Spatial Distribution of the Naked Amoebae in the Bottom soil of Standing Water Body Near the Dnieper (Ukraine)

Abstract

Due to the lack of data on the ecology of naked amoebae, we have studied the spatial distribution of naked amoebae in the bottom soils of a small standing water body near the Dnieper. Totally, nine species of naked amoebae and seven morphotypes are distinguished in the different layers of bottom soil. Changes in the species structure of amoebae and their morphotypes are analyzed in depth. There were marked species S. stenopodia, R. platypodia, Ripella sp. in the majority of samples. The Hartmannella sp. turned out to be small. The upper soil layers of the investigated reservoir characterize the greatest variety of amoeba species and their morphotypes. Amoebas of the fan-shaped morphotype occupy all the bottom soil layers. Groups of amoebae are distinguished according to the size features (large, medium and small) and two ecological groups of amoebae based on their distribution in the bottom soils of reservoirs.