Role of anaerobic ciliates in planktonic food webs: abundance, feeding, and impact on bacteria in the field

We studied the dynamics of two populations of anaerobic ciliates, Plagiopyla sp. and Metopus sp., and of their potential prey, heterotrophic and phototrophic purple bacteria, in Lake Cisó throughout a 1-year cycle. The abundance of both ciliates was very low (less than 2 individuals per ml). During mixing, Plagiopyla ciliates exhibited high clearance rates (about 100 nl ciliate h), its integrated abundance increased with a net doubling time of 47 days, and its potential doubling times, as calculated from the number of bacteria consumed, ranged between 5 and 8 days. During stratification, the activity of Plagiopyla ciliates was reduced and the population decreased; this was related to the higher amounts of sulfide present. The impact of predation by the Plagiopyla population on bacterioplankton was found to be insignificant, less than 0.1% of bacterial biomass consumed per day. Thus, anaerobic ciliates cannot control the bacterioplankton in Lake Cisó because of both the low abundance over the period studied and the low feeding rates during certain periods. A review of available field studies suggests that this conclusion can be extrapolated to most other anoxic systems.     

Effects of temperature, sulfide, and food abundance on growth and feeding of anaerobic ciliates

The trophic role of ciliates in anaerobic food webs has not been assessed experimentally. In order to obtain basic information necessary to interpret field situations, we studied the effects of temperature, sulfide concentration, and food abundance on the growth and feeding activities of two anaerobic ciliates, Plagiopyla nasuta and Metopus es. The growth rate of P. nasuta increased with temperature from 8 to 18 degrees C (Q(10) = 2.0) and remained constant in the range between 18 and 24 degrees C (0.22 day). Sulfide concentrations of between 0 and 1 mM did not affect the feeding activities, but concentrations greater than 2 mM were inhibitory. The functional response of P. nasuta feeding on fluorescently labeled heterotrophic and phototrophic bacteria was investigated. In both cases, the parameters of the functional response were almost identical when expressed in terms of biovolume: the maximal uptake rate (U(m)) was 1,800 mum ciliate h and the half-saturation constant for ingestion (k) was 1.5 x 10 mum ml. The functional response of M. es feeding on heterotrophic bacteria was found to be similar to that of P. nasuta. These ciliates needed high bacterial abundances in order to maintain their growth (k of about 4 x 10 bacteria ml), implying that they will frequently be food limited in planktonic environments. Both the maximal uptake rates and the maximal clearance rates were comparable to those of aerobic ciliates. By combining the growth and feeding data, we estimated gross growth efficiencies of 12 and 13% for P. nasuta and M. es, respectively. These results indicate that the feeding rates of anaerobic ciliates are similar to those of aerobic ciliates. Their slower growth must, therefore, be due to the lower gross growth efficiency (likely due to anaerobic metabolism).     

Composition and distribution of ciliates inner and outer of Daya Bay, China

Daya Bay was undergoing eutrophication process by increased nutrient loading, and the changes in nutrients have strongly influenced the phytoplankton community structure. Ciliates are common component of planktonic community, what role do ciliates play in Daya Bay was still unknown. In this study, ciliates were enumerated and identified from the inner and outer Daya Bay during three seasons. Thirty-one species belong to 16 genera of ciliates were recorded, and Cyclotrichida, Strombidiida, Tintinnida were most common. In spring, ciliates abundance of D2 was lower than D1 and D3, abundance in the surface of D1 and D3 were higher than in the bottom, while D2 showed the opposite character. The lowest ciliate abundance was found in the E1 in summer. In fall, Ciliates abundance of D3 was lower than in fall, and abundance in the surface was lower than in the bottom, which was different compared to in spring. Different hydrographic character was shown between the surface (high temperature, low salinity and nutrients) and bottom layer (low temperature, high salinity and nutrients) at E1 in summer. Ciliate abundance had no significant variation between the surface and bottom at E1 in summer, but ciliates community structure changed a lot.     

Six New Species of Fresh and Brackish Water Ostracods (Crustacea) from Yakushima, Southern Japan

Twelve species of brackish and freshwater ostracods were collected from the island of Yakushima in southern Japan. Six species, belonging to the genera Cypria, Dolerocypris, Stenocypris, Schellencandona and Paracypria, are new and are described herein. The genus Schellencandona is reported for the first time outside Europe. Although a wide range of apparently suitable habitats was sampled for ostracods across the island, all specimens were recovered from or near the coast; further inland yielded no ostracods. The freshwater habitats around the coast of the island consist of springs and rockpools at the top of the shore above most high tide levels.     

Composition and distribution of ciliates inner and outer of Daya Bay, China

Daya Bay was undergoing eutrophication process by increased nutrient loading, and the changes in nutrients have strongly influenced the phytoplankton community structure. Ciliates are common component of planktonic community, what role do ciliates play in Daya Bay was still unknown. In this study, ciliates were enumerated and identified from the inner and outer Daya Bay during three seasons. Thirty-one species belong to 16 genera of ciliates were recorded, and Cyclotrichida, Strombidiida, Tintinnida were most common. In spring, ciliates abundance of D2 was lower than D1 and D3, abundance in the surface of D1 and D3 were higher than in the bottom, while D2 showed the opposite character. The lowest ciliate abundance was found in the E1 in summer. In fall, Ciliates abundance of D3 was lower than in fall, and abundance in the surface was lower than in the bottom, which was different compared to in spring. Different hydrographic character was shown between the surface (high temperature, low salinity and nutrients) and bottom layer (low temperature, high salinity and nutrients) at E1 in summer. Ciliate abundance had no significant variation between the surface and bottom at E1 in summer, but ciliates community structure changed a lot.     

Buried ostracods collected at the location of a nuclear submarine accident in the Chazhma Cove (Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan)

In a sample of benthos collected at the location of a nuclear submarine accident in Chazhma Cove (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan), we found remains (valves and shells) of 37 ostracod species, along with living pollution-tolerant organisms. The death of ostracods may be due to the consequences of the nuclear accident, but most likely was caused by domestic and technogenic pollution of the bay by oil products, which are particularly harmful to ostracods. The data provide a vivid example of detrimental anthropogenic impact on the fauna of ostracods, suggesting their increased sensitivity to adverse environmental factors, compared to many other marine organisms.     

Phylogenetic position of species in the genera Anoplophrya, Plagiotoma, and Nyctotheroides (Phylum Ciliophora), endosymbiotic ciliates of annelids and anurans

We have used small subunit rRNA gene sequences to determine the phylogenetic relationships of species in three genera of endosymbiotic ciliates. We have confirmed that the astome Anoplophrya marylandensis is related to ciliates in the Class Oligohymenophorea, supporting the view that astomes are derived from hymenostome-like ancestors. We confirmed that Plaglotoma lumbrici, formerly considered to be a heterotrich, is a stichotrich spirotrich ciliate most closely related to Paraurostyla weissei in this analysis. Thus, the somatic polykinetids of Plagiotoma can be concluded to be cirri. We report the details of our isolation of Nyctotheroides deslierresae and Nyctotheroides parvus and confirm previous reports that these clevelandellids are related to the metopid and caenomorphid ciliates, now placed in the Class Armophorea.     

甘肃天水麦积山风景名胜区土壤纤毛虫的物种多样性

用活体观察和固定染色方法对麦积山风景名胜区土壤纤毛虫物种多样性进行了研究。共鉴定到隶属于3纲12目41科55属的土壤纤毛虫115种,其中包括11个未定名种和26个中国土壤纤毛虫新纪录种。街子温泉景区、曲溪景区、麦积山石窟区、石门山和仙人崖景区各分布有47、46、44、33和26种,大弹跳虫、似织毛虫、膨大肾形虫、僧帽肾形虫、迅捷肾形虫、吻四膜虫、长刀口虫和苔藓刀口虫为广布物种。前口目和下毛目为风景名胜区土壤纤毛虫群落中的优势类群,肾形目和盾纤目为次优势类群,侧口目、吸管目和寡毛目为罕见类群。风景名胜区土壤纤毛虫物种多样性与我国已有研究报道的其他地区的均极不相似。研究结果表明,风景名胜区土壤纤毛虫物种十分丰富,特有和稀有物种繁多,群落结构复杂而特殊;土壤和水生纤毛虫群落物种组成极不相似,土壤和水生纤毛虫群落是不同的2个独立群落。     

The species composition and distribution of ostracods (Crustacea,Ostracoda) in rockpools on islands in the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea

A total of 15 species of ostracods of 7 genera and 3 families of the suborder Podocopa Sars have been recorded in rockpools of the Kandalaksha Bay in the White Sea. Among them, Potamocypris pallida Alm is a new species for the fauna of Russia. Data on species composition and the dominant complex and ecological features of ostracods which inhabit waters of rockpools are presented.     

Microhabitat selection of ostracods in relation to predation and food

Experiments with the cyprinid fishVimba vimba as predator and the ostracodsCypridopsis vidua, Darwinula stevensoni andCytherissa lacustris as prey show that conspicuous coloration enhances predation risk for the ostracods. When the ostracods are allowed to retreat into sediment, risk is markedly reduced. ostracods show clear microhabitat preferences which are influenced by habitat structure and food supply. Exposed plant surfaces are visited only if they bear food and if the ostracods are not satiated.     

Annual variability in ciliate community structure, potential prey and predators in the open northern Baltic Sea proper

Biomass of ciliates, bacteria and mesozooplankton, as well asbiomass estimates of phytoplankton from chlorophyll a values,were studied in the mixed layer of the northern Baltic Sea proper,between February and December 1998. Production of phytoplanktonand bacteria was measured, and production of ciliates and mesozooplanktonwas estimated. The phytoplankton spring bloom in late Marchwas dominated by diatoms and dinoflagellates. Ciliates had abiomass peak shortly after the spring bloom, while mesozooplanktonpeaked in July. Thus, the predation pressure on ciliates waslow in spring, and ciliates were major predators, potentiallyconsuming up to 15% of the primary production. In summer, therewas a shift from larger to smaller ciliates coinciding witha shift from larger to smaller primary producers, an increasein bacterial production, and also an increase in mesozooplanktonabundance, mainly copepods. Elevated mesozooplankton predationand selective removal of larger ciliate species and/or a shiftto smaller prey size presumably caused these changes. The potentialcarbon consumption from ciliates and mesozooplankton was highestin summer and autumn, reaching 55 and 40% of the primary productionin summer and autumn, respectively. Ciliates consumed twiceas much as mesozooplankton, thus acting as important regenerators.     

滴水湖现生介形类与水环境因子间的典范对应关系

滴水湖作为人工新建湖泊,其生态系统形成过程中的跟踪数据对重建其他湖泊生态系统具有重要的参考意义。2013年7月和2014年8月对滴水湖现生介形类分布状况及水环境因子分别进行了调查,结果发现,滴水湖湖水盐度范围介于1.4‰—2.0‰之间,属于微咸水湖。12个采样点共鉴定出现生介形类13种,包括非海相类克氏丽星介Cypria kraepelini(G.W.Müller)和无偶斗星介Cypridopsis vidua(O.F.Müller),海相类中华洁面介Albileberis sinensis Hou、向岛薄丽星介Dolerocypria mukaishimensis Okubo、腹结细花介Leptocythere ventriclivosa Chen、东台新单角介Neomonoceratina dongtaiensis Yang et Chen、长新中华花介Neosinocythere elongata(Hu)、闪光似异口介Paradoxostoma nitida Ho、典型中华美花介Sinocytheridea impressa(Brady)、长中华海花介Sinopontocythere elongata(Gou)、古屋刺花介Spinileberis furuyaensis Ishizaki et Kato、美丽刺面介Spinileberis pulchra Chen和丰满陈氏介Tanella opima Chen。应用典范对应分析(CCA)方法对滴水湖12个样点的8种介形类和9个环境因子进行了相关性研究,结果显示:介形类和环境因子间具有明显的相关性;9个环境因子中叶绿素、总磷和电导率对介形类的分布影响最大,总氮和湖水水温对介形类也有一定影响;从物种分布状况看,相对于低分布频度物种,高分布频度(Y>0.01)物种对环境的耐受性更大,其中Cypria kraepelini和Neomonoceratina dongtaiensis对环境因子的敏感性明显高于其它物种。结合历史资料分析发现,不仅自然环境因子(如电导率、水温等),而且人为干扰因素(如总磷、总氮)都对介形类分布的改变起到重要影响。     

Distributions and Biomass of Benthic Ciliates,Foraminifera and Amoeboid Protists in Marine,Brackish, and Freshwater Sediments

The quantitative importance of ciliates, foraminifers, and amoebae was investigated in marine, brackish, and freshwater sediments from 15 littoral stations. Total protozoan communities were usually dominated by ciliates in term of abundance, while amoebae often dominated in terms of biomass. Applying the biomass‐metabolic rate equation, ciliates, amoebae, and foraminifera were estimated to contribute 66% of the total abundance and 33% of the biomass, but up to 55% of the combined metabolic rate to the micro‐ and meiobenthos in the 15 sediments. Statistical analyses using ciliate data demonstrated: (1) species composition and community structures represented significant differences between freshwater and marine/brackish sediments, and subsequently between temperate and arctic sampling sites; (2) the occurrence of dominant ciliates and their allocation to feeding types indicated that herbivory was the most common feeding strategy in these sediments; (3) multivariate analyses showed all of the tested environmental factors (temperature, salinity, silt/clay, carbon, nitrogen, and chlorophyll a) to be important to varying degrees, but especially the combination of salinity, temperature, and silt/clay. Multiple factor effects or comprehensive influences might be important in regulating the distribution of protozoa in sediments. The importance of protozoa in sediment systems and the potential ecological significance of cysts are discussed.     

Small-subunit rRNA Phylogenies Suggest That Epalxella antiquorum (penard, 1922) corliss, 1960 (ciliophora, odontostomatida) is a member of the plagyopylea

The odontostomatid ciliates have remained a homogeneous order of ciliates since the 1930s when they were recognized as a monophyletic assemblage. Since that time they have been placed with the heterotrich ciliates, and more recently transferred as incertae sedis to the new "riboclass" class Armophorea. We were able to obtain the small subunit rRNA gene sequence of the odontostomatid Epalxella antiquorum (Penard, 1922) Corliss, 1960, collected from the meromictic alpine Lake Alat in Germany, in July 2005. An alignment with representatives of all 11 classes of ciliates unambiguously places the Epalxella sequence with other representatives of the class Plagiopylea with 100% support in both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Epalxella is the basal lineage with trimyemid and plagiopylid ciliates forming the two terminal sister clades. While this molecular support is strong and unambiguous, there are no obvious morphological features to unite these three clades. Thus, the class Plagiopylea must continue to be referred to as a "riboclass." Using the Epalxella sequence as a basal marker, we tentatively identified 20 environmental sequences to the terminal plagiopylean clades: eight to the genus Trimyema; four to the genus Plagiopyla; and eight to two new species, one of which might represent a new plagiopylean genus.     

Phylogeny of the Rumen Ciliates Entodinium, Epidinium and Polyplastron (Litostomatea: Entodiniomorphida) Inferred from Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Sequences

ABSTRACT. Three complete 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences from the rumen ciliates, Entodinium coudatum (1,639 bp), Epidinium caudarum (1,638 bp), and Polyplastron multivesiculatum (1,640 bp) were determined and confrimed in the opposite direction. Trees produced using maximum parsimony and distance-matrix methods (lest squares and neighbour-joining). with strong bootstrap support, depict the rumen ciliates as a monophyletic group, Entodinium caudatum is the earliest branching rumen ciliate. However, Entodiniwn simplex does not pair with En. caudatum , but rather with Polyplastron multivesiculatum. Signature sequences for these rumen ciliates reveal that the published SSrRNA gene sequence from En. simplex is in fact a Polyoplastron species. The free-living haptorian ciliates, Loxophyllum, Homalozoon and Spathidium (Subclass Hoptoria), are monophyletic and are the sister group to the rumen cilates. The litostomes (class Litostomatea), consisting of the haptorians and the rumen ciliates, are also a monophyletic group.     

Annual Changes of Abundance and Biomass of Planktonic Ciliates in the Gdańsk Basin,Southern Baltic

Seasonal changes in the species composition, abundance and biomass of planktonic ciliates were determined every 2–3 weeks at two sites of 30 m depth and one location of 105 m depth in the southwestern Gdańsk Basin between January 1987 and January 1988. A total of 40 ciliate taxa were observed during this period. Autotrophic Mesodinium rubrum dominated ciliate abundance and biomass: maximal values of 50 · 10⁻¹ ind. ^1-1 and 65 μg C 1⁻¹ were recorded. The annual mean biomass of M. rubrum comprised 6 to 9% of the annual mean phytoplankton biomass. The highest abundances and biomasses of heterotrophic ciliates were noted at all stations in the spring and summer in the euphotic zone with maximum values of 28 · 10³ ind. 1⁻¹ and 23 μg C 1⁻¹. Three ciliates assemblages were distinguished in the epipelagic layer: large and medium-size non-predatory ciliates, achieving peak abundance in spring and autumn; small-size microphagous ciliates and epibiotic ciliates which were abundant in summer, and large-size predacious ciliates dominating in spring. Below 60 m, a separate deep-water ciliate community composed of Prorodon-like ciliates and Metacystis spp. was found. The ciliate biomass in the 60–105 m layer was similar to the ciliate biomass in the euphotic zone. The heterotrophic ciliate community contributed 10 to 13% to the annual mean zooplankton biomass. The potential annual production of M. rubrum comprised 6 to 9% of the total primary production. Carbon demand of non-predatory ciliates, calculated on the basis of their potential production, was estimated to be equivalent to 12–15% of the gross primary production.     

Spring weather determines the relative importance of ciliates, rotifers and crustaceans for the initiation of the clear-water phase in a large, deep lake

Clear-water phase (CWP) is an important event in seasonal planktonsuccession. We examined the influence of all herbivorous zooplanktonon its initiation under different weather and climatic conditionsusing up to 19 years of observations from the large, deep LakeConstance (Europe) and estimates of relative clearance rates.A CWP occurred regularly, even if daphnid biomass was stillvery low. CWP was attributed to strong grazing either by a daphnid-dominatedzooplankton community or by a diverse assemblage consistingof micro- and meso-zooplankton. Both types of zooplankton communitiesoccurred with approximately the same frequency. The timing ofthe CWP was unrelated to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)but correlated with the wind-dependent intensity of deep verticalmixing 3 months earlier, during early spring. Less mixing enabledearly growth of phytoplankton, ciliates and rotifers despitelow temperatures, which prevented daphnid development at thistime. This resulted in enhanced grazing of ciliates and rotifers,which increased the importance of phytoplankton less ediblefor most ciliates, rotifers and daphnids. Ciliates clearly dominatedthe grazing pressure on phytoplankton throughout spring, maintaininghigh biomasses together with the phytoplankton for up to 2 months.A CWP was observed when herbivores grazing on larger phytoplanktondeveloped in addition to ciliates.     

Late Eifelian and Early Givetian ostracod assemblages from Wellin,Hotton and On-Jemelle (Ardenne,Dinant Synclinorium,Belgium). Paleoenvironmental implications

The study of 3430 ostracods collected in the Lomme, Hanonet and Trois-Fontaines formations (Late Eifelian/Early Givetian) in four sections of the Dinant Synclinorium (Ardenne) allowed the recognition of more than 75 taxa. Their study displays the progressive evolution from an external mixed siliciclastic-carbonate ramp to a carbonate platform around the Eifelian/Givetian boundary. Ostracods from the Lomme Fm are published here for the first time. The leperditicopid ostracods are probably indicative of brackish water environments during the deposition of the Trois-Fontaines Fm, and consequently point to wet and warm climatic conditions during Early Givetian times in the Dinant Synclinorium. Their absence in widespread lagoonal environments in the upper part of the Givetian may be on the contrary related to very arid climate conditions. That important climatic change is probably in relation with the Taghanic Biocrisis.     

甘肃玉门下沟地区早白垩世下沟组介形类

甘肃玉门下沟地区下沟组介形类化石十分丰富,该地区下沟组介形类化石共计9属4亚属,21种,本文描述了其中4新种,即Cypridea(Cyamocypris)xiagouensissp.nov.,Cypridea(Cypridea)subunicostatasp.nov.,Stenestroemiasubpeculiarissp.nov.和Stenestroemiaxiagouensissp.nov.。该介形类化石组合尤以Cypridea最为繁盛,通过分析介形类属种的形态特征和化石组合特征并结合岩性特征,推断下沟组的地质时代为早白垩世巴列姆期;并认为下沟组为水动力较弱的淡水-微咸水河湖相沉积。