We investigated the abundance and biomass of planktonic ciliates in the sea around Zhangzi Island, Northern Yellow Sea, in July and August 2010. Ciliates were sampled from surface, middle and bottom depths at nineteen sample stations along three transects (Transect STA, Y1 and Y2). A 1鄄L water sample was collected at each depth with a 2. 5鄄L Niskin water sampler and fixed in 1% acid Lugol忆s iodine solution. The bottles were stored in the dark for up to two months until analyzed. The fixed water samples were left to settle for at least 48 h in plastic bottles and the supernatant was siphoned out until a 150 mL sample was left. The concentrated sample was examined and counted following the Uterm觟hl method. A subsample of 16 mL of the concentrated sample was settled in Uterm觟hl sedimentation chambers and counted using an Olympus IX51 inverted microscope at 100 伊 or 400 伊. The classification of tintinnids was based on taxonomic literature. The dimensions of the ciliates were measured and the cell volume of each species was estimated using appropriate
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