Proportions of active ciliate taxa in soils |
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Authors: | Stuart S Bamforth |
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Institution: | (1) E.E. Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118–5698, USA e-mail: sobamforth@aol.com Fax: +1-504-8612698, US |
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Abstract: | Active and total soil ciliate populations were analyzed by a non-destructive method for 25 collections. Total numbers ranged
from a few individuals in soils under stressed conditions to 750 g–1 dry soil. Active ciliates were <15% (mainly r-selected colpodids) and 40–60% of the total ciliate population under stress
conditions, respectively. About 55% (18–86%) of ciliates, both in active and total populations, were colpodids, and about
half of these belonged to five taxa: Colpoda inflata, Colpoda steini, Cyrtolophosis elongata, Cyclidium mucicola, and Platyophyra vorax. Only about 5% of the 572 presently known soil ciliate species furnished most of the individuals. A hierarchical approach
is suggested to explain the high diversity in the less abundant 95% species, and is extended to explain species distribution
in stressed habitats. This study analyzed only mineral soils and found, in a comparison of agroecosystem soils and the adjacent
woodlands they were derived from, that the former contained more active individuals and species of ciliates.
Received: 15 June 2000 |
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Keywords: | Adversity-r-K selection Biodiversity Methodology Soil protozoa |
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