The bacterial-fungal energy channel concept challenged by enormous functional versatility of soil protists

Protists (=protozoa) are commonly treated as bacterivores that control the bacterial energy channel in soil food webs. This ecologist’s perspective is, however, challenged by taxonomic studies showing that a range of protists feed on fungi, other protists and even nematodes. Recently, it was revealed that obligate and facultative mycophagous protists are common soil inhabitants, while others are facultative nematophagous. Furthermore, protists...