Arch. Protistenkd. 144 (1994): 365-372© by Gustav Fischer Verlag Jena

ARCHIVFUR

PROTISTENKUNDE

On the Soil Testate Amoebae Fauna (Protozoa:Rhizopoda) of the Spitsbergen Islands (Svalbard)

V.BALIK

Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Soil Biology, Geske Budejovice, CzechRepublic

Summary: Altogether 48 species, varieties and forms of testate amoebae were determined insoil, moss and lichen samples from two regions of Spitsbergen Island (Svalbard). The speciesCentropyxis cassis, C. ecornis var. deflandrei, C. orbicularis, Cochliopodium erinaceum,Corythion delamarei, C. dubium v. aerophila, Difflugiella horrida, D. oviformis, D. pusilla, Eugly­pha rotunda var. dorsalis, E. tuberculata var. subcylindrica, Nebela bohemica, N. dentistoma, N.parvula, Phryganella microps, Plagiopyxis declivis, Pyxidicula ornata, Trigonopyxis arcula andTrinema lineare var. minuscula are new records for the testate amoebae fauna of Svalbard.Including these new species, 126 testate amoebae species, varieties and forms are known onSvalbard. The abundance, number of species and number of empty shells were relatively low.

Key Words: Testacea; Soil; Biogeography; Spitsbergen Islands.

Introduction

The Protozoa of Spitsbergen were already studied in thelast century (EHRENBERG 1869; ScoURFIELDI897). Lateron PENARD (1903) and SANDON (1924) studied water,moss and soil rhizopod fauna from several islands ofSpitsbergen. BONNET (1965) made an analysis of thetestate amoebae communities inhabiting different typesof soils. SCHONBORN (1966) investigated the ecology oftestate amoebae in this region, and at the same time hedescribed several new taxa. BEYENS et al. (1986a, b, c)and BEYENS8.c CHARDEZ (1987) processed populationsof testate amoebae from mosses and lichens of the Arc­tic region (i.e. Greenland, Jan Mayen Island and Spits­bergen). OPRAVlLOVA (1989) studied the testate amoe­bae fauna from mud in periodic puddles and brooks flo­wing from snow fields.The ecological and climatic conditions on those islandsare very heterogenous. Every new investigation bringsmore information about the testate amoebae fauna fromthat geographical area.

This work is a result of the analysis of soil and mosssamples which were removed by the Czech algologist 1.KOMAREK in summer 1988. It brings fundamental fauni­stic and ecological data about the testate amoebae coe­noses from two areas of the great island of the Spitsber­gen archipelago (from Spitsbergen Island).

Material and Methods

Description of sample sites

The Spitsbergen Islands (Svalbard) are an arctic archi­pelago situated in the North Sea north from the Scandi­navian peninsula (76°-80°30' N, 10°_34° E). Thisarchipelago consists of four large islands (Spitsbergen,Nordaustlandet, Edgel/lya and Barensl/lya) and of manylittle islands.

366 V. BALIK

Floristically this area belongs to the arctic rocky, mossand lichen tundra. It is possible to discern here 10 basicstand types: screes with lichens: polygonal soils: flo­wery meadows with species of genera Cerastium,Draba, Erigeron and Taraxacum; small valleys irriga­ted with water from melted snow; watersides of brooksand rivulets; high mountain terraces of lakes and rivers;sandy terraces of rivers; hill-sides of vulcans; moors onwatersides oflakes; sea coast (WALTER 1968).All soil and moss samples were taken on the largestisland of the archipelago (Spitsbergen Island), namelyin its northern (Bockfjord Gulf) and central parts(Isfjord Gulf, Petunia Bay, Pyramiden City, GronfjordGulf, Barentsburg City) (see Fig. 1). Samples weretaken in the arctic summer (July and August, 1988).Numbers from P.2 to P.19 marked the localities accor­ding to KOMAREK (pers. comm.).P.2: Petunia Bay, polygonal soil with straggle vegeta­tion (Dryas octopetala L., Saxifraga opositifolia L.,Pedicularia hirsuta L.), soil sample.P.3: Petunia Bay, river terrace with thick humus layerand continuous vegetation (Carex sp., Dryas octopetalaL., Saxifraga opositifolia L., Salix polaris WAHLENB.,

Fig. 1. Sketch map of Spitsbergen Islands with indicationof studied localities.

Pedicularia hirsuta L., Polygonum viviparum L.)., soilsample.P.4: Petunia Bay, mild stabilized lateral moraine ofEloa Glacier with vegetation (Draba corymbosa R. BR.ex Dc., Saxifraga opositifolia L., Saxifraga cespitosaL., Papaver dahlianum NORDH., Rhacomitrium canes­cens (BRill.), soil sample.P.5: Petunia Bay, English Houses, gravel stabilizedplateau with vegetation (Salix polaris WAHLENB., Dryasoctopetala L., Saxifraga opositifolia L., Lecidea sp.,Ochrolechia sp., Leconora sp., Fulgensia sp., Sterceo­caulon sp., Carnia sp.), lichen and soil sample.P.6: Petunia Bay, English Houses, gravel stabilizedplateau with salt soil near the front of a glacier withvegetation (Saxifraga opositifolia L., Salix polarisWAHLENB.), soil sample.P.7: Petunia Bay, polygonal soil without vegetation,soil sample.P.8: Grondalen valley near Barentsburg City, soil fromold gravel slopes heavily stabilized by vegetation (Rha­comitrium canescens BRill., Dryas octopetala L.,Casiope tetragona (L.) D. DON., Casiope hypnoides (L.)D. DON., Pedicularia hirsuta L., Salix polaris WAH­LENB., Polygonum viviparum L., Oxyria digina (L.)HILL, Erigeron humilis J. GRAH., Saxifraga cespitosa L.,Saxifraga hieraciifolia WALDST. et KIT.), soil sample.P.9: Lake Congres, limestone gravel slope mild stabili­zed by vegetation (Carex sp., Draba corymbosa R. BR.ex Dc., Salix polaris WAHLENB., Saxifraga opositifoliaL., Cetraria sp., Rhacomitrium sp., Dicranowisia sp.,Andreaea rupestris HEDW.), soil sample.P.IO: Lake Congres, centre of frost fields without vege­tation, soil sample.P.12: Bockfjord Gulf, stabilized terrace above sea withvegetation (Salix polaris WAHLENB., Dryas sp., Carexrupestris ALL., Pedicularia hirsuta L., Carex hepburniiBOOTT, Saxifraga opositifolia L., Luzula arctica BLYTT,Melandrium angustifolium MILLER, Arenaria pseudofri­gida (OSTENF. et O. C. DAHL) Juz., lichens), soil sample.P.13: Bockfjord Gulf, south slope of the Smerrenfjelenvulcan, cca 100 m below peak, basalt, with Papaverdahlianum NORDH., soil sample.P.14: Bockfjord Gulf, north side of the Smerrenfjelenvulcan, basalt, scantily covered with mosses, lichens,Salix polaris WAHLENB. and Papaver dahlianumNORDH., soil sample.P.15-1: Bockfjord Gulf, unstabilized front glacier mo­raine, detritus, stones and clay without vegetation, soilsample.P.15-2: Bockfjord Gulf, unstabilized front glacier mo­raine with vegetation (Saxifraga cespitosa L., Saxifragaopositifolia L., Draba cf. alpina L.), soil sample.P.15-31I: Bockfjord Gulf, front glacier moraine par­tially stabilized by nest vegetation (Salix arctica PAL-

LAS, Saxifraga opositifolia L., Cerastium arcticumLANGE, Draba corymbosa R. BR. ex Dc., Laxina sp.),soil sample.P.lS-3111: Bockfjord Gulf, description of the localitysee P.15-311.P.lS-4: Bockfjord Gulf, old moraine stabilized byvegetation (Salix arctica PALLAS, Dryas octopetala L.,Silene acaulis (L.) JACQ., Carex saxatilis L., Saxifragaopositifolia L., Polygonum viviparum L., Cerastiumregelli OSTENF., Oxyuria digina (L.) HILL, Draba sp.,mosses and lichens), soil sample with mosses.P.l6-3: Nunatak, centre of glacier, without vegetation,soil sample.P.l7: Lake Linne, between sea coast and Lake Linne,surface of stabilized terrace with vegetation (Salix pola­ris WAHLENB., Dryas octopetala L., Draba corymbosaR. BR. ex Dc., Saxifraga opositifolia L.), soil sample.P.lS: Lake Linne, moss terrace, heavily eutrophicbirds' colony, soil sample.P.l9: Lake Linne, polygonal soil without vegetation,soil sample.

Results

List of determined species

Locality numbers where the species was determined arementioned behind the scientific name. The symbol "x"marks the new records of testate amoebae fauna in theSpitsbergen Islands.

Arcella vulgaris EHRENBERG, 1832 - P.18Assulina muscorum GREEEF, 1888 - P.9, P.16-3Assulina seminulum (EHRENBERG) LEIDY, 1879 - P.16-3,

P.18Centropyxis aerophila DEFLANDRE, 1929 - P.5, P.8, P.9,

P.13, P.15-311, P.15-4, P.17, P.18Centropyxis aerophila var. sphagnicola DEFLANDRE, 1929

- P.5, P.9, P.lO, P.15-311, P.16-3, P.18x Centropyxis cassis (WALLICH) DEFLANDRE, 1929 - P.6,

P.7, P.8, P.12, P.16-311, P.15-4Centropyxis constricta (EHRENBERG) PENARD, 1902 - P.9,

P.18x Centropyxis ecornis var. deflandrei THOMAS, 1957 - P.5,

P.18x Centropyxis orbicularis DEFLANDRE, 1929 - P.9Centropyxis platystoma (PENARD) DEFLANNDRE, 1929 - P.9x Cochliopodium erinaceum PENARD, 1902 - P.18x Corythion delamarei BONNET & THOMAS, 1960 - P.15-4,

P.16-3Corythion dubium TARANEK, 1881 - P.5, P.9, P.16-3, P.18x Corythion dubium var. aerophila DECLOITRE, 1950 ­

P.17Corythion pulchellum PENARD, 1890 - P.6, P.15-4, P.16-3Cyclopyxis plana var. microstoma SCHONBORN, 1966 - P.5,

P.8

Amoebae Fauna of Spitsbergen Islands 367

Difflugia lucida PENARD, 1902 - P.18Difflugia pulex PENARD, 1902 - P.8x Difflugiella horrida SCHONBORN, 1965 - P.6x Difflugiella oviformis (PENARD) BONNET & THOMAS,

1955 - P.18x Difflugiella pusilla (PLAYFAIR) GROSPIETSCH, 1964 ­

P.18Euglypha ciliata var. glabra WAILES, 1915 - P.17Euglypha laevis (EHRENBERG) PERTY, 1849 - P.3, P.15-4,

P.17Euglypha rotunda WAILES & PENARD, 1911-P.8, P.9, P.15­

4, P.16-3x Euglypha rotunda var. dorsalis DECLOITRE, 1969 - P.17,

P.18Euglypha rotunda var. minor WAILES, 1915 - P.6Euglypha strigosa var. glabra WAILES, 1915 - P.9, P.12,

P.15-4, P.16-3Euglypha tuberculata DUJARDIN, 1841- P.15-4x Euglypha tuberculata var. subcylindrica (PLAYFAIR)

DECLOITRE, 1962 - P.16-3Microchlamys patella (CLAPAREDE & LACHMANN) COCKE-

RELL, 1911 - P.16-3, P.18x Nebela bohemica TARANEK, 1882 - P.16-3x Nebela dentistoma PENARD, 1890 - P.15-4x Nebela parvula PENARD, 1890 - P.9Nebela tincta (LEIDY) AWERINTZEW, 1906 - P.16-3Oopyxis cyclostoma THOMAS, 1958 - P.9, P.17Phryganella acropodia (HERTWIG & LESSER) HOPKINSON,

1909 - P.5, P.6, P.8, P.12, P.18Phryganella acropodia var. penardi DECLOITRE, 1955 -

P.15-4x Phryganella microps VALKANOV, 1963 - P.15-4Plagiopyxis callida PENARD, 1910 - P.3, P.15-4, P.17x Plagiopyxis declivis THOMAS, 1955 - P.2, P.3, P.5, P.7,

P.15-311, P.15-3111, P.18Plagiopyxis labiata PENARD, 1910 - P.18Plagiopyxis minuta BONNET, 1959 - P.15-4Plagiopyxis oblonga (BONNET & THOMAS) BONNET, 1960-

P.15-311x Pyxidicula ornata BARTO~, 1946 - P.18Trigonopyxis arcula PENARD, 1912 - P.15-3111Trinema enchelys (EHRENBERG) LEIDY, 1878 - P.6, P.9,

P.15-4Trinema lineare PENARD, 1890 - P.6, P.15-4, P.17, P.18x Trinema lineare var. minuscula CHARDEZ, 1971 - P.6,

P.17

Taxonomical and faunistical notes on somerare or little known new species recorded onSpitsbergen

Tests' minimal and maximal dimensions are given in/lm (L - length of the shell, W - width of the shell, H ­height of the shell, 0 - diameter of the shell, A - aper­ture of the shell). In brackets are given the mean valuesof dimensions and the standard-deviation, n - numberof measured individuals.

368 V. BALIK

Fig. 2. Centropyxis ecornis var. deflandrei, scale bar 10 11m. Fig. 3. Cochliopodium erinaceum, scale bar 5 11m. Fig. 4.Corythion delamarei, scale bar 5 11m. Fig. 5. Corythion dubium var. aerophila, scale bar 5 11m.

Amoebae Fauna of Spitsbergen Islands 369

Centropyxis ecornis yare deflandrei THOMAS, 1957(Fig. 2)

Difflugiella horrida SCHONBORN, 1965 (Fig. 6)

.... .) '1

6

Very small shell, hemispherical or cylindrical, in crosssection circular. The basal pseudochitinous mattercovered with rare detritus particles and diatom frustules.Shell partially translucent, yellowish-brown. Aperturecircular, large. This species lives in moist mosses and in

Fig. 6. Difflugiella horrida, scale bar 5 11m. Fig. 7. Difflu­giella pusilla, scale bar 5 11m. Fig. 8. Euglypha rotundavar. dorsalis, scale bar 5 11m. Fig. 9. Euglypha tuberculatavar. subcylindrica, scale bar 20 11m. Fig. 10. Phryganellamicrops, scale bar 5 11m.

Species with hemispherical shell which is composedonly of pseudochitinous matter. Shell shapeable withtriangular corns (on the apical part of the shell), translu­cent, green-yellow. Aperture round, large. This specieslives in water and in very moist mosses and soils. Tothis time, this species has been known only from Swit­zerland and the Czech Republic.Determined dimensions (n - 8): D: 19-24 (21.5 ± 2.5),H: 25-32 (28.5 ± 3.5), A: 13-21 (17 ± 4), length of tri­angular corns: 3-9 (6 ± 3).

Cochliopodium erinaceum PENARD, 1902 (Fig. 3)

Typical soil-inhabiting species. Small elliptical shellcovered with oval plates, translucent, colorless, knownfrom mosses and soils of Belgium, the Czech Republic,Germany, Austria, Russia, Spain, Guinea, the IvoryCoast, Zaire, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand andOceania.Determined dimensions (n - 56): L: 19-25 (22 ± 3), W:11-14 (12.5 ± 1.5), H: 7-9 (8 ± 1), A: 1.5-3 (2.2 ± 0.8).

This species lives in aerophytical mosses, in litter and inhumic soils in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France,Austria, Great Britain, Guinea, Java, Nepal and Papua­New Guinea. Shell flat, often concave, from ventralview practically circular, translucent, colorless. Shellsurface covered with small elliptical plates. Aperturecircular or semicircular with a fine denticular rim.Determined dimensions (n - 7): L: 23-27 (25 ± 2), W:20-25 (22.5 ± 2.5), H: 3-6 (4.5 ± 1.5), A: 6-9 (7.5 ±1.5).

Corythion delamarei BONNET & THOMAS, 1960(Fig. 4)

This species has previously been found only in mosses.On Spitsbergen, it was found in lichen growth and insoil of bird colonies. This species is known fromFrance, Iceland, Rumania, Spain, Sudan, China, Iranand Java. The shell of this variety differs from Centro­pyxis ecomis typica by shell size and by a very variousaperture shape (circular, polygonal, hexagonal, etc.).Determined dimensions (n - 25):L: 88-94 (91 ± 3), W: 85-90 (87.5 ± 2.5), H: 45-52

(48.5 ± 3.5), A: 22-30x12-19 (26 ± 4x15.5 ± 3.5).

Corythion dubium yare aerophila DECLOITRE, 1950(Fig. 5)

370 V. BALIK

water sediment. Up to this time it has been known onlyfrom Germany and Poland.Determined dimensions (n - 12): L: 14--18 (16 ± 2), D:13-17 (15 ± 2), A: 8-13 (10.5 ± 2.5).

Difjlugiella pusilla (PLAYFAIR) GROSPIETSCH, 1964(Fig. 7)

The smallest Difflugiella species with hemisphericalshell and thick shell wall. Shell circular in cross section.Shell constituted only of organic matter, translucent,colorless, aperture large and circular. It is known frommosses and waters in Guinea and Australia.Determined dimensions (n - 6): L: 9-11 (10 ± 1), D:8-10 (9 ± 2), A: 7-9 (8 ± 2).

Pyxidicula ornata BARTO~ 1954 (Fig. 11)

This species has been known only from wet mosses andSphagnum in Bohemia up to this time. Shell roundedwith a moderate undular rim from ventral view, hat-likefrom side view. The shapeable shell constituted only oforganic matter, shell surface coarse-grained (rim finegrained). On the vault part of the shell there are hemis­phericallittle depressions in irregular radial rows. Thesedepressions touch each other or are separate. Shelltranslucent, colorless or rusty brown. Aperture large,circular, with undular rim, can change its shape or size.Determined dimensions (n - 5): D: 184--209 (196.5 ±12.5), H: 89-108 (98.5 ± 9.5), A: 126-161 (143.5 ±17.5), width of the undular rim: 17-26 (21.5 ± 4.5), dia­meter of the depression: 7-11 (9 ± 2).

Euglypha rotunda var. dorsalis DECLOITRE, 1969(Fig. 8)

Trinema, lineare var. minuscula CHARDEZ, 1971(Fig. 12)

This is a variety of Euglypha rotunda with dorso-ventralasymetrical shell. Shell elliptical in cross section,covered with oval plates, translucent, colorless. Aper­ture oval, oblique to the longest axis of the shell. It isknown only from soils in Belgium, France, the CzechRepublic, French Guyana and the Galapagos Islands.Determined dimensions (n - 15): L: 33-38 (35.5 ± 2.5),W: 17-24 (20.5 ± 3.5), H: 15-17 (16 ± 1), A: 5-8 (6.5 ±1.5).

Euglypha tuberculata var. subcylindrica (PLAYFAIR)DECLOITRE, 1962 (Fig. 9)

A variety of Euglypha tuberculata which differs bycylindrical shape of the shell. Shell circular in cross sec­tion, translucent, colorless and covered with almost cir­cular plates. Aperture circular, bordered with 1-2 rowsof plates with dentate margin. It lives in moist aerophy­tical mosses and moist litter in the Czech Republic,Russia, Iran, Venezuela and Australia.Determined dimensions (n - 20): L: 89-126 (107.5 ±18.5), D: 42--66 (54 ± 12), A: 18-32 (25 ± 7).

This variety is a size variety of Trinema lineare.Theshell of this variety is smaller than that of Trinemalineare (see determined dimensions). Otherwise shellsin shape and in surface structure in accord with Trinemalineare. A variety which lives in aerophytical mosses, in

12Fig. 11. Pyxidicula ornata, scale bar 20 11m. Fig. 12. Tri­nema lineare var. minuscula, scale bar 5 11m.

A very small hemispherical shell, from bottom view cir­cular, shell translucent, light brown, practically only oforganic matter, covered with rare small mineral par­ticles. Aperture large, circular. Till now this species hasbeen known from Bulgarian and Czech moist mosses,Sphagnum spp. and water sediment.Determined dimensions (n - 5): D: 11-16 (13.5 ± 2.5),H: 8-11 (9.5 ± 1.5), A: 8-13 (10.5 ± 2.5).

Phryganella microps VALKANOV, 1963 (Fig. 10)

Amoebae Fauna of Spitsbergen Islands 371

Ecological notes

Table 1. List of determined families with numbers of spe­cies.

soils and in sea interstitial, known from Belgium,France, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Congo, theIvory Coast, French Guyana and the former USSR.Determined dimensions (n-156): L: 17-21 (19 ± 2), D:5-8 (6.5 ± 1.5), A: 3-5 (4 ± 1).

48 species, varieties and forms of testate amoebae weredetermined in 21 samples of soils, mosses and lichensfrom the largest island of Svalbard (SpitsbergenIslands). 19 species (39.6%) are new for the testateamoebae fauna of Svalbard. The determined speciesbelong to 12 families and 17 genera (see Table 1). Thefamilies Euglyphidae (10 species), Centropyxidae (9species) and Trinematidae (7 species) are most abun­dant.

10.33

LF

11

-0.07-0.38-0.33

0.56

0.71-0.29

10.670.1710.501

Locality NS A ES

P.2 1 1030 3.800P.3 3 2400 4600P.4 0 0 0P.5 7 6600 16700P.6 8 6800 19300P.7 2 700 1100P.8 6 3300 7800P.9 12 7400 19500PolO 1 700 1500Po 12 3 1200 1800P.13 1 300 650P.14 0 0 0P.15-1 0 0 0P.15-2 0 0 0P.15-3/I 5 2000 3000P.15-3/II 2 1300 2900P.15-4 15 6050 15300P.16-3 13 5400 11400P.17 9 4300 9300P.18 18 9100 22600P.19 0 0 0

moss and lichen). This paper gives the results of theanalysis of testate amoebae fauna from terrestric bioto­pes only. The highest number of new found speciesbelongs to typical testate amoebae species from aero­phytical mosses, soils and litter.It is evident from Table 2, that localities differed in spe­cies number, species composition and abundance. Incertain localities (P.4, P.14, P.15-1, P.15-2, P.19) testateamoebae were not found. In other localities numbers ofspecies varied from 1 to 18 and abundance fluctuatedfrom 300 indo . g-l to 9100 ind.· g-l dry substrate. TheLF-index (BONNET 1976) has a large range (from -0.38to 0.71), too. If the value ofthis index is equal to 1, spe­cies from the subclass Testacealobosia or Testaceafilo­sia are present in the testacean community only. Thelowest values of the LF-index are characteristic forecologically unsuitable biotopes (undeveloped soils,skeletal soils, permanently cultivated soils, coal-minesdeposits, soils without humus, etc.) and they are expres­sion of the dominance of the euryvalent species of thesubclass Testaceafilosia (small species of genera Eugly­pha, Trinema and Corythion). From the studied locali­ties this was observed in P.6, P.9, P.15-4, P.16-3. Thehighest values of the LF-index are typical of the succes­sionally developed biotopes (very well developed soils,peat-bogs, wet mosses, benthos, etc.). In these biotopesthe species of the subclass Testacealobosia (familiesCentropyxidae, Difflugiidae, Hyalosphenidae, Plagio-

Table 2. Number of species (NS), total abundance inindo . g-l (A), number of empty shells in indo 0 g-l (ES) andvalues of LF-index (LF) on different localities.

Number of species

29132

104I35I7

ArcellidaeCentropyxidaeCochliopodidaeCryptodifflugiidaeDifflugiidaeEuglyphidaeHyalosphenidaeMicrochlamyiidaePhryganellidaePlagiopyxidaeTrigonopyxidaeTrinematidae

Family

The fauna of the testate amoebae from Svalbard is notpoor as it is in the Antarctic. EHRENBERG (1870) listedonly 3 species in undetermined localities. On the largestisland of this archipelago (Spitsbergen Island) PENARD(1903) found 33 species, SANDON (1924) 26 species,SCHONBORN (1966) 30 species, BEYENS et al. (1986a, c)26 species and OPRAVILOVA (1989) recorded 29 speciesof testate amoebae. From the Edgejijya Island BEYENS etal. (1986a) and BEYENS & CHARDEZ (1987) give 24 spe­cies in the first case and 14 species in the second. Alto­gether 106 species, varieties and forms of testate amoe­bae have been known up to this time from this archipe­lago (except this paper). If we add the newly found spe­cies to that number, it makes 126 known species, varie­ties and forms from Svalbard.In this area attention was paid almost exclusively towater testate amoebae fauna (glacier pools, brooks,rivulets, etc.). Only BONNET (1965) and BEYENS et al.(1986a, c) were engaged in terrestrial biotopes (soil,

372 V. BALIK

pyxidae, etc.) dominated. From the studied localitiesP.5, P.8, P.12 and P.18 belong to that type.Whilst coenoses of testate amoebae in anyone localitywere constituted from several species, only one or a fewspecies prevailed in abundance in those cases. The spe­cies Corythion dubium, Centropyxis cassis and themembers of the genus Plagiopyxis were often mostabundant. These eudominant species constitute as muchas 80% of the total abundance of the observed commu­nities.In standard types of testacean communities in the tem­perate zone empty shells dominated manyfold aboveliving and encysted individuals. However in the studiedmaterial the number of empty shells was only 1-3 timeshigher than that of living individuals (in soils of tempe­rate zone this number is more than 10 times higher) (seeTable 2). This situation was probably caused by pene­tration of water into empty shells. Water in empty shellsfreezes, and on this way empty shells are rapidly de­stroyed.A similar situation is known from high mountain locali­ties where the number of empty shells in substrate islow, too.In other soil samples the majority of active individualswere concentrated in the thin surface layer (0-2 cm). Theabundance and number of species decreased with thedepth. In the depth below 8 cm no active individualsoccurred and only sparse empty shells or rests of de­structed shells were found. This phenomenon is probablythe consequence of moisture and temperature regimes inthose localities. The quality and quantity of food supplyplay an important role in those arctic conditions.The shell size fluctuated in almost all determined spe­cies in the lower part of the species dimensions range.The medium or large shells were very infrequent. Theshell dimensions of all determined species from theSpitsbergen Island were lower than those of the shells inthe species from the temperate zone. This phenomenonis known from high mountain biotopes, too.

Conclusions

The testate amoebae fauna of the Spitsbergen Islands(Svalbard) includes 126 species, varieties and forms.Many of these species are euryvalent with cosmopolitandistribution, but a group of species is typical for thisarchipelago only (for example Arcella ovalifonnis, Cen­tropyxis pontigulasiifonnis).The abundance of soil testate amoebae communities islow in comparison with testate amoebae coenoses in thetemperate zone, but it is higher than that of testate amo­ebae in antarctic and subantarctic soils.The testate amoebae communities from terrestrial bioto­pes differ from those in water biotopes. In terrestrialbiotopes the members of families Euglyphidae, Trine-

matidae and Centropyxidae are predominant while inwater biotopes members of families Arcellidae, Difflu­giidae and Plagiopyxidae dominate.

Acknowledgements: I am grateful to Dr. J. KOMAREK(Botanical Institute AS CR, Ti'eboii) for his samples andinformation of the localities, to Dr. J. RUSEK (Institute ofSoil Biology AS CR, Ceske Budejovice) for the criticalcomments to this paper and to Dr. H. G. SMITH (CoventryUniversity) for the critical comments and linguistic correc­tions of this manuscript.

References

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(Svalbard). Polar Res. 5, N.S.: 165-169.- - with the collaboration of BOCK, P. DE (1986a): Some

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Accepted: April 13, 1994

Author's address: V. BALIK, Academy of Sciences of theCzech Republic, Institute of Soil Biology, Na sadkach,CZ - 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.