Soil fungi as food for giant amoebae

Feeding trials were carried out to assess the ability of a giant vampyrellid soil amoeba to attack and lyse spores of fungi. Of 24 species of fungi studies, 15 were perforated in the same manner as was reported for Cochliobolus sativus. This giant amoeba is nutritionally versatile and can feed on bacteria, flagellates, blue green algae, diatoms and nematodes. Seven other soil amoebae failed to lyse conidia of C. sativus.