Species Diversity of Planktonic Ciliates (Ciliophora: Oligotrichia)

Abstract

Planktonic ciliates, especially choreotrichs and oligotrichs, occur in high numbers and constitute a diverse group in the marine plankton communities. Globally, many studies have shown that planktonic ciliates have been recognized as one of the important components in microbial food webs. However, the taxonomic compositions and the ecological characteristics of the planktonic ciliates from Korea are poorly known. We examined the compositions and abundances of the planktonic ciliates communities with environmental factors from the southern coastal waters, Korea. Water samples were collected seasonally in Jinhae Bay and Gwangyang Bay from February 2011 to November 2011. We carried out the quantitative protargol staining and the species identification using morphometrics. A total of 44 aloricated planktonic ciliates occurred during the study period, consisting of 7 families 15 genera 44 species in Jinhae Bay and 7 families 15 genera 39 species in Gwangyang Bay. In August 2011, each of the maximum abundances from two bays was recorded, 3.3 × 104 cells/L in Jinhae Bay (water temperature of 21-24 ˚C, salinity of 26-30 psu) and 2.1 × 104 cells/L in Gwangyang Bay (22-24 ˚C, 21-30 psu).e of the important components in microbial food webs. However, the taxonomic compositions and the ecological characteristics of the planktonic ciliates from Korea are poorly known. We examined the compositions and abundances of the planktonic ciliates communities with environmental factors from the southern coastal waters, Korea. Water samples were collected seasonally in Jinhae Bay and Gwangyang Bay from February 2011 to November 2011. We carried out the quantitative protargol staining and the species identification using morphometrics. A total of 44 aloricated planktonic ciliates occurred during the study period, consisting of 7 families 15 genera 44 species in Jinhae Bay and 7 families 15 genera 39 species in Gwangyang Bay. In August 2011, each of