SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF FRESHWATER TESTATE AMOEBAE (AMOEBOZOA, ARCELLINIDA) COMMUNITIES IN LANKARAN NATURAL AREA.

The aim of the work was to study the species composition, communities structure and main regularities of the seasonal dynamics of testate amoebae. In this regard, the seasonal changes in the total and species number of this group of protozoans with rich species diversity were studied in different water bodies of Lankaran natural area. 126 species belonging to 11 families were recorded. The spring-summer communities of testaceans (May-July) are more unique in terms of species composition and characterized by a complex of dominant species - Centropyxis aculeata, Difflugia accuminata, D.corona, D.gramen, D.elegans. In summer, the highest total number of testate amoebae was 7.4 thousand individuals/dm2, and the lowest was 4.6 thousand individuals/dm2 . In winter communities, the total number of species varied between 0.1-0.9 thousand individuals/dm2 in different water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]