Morphotypes in Naked Amoebas (Protista): Distribution in Water Bodies of Zhytomyr and Volyn Polissia (Ukraine) and Possible Ecological Significance

Th e biotopic and seasonal
distributions of the naked amoeba species related to the specifi c morphotypes were analyzed on the territory
of Zhytomyr and Volyn Polissya. It was demonstrated that the polytactic and, to some extent, rugose
and branched morphotypes of naked amoebas have the adaptive signifi cance and could have emerged as
a result of adaptation to characteristic conditions of oligotrophic lakes. In turn, the formation of lanceolate
morphotype may be associated with the adaptation to low water temperatures, whereas the formation
of fl amellian morphotype may be an adaptation to high temperatures.