Distribution of species of the Paramecium aurelia complex in Spain.

At present 15 species of the Paramecium aurelia complex are known world-wide (Sonneborn 1975, Aufderheide et al. 1983). Some species are cosmopolitan (P. primaurelia, P. biaurelia, P. tetraurelia, and P. sexaurelia), while others have been found only in single localities (e.g., P. quadecaurelia). Studies concerning their distribution, however, were carried out unevenly in different areas. For instance, many collections were made first in North America (mainly in the USA, cf Sonneborn 1975) and later in Europe in numerous habitats (cf Przyboœ 1998, Przyboœ and Fokin 2000). The sampling in Asia was carried out in Japan, Russia (Far East), Vietnam, Thailand, India, Turkmenia, Georgia, Turkey, Lebanon, and Israel but all samplings were rather accidental. The presence of the following species of the P. aurelia complex was recorded in Asia: P. biaurelia (14 habitats), P. primaurelia (9 habitats), P. tetraurelia (5 habitats), P. sexaurelia (4 habitats), and P. novaurelia (1 habitat) (cf Przyboœ and Fokin 2000, 2001). Studies on the occurrence of species of the P. aurelia complex in Israel (Przyboœ 1995, Przyboœ and Fokin 1999) revealed the presence of P. primaurelia in the River Jordan at Qasr el-Yehud near of Jericho, P. tetraurelia in the Sea of Galilee at Tabgha (Przyboœ 1995), and again P. primaurelia in Jerusalem (channel) (Przyboœ and Fokin 1999). However, both papers were based only on occasionally collected samples. As “Israel is distinguished by an extraordinary biotic diversity, due to the combination of its geographical position at a Short Communication