Monitoring of heavy metal pollution by moss\|dwelling protozoa communities in a Hg-Tl mineralized area
藓类附生原生动物群落对汞铊矿重金属污染的监测

By using community diversity index and redundancy analysis (RDA), the protozoa communities living on mosses and their relationships with heavy metal pollution were investigated from slags, abandoned ores, orebodies and nearby limestones in Lanmuchang Hg-Tl mineralized area, southwest Guizhou. A total of 75 taxa were identified by microscope. The protozoa species had an abundance range from 2 individuals g-1 to 504 individuals g-1 fresh weight of moss. The slag sites were most severely contaminated by heavy metals. The structural variations of protozoa community were dramatically affected by heavy metal pollution. Some species were found to be sensitive or resistant to heavy metal pollution. Therefore, the protozoa communities could be used to monitor heavy metal pollution in mineralized ecosystem.