Check-list of microscopic protosteloid amoebae from the Southwest of Europe

Abstract

A biodiversity survey for protosteloid amoebae was carried out in Spain, Portugal and France between 2005 and 2010. Samples were collected from three different microhabitats -aerial litter, ground litter, and bark of living plants -in a total of 97 localities. As result 26 to 28 species out of the 33 species of microscopic protosteloid amoebae described to date were recorded. An annotated list that comprises all available data about these organisms from this part of the world, a key to the species, comments on the morphology of the sporocarps and the trophic stages is presented. Photomicrographs of the fruiting bodies of most species, and distribution maps are also included.Keywords: Protostelids, morphology, taxonomy, distribution, Iberian Peninsula, protists, Amoebozoa. Se ha realizado un estudio de la biodiversidad de las amebas protosteloides en España, Portugal y Francia entre 2005 y 2010. Las muestras se recolectaron en tres microhábitats diferentes -hojarasca aérea, hojarasca del suelo y corteza de plantas vivas-en un total de 97 localidades. Como resultado se encontraron entre 26 y 28 especies de las 33 especies de amebas protosteloides microscópicas descritas. Se presenta una lista comentada que contiene todos los datos disponibles sobre estos organismos en esta parte del mundo, una clave de las especies y comentarios sobre la morfología de los esporocarpos y de los estados tróficos. También se incluyen fotomicrografías de los cuerpos fructíferos de la mayoría de las especies y mapas de distribución.

Biological Control of Phototrophic Biofilms in a Show Cave: The Case of Nerja Cave

“…Considering the analysis of eukaryotes, the uncultured members of Schizoplasmodiida (Amoebozoa) stand out in sample 2. This group of protosteloid amoebas is predator of bacteria and fungi in terrestrial ecosystems, where they have a global distribution [34]. The genus Acanthamoeba (Amoebozoa) was present in sample 2B.…”