Life in the flow: heterotrophic protists associated with Podostemaceae in rheophilic environments of northeastern Argentina
Resumen
Rheophilic freshwater environments are aquatic ecosystems characterized by flow-dominated hydrodynamic conditionthat impose strong selective pressures on aquatic organisms while generating structurally complex microhabitats. In these systems, Podostemaceae act as key habitat-forming macrophytes, increasing spatial heterogeneity and supporting diverse biological assemblages. Despite their ecological relevance, the diversity of heterotrophic protists associated with Podostemaceae remains virtually unexplored, particularly in subtropical South America. In this study, we characterize for the first time the community of heterotrophic protists associated with Podostemaceae in rheophilic freshwater environments of Misiones Province, northeastern Argentina. Analyses were based on the examination of preserved herbarium material and fresh samples collected from highflow river systems. Through in vivo observations and standardized taxonomic criteria, a total of eleven protist genera were recorded, including six ciliates and five testate amoebae, belonging to different lineages within Amoebozoa, Cercozoa, and Ciliophora. The occurrence of these organisms under strong hydraulic stress suggests that Podostemaceae communities generate structurally complex microhabitats that facilitate the establishment and persistence of heterotrophic protists. These findings reveal an unexpected level of microbial diversity in highenergy fluvial ecosystems and highlight the role of rheophilic vegetation as a key substrate and refuge for microbial components of aquatic food webs. This study provides baseline information for future ecological, taxonomic, and biogeographical research and underscores the importance of incorporating heterotrophic protists into biodiversity assessments and conservation strategies for rheophilic ecosystems in northeastern Argentina.
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