Distribution of benthic testate amoeba assemblages along a water depth gradient in freshwater lakes of the Meshchera Lowlands, Russia, and utility of the microfossils for inferring past lake water level

Testate amoebae are important components of benthic communities in freshwater lakes, where they play an essential role in decomposer food webs. They are used widely in paleoecological investigations because of their high taxonomic diversity, well-defined ecological preferences and decay-resistant tests. Studies of testate amoeba assemblages in lake surface sediments are necessary to better understand lake ecosystem function and improve the use...