The variation of testacean assemblages (Rhizopoda) along the complete base-richness gradient in fens: a case study from the Western Carpathians
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2006 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Acta Protozoologica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Ecology |
| Keywords | bog; calcium; fen; mire; peatlands; pH; Sphagnum; spring; testaceans; testate amoebae; vegetation; wetland |
| Description | We studied modern testacean assemblages in spring fens in the Western Carpathians. The DCA of all testacean assemblages revealed two major factors controlling species variation, the poor-rich gradient and the microhabitat-type: waterlogged bare sediments versus bryophytes. Sampled sediments of poor acidic fens have species composition similar to that of bryophyte tufts from mineral-richer fens. The ordination of the subset of samples taken from bryophyte tufts shows the clear poor-rich gradient on the first axis and moisture gradient causing variation of acid samples along the second axis. Based of DCA results, testacean assemblages were divided into six major types for which the diagnostic species were determined using phi-coefficient. The study of the complete poor-rich gradient revealed different species optima reported from higher-pH Sphagnum fens, and thus it changed our view on the indicative value of some species. |
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