Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest Europe
Testate amoebae are one of the most studied groups of microorganisms in <i>Sphagnum</i> peatland ecosystems and, therefore, one of the most reliable bioindicators of their ecological status. Peatland ecosystems are supported by a delicate biogeochemical balance that leads to the formatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/269 |
| _version_ | 1827689694239916032 |
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| author | Rafael Carballeira Xabier Pontevedra-Pombal |
| author_facet | Rafael Carballeira Xabier Pontevedra-Pombal |
| author_sort | Rafael Carballeira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Testate amoebae are one of the most studied groups of microorganisms in <i>Sphagnum</i> peatland ecosystems and, therefore, one of the most reliable bioindicators of their ecological status. Peatland ecosystems are supported by a delicate biogeochemical balance that leads to the formation of peat, one of the main sinks of C, as a result of soil–atmosphere interaction, but currently they are one of the most threatened wetland types at their southern distribution limit. In the European continent, where climatic conditions limit peat formation, they have endured significant anthropic pressure for centuries, and the risk of loss of biodiversity linked to these ecosystems is critical. In addition, peatlands are poorly known ecosystems in the Iberian Peninsula compared with other wetlands; therefore, we have studied the chemical parameters of water and the diversity patterns of testate amoebae in the western Iberian Peninsula to better understand the current status of these ecosystems. The analysis of testate amoeba communities showed an inverse relationship between the diversity and conservation status of these peatlands, both in relation to chemical parameters (i.e., pH, electrical conductivity, phosphates) and to the proportion of anthropized area, with a marked geographical pattern in the degree of anthropogenic disturbance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:24:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-263224b6db50433ca56ebc455c83e0a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:24:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-263224b6db50433ca56ebc455c83e0a22023-11-22T00:07:52ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-06-0113626910.3390/d13060269Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest EuropeRafael Carballeira0Xabier Pontevedra-Pombal1Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 La Coruña, SpainDepartamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainTestate amoebae are one of the most studied groups of microorganisms in <i>Sphagnum</i> peatland ecosystems and, therefore, one of the most reliable bioindicators of their ecological status. Peatland ecosystems are supported by a delicate biogeochemical balance that leads to the formation of peat, one of the main sinks of C, as a result of soil–atmosphere interaction, but currently they are one of the most threatened wetland types at their southern distribution limit. In the European continent, where climatic conditions limit peat formation, they have endured significant anthropic pressure for centuries, and the risk of loss of biodiversity linked to these ecosystems is critical. In addition, peatlands are poorly known ecosystems in the Iberian Peninsula compared with other wetlands; therefore, we have studied the chemical parameters of water and the diversity patterns of testate amoebae in the western Iberian Peninsula to better understand the current status of these ecosystems. The analysis of testate amoeba communities showed an inverse relationship between the diversity and conservation status of these peatlands, both in relation to chemical parameters (i.e., pH, electrical conductivity, phosphates) and to the proportion of anthropized area, with a marked geographical pattern in the degree of anthropogenic disturbance.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/269testate amoebaediversityhuman impactpeatlands water chemistrysouthern Europe |
| spellingShingle | Rafael Carballeira Xabier Pontevedra-Pombal Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest Europe Diversity testate amoebae diversity human impact peatlands water chemistry southern Europe |
| title | Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest Europe |
| title_full | Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest Europe |
| title_fullStr | Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest Europe |
| title_short | Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest Europe |
| title_sort | diversity of testate amoebae as an indicator of the conservation status of peatlands in southwest europe |
| topic | testate amoebae diversity human impact peatlands water chemistry southern Europe |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/269 |
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