Testacea
鳞壳科 Euglyphidae	5	3	4	5	22	18	15	26
三足虫科 Trinematidae	2	2	2	2	9	6	6	12
足衣虫科 Chlamydophryidae	3	0	2	4	4	0	4	7
鳞盖虫科 Assulinidae	2	1	1	2	5	2	2	5
拟砂壳科 Pseudodifflugiidae	1	1	1	1	4	2	2	5
沙名虫科 Psammonobiotidae	1	1	1	3	1	1	2	4
曲颈虫科 Cyphoderiidae	2	1	1	2	3	1	1	3
双穴虫科 Amphitremidae	2	0	0	2	2	0	0	2
薄壳科 Lieberkuehnidae	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1
小网足虫科 Microgromiidae	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1
保琳虫科 Paulinellidae	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1
地位未定 Incertae sedis	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	1
小计 Subtotal	20	10	13	25	52	31	33	68
合计 Total	51	30	42	62	232	131	173	315