Community Characteristics Of Soil Ciliates In Gansu Taitong-Kongtongshan National Nature Reserve

The results of classification and species diversity in Gansu Taitong-Kongtongshan National Nature Reserve were concluded using observation in vivo and fixation and staining methods in this paper from August of 2007 to November of 2008. A total 137 species belonging to 62 genera of 42 families from 12 orders of 3 classes were identified, including 10 new records of soil ciliates in China and 7 unnamed species.According to types of plant communities, twenty soil samples were setted. There were 62 species in shrub rose which had the most species in all samples, which belonged to 26 genera of 22 families from 8 orders of 3 classes. Cyclobalanopsis glaucam houxial# had the most complex community structure which belonged to 34 genera of 28 families from 10 orders of 3 classes, besides this, the community structure of soil ciliates in the same types of plant communities were compared. The results showed that there was closer relationship between distribution of species numbers and community structure and microhabitat conditions in sample sites.The results of analyses on community composition of soil ciliates in the reserve showed that the most important groups were Hypotrichida , Colpodida and Prostomatida. Three dominant groups accounting for 66% of the total species .There were 33 species of 18 genara among Hypotrichida were found.The result of analysis on the dynamics of community composition of soil ciliates in the reserve in culture showed that the domimant group was from Colpodida and Scuticociliatida to Hypotrichida, and that the number of species increased gradually form 5th day to 10th day, and the peak of species number appeared in 10th day, and then decreased gradually.The results of similarity analysis between the reserve and other areas in China showed that exhibited a large difference among other areas.There were three functional areas including core area, experimental area and buffer area in the reserve.The species number and complex of community structure in core area, experimental area and buffer area lower in turn.The results of correlation analysis between community structure parameters of soil ciliates in the reserve and environmental factors showed that the species number and the Gleason-Margalef species diversity index of soil ciliates reflected significant positive correlation with soil water content. Soil water content was the main limited factor for the distribution of the soil ciliates.The results of analyses on community structure of soil ciliates in forest, waste-slope land and farmland in the reserve showed that the complexity of community structure in farmland, waste-slope land and forest increased in turn. Waste-slope land showed the manifest transition in its species diversity and community structure.The results showed that species diversity and community structure had a gradient increasing and complexness trend during the vegetation restoration.