Free-living protozoa (ciliates and testate amoebae) in the freshwaters of the Nakhchivan autonomous republic

Abstract

Between 2017 and 2022, studies on ciliated protozoa and testate amoebae were conducted in the freshwater ecosystems of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. To date, 110 species of ciliates and 65 species of amoebae have been identified in the region’s freshwater habitats. It was observed that the species diversity of infusoria in freshwater is nearly twice as high as that in soil, though the differences in species diversity between aquatic and soil amoebae are relatively small. The article highlights the need for standardization in the methods employed by researchers. Further studies of these protozoan groups are essential for drawing more accurate conclusions about their ecological roles, interrelationships, and their significance in various biological processes.