A Preliminary Study on Testate Amoeba Diversity in Garbhanga Reserve Forest (Proposed Wildlife Sanctuary)

Abstract

In this preliminary study, the testate amoeba diversity was assessed in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest (Proposed Wildlife Sanctuary), a protected area on the south bank of the river Brahmaputra, adjacent to Guwahati, in Assam during December 2023. Among the twenty nine species recorded, the phylum Tubulinea comprised 83 percent of the diversity recorded, while the prominent Genus were Centropyxis Stein 1857, Difflugia Leclerc 1815, Arcella Ehrenberg 1830 and Trinema Dujardin 1841. This moist deciduous forest has a unique topographical position and hosts remarkable biodiversity (Indo- Myanmar biodiversity hotspot). This forest with numerous elephant corridors has higher occurrence of human-elephant conflict due to habitat destruction (deforestation and encroachment). The high species richness of testate amoeba in this forest signifies its healthy soil dynamics and its high conservation values; moreover all the species are new records to this sanctuary and is a repository to numerous species. This forest has gained attention from the state due to its diversity and is proposed to be the 25th Wildlife Sanctuary to conserve the threatened biodiversity under the IUCN Category IV for habitat management of the species of this forest.