Studies On The Biodiversity Of Sessile Peritrichous Ciliates Of Qingdao Coast

From 2002 to 2004, morphological and faunistic studies on sessile peritrichous ciliates in the coast of Qingdao were carried out. Among 35 identified species, 26 belonging to 4 genera of the family Vorticellidae were described or redescribed based on living observations, protargol impregnation and silver staining methods. The main achievements include:(1) Presenting improved diagnosis and new contributions on the infraciliature and silverline system of 11 poorly known species (the beginning 7 are new record in China): Pseudovorticella difficilis (Kahl, 1933) Jankowski, 1976; Pseudovorticella punctata (Dons, 1918) Warren, 1987; Zoothamnium alternans Claparede & Lachmann, 1859; Zoothamnium hikeles Precht, 1935; Zoothamnium marinum Mereschkowski, 1879; Zoothamnium mocedo Entz, 1884; Zoothamnium vermicola Precht, 1935; Zoothamnium commune Kahl, 1933; Zoothamnium duplicatum Kahl, 1933; Zoothamnium maximum Song, 1986; Zoothamnium sinense Song, 1991.(2) 11 new species: Pseudovorticella clampi Ji et al., 2005; Pseudovorticella paracratera Ji et al., 2004; Pseudovorticella sinensis Ji et al., 200; P. zhengae n. sp.; Zoothamnium alrasheidi n. sp.; Z. foissneri Ji et al., 2005; Z. nii n. sp.; Z pararbuscula Ji et al., 2005; Z wangi n. sp.; Zoothamnium xuianum n. sp.; Zoothamnopsis sinica Ji & Song, 2004.(3) 3 new combinations: Epicarchesium abrae (Precht, 1935) Ji et al., 2004 [Basonym: Carchesium abrae Precht, 1935]; Pseudovorticella bidulphiae (Stiller, 1939) n. comb. [Basonym: Vorticella bidulphiae Stiller, 1939]; Pseudovorticella marina (Greeff, 1870) n. comb. [Basonym: Vorticella marina Greeff, 1870].(4) Supplying supplementary descriptions on other 2 known species: Pseudovorticella patellina (Miiller, 1776) Song & Warren, 2000; Zoothamnium plumula Kahl, 1933.(5) The ultrastructure of 4 species (Pseudovorticella paracratera, Zoothamnium commune, Z. duplicatum, Z. plumula) was studied using transmitting electronic microscope, and revealed the structural similarity between different types of pellicle. Some other ultrastructure such as scopula, stalk, myoneme, nucleus and food vacuoles etc. were also studied.(6) A primary ecological survey on sessile peritrichs of Qingdao Coast was applied.