Temporal distribution of planktonic ciliates in Jangmok Bay, south coast of Korea

Abstract

Ciliate plankton samples were collected biweekly from July 2006 to June 2008 in Jangmok Bay of Geoje Island. Species composition and abundances were analyzed by quantitative protargol stain and environmental parameters were also examined. A total of 88 ciliate species occurred during the study period, consisting of 22 tintinnids, 51 oligotrichs, and 15 other species. Higher ciliate abundances appeared from June to October during the warm season (>20°C) and the maximum (4.0×104 cells L-1) in August, while the lower abundances were found during the cold season. The minimun ciliate abundance was found in November when water temperature rapidly decreased. The temporal succession of dominant species was very clear and opportunistic. Pelagostrombidium sp., Tontonia simplicidens, Helicostomella subulata, and Myrionecta rubra were co-dominant in summer while Rimostrombidium orientale occurred abundantly in winter. Strombidium tressum and S. compressum, eurythermal species, were observed during all seasons. Based on the species-specific, ecology of ciliate plankton, it is suggested that the indicative ciliate species, can be applied as a biological tool to detect environmental change in the southern coastal waters of korea.