Changes of testate amoebae communities from epilytic mosses along the altitudinal gradient (Baikal lake area, Khamar-Daban mountain ridge)

Patterns of testate amoebae community structure changes along the latitudinal gradient were studied along the slope of Chersky peak (Khamar-Daban mountain ridge, Baikal Lake region). In the range of altitudes from 1000 till 1800 meters above the sea level several ecosystems replaced named birch-aspen forest, cedar-fir forest, cedar-firhoneysuckle forest-tundra, moss-lichen tundra. Testate amoebae inhabited moss covering large boulders were investigated. 49 species and forms were identified. Most common species are ubiquists with wide geographical distribution: Centropyxis aerophila, Phryganella acropodia, Trinema enchelys, Corythion dubium, Assulina seminulum. Species richness and abundance maximal is in the moss-lichen tundra. Along the altitudinal gradient towards the top spatial heterogeneity grows and community structure changes. However, many species do not show directional patterns along the mountain slope. It is underlined that there are no common patterns of altitudinal community changes of testate amoebae in western Europe and Baikal Lake region.