Ref ID : 5010
Sudzuki Minoru; Free-living Microscopic Animals of Limestone Caves Akiyoshi-dai, Yamaguchi, Japan. Bulletin of the Akiyoshi-dai Museum of Natural History 26:21-28, 1991
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Some 20 samples in total were collected first on 29/XI'87, then on 09/II'88 from Akiyoshi-do, the largest limestone cave and a nearby cave both in Yamaguchi-ken. In the subterranean beach of stream and limestone pool, dominant groups were Mastigophora (maximum density/cm3 as average = AMD=1,278) represented by Bodo & Monas, then Holotrichida (AMD=708) represented by Colpoda & Halteria. This trend is also true in both gour sludge and lithophilous moss although the density is very low in the former, very high in the later. In bat feces, Testacida represented by Corythion & Trinema are dominated (AMD=428). In dirts & debris such Mastigophora as Cercobodo & Codonosigopsis besides Bodo & Monas are dominant (AMD=27,746), then Testacida (Cryptodifflugia), Holotrichida (Colpoda) or Amoebida (Platyamoeba). All the species dominated are considered, in the first place, to be transported into the cave mainly by tourism. Then, some of them became survived under certain habitats, if they are tolerable. Presumably most microbiota are able to outlive in the cave-dwelling moss, Zoomastigophorea & Holotrichida further in the subterranean beach, Testacida in the bat feces. Not a single specimen except for a few Mastigophora, however, can maintain its life on the cave well.