Soil protozoa in typical zones of China: I. Faunal characteristics and distribution of species

Faunal characteristics and distribution of species of soil protozoa in 6 typical zones of China were studied. 290 species of soil protozoa were found in the typical zones. The 2 groups with the largest number of species among soil flagellates were bodonids and amoeboid flagellates, then were chrysomonads and colorless euglenids. Testate amoebae had a predominant number of species over naked amoebae, in which Arcellinida had the largest number of species. The 3 most important groups of soil ciliates were Hypotrichida, Colpodida and Prostomatida, among which Hypotrichida had the greatest richness of species. The number of species in litter was more than that in 0apprx5 cm soil because the ecological conditions in litter were more advantageous to protozoa. Among the 290 species of soil protozoa, 72 species distributed in middle torrid zone, 106 species in northern torrid zone, 168 species in subtropical zone, 116 species in warm temperate zone, 108 species in temperate zone and 73 species in high frigid zone. The distribution of species was closely related to soil type and soil quality. The distribution of species and the analyses of faunal similarity showed that most species of soil protozoa were neither cosmoplitans nor ubiquists, they were restricted to certain zones and to certain types of habitat