4 1 r> ^."*-.t*l inA 6 21 JUN 199 Museum 1YJ British (Natural History) _____ _ _—_. Zoology Series MAY VOLUME 57 NUMBER 30 1991 1 1 The Bulletin ofthe British Museum ofNaturalHistory, instituted in 1949, is issued in four scientific series, Botany, Entomology, Geology (incorporating Mineralogy) and Zoology, and an Historical series. The Zoology Series is edited in the Museum's Department ofZoology Keeper ofZoology: Dr C. R. Curds Editor ofBulletin: Mr N. Merrett Assistant Editor: Dr B. T. Clarke Papers in the Bulletin are primarily the results ofresearch carried out on the unique and ever-growing collections ofthe Museum, both by the scientific staffand by specialists from elsewhere who make use ofthe Museum's resources. Many ofthe papers are works ofreference that will remain indispensable for years to come. A volume contains about 256 pages, made up by two numbers: published Spring and Autumn. Subscriptions may be placed for one or more ofthe series on an Annual basis. 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(Zool.) 57(1) 1-16 Issued30May 1991 Morphology and biometry of twelve soil testate amoebae (Protozoa, Rhizopoda) from M Australia, Africa, and Austria BRITISH (NATO! 21 JUN I991 & Gabriele Luftenegger Wilhelm Foissner mm Universitdt Salzburg, Institutfiir Zoologie, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austric zooiogy Corresponding author: Dr. Gabriele Luftenegger, Universitdt Salzburg, Institutfiir Zoologie, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria CONTENTS 1 Introduction 1 2. Materials and methods 1 3. Description ofspecies 1 4. Acknowledgements 15 5. References 15 SYNOPSIS. The morphology of 12 species of testate amoebae from soils of Australia (Bullinularia gracilis, Centropyxis cryptostoma, Heleopera sylvatica, Assulina muscorum, Corythion asperulum, Euglypha compressa), Africa (Paraquadrula irregularis) and Austria (Cyclopyxis kahli, Difftugia stoutii, Nebela tubulata, Tracheleuglypha dentata, Trinema enchelys) were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. All species are char- acterized morphometrically and an 'ideal individual' for each species is constructed by means of the morphometric A data. first record for Austria is Difftugia stoutii, first records for Australia are Bullinularia gracilis, Centropyxis cryptostoma, Corythion asperulum and Heleopera sylvatica. In P. irregularis, numerous cells united at their apertures have been observed. Protargol silvered material convincingly shows fusion of the nuclei and nucleoli of such pairs. It is, however, uncertain whether the uniting cells are parent and daughter (autogamy) or are from 2 different specimens (conjugation). lucida using an oil immersion objective (100 X; eyepiece, INTRODUCTION 10 x) and bright field illumination. The followingsample statistics were calculated accordingto Many species of testate amoebae have been described and Schonborn et al. (1983): x, arithmetic mean; M, median (this redescribed without providing reliable biometric data. The value is used to construct the ideal individual); SD, standard deviation; SE, standard error of the arithmetic mean; CV, present paper is the second (Luftenegger et al., 1988a) of a series of publications intended to improve the diagnosis of coefficient of variation in %; Min, Max, minimum and maximum values; n, sample size. Most shell variables were such species. This hopefully will also help ecologists with the given a number which defines the corresponding character in often difficult species determinations. the drawing of the ideal individual. The respective characters are identified by these numbers in the tables (Luftenegger et al., 1988a). MATERIALS AND METHODS For scanning electron microscopy specimens were cleaned by several transfers through distilled water before being manipulated by a single-hair brush as individuals and For the sources of material see Table 1. Testate amoebae mounted on glass slides covered with a special adhesive & were isolated with a pipette as individuals from soil suspensions (Mixtion a Dorer Clarifee, Fa. Lefranc Bourgeois). (0.2 g fresh soil + 5 ml distilled water) and stained either with Further procedures see Luftenegger et al. (1988a). protargol silver or phenolic aniline blue solution (Foissner, Determinations of species follow the original descriptions. 1983; Luftenegger et al., 19886). The shells of some species One slide ofeach population has been deposited in the British were made transparent overnight in a drop of albumin- Museum (Natural History) in London. Registration number glycerin (as used in histological techniques to fix sections on a is given in the species description. Several species have the slide). All drawings were produced with the help of a camera same Reg. No since they are on the same slide. GABRIELE LUFTENEGGER & WILHELM FOISSNER fable 1. Localities ofthe populations. Table 2. Morphometric characterization ofBullinulariagracilis. All measurements in urn. Species Date Locality Reference number Character X M SD SE CV Min Max n Bullinulariagracilis 23.10.1986 Bush in the Brisbane Water (0 93.2 88.5 13.0 5.33 14.0 83 118 6 National Park, 50 km north (2) 130.3 125.0 18.2 4.70 14.0 112 169 15 ofSydney, Australia. E (3) 150.9 150.0 18.5 4.78 12.3 128 192 15 152°S 33°. Sea-level 150 m. (4) 57.1 54.0 11.4 2.94 20.0 41 80 15 Upper soil layer (0-2 cm (5) 11.5 10.0 3.4 0.89 30.0 5 16 15 soil depth) with litter and moss on sandstone. pH 5.1. Centropyxis cryptostoma 23.10.1986 See Bullinulariagracilis. size, however, detailed biometric data are not provided. Cyclopyxis kahli 10.10.1987 Aiglern near Aigen in the Regarding this character, the values of our population are Ennstal, Austria, E 14°N about 25 % higher, which is in agreement with Golemansky 48°. Sea-level 650 m. (1968). Brown earth (loamy sand) Hoogenraad & De Groot (19526) describe two shell types ofa meadow (0-5 cm). pH for B. indica. The 'extraordinary' type is firm and inflexible, 6.7. (For detailed site description see Foissner et the 'normal' type is flexible and rathertenacious, consistingof al., 1990). a homogenous matrix, as stated also by Penard (1912). We Difflugiastoutii 10.10.1987 See Cyclopyxis kahli. suggest that the outer organic layer, which seems to be Heleopera sylvatica 18.10.1986 Coastal wood, Royal somewhat elastic (Fig. 7), is responsible for the above National Park, south of mentioned flexibility of shells in some Bullinularia Sydney, Australia, E 150°S populations. 35°. Sea-level c. 100m. Upper soil layer (0-5 cm) with litter and brown sand. Centroypyxis cryptostoma Bonnet, 1959 pH4.5. Nebela tubulata 20.9.1988 Top ofthe Gaisberg, Figs 9-13, Tables 1,3 Salzburg, Austria, E 13° N BM 48°. Sea-level 1250 m. (NH) Reg. No. 1990. 4. 26.2. Rendzina ofa spruce forest with Luzula, Calamagrostis Shell brownish, rectangular with rounded ends in ventral Sesleria (0-5 cm). pH 5.2. , view, compressed, ventral side fairly smooth, with flat xeno- Paraquadrula irregularis 8.5.1985 Mzima Springs, Tsavo somes, dorsal side with rough particles. Aperture sub-apical, National Park West, about reniform. Posterior lip extends slightly inside shell as curved 50 km east ofMt. elongation of ventral side, anterior lip overhanging (Figs Kilimanjaro, Kenya, E 38° S 4°. Humus layer with 10,12). Separation from C. capucina and C. halophila is laictatceri,am(a0-n5ycfmu)n.gip,Hun7d.e0.r m(apiHnloypbtyimsummallfeorr sCi.zehaalnodphoiclcaur8r.e5n-c9;e iBnondnifeftere&ntThhaobmitaast,s Assulina muscorum 23.10.1986 See Bullinulariagracilis. 1960a). Corythion asperulum 23.10.1986 See Bullinulariagracilis. Coefficients of variation of characters (l)-(4) and (7) are Euglypha compressa 23.10.1986 See Bullinulariagracilis less than 10 %; measurements of aperture show greater Tracheleuglypha dentata 10.10.1987 See Cyclopyxis kahli. variability (CV 12.5 and 14.9; Table 3). Bonnet (1959) states Trinema enchelys 10.10.1987 See Cyclopyxis kahli. 45 um for the length, 35 um for the breadth and 27-30 um for the depth ofthe shell. The individuals ofour population are a little more flattened, which is in agreement with the measure- ments by Schonborn (1966). All other characters match well DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES with the description by Bonnet (1959). Bullinularia gracilis Thomas, 1959 CyclopyxisJtaM (Deflandre, 1929) Deflandre, 1929 Figs 1-8, Tables 1,2 BM (NH) Reg. No. 1990. 4. 26.1. Figs 14-16, Tables 1,4 BM (NH) Reg. No. 1990. 4.26.3 Shell yellowish to brownish, almost hemispheric, always broader than long, ventral side smooth, structureless, Shell brownish, hemispheric, composed of xenosomes, covered by thin, fragile layer (Fig 7), posterior margin apertural surface smooth and distinctly invaginated, aboral and dorsal side rough, covered with xenosomes (Figs 4,5). surface rough. Aperture surrounded by distinct rough % Aperture obscured by anterior lip, under which ventral side particles (10-20 of specimens studied), or more or less projects (Fig. 6). Approximately 30 pores, about 1-2 urn in smooth (c. 80-90 %). diameter, irregularily arranged in the anterior third of shell Shell measurements fairly variable (CV 10.6-16.0; Table (Fig. 8). 4). The data ofDeflandre (1929) and Ogden (1988) agree well Characters (l)-(3) show normal variability (CV 14.0 and with ours, whereas other authors state slightly higher values 12.3%), whereas characters (4) and (5) have high coefficients (Bonnet & Thomas, 1960a; Ogden & Hedley, 1980; Ogden, of variation (CV 20.0 and 30.0 %; Table 2). Thomas (1959) 1984; Rauenbusch, 1987). The Indian population described states 120 um on average for the major axis of the shell. The by Guru & Dash (1983) measures only 50-65 um in diameter specimen photographed by Bonnet (1961) shows a similar (sample size not given).