<b>Structure of planktonic ciliates community (Protist, Ciliophora) from an urban lake of southern Brazil</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i4.18579

Abstract

This study examined temporal and spatial (vertical) variations of composition, richness and abundance of the planktonic ciliates community in an urban and eutrophic lake, as well as identified the limnological factors involved in determining the patterns observed. To this end, samples of ciliates and measures of limnological variables were taken at different depths and hydrological periods. 35 ciliate species were identified, among which 14 species occurred in all periods and strata, being Prostomatida the most specious, followed by Gymnostomatida, Oligotrichida, Peritrichida, and Scuticociliatida. The patterns found for composition, abundance and species richness evidenced a vertical and temporal variation of these attributes. However, in general the composition and species richness have varied more along the vertical gradient than between periods, whereas for the abundance, only temporal differences could be detected. Results observed herein indicated that benthic species seem to be mainly influenced by the amount of organic matter, phosphorus and ammonia, while planktonic ones, abundant at the surface, were mainly associated with higher dissolved oxygen concentrations. In this way, seasonal and vertical variations of limnological characteristics were decisive for the patterns of occurrence and abundance of ciliate species.

Structure and dynamics of the protoplankton community in an environmentally protected urban stream

“…The larger species richness of ciliates and testate amoebae found in the rainy periods may be due to the carriage of species from the benthonic compartment and littoral region to the water column, due to increase in water flow caused by rains (Lampert and Sommer, 2007). In this sense, the water column may act as a collector of protozoa from all the stream compartments, mainly those small and shallow (Velho et al, 2013;Lansac-Tôha et al, 2014). Similar results have been found by Fulone et al (2005) in streams from the southeast region of Brazil.…”

“…Among ciliates, the orders with higher species richness in our study (Peniculida, Euplotida, and Peritrichida) have been registered as representative in rivers and streams (Madoni and Braghiroli, 2007). Species in these orders are considered, in general, as interstitial benthonic, but are frequently found at the pelagic zone of aquatic systems (Velho et al, 2013).…”

“…These ciliate groups have been frequently registered as abundant in lotic systems (Kiss et al, 2009). The higher ciliate densities found in the rainy period diverge from results of other studies that found higher densities of these protozoans in the dry period (Velho et al, 2005(Velho et al, , 2013 due to the dilution effect on these individuals during the rainy period. The pluvial regime, mainly in lotic systems, is an important factor that changes ciliate protists abundances, as demonstrated in other studies (Primc-Habdija et al, 1998).…”

Ciliated microeukaryotes (Alveolata: Ciliophora) of a lotic urban system located in Minas Gerais - Brazil

“…The access to ciliate diversity and biogeography is a challenge tasks because they are diminute organisms, difficult to identify (Finlay and Fenchel, 1999), there is a lack of experienced specialists (Foissner, 2006) and a number of species stay encysted for most of their life cycles (Foissner, 2004). In Brazil, significant works were performed with this emphasis such as conducted in Rio Grande do Sul (Safi et al, 2014), Paraná (Pauleto et al, 2009;Buosi et al, 2011;Velho et al, 2005Velho et al, , 2013, São Paulo (Bagantini et al, 2013;Regali-Seleghim et al, 2011), Pará (Castro et al, 2014), Minas Gerais (Dias et al, 2008(Dias et al, , 2010 and Rio de Janeiro (Paiva and Silva-Neto, 2004a, b) states. Inventory studies constitute the first step for development of applied biotechnological usage of ciliates.…”

Ciliates in ecotoxicological studies: A minireview

“…This adaptive changes may be linked to the specificity of the recurrent changes in the physical-chemical factors of the water, such as temperature, amount of dissolved organic matter, pH, conductivity and oxygen concentration (Noland, 1925;Kudo, 1966;Sleigh, 1988;Madoni, 2005;Madoni & Barghiroli, 2007). Seasonal, vertical, trophic and flood pulse variations can also be determining factors in the patterns of distribution, composition and abundance of ciliates in aquatic systems (Madoni, 2003(Madoni, , 2005Velho et al, 2005Velho et al, , 2013Gomiero et al, 2013;Debastiani et al, 2016;Pauleto et al, 2009). Ciliates can be used as bioindicators of water quality in biomonitoring studies (Madoni, 1994(Madoni, , 2003(Madoni, , 2005Dias et al, 2008;Bagantini et al, 2013;Debastiani et al, 2016).…”