This study describes 656 species of bacteria protists and micro-metazoa occurring in the
Simmelried a three hectare-sized moorland near to the town of Constance southern Germany.
Each species is shown by an average of two colour micrographs. Further the surface
organization of most main groups and many ciliate species is demonstrated by scanning electron
micrographs. The Simmelried formed after the last (Würm) ice-age that is about 15 000 years
ago when a regressing glacier tongue produced a terrain with water-filled depressions between
streamlined boulder depositions. The investigations indicate that the 656 species documented
represent only two thirds of the taxa actually present. Thus a considerable diversity
accumulated over 15 000 years emphasizing the great distribution capacity of micro-organisms.
On the other hand some common species are lacking (e. g. the ciliate Colpidium colpoda the
euglenid Phacus pleuronectes and rotifers of the genera Proales and Floscularia) and many
undescribed species were discovered. While a mass of undescribed species is comprehensible in
amoebas flagellates and ciliates which are poorly researched this is surprising in
well-known groups such as euglenids and chrysophytes. Thus we must face the possibility that
some of the undescribed species are regional or local endemics. The high species richness
including many undescribed species suggests the Simmelried as a regional biodiversity centre
worth to be protected by law.
