High-altitude Amazonian eukaryotic shells (Arcellinida, Amoebozoa)

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Eukaryotic Diversity
• Amazonian Ecology

Background:

• Microbial eukaryote diversity in the Amazon rainforest is largely unknown, especially at high altitudes.
• Access to these remote areas, often within indigenous lands, is extremely challenging.
• Bryophyte samples are valuable sources for discovering microbial life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the diversity of Arcellinida shelled amoebae in a bryophyte sample from Serra do Imeri, Amazonia.
• To provide morphological characterization of identified taxa using advanced microscopy.
• To identify potentially new taxa within this understudied ecosystem.

Main Methods:

• Collection of a bryophyte sample from Serra do Imeri during a 2022 Brazilian expedition.
• Morphological and morphometric analysis of Arcellinida shells using optical and scanning electron microscopy.
• Taxonomic identification and description of observed taxa.

Main Results:

• 142 Arcellinida shells belonging to 17 nominal taxa were identified in a single bryophyte sample.
• A potentially new Arcellinida taxon, resembling the genus Padaungiella, was discovered.
• Detailed morphological descriptions and measurements were provided for all identified specimens.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the significant, yet largely undescribed, microbial eukaryote diversity in high-altitude Amazonian environments.
• The discovery of a potential new taxon underscores the importance of continued exploration in remote regions.
• Morphological analysis provides valuable taxonomic data for Arcellinida from this unique habitat.