REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN On the rights of the manuscript ABSTRACT of the dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy THE FAUNA AND ECOLOGY OF TESTATE AMOEBAE IN FRESH WATER BODIES OF THE LANKARAN NATURAL AREA Speciality: 2401.01 – “Zoology” Field of science Biology Applicant: Elyana Nail Tahirova Baku – 2021 The work was performed at the laboratory of Protozoology of the Institute of Zoology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Scientific supervisor: Doctor of biological sciences, associate professor Natalia Yuryevna Snegovaya Official opponents: Doctor of biological sciences, associate professor Giyas Nagi Guliyev Doctor of biological sciences, associate professor Namig Janali Mustafayev PhD in Biological Sciences Elnara Eldar Jafarova Dissertation council FD 1.09 of Supreme Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan operating at the Institute of Zoology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Chairman of the Doctor of biological sciences, Dissertation council: associate professor Elshad Ilyas Ahmadov _____________ Scientific secretary of PhD in Biological Sciences, the Dissertation council: associate professor Gular Aydin Huseynzade _____________ Chairman of the Doctor of biological sciences, prof., scientific seminar: corresponding member of ANAS Ilham Khayyam Alekperov _____________ 2 INTRODUCTION Research rationale and the state of knowledge. As it is known, testate amoebae, as one of the groups of free-living protozoa, play an important role in biological processes that occur in freshwater bodies. Testate amoebae are active consumers of detritus, bacteria and many groups of microscopic algae, including cocci and diatoms. In addition, testate amoebae are involved, on the one hand, in the biological self-purification of fresh water, and on the other, in the processes of the formation and decomposition of organic matter in freshwater bodies. These free-living protozoa are highly regarded for their ability to be used as an indicator of environmental conditions. In recent years, work towards studies of this group of protozoa has expanded, but there are still many places in the world, where such researches are not carried out at all. In addition, freshwater bodies are the focus of environmental science and it is not possible to determine their significance. Lakes and reservoirs in both developed and developing countries are important resources for environmental quality, economic development and social well-being. However, natural or anthropogenic decrease to freshwater biodiversity affects ecosystem processes and worsens human health due to a reduction of ecosystem services. Taking into account all of the above, it becomes clear that protistologists are very interested in the study of this important group of unicellular animals, which are of great importance from a practical point of view. In Azerbaijan, the degree of knowledge of freshwater testate amoebae is still at an extremely low level. To date, only 2 studies have been carried out that are directly related to this group. One of these studies was carried out in the 90s of the XX century by T.Zakhidov. 1 And the second study, carried out by N.Snegovaya 2 was devoted to the fauna of testate amoebae of the water bodies of 1Zakhidov, T.F. Testate amoebas of some soils of the Sheki-Zagatala region of Azerbaijan: / Abstract of the dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy / – Baku, – 1995. – 24 p.(in Russian) 2Snegovaya N.Yu. Supplementation to the fauna of testate amoebae (Rhizopoda, Testacea, Protozoa) of the water bodies of Absheron (Family Arcellidae, Centropyxidae) // – Baku: J.Bilgi, – 2001. №3, – p. 30-35 (in Russian). 3 Absheron peninsula. Recent studies carried out by modern cytological methods have revealed a rich species diversity and high specificity of the fauna of freshwater testate amoebae in Azerbaijan. Based on the above, we have studied the fauna and ecology of testaceans living in freshwater bodies of the Lankaran region. The purpose and objectives of the research. The main goal of this work was to study the fauna, the quantitative development of freshwater testate amoebae, the morphology of rare species and the structure of their communities, as well as their relationship to certain environmental factors. To achieve this goal, it was envisaged to consider the following issues: 1. Study of the fauna, species and quantitative development of freshwater testate amoebae in water bodies with varying levels of saprobity. 2. Study of ecological features (connections with various ecological factors) of freshwater testate amoebae of the Lankaran natural area and their food relationships with other hydrobionts. 3. Study of the possibilities of using some species of testate amoebae in bioassay of organic pollution degree of fresh waters. 4. Carrying out a comparative analysis of the similarity of the fauna of freshwater testate amoebae in the Lankaran natural area with the fauna of freshwater testate amoebae in other regions of Azerbaijan. Research methods. Methods of glycerin-gelatin and impregnation with silver nitrate were used to identify species of testate amoebae.3,4 An Olympus light microscope, a JCM-6000 scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a FlowCam densitometer were used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the collected materials. Biometric parameters for morphometric analysis of species were calculated using the statistical analysis program SigmaStat-12.5. The collection of specimens of testate amoebae in benthic samples under 3 Alekperov, I.Kh. Collecting and studying methods of free-living ciliates and testate amoebas. / I.Kh.Alekperov, E.S.Asadullayeva, T.F.Zakhidov. – Russia, Saint-Petersburg: «Saygon», – 1996. – 41p. (in Russian) 4Alekperov, I.Kh., Musaev, M.A., Zakhidov, T.F. A new method for studying testate amoebae by impregnation with silver nitrate // Moscow: J. Zoology, – 1994. vol.73, №1, – p.148-151 (in Russian). 4 laboratory conditions was carried out by the flotation method. The similarity degree of the species composition of testate amoebae in the studied water bodies was determined using of Bray-Curtis cluster analysis, and the dominant species were revealed by means of calculating the frequency of occurrence. Defending statements: 1. Species and quantitative composition of the fauna of testate amoebae, and regularity of their distribution in the water bodies of Lankaran natural area. 2. Adaptation of testate amoebae to some environmental factors (salinity, temperature, gas regime, pH level, etc.). 3.The role of testate amoebae in biocenoses of various water bodies. 4. Possibilities and prospects of using testate amoebas as a test object for determining and subsequent biomonitoring of the degree of organic pollution of fresh waters. Scientific novelty of the research. For the first time in Azerbaijan, a scanning electron microscope was used at the international level to study testate amoebae. We have registered 8 species and subspecies of testate amoebae for the first time. Of these, 2 species (Difflugia alekperovi Snegovaya and Tahirova, 2015; Awerintzewia minuta Snegovaya, Tahirova, 2018) are new to science. 4 species were recorded for the first time in the Caucasus (D.microclaviformis Ogden, 1983; D.petricola Cash, 1909; D.biconcava Ertl, 1964 and D.serbica Ogden and Živković, 1983), and 2 subspecies were recorded for the first time in the fauna of Azerbaijan (Arcella discoides ssp. scutelliformis Playfair, 1918 and D.corona ssp. tuberculata Vuchetich, 1973). In addition, for the first time, one genus was registered for the fauna of Caucasus (Awerintzewia Schouteden, 1906). The theoretical and practical significance of the work. The 60 morphological descriptions of characteristic and rare species of testate amoeba presented in the dissertation, made on the basis of micrographs, can be further used by young researchers as a guide and they can be included in the curricula of the Faculty of Biology. Indicator species of saprobity that we have identified can be used as a test object for biomonitoring of fresh waters. 5 Approbation and application of the work. The main provisions of the dissertation were heard and discussed at the annual report meetings of the Laboratory of Protozoology and the Scientific Council of the Institute of Zoology of ANAS, the Scientific Seminars of the Institute, as well as the following Republican and International scientific-practical conferences: - XVIII International Scientific Conference of Doctoral Students and Young Researchers (Baku, 2013); - IV International Scientific Conference of Young Scientists and Researchers "Innovation Problems of Modern Biology" dedicated to the 91st anniversary of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev (Baku, 2014); - International multidisciplinary forum "Academic Science Week-2015", dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (Baku, 2015) - International Youth Forum “Integration processes of world science in the XXI century” (Ganja, 2016); - XIX International Scientific Conference of Young Researchers "Biological Diversity of the Caucasus and Southern Russia", dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Professor Gairbek Abdurrahmanov (Makhachkala, 2017); - Conference “Wildlife Ecology and Inventory Techniques Course - 2” supported by TUBITAK (Turkey, Afyon, 2018); - XXI International Scientific Conference of Young Researchers "Biological Diversity of the Caucasus and Southern Russia", dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Ingush State University and the 80th anniversary of the corresponding