Protostelids from deciduous forests: first data from southwestern Europe

Area of Science:

• Protostelid biology
• European mycology
• Biodiversity research

Background:

• Protostelids are microscopic organisms crucial for understanding early eukaryote evolution.
• European records of protostelids are scarce, limiting our understanding of their global distribution and ecological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the first occurrence and species richness of protostelids in Southwestern Europe.
• To identify new European records and assess the biodiversity of protostelids within a protected area.
• To investigate microhabitat preferences of protostelid species.

Main Methods:

• Field sampling in Somiedo Biosphere Reserve, Spain.
• Microscopic identification of protostelid species from various substrates (ground litter, aerial litter, bark).
• Comparative analysis of species composition and abundance across microhabitats.

Main Results:

• Identification of 21 protostelid species, representing the highest European species richness recorded to date.
• Seven species are newly recorded for Europe: Cavostelium apophysatum, Endostelium zonatum, Microglomus paxillus, Protosporangium fragile, Protostelium okumukumu, Soliformovum expulsum, and Schizoplasmodiopsis micropunctata.
• The reserve harbors approximately 65% of known global protostelid species, indicating significant biological value and potential for Spain as a study site.

Conclusions:

• The Somiedo Biosphere Reserve is a hotspot for protostelid diversity, significantly contributing to European and global records.
• Spain emerges as a prime location for studying protostelids, with distinct species compositions found across different microhabitats.
• This study underscores the importance of protected areas for conserving microbial biodiversity and provides a foundation for future ecological and evolutionary research on protostelids.