Examining the Dissolution Characteristics of Testate Amoebae (Protozoa: Rhizopoda) in Low pH Conditions: Implications for Peatland Palaeoclimate Studies.

Abstract

A laboratory-based experiment was carried out to examine the dissolution characteristics of testate amoebae (Protozoa: Rhizopoda) under acidic conditions. The results suggest a large degree of variability in the dissolution susceptibility of taxa and no straightforward distinction between the relative robustness of xenosomic and idiosomic test types. Individuals from the genus Euglypha have tests composed of thin-walled siliceous plates, which are prone to severe dissolution. Certain other taxa are relatively unaffected by low pH conditions, including Assulina muscorum, Amphitrema flavum and Trigonopyxis arcula type. Differential preservation of subfossil testate amoebae must be acknowledged as a particular problem for peat-based palaeoclimate studies.