Structure and dynamics of communities of ciliated protozoa (Ciliophora) in field communities. Succession genus-species relationships, nutrition

Based on an analysis of 147 samples of agriculturally used soil, the succession, genus-species relationships and representation of trophic guilds of Ciliophora were investigated. The succesion of Ciliophora was studied under laboratory conditions for 13 days following watering. The period of a relatively higher incidence of species occurred mostly on day 5. The abundance showed irregular variations. The values of C/P index decreased regularly from the first to the thirteenth day. The values of the species/genera index were higher in agriculturally used soils than in natural habitats, which can be explained by an instability of these communities and probably also by effects of a crop. Based on the species composition of the Ciliophora and their food, trophic guilds were established. The percentage of bacterivorous species in agrocoenoses was not higher than in natural soil and water biotopes.