A Novel Protistan Trait Database Reveals Functional Redundancy and Complementarity in Terrestrial Protists (Amoebozoa and Rhizaria).

ABSTRACT: The inclusion of functional traits of protists in environmental sequencing surveys, in addition to the traditional taxonomic framework, is essential for a better understanding of their roles and impacts on ecosystem processes. We provide a database of functional traits for a widespread and important clade of protists-the Amoebozoa-based on extensive literature research in eight trait categories: Habitat, locomotion, nutrition, morphology, morphotype, size, spore formation, and disease-relatedness. The comparison of community traits of the Amoebozoa with sympatric but highly divergent Cercozoa (Rhizaria) revealed both convergent evolution of morphology or locomotion and distinct differences in habitat preference and feeding selectivity. Amoebozoa seem to be rather unselective in their prey

SUBMITTER: Freudenthal J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12627902 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature