Diversity of marine benthic ciliates from Baek-do, Jeju-do and the Korean tidal pool

Abstract

The marine benthic ciliate fauna inhabiting Korean tidal pool was investigated in April and June, 2012. The ciliates were collected from 3 stations on Baek-do, 5 stations on Jeju-do, and 25 stations along the eastern and southern coast. Thirty-three species representing 6 classes, 14 orders, and 20 families were identified by microscopic observation of living and protargol silver-stained specimens. Among the ciliates encountered, 20 species were previously unrecorded from Korea, including Aspidisca polypoda, A. pulcherrima, A. steini, Euplotes balteatus, Amphisiella sp., Pseudokeronopsis rubra, Holosticha diademata, Strombidium stylifer, Chaenea vorax, Lacrymaria marina, L. olor, Kentrophyllum verrucosum, Pseudochilodonopsis marina, Chlamydodon mnemosyne, Dysteria pectinata, Orthodonella apohamatus, Paramecium duboscqui, Cohnilembus verminus, Pseudocohnilembus marinus, and Pleuronema coronatum. All species detected during this study are characterized in tables and figures. Thirty-three species representing 6 classes, 14 orders, and 20 families were identified by microscopic observation of living and protargol silver-stained specimens. Among the ciliates encountered, 20 species were previously unrecorded from Korea, including Aspidisca polypoda, A. pulcherrima, A. steini, Euplotes balteatus, Amphisiella sp., Pseudokeronopsis rubra, Holosticha diademata, Strombidium stylifer, Chaenea vorax, Lacrymaria marina, L. olor, Kentrophyllum verrucosum, Pseudochilodonopsis marina, Chlamydodon mnemosyne, Dysteria pectinata, Orthodonella apohamatus, Paramecium duboscqui, Cohnilembus verminus, Pseudocohnilembus marinus, and Pleuronema coronatum. All species detected during this study are characterized in tables and figures.