SOIL-INHABITED PROTOZOA COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN FORESTS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF RECOVERING SUCCESSION (MIDDLE VOLGA REGION)

Mazei Yuri Alexandrovich, Doctor of biological sciences, professor, sub-department of zoology and ecology, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), yurimazei@mail.ru
Embulaeva Elena Alexandrovna, Candidate of biological sciences, researcher, sub-department of zoology and ecology, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), embulaewa@mail.ru

593.11

Background. The aim of the study is to investigate the assemblages of testate amoebae and heterotrophic flagellates in different patches of mixed forest, being at different stages of recovering succession.
Materials and methods. The study was conducted from 2006 to 2008 in Zasursky forest located on the slopes of Zasursky plateau to the east from the Penza city on the right bank of the Penza water reservoir. The initial stages of recovering succession are represented by the birch wood, which transforms in the accordance with the moisture of the habitat. The succession develops towards the birch-aspen-pine forests in the most humid conditions, towards the oak forest in moderate environment, and towards pine forest in dry habitats.
Results. Forty-three testate amoeba taxa have been identified. There are directional changes in the testate amoeba communities within moderate environment from birch forests via linden towards oak forests. In other conditions local communities are characterised by low heterogeneity. Thirty-seven heterotrophic flagellate taxa have been identified. The associations of flagellates from mixed and oak forests are most specific in terms of species composition.
Conclusions. Testate amoeba communities are transformed from the associations with predominance of plagiostomic life forms in birch forests towards predominance of centrostome life forms in linden and oak forests. Most specific flagellate communities are assembled in oak and mixed forests.

testate amoebae, heterotrophic flagellates, community structure, forest-steppe, recovering succession.

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