Estimation of relative abundance of infusoria of stomach (Ciliophora, Ciliata) elk (Alces alces L.) Omsk and Chelyabinsk populations

Korchagina Tatyana Alexandrovna, Likhaschev Sergey Fedorovich

The paper presents the results of a comparative study of the abundance of species composition of symbiotic protozoa-stomach infusoria elk (Alces alces L.) Omsk and Chelyabinsk populations. It is shown that the change in the numerical and species composition of protozoa directly depends on the habitat in the stomachs of the hosts. The abundance of endobionts and the number of species decreases from the rumen to the rennet, which is due to the acidity of the environment of these parts of the stomach. Optimal conditions for the life of infusoria is slightly alkaline or neutral environment. In this connection, the maximum abundance of species is described for the rumen, and the absence of such – for the abomasum of the moose of the Omsk and Chelyabinsk populations.

Keywords:elk, ciliate fauna, rumen, reticulum, оmasum, abomasums.