Eight species in the Nebela collaris complex: Nebela gimlii (Arcellinida, Hyalospheniidae), a new species described from a Swiss raised bog

David Singer; Anush Kosakyan; Amandine Pillonel; Edward A D Mitchell; Enrique Lara

doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2014.11.004

Eight species in the Nebela collaris complex: Nebela gimlii (Arcellinida, Hyalospheniidae), a new species described from a Swiss raised bog

Eur J Protistol. 2015 Feb;51(1):79-85. doi: 10.1016/j.ejop.2014.11.004. Epub 2014 Nov 24.

Authors

David Singer¹, Anush Kosakyan², Amandine Pillonel², Edward A D Mitchell³, Enrique Lara²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Soil Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchâtel CH-2000, Switzerland. Electronic address: david.singer@unine.ch.
² Laboratory of Soil Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchâtel CH-2000, Switzerland.
³ Laboratory of Soil Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchâtel CH-2000, Switzerland; Jardin Botanique de Neuchâtel, Chemin du Perthuis-du-Sault 58, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

PMID: 25555254
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2014.11.004

Abstract

We describe here a new species of sphagnicolous testate amoeba found abundantly in the forested part of the Le Cachot peatland (Jura Mountains, Neuchâtel, Switzerland) based on microscopical observations (LM, SEM). The new species, called Nebela gimlii was placed in a phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase sequences (COI), and branched robustly within the N. collaris complex next to the morphologically similar N. guttata and N. tincta. It is however genetically clearly distinct from these two species, and differs morphologically from them by its smaller size and stouter shape of the shell. This new species completes the phylogeny of the Nebela collaris species complex, with now eight species described, mostly from peatlands and acidic forest litter, and further demonstrates the existence of an unknown diversity within testate amoebae. Improving the taxonomy of testate amoebae in peatlands and clarifying the ecology of newly discovered species should make these organisms even more valuable as bioindicator and for palaeoecological reconstruction.

Keywords: Amoebozoa; Arcellinida; Cytochrome oxidase gene (COI); Peatland; Protist; Testate amoeba.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Lobosea* / classification
Lobosea* / genetics
Lobosea* / ultrastructure
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Molecular Sequence Data
Phylogeny*
Species Specificity
Switzerland
Wetlands

Associated data

GENBANK/KP083297
GENBANK/KP083298