Morphological and molecular characterization of a new protist family, Sandmanniellidae n. fam. (Ciliophora, Colpodea), with description of Sandmanniella terricola n. g., n. sp. from the Chobe floodplain in Botswana.

ABSTRACT: Sandmanniella terricola n. g., n. sp. was discovered in soil from the Chobe floodplain, Botswana, southern Africa. Its morphology and 18S rDNA gene sequence were studied with standard methods. Sandmanniella terricola is very likely an adversity strategist because it reaches peak abundances 6-12 h after rewetting the soil and maintains trophic food vacuoles with undigested bacteria in the resting cyst, a highly specific feature suggested as an indicator for an adversity life strategy. Possibly, the energy of the stored food vacuoles is used for reproduction and support of the cyst wall. Morphologically, Sandmanniella terricola is inconspicuous, having a size of only 50 x 40 microm and a simple, ellipsoidal shape. The main characteristics of the genus are a colpodid silverline pattern; a per

SUBMITTER: Foissner W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2917748 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature