The first stand of Paramecium octaurelia in Europe (Germany) is described and interesting intra-specific polymorphism is compared within the species using strains originating from different continents (Europe, N. America and Asia). Sequenced fragments of 5. LSU rDNA and COI mtDNA revealed that the studied strains form two groups, one with strains from Germany and USA, and a second group from Israel.
Ewa Przybos, Department of Experimental Zoology, Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Slawkowska 17, Krakow, Poland