Nebela jiuhuensis nov. sp. (Amoebozoa; Arcellinida; Hyalospheniidae): A New Member of the Nebela saccifera - equicalceus - ansata Group Described from Sphagnum Peatlands in South-Central China.
Hyalospheniids are among the most common and conspicuous testate amoebae in high-latitude peatlands and forest humus. These testate amoebae were widely studied as bioindicators and are increasingly used as models in microbial biogeography. However, data on their diversity and ecology are still very unevenly distributed geographically: notably, data are lacking for low-latitude peatlands. We describe here a new species, Nebela jiuhuensis, from peatlands near the Middle Yangtze River reach of south-central China with characteristic morphology. The test (shell) has hollow horn-like lateral extensions also found in N. saccifera, N. equicalceus (=N. hippocrepis), and N. ansata, three large species restricted mostly to Sphagnum peatlands of Eastern North America. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI) data confirm that N. jiuhuensis is closely related to the morphologically very similar North American species N. saccifera and more distantly to N. ansata within the N. penardiana group. These species are all found in wet mosses growing in poor fens. Earlier reports of morphologically similar specimens found in South Korea peatlands suggest that N. jiuhuensis may be distributed in comparable peatlands in Eastern Asia (China and Korea). The discovery of such a conspicuous new species in Chinese peatlands suggests that many new testate amoebae species are yet to be discovered, including potential regional endemics. Furthermore, human activities (e.g., drainage, agriculture, and pollution) have reduced the known habitat of N. jiuhuensis, which can thus be considered as locally endangered. We, therefore, suggest that this very conspicuous micro-organism with a probably limited geographical distribution and specific habitat requirement should be considered as a flagship species for microbial biogeography as well as local environmental conservation and management.
Department of Geography, School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.|State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.|Laboratory of soil biodiversity, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile Argand 11, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Yangmin
Y
Qin
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Baiying
B
Man
Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão travessa 14, São Paulo, Brazil.
Anush
A
Kosakyan
Laboratory of soil biodiversity, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile Argand 11, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Enrique
E
Lara
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Yansheng
Y
Gu
State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Hongmei
H
Wang
Laboratory of soil biodiversity, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile Argand 11, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.|Jardin Botanique de Neuchâtel, Chemin du Perthuis-du-Sault 58, Neuchâtel, CH-2000, Switzerland.
Edward A D
0000-0003-0358-506X
EA
Mitchell
D000656:Amoeba / Q000145:classification; D056894:Amoebozoa / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D002965:Classification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D016840:Lobosea / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology; D013045:Species Specificity; D044003:Sphagnopsida / Q000469:parasitology*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012987:Soil; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
Arcellinid testate amoebae; DNA barcoding; biodiversity conservation; biogeography; mt COI