Southern Ocean Biogeography of Tintinnid Ciliates of the Marine Plankton

Abstract

Ciliate microzooplankton are important grazers in most pelagic ecosystems and among them, tintinnids, with their largely species-specific loricas, allow relatively easy assessment of questions of diversity and distributions. Herein, we present the results of a survey of species records of tintinnids from the Southern Ocean (locations below 40°S) reported in 56 publications yielding 2,047 species records (synonyms included) from 402 locations. The 192 species reported can be parsed into two main groups: 32 endemic Southern Ocean species, known only from 40°S and further south, and a second group of 181 widespread species, forms with extensive geographic ranges extending into the Southern Ocean. Widespread species reported from the Southern Ocean can be further divided into a group of 81 species, each recorded multiple times in the Southern Ocean waters and 70 apparent "stray" species which have only been found but once. The endemic and widespread species of the Southern Ocean show both distinct distributional patterns and morphological differences. The assemblage of Southern Ocean endemics is found mostly within the Antarctic zone delimited by the average location of the Polar Front and contains a relatively large portion of wide-mouthed forms. We give suggestions for future study.

Unexpected biodiversity of ciliates in marine samples from below the photic zone

“…We observed one tintinnid OTU that is closely related to Salpingella acuminata (OTU2165; Figs B and ) in nearly all samples, which is consistent with morphological and molecular analyses of diverse open ocean and nearshore environment (Gomez ; Dolan et al . ; Bachy et al . ).…”

Biogeography and Character Evolution of the Ciliate Genus Euplotes (Spirotrichea, Euplotia), with Description of Euplotes curdsi sp. nov.

“…Ciliates (unicellular protists of the phylum Ciliophora) are ubiquitous, abundant and eye-catching components of aquatic environments [1–4]. Yet despite their large diversity and ecological importance, only a handful of ciliates have been intensively studied after their original description.…”

Morphological and Ribosomal DNA‐based Characterization of Six Antarctic Ciliate Morphospecies from the Amundsen Sea with Phylogenetic Analyses

“…; Dolan et al. ; Heinbokel and Coats , ; Monti and Fonda Umani ; Petz et al. ; Thompson ; Thompson et al.…”

“…THE Southern Ocean is known to harbor endemic tintinnid species (Petz et al 2007;Pierce and Turner 1993). Among these, Codonellopsis gaussi, Cymatocylis spp., and Laackmanniella prolongata have been found frequently in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters due to both significant biomass and distinctive lorica morphologies (e.g., Alder and Boltovskoy 1991a,b;Boltovskoy and Alder 1992;Boltovskoy et al 1989;Dolan et al 2012;Coats 1984, 1986;Monti and Fonda Umani 1995;Petz et al 1995;Thompson 2004;Thompson et al 1999;Williams et al 1994). Like other tintinnid ciliates, these Antarctic forms have been identified based on lorica morphology.…”

“…However, possible synonymy among other species of Cymatocylis, Laackmanniella, and Codonellopsis remains unclear because there is no clear documentation of variable lorica morphology (Alder and Boltovskoy 1991b;Boltovskoy and Alder 1992;Boltovskoy et al 1990;Petz et al 1995;Wasik and Mikołajczyk 1992). Although many studies have investigated Southern Ocean tintinnids, lack of accuracy and confidence in the species identities has complicated ecological and biogeographical studies of Antarctic tintinnid ciliates (Alder and Boltovskoy 1991b;Boltovskoy and Alder 1992;Boltovskoy et al 1990;Dolan et al 2012;Williams et al 1994).…”