Taxonomy Of Cyrtophorid Ciliates (Protozoa,Ciliophora) From Coastal Waters Off Qingdao, With Systematic Revisions On Some Families And Genera

This thesis is composed of two themes on cyrtophorid ciliates: Systematics and Taxonomy.Systematics: The classification system of ciliates has been updated several times since Corliss' classical work The Ciliated Protozoa was published in 1979, some taxa in this phylum, such as the order Cyrtophorida Faure-Fremiet in Corliss, 1956 remain problematic. About 40 ciliate genera in the order Cyrtophorida were therefore extensively reviewed, based on available taxonomic references. The general morphological features of cyrtophorid ciliates are summarized and the evolutionary progression of characteristics is discussed. A revised system of the order, which comprises three suborders (Chilodonellina, Chlamydodontina, Dysteriina) and 10 families (Chilodonellidae, Gastronautidae, Kryoprorodontidae, Chlamydodontidae, Lynchellidae, Kyaroikeidae, Plesiotrichopidae, Aegyrianidae, Hartmannulidae, Dysteriidae), has been suggested. Definitions and keys for all suborders, families and genera have been given as well. Compared with Lynn & Small's (2002) system, the new one are different with respect to the following points:The genera Trochochilodon and Atelepithites were transferred from family Plesiotrichopidae into Chlamydodontidae and Lynchellidae, respectively. The genus Chitonella was regarded to be a new number of Chilodonellidae. In the meantime, two genera Aegyriana and Trichopodiella from Hartmannulidae was transferred into Aegyrianidae. As well, three genera previously considered Incertae sedis were assigned to the system: Agnathodysteria and Schedotrochilia were included in Dysteriidae, and Chlamydonyx was assigned to Hartmannulidae.A new genus Wilbertinella nov. gen. was established and defined: dorsoventrally flattened Lynchellids without grooves in periphery; oral kineties transversely arched, anterior of cytostome, and configured as a flattened "Y". No obvious separation between Left and right fields. Left kineties posteriorly considerably shortened, leaving a barren area on posterior ventral side. Without glandule or podite. Type species: Parachilodonella distyla Wilbert, 1971.According to Art. 13 of ICZN (1999), Coeloperix and Trochilioides, which were nomen nudum due to no type species had been fixed, are reestablished. Coeloperix dirempta Deroux, 1970 and Trochilioides recta Kahl, 1928 are fixed as their types, respectively.Species classification: Periphytic ciliates were collected from coastal waters off Qingdao, using glass slides as artificial substrate allowing ciliate colonization. The morphology and infraciliature of 32 cyrtophorid species representing 3 suborders, 6 families and 17 genera were investigated using living observation and silver impregnation methods. The results of species identification and classification are summarized as follows:Six new species: Coeloperix sleighi, Hartmannula derouxi, Brooklynella sinensis, Dysteria antarctica, D. magna, D. deroiai.The infraciliature of 8 species was revealed for the first time and their neotypes have beendeposited. These included: Chlamydonellopsis calkinsi, D. cristata, D. pusilla, D. procera, D. marioni, D. semilimaris, D. pectinata, Trichopodiella dysteria.18 species were redescribed based on the Qingdao populations: Chilodonella uncinata, Pseudochilodonopsis marina, Chlamydonella pseudochilodon, Chlamydonella derouxi, Chlamydodon mnemosyne, Chlamydodon obliquus, Chlamydodon triquetrus, Hartmannula angustipilosa, Aegyriana oliva, Dysteria monosiyla, Trochilia sigmoides, Trochilia petrani, Trochilia minuta, Orthotrochilia agamalievi, Trochilioides sp., Agnathodysteria littoralis, Microxysma acutum.Revisions and keys to well-investigated species within both Chlamydodon and Dysteria have also been supplied.