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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 2384

G.A. Korganova; Testate amoebae (Protozoa) in minor tropical islands of Oceania. Pedobiologia 32:117-127, 1988

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104 species and intraspecific taxa of Testacea (24 genera, 7 families) have bee observed in humic layers, leaf litter, freshwater bodies and other habitats in 13 southwest Pacific islands varying in size and geomorphology. The testacean fauna proved to be impoverished in a familiar level as compared with similar mainland biotopes. Most of the species observed were cosmopolitan, eurybiotic forms; seven species were restricted to a 'tropical' zone. Species variety and abundance in the majority of habitats were rather low, but mosses and 'suspended soils' were observed to have high numbers of bryophilous, raw-humus and tropical Testacea. Analysis of faunal composition and biotopical distribution has revealed that the ecological conditions rather than isalnd isolation and/or its size are of primary significane for the formation and impoverishment of testacean complexes.