Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Protists

Overview of Protists

Protists are diverse eukaryotic microorganisms that lack the specialized tissues of plants and animals and the chitinous cell walls of fungi. Their early divergence within Eukarya resulted in structural, functional, and ecological diversity. They are classified into supergroups such as Archaeplastida, Excavata, Amoebozoa, Rhizaria, Alveolata, and Stramenopiles, determined through genetic analysis and structural similarities.Structural and Functional AdaptationsProtists have various adaptations...

Diversity of Protists IV

Diversity of Protists IV

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...

Diversity of Protists II

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...

Diversity of Protists I

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...

Diversity of Protists III

Diversity of Protists III

Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Phagotrophic protist diversity in the groundwater of a karstified aquifer - morphological and molecular analysis.

The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology·2013

Same author

Tracking the autochthonous carbon transfer in stream biofilm food webs.

FEMS microbiology ecology·2011

Same author

Testate amoebae from a cretaceous forest floor microbiocoenosis of france.

The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology·2010

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Using the Protozoan Paramecium caudatum as a Vehicle for Food-borne Infections in Zebrafish Larvae

Using the Protozoan Paramecium caudatum as a Vehicle for Food-borne Infections in Zebrafish Larvae

Published on: January 7, 2019

Production studies on protozoa.

Wilfried Schönborn¹

¹, Friedrich-Engels-Str. 15, DDR-69, Jena, German Democratic Republic.

|March 18, 2017

Summary

Annual protozoa production in the Saale River and mosses was studied. Higher production occurred in less polluted river areas and mosses, influenced by rainfall, with varying mortality rates.

Area of Science:

Freshwater ecology
Protozoology
Terrestrial ecology

Background:

Protozoa, including Testacea and loricate ciliates, are key components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Understanding their production dynamics is crucial for assessing ecosystem health and function.
Previous studies have not comprehensively compared protozoan production in riverine and terrestrial environments under varying conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate and quantify the annual production of Testacea and loricate ciliated protozoa.
To compare protozoan production in different river saprobic zones (β-meso...oligosaprobic vs. α-mesosaprobic) and a terrestrial moss habitat.
To determine key ecological parameters: production/biomass ratio (P/B), generations per year (G), and daily mortality (M%/d).

Main Methods:

More Related Videos

Testing Protozoacidal Activity of Ligand-lytic Peptides Against Termite Gut Protozoa in vitro Protozoa Culture and in vivo Microinjection into Termite Hindgut

Testing Protozoacidal Activity of Ligand-lytic Peptides Against Termite Gut Protozoa in vitro Protozoa Culture and in vivo Microinjection into Termite Hindgut

Published on: December 29, 2010

Studying Cryptosporidium Infection in 3D Tissue-derived Human Organoid Culture Systems by Microinjection

Studying Cryptosporidium Infection in 3D Tissue-derived Human Organoid Culture Systems by Microinjection

Published on: September 14, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Using the Protozoan Paramecium caudatum as a Vehicle for Food-borne Infections in Zebrafish Larvae

Using the Protozoan Paramecium caudatum as a Vehicle for Food-borne Infections in Zebrafish Larvae

Published on: January 7, 2019

Testing Protozoacidal Activity of Ligand-lytic Peptides Against Termite Gut Protozoa in vitro Protozoa Culture and in vivo Microinjection into Termite Hindgut

Testing Protozoacidal Activity of Ligand-lytic Peptides Against Termite Gut Protozoa in vitro Protozoa Culture and in vivo Microinjection into Termite Hindgut

Published on: December 29, 2010

Studying Cryptosporidium Infection in 3D Tissue-derived Human Organoid Culture Systems by Microinjection

Studying Cryptosporidium Infection in 3D Tissue-derived Human Organoid Culture Systems by Microinjection

Published on: September 14, 2019

Field investigations conducted in the Saale River (Germany) and terrestrial moss (Mnium cuspidatum) in 1974/75.
Production estimated in river Aufwuchs and moss using slides and specialized 'production chambers' with a 2-week exposure time.
Measurements included annual individual and biomass production, P/B ratio, G, and M%/d.

Main Results:

Higher annual production (24 × 10⁶ individuals/m²·a) and P/B ratio (12.6) were observed in the β-meso...oligosaprobic Saale River Aufwuchs compared to the α-mesosaprobic area (3.2 × 10⁶ individuals/m²·a; P/B 34.9).
Terrestrial mosses exhibited the highest annual production (145 × 10⁶ individuals/m²·a) with a P/B ratio of 8.1, 16.5 generations/year, and 3.0% daily mortality.
Rainfall significantly influenced protozoan production and distribution within the moss habitat.

Conclusions:

Protozoan production varies significantly between riverine and terrestrial environments, and with river water quality.
The terrestrial moss habitat supports a high protozoan production, potentially acting as a significant micro-ecosystem.
Rainfall is a critical factor regulating protozoan dynamics in moss ecosystems.