Community Structure of Testate Amoebae (Amoebozoa) in Nameri National Park, Assam, India:A Tropical Forest Study

Nameri National Park is a tropical reserve forest, located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in the State of Assam. The structure of testate amoebae communities of various microenvironments, such as, moss habitats and dry swampy regions of the Nameri National Park, Assam was investigated. The microenvironments were exhibiting substantial difference in the diversity of their limited communities. A total of 34 testate amoebae species belonging to 13 genera were identified. The dominant species observed in the moist moss habitats were Euglypha ciliata, E. rotunda, T. lineare, Cyclopyxis arcelloides, C. eurystoma and Arcella vulgaris, whereas the species observed in the regions of dry swampy environments were inhabited with Assulina muscorum, A. seminulum, Trinema enchelys, Euglypha laevis, Corythion dubium, etc. More number of species was found in the wet habitat of moss dominated regions compared to the dry muddy regions of forest. In conclusion, the study suggests that the microhabitats along with the environmental gradients have great influence on the total diversity of testate amoeba in the tropical forest biotope.