title: The use of soil biofilms for observing protozoan movement and feeding.
abstract: Protozoan movement and feeding regimes in soil biofilms were observed with inverted microscopes and Utermohl plankton counting chambers (4 mm deep). In a new use for these counting chambers, the three-dimensional appearance of a soil pore network can be simulated using long working distance objectives (40x). Protozoa were often associated with soil surfaces and penetrated soil crevices of less than 3 microm in diameter by either distorting their body outlines or with slender pseudopodia of less than 2 microm at the tips. Many ciliates repeatedly collided with soil particles and released attached bacteria into the soil solution for subsequent predation.
authors.affiliation: Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK. jd0306@macaulay.ac.uk
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Darbyshire
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil