Biologia

Glime, J. M. 2012. Protozoa Diversity. Chapt. 2-1. In: Glime, J. M. Bryophyte Ecology. Volume 2. Bryological Interaction. Ebook
sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists. Last updated 25 April 2012 and available
at .

2-1-1

CHAPTER 2-1
PROTOZOA DIVERSITY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Moss-Dwelling Micro-organisms....................................................................................................................... 2-1-2
Terminology........................................................................................................................................................ 2-1-2
Abundance.......................................................................................................................................................... 2-1-3
Peatlands ............................................................................................................................................................. 2-1-4
Protozoa .............................................................................................................................................................. 2-1-5Zoomastigophora and flagellated Chlorophyta ................................................................................................... 2-1-6
Euglenophyta ...................................................................................................................................................... 2-1-7
Pyrrophyta (=Dinophyta).................................................................................................................................... 2-1-8
Ciliophora (Ciliates) ............................................................................................................................................ 2-1-8
Symbionts ..................................................................................................................................................2-1-10
Summary ........................................................................................................................................................... 2-1-14
Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................................. 2-1-15
Literature Cited................................................................................................................................................. 2-1-15

2-1-2

Chapter 2-1: Protozoa Diversity

CHAPTER 2-1
PROTOZOA DIVERSITY

Figure 1. Actinophrys sol, a heliozoan that can sometimes be found among mosses in quiet water, with a diatom. Photo by Yuuji
Tsukii.

Moss-Dwelling Micro-organisms
Bryophytes are truly an elfinworld, supporting diverse
communities of organisms that we often can't see without a
microscope.
As one might expect, micro-organisms
abound (Figure 1) (e.g. Leidy 1880; Maggi 1888; Penard
1908; Heinis 1910; Sandon 1924; Bartos 1946, 1949a, b;
Ramazotti 1958; Torumi & Kato 1961; Matsuda 1968;
Smith 1974a, b; Schönborn 1977; Sudzuki 1978; Bovee
1979), traversing the crevices like fleas amonga dog's
hairs. Bovee (1979) reported 145 taxa of protozoa from
bogs in the Lake Itasca region, Minnesota, USA. In fact,
there are sufficient of these organisms associated with
Sphagnum that there have been books published on their
identification (e.g. Hingley 1993). From forest bryophytes,
Bovee found only 68 taxa. Ciliates and testate amoebae
dominate the protozoa in both habitats. Evenfloating
liverworts like Ricciocarpos natans have their associated
microfauna (Scotland 1934).
Gerson (1982) suggests that protozoa have evolved
into the bryophyte habitat. Water that wets the mosses
permits the protozoa to complete their life cycles. Moist

bryophytes easily accumulate windborne dust, providing
even epiphytic species with a source of nutrient matter to
serve as food for...