Taxonomic Studies On Marine Scoticociliates, Hymenostomatids And Hypotrichs (Protozoa: Ciliophora)

Marine ciliate as heterotrophic protozoa is a key component of marine microbial food web and plays an important role in the carbon cycle between the producers - secondary consumers. The current focal question on related research (kinetic energy of water and carbon cycle, coastal productivity assessment, ecology, environmental protection etc.) is: the ciliated protozoa (key groups) has to be ignored because of the deficiency and incomplete identification information.Although the morphology study of marine ciliates has carried out for more than a century, but most study remain at the living obversation level. Since the silver-staining method was used to reveal the infraciliature and silverline system at the twenty century, lots of known forms need to be restudied using morden methods and many unknown species are waiting to be identified and described. At the same time, the development of industry and aquaculture results in the deterioration of the marine environment and the loss of coastal zone which leads to the reduction of biodiversity.Because of the reasons above, funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 30430090), morphological and faunistic studies on free living ciliates (Protozoa: Ciliophora) in the coastal waters off Qingdao and Shenzhen Mangrove area (sandy beach, open sea, tidal area, maricultural ponds etc.) were carried out during the last four years. In the study, altogether 38 species belonging to 20 genera (including twelve new species and fifiteen new records) were collected and then studied using modern methods (living observations, protargol impregnation and silver carbonate impregnation methods). The achievements are summarized as follows:●One New Genus: Eurystoma nov. gen.According to the infraciliature, it was classified to the Order Scuticociliatida. The diagnose for this genus is as followings: Eurystomatidae with closely arranged oral membranelles including small M1, bipartite M2, and well-developed M3. Body dorso-ventrally flattened. Surface of cell faintly sculptured with silverline system in quadrangular mesh-pattern. Cytostome located at anterior 1/3 of large buccal field. ●Twelve new species were described:Based on the detailed living morphology, infraciliature and comparion with known species, twelve new forms were founded and described:Schizocalyptra similis, Schizocalyptra sinica, Pleuronema czapikae, Pleuronema wiackowskii, Pleuronema sinica, Pleuronema wilberti, Pleuronema grolierei, Eurystoma sinicum, Philaster apodigitiformis, Metaurostylopsis flavicans, Uronychia sinica, Urotricha elongata.●Fifteen new records:As the following species have never been founded in China, based on Qingdao population the redescription were made according to the complete morphology and infraciliature:Cardistomatella vermiformis, Chaenea robusta, Condylostoma arenarium, Cyclidium ploumeuri, Discocephalus ehrenbergi, Hippocomos salinus, Kentrophoros graciles, Lacrymaria maurea, Paramecium aurelia, Peritromus californicus, Sathrophilus agitatus, Trachelocerca ditis, Tracheloraphis aragoi, Tracheloraphis discolor, Tracheloraphis oligotriata.●Descrition of free living ciliates which could be found only in the sandy beach.This is the first time in China to describe the psammophilic ciliates with complete morphology. And also the SSU rRNA gene, which is helpful to evaluate their sysmatic position, was sequenced: Trachelocerca ditis, Tracheloraphis aragoi, Tracheloraphis discolor, Tracheloraphis oligotriata.●Improved diagmosis for one genus:Since no clear definition for the genus Cardistomatella is available, a new diagnosis based on all data obtained is given: cell elongated, with uniform somatic ciliation; both pre- and postoral sutures present; buccal cavity inconspicuous; three membranelles and one C-shaped paroral membrane arranged in Tetrahymena-pattern; postoral kineties present.●The living information or infraciliature of seven species has been revealed for the first time and their neotypes have been deposited.Hippocomos salinus, Sathrophilus agitatus, Peritromus californicus, Condylostoma arenarium, Kentrophoros graciles, Chaenea robusta, Lacrymaria maurea. ●Redescription of twelve species:Based on the Qingdao population, addiontial living and infraciliature information of the following twelve species was afforded:Cardistomatella vermiformis, Cyclidium ploumeuri, Pleuronema coronatum, Paramecium aurelia, Frontonia tchibisovae, Protocruzia contrax, Tunicothrix wilberti, Discocephalus ehrenbergi, Tracheloraphis oligotriata, Tracheloraphis aragoi, Tracheloraphis discolor, Trachelocerca ditis, Trachelotractus entzi.