TY - JOUR

T1 - Meeting on the Microbiology of Soils, Autumn 2001: Estimation of protozoan diversity in soil

AU - Ekelund, Flemming

N1 - Key words: MPN; PCR; Cover slip method; Functional diversity; Molecular diversity

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - Different methods of estimating protozoan diversity in soil are discussed in this paper, with the major emphasis on heterotrophic flagellates. Although many species of ciliates and testate amoebae seem to be unique to the soil environment, the communities of heterotrophic flagellates and naked amoebae are probably best considered as restricted versions of their aquatic counterparts. Soil protozoa are difficult to observe directly, hence culture techniques are usually used. These techniques enable us to explore certain functional aspects, but their major drawback is that some soil protozoa cannot be cultured. Molecular methods, however, have the potential to detect such non-culturable forms.

AB - Different methods of estimating protozoan diversity in soil are discussed in this paper, with the major emphasis on heterotrophic flagellates. Although many species of ciliates and testate amoebae seem to be unique to the soil environment, the communities of heterotrophic flagellates and naked amoebae are probably best considered as restricted versions of their aquatic counterparts. Soil protozoa are difficult to observe directly, hence culture techniques are usually used. These techniques enable us to explore certain functional aspects, but their major drawback is that some soil protozoa cannot be cultured. Molecular methods, however, have the potential to detect such non-culturable forms.

U2 - 10.1078/0932-4739-00850

DO - 10.1078/0932-4739-00850

M3 - Journal article

VL - 37

SP - 361

EP - 362

JO - European Journal of Protistology

JF - European Journal of Protistology

SN - 0932-4739

IS - 4

ER -