First records and microhabitat assessment of protostelids in the Aberdare Region, Central Kenya.

A rapid assessment survey on the occurrence and distribution of protosteloid amoebae was carried out in central Kenya. Samples of dead plant materials were collected from 46 study sites (each 20 x 20 m) situated along an elevation gradient (1,785-3,396 m) that encompassed five major land use/cover types. Twenty-four species and subspecific taxa were recovered and included 23 protostelids and one minute myxomycete, often included in surveys for protostelids. All of these were the first records for Kenya, and six were new for Africa. Numbers of taxa were highest in ground litter and aerial litter microhabitats (20 taxa each) and lowest on aerial bark (10) and ground bark (7). Relative species abundance was greatest in aerial litter, moderate in ground litter, and low on aerial and ground bark microhabitats. The most frequently occurring species on ground litter were Schizoplasmodiopsis pseudoendospora, Schizoplasmodiopsis amoeboidea, and Protostelium mycophaga var. mycophaga, whereas the most common species on aerial litter were P. mycophaga var. mycophaga and Soliformovum irregularis. Species richness and abundance decreased with increasing elevation.