Ecology of Testate Amoebae in the Komořany Ponds in the Vltava Basin

• Published in: Microbial ecology Vol. 64; no. 1; pp. 117 - 130
• Main Authors: Burdíková, Zuzana, Čapek, Martín, Švindrych, Zdeněk, Gryndler, Milan, Kubínová, Lucie, Holcová, Katarína
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Science + Business Media 01.07.2012; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amoeba; Amoeba - classification; Amoeba - isolation & purification; Arcella; Arsenic; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biological taxonomies; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Centropyxis; Czech Republic; Difflugia; Ecology; Ecosystem; ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY; Freshwater ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genera; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Heavy metals; Lakes; Life Sciences; Limnology; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Nature Conservation; Organic carbon; Organic phosphorus; Paleoecology; Phylogeny; Ponds; Ponds - chemistry; Ponds - parasitology; Protozoa; Seasons; Sediments; Species composition; Urban areas; Water quality; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Czech Republic; Czech Rep; Shannon Diversity Index; Water Quality Indicator; Arsenic; Arsenic Contamination; Total Organic Carbon; Freshwater environment; Protozoa; Ecology; Pond; Amoebozoa
• ISSN: 0095-3628; 1432-184X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00248-011-0003-9

Testate amoeba (TA) assemblages were collected in 2005 from four ponds in Komofany (Prague, Czech Republic). An analysis of seasonal taxonomic variability of TA populations and its correlation with the limnological characteristics of the area (temperature, pH, total organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, etc.) was performed. The predominant genera were Difflugia, Arcella, and Centropyxis. The most significant changes in the TA community occurred between March and July. Arcella genus dominated in March and April; in May, Arcella and Centropyxis genera were present in the same amount; in June, Arcella genus disappeared, and Difflugia genus started to dominate the community. A multivariate redundancy analysis showed statistically significant correlations between the environmental parameters and the composition of the community. The results indicate a negative correlation between quantities and Ni, Cd, PAH, Mn, As, and Pb. were also affected by concentrations of NH4₄⁺, NO₃⁻, and P, as well as by temperature variations. The observed correlations between the species composition and environmental parameters can be used in paleoecological interpretations of fossil communities. Our results also prove the suitability of TA as water quality indicators in urban areas.