Diversity and Distribution of Microzooplankton Tintinnid (Ciliata: Protozoa) in the Core Region of Indian Sundarban Wetland

Abstract

The study first investigated the spatial distribution, diversity, and biomass of the planktonic choreotrich ciliate tintinnids inhabiting the biosphere reserve, the core region of Indian Sundarban mangrove wetland. A total of 21 species (eight genera and six families) were recorded including agglomerated and non‐agglomerated or hyaline forms from these intricate estuarine network systems. Maximum mean abundance (2747 ± 111 individuals L−1) and species diversity (H′ = 2.32) of tintinnid ciliate were recorded at the sampling site located towards the Bay of Bengal whereas lower abundance (666 ± 56 individuals L−1) and diversity (H′ = 1.55) were encountered towards inner part of the estuary. Tintinnopsis represented the most dominant agglutinated genus comprising of Tintinnopsis beroidea, Tintinnopsis fimbriata, Tintinnopsis cylindrica, Tintinnopsis tocantinensis, and Tintinnopsis radix, accounting ∼52% of total tintinnid community. The agglomerated forms Amphorellopsis tetragona, Eutintinnus apertus, Codonellopsis lusitanica, and T. fimbriata were recorded for the first time in this region. The biomass value exhibited wide range of variations (0.03 ± 0.09 to 12.4 ± 1.1 μg C L−1), accounting maximum value towards seaward region. The small‐sized tintinnid (lorica length <40 μm) contributed the most dominant group (sharing ∼85% of total species abundance) in this core region and their presence was mainly governed by factors, namely, chlorophyll α, salinity, and nutrients (nitrate and silicate). The results of combining multivariate methods (RELATE and BIOENV analyses) reveal that chl a and nitrate were the potential significant factors for tintinnid abundance and distribution.

Spatial and temporal variations of tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) in the Bay of Mersin, Northeastern Mediterranean Sea

“…Among the species belonging to these genera, S. ventricosa, T. beroidea, T. compressa, H. subulata, and F. azorica were of high abundance. These species have been reported in high numbers in other marine environments (Dorgham et al., Abboud Abi Saab, 2008;Dolan & Pierce, 2013;Rakshit et al, 2016;Bojanic, 2001;Bojanic et al, 2012).…”

Diversity and distribution of tintinnid ciliates along salinity gradient in the Pearl River Estuary in southern China

“…T. tentaculata, T. parva, and T. nana were mostly found at regions with salinity range of 3.2-14.4 in the Hooghly (Ganges) River Estuary (Rakshit et al, 2016a). T. nucula, T. chinglanensis, L. simplex, and Codonellopsis lusitanica were sporadically reported at coastal or estuarine environments (Zhang and Wang, 2000;Li et al, 2016;Rakshit et al, 2016b) without detailed salinity range.…”

Biogeography of marine tintinnid ciliates (Ciliophora, Tintinnida): a Scale-Dependent Model

“…The distribution of 225 tintinnid species in the Indian Ocean was analyzed based on literary data (Zeitzschel, 1969;Dennett et al 1999;Al-Yamani & Skryabin 2006;Rakshit et al 2016Rakshit et al , 2017Dibyendu et al 2016). The level of knowledge on tintinnid morphospecies diversity in the Indian Ocean may be characterized as scarce (Fig.…”