Ref ID : 3698
Wilhelm Foissner; [Artenbestand und Struktur der Ciliatenzonose in alpinen Kleingewassern (Hohe Tauern, Osterreich)] (Species Richness and Structure of the Ciliate community in small Water Bodies of the Austrian Alps ("Hohe Tauern")). Arch.Protistenk 123:99-126, 1980
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The species richness and the structure of the ciliate community was studied in 77 stagnant and running small water bodies of the Austrian Alps ("Hohe Tauern"). The usually ephemeral pools were characterized by special and metabolic criteria. They are located 1150-2600 m above sea-level, on an average of 2070 m. 194 species were determined, their distribution and feeding habits are described. Some 34% of them are new to science. At a rough estimation some 300 species occur frequently in the investigated area. Species and individual richness and group dominance are similar to that of natural small water bodies in other districts of the world. Kinetofragminophora are dominant, succeeded by Polyhymenophora, Oligohymenophora or Peritricha. With regard to feeding habits bacteria consumers and omnivorous species are dominant. The species-individual-relation and the genus-species-relation obeys the rules known from metazoan communities. The following species whose presence and co-ordination is comparatively high characterize the moderately and heavy eutrophic pools of the "Hohe Tauern": Oxytricha fallax, Cyrtolophosis mucicola, Pseudochilodonopsis algivora, Dileptus anser, Urotricha agilis, Vorticella infusionum, Kreyella minuta, and Paruroleptus caudatus. Species, characterized by special morphological features are largely absent in the ephemeral pools of the "Hohe Tauern". It is concluded, that the "principle of species and individual numbers" (1. and 2. basic principle for biocoenotics) is valid for the alpine ciliate community too, and that the ephemeral pools of the "Hohe Tauern" are not an extreme environment for ciliates.