Protoza

Protoza

Protoza - These unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms are also found to inhabit the groundwater ecosystem. Various studies on the protozoan community in the groundwater ecosystem showed that the predominant forms are cysts rather than vegetative forms.

Photosynthetic and parasitic protozoan occurs only as transient forms in this habitat. However freeliving phagotrophic protozoa, especially flagellates and amoebae, are of considerable importance in groundwater ecosystem.

These protozoa feed on bacteria and this capacity of protozoa plays an important role in the cycling of carbon and other nutrients. In addition, the population density of protozoa serves as an indirect measure of the bacterial growth rate.

The dependence of protozoa on the bacterial flora is also reflected on their distribution within the groundwater ecosystem. As in the case of bacteria, the protozoan number declines with the depth in horizons beneath the soil surface.

Protozoa have been found in least numbers in clay regions. In regions like coarse textured sands and gravels, where bacteria are seen in abundance, protozoan number is also high.

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