Nanofauna (flagellates, amoebae) diversity in relation to land use and ecosystem functioning

Scientific investigators:

Prof. Dr. Hartmut Arndt

Prof. Dr. Michael Bonkowski

Dr. Anna-Maria Fiore-Donno

(Universität Köln)

Hypotheses:

 

  1. Protozoa are a dominant component of soil fauna, both in terms of abundance and biomass.
     
  2. Morphotype and genotype diversity of protozoa differ according to soil type and resource availability, particularly in the rhizosphere of plants
     
  3. Protozoa are by far the most important consumers of bacteria, and form a critical link to higher throphic levels of the bacterial energy channel in soil