Willi Foissner is the clear expert on soil protozoa. A major review in
Progress in Protistology summarizes the field. He states that ca. 2/3
of soil respiration is from protozoa. Regardless, the diversity is high
and the real role of protozoa poorly known. At the very least, protozoa are
important consumers of bacteria and fungi in "humus" and litter, when
there is water. Soil biologists like to lokk at the big stuff, but as usual
the small stuff is still very important (just how important we really
don't know).
J.R. (Dick) Pratt pqq at psuvm.psu.edu (internet)
7 Ferguson Bldg. FAX: 814/865-3725
Penn State Voice: 814/865-6942
University Park, PA 16802
