A user‐friendly guide to the ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) commonly used by hydrobiologists as bioindicators in rivers, lakes, and waste waters, with notes on their ecology

Abstract

SUMMARY A user‐friendly guide to 300 ciliate species (Protozoa, Ciliophora) used as bioindicators by river, lake and waste water ecologists is provided. The guide is an English translation of the flow charts written in German and published by Foissner et al. (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995) in the Ciliate Atlas, a monograph on the ciliates used as bioindicators in the saprobic system. This guide is designed for users not specifically trained in identification of ciliates. Main groups and species are keyed dichotomously on forty‐seven flow charts using simple characters usually recognizable in live specimens. Species with conspicuous characters, e.g. large size or distinct colour, are shown on thirty‐two separate charts designated ‘special keys’. Although the flow charts give a high probability of correct species identifications, these should nevertheless be checked against the detailed figures and descriptions contained in the Ciliate Atlas. A table with the species keyed and their main ecological characteristics (biomass, food preference, salinity tolerance, preferred occurrence, saprobiological classification) is also provided. Typical ciliate communities found in natural and polluted habitats are briefly described and figured on thirteen plates. A detailed systematic index is provided for all taxa mentioned in the flow charts.