Summary: Biol Fertil Soils (2005) 42: 168­171
DOI 10.1007/s00374-005-0009-x
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Sina M. Adl . David C. Coleman
Dynamics of soil protozoa using a direct count method
Received: 13 April 2004 / Revised: 18 March 2005 / Accepted: 18 March 2005 / Published online: 28 June 2005
# Springer-Verlag 2005
Abstract We adapted a direct count method for obtaining
counts of active protozoa that was not overly time con-
suming. Soil samples from an agricultural field were
examined at 1- to 3-day intervals three times through the
year. The three sampling periods represented different
weather conditions. At each sampling event, fresh soil
samples were extracted upon return to the laboratory for
protozoa. These were enumerated at the microscope with-
out prior culture, in soil­water suspension dilutions. We
describe a procedure that allowed all samples to be pro-
cessed in a few hours. Our results suggest there is good
reproducibility and agreement between samples collected
on the same day. Our data resolve differences between days

Source: Adl, Sina - Department of Biology, Dalhousie University

Collections: Environmental Sciences and Ecology