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The species composition of centrohelid heliozoans from freshwater habitats of different types (sphagnum bog, temporary and permanent water bodies and streams) of Southern Chile has been studied. Fourteen species (Acanthocystis nichollsi, A. pectinata, A. penardi, Pseudoraphidiophrys discoidea, P. formosa, P. veliformis, Raphidiophrys ovalis, Choanocystis perpusilla, Pterocystisfoliaceatruncata, P. pyriformis, P. quadrata, Raineriophrys erinaceoides, R. fortesca, and R. pteromorphos) are observed. Two species (Acanthocystis nichollsi and Pterocystis quadrata) are recorded in Chile for the first time. Most of these species are recorded in Southern Chile for the first time. Electron microscopy is used to investigate the external morphology of scales, having important diagnostic value. Morphological descriptions and micrographs of studied scales amplify the concept of intraspecies variability and supplement the diagnosis of species.

The species composition, distribution, and morphological characters of heliozoans (Heliozoa) of fresh and marine biotopes of the European part of Russia have been studied using methods of light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A total of 23 species from 4 taxonomic groups have been found. Acanthocystis taurica, Polyplacocystis symmetrica, Pompholyxophris punicea, and Raphidiophrys ovalis have been found in Russia for the first time. Species Acanthocystis myriospina, Acanthocystis turfacea, and Raineriophrys fortesca have been characterized as euryhaline. The most species diversity of heliozoans has been found in sphagnum bogs. Illustrated descriptions of these species are presented.

The community characteristics of soil Sarcomastigophora in the Mayan Forest Region of the National Nature Reserve of Xiaolong Mountains was studied using the “non-flooded petri dish method” and observation in vivo from July of 2006 to April of 2007. In total 78 species were identified, including 2 unnamed species and 12 new records of soil Sarcomastigophora in China, belonging to two subphylums, five classes, 16 orders, 32 families, and 47 genera. Amoebida was the dominant group, Kinetoplastida and Euglenida were the subdominant groups, Dinoflagellida, Chaenoflagellida, Pelobiontida, Diplomonaida and Actinophyrida were the incidental group, and Bodo minimus , Bodo ovatus , Oikomonas termo and Raphidiophrys viridis were the dominant species. The result of the study showed that there were abundant species and endemic and rare species in the community of soil Sarcomastigophora, the species composition of soil Sarcomastigophora in the Mayan Forest Region of the National Nature Reserve of Xiaolong Mountains was unique. The community characteristics of soil Sarcomastigophora was discussed based on analyzing the complexity and uniqueness of the ecological environment in the Mayan Forest Region of the National Nature Reserve of Xiaolong Mountains.