Ciliate Epibionts Research Articles

Epibiotic ciliate communities on the crayfish Procambarus (Austrocambarus) sp. cultivated in a rustic aquaculture in southern Mexico

Rustic aquaculture systems represent a sustainable production alternative in the world, providing appropriate conditions for the establishment of epibiotic ciliates on crayfish. However, the impact of epibiotic ciliates on the aquaculture production has been insufficiently studied hitherto. The objective of this work was to identify the epibiotic ciliates on the surface of the crayfish Procambarus (Austrocambarus) sp. and analyze whether there is any correlation between seasonality and environmental conditions in an artificial pond in Chiapas, Mexico. The crayfish were collected during dry and rainy seasons to investigate their ciliate epibionts. Some physical and chemical parameters of the sampled water were measured and correlation matrix analyses were applied to detect possible relationships between the presence of ciliates and environmental parameters. Thirteen species belonging to the subclasses Peritrichia and Suctoria were identified. Significant differences were found for some environmental parameters and species recorded in both seasons. The present data could help to better understand the relationship bewteen the epibiotic ciliate community on crayfish and some environmental parameters in aquaculture systems.

Protistan epibionts affect prey selectivity patterns and vulnerability to predation in a cyclopoid copepod

Colonisation of crustacean zooplankton with ciliate epibionts is widespread in freshwater and marine environments. However, the ecology of such association are little studied as yet. The occurrence of ciliate epibionts on copepods and the preference towards this association with different life stages of Mesocyclops were studied from winter to spring. Relative susceptibility of zooplankton species was evaluated by analysing the epibiont colonies and zooids and relate this to the surface area of the host. The maximum epibiont infestation per unit body surface area was recorded on copepodites followed by copepod nauplii rather than other zooplankton species, whereas the rotifer Asplanchna was never affected. Influence of climatic factors such as temperature on the colonisation of epibionts on basibionts was found significant. In winter (November to February) samples, copepods were infested by autotrophic epibionts whereas in late spring and early summer (March–April) heterotrophic protists (peritrichian ciliates) were the sole epibionts on copepods. We conducted experiments in the laboratory on prey selection pattern of predators by direct visual and video-graphic observations of various events (encounter, attack, capture, ingestion, prey escape) during predation by infested and uninfested copepodites and adults of Mesocyclops. Postencounter the attack probability was significantly lower in infested than in uninfested copepods. The present paper reports on substrate preference by epibionts and their impacts in food rich and food scarce environments. Furthermore, major environmental interactions were studied with the reproductive phenology of copepods with respect to epibionts and the cause and effect of long term association of epibionts with copepods need to be addressed.

Report of deep-sea epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora) from more than 1000 m depth of the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean.

The present article deals with the report of 7 suctorian epibiont species viz. Thecacineta calix, Actinocyathula homari, Loricophrya bosporica, L. cf. stresemanni, Acinetides gruberi, Trematosoma rotunda and Brachyosoma sp. on benthic meiofauna collected from the deep Arabian Sea (> 1000 m). The data on the distribution and host prevalence of found species are discussed. The finds of other deep-sea ciliate species are also mentioned.

Variations in host surfaces morphology and biology of ciliate epibionts explaining distribution pattern of epibionts in the invasive signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852)

AbstractThe present paper reports the distribution of Epistylididae (Sessilida) epibiotic ciliates on the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus in relation to specialized structures of the host's exoskeleton for the first time. This species is known to maintain a relatively clean carapace, but it is sometimes overgrown by other organisms. Epibionts cover different parts of the signal crayfish body, mainly antennae, antennules, maxillipedes III and pereiopods with inner edges of chelae; however, some parts of the signal crayfish are not fouled. e.g. dorsal surfaces of the carapace and dorsal surfaces of chelae. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), topographies of different parts of the crayfish's exoskeleton were examined. Our investigations revealed that the epibiosis in the signal crayfish was determined by morphology of body surfaces. No epibionts were found on smooth surfaces with regular single setae (a known design that prevents fouling in aquatic environments). The dimpled surfaces with regular single micro‐papillae may be considered as a newly described example of self‐cleaning surfaces. Bio‐inspired surface patterning presents promising approaches to the design of novel functional surfaces that can prevent biofouling. The new self‐cleaning design may be used in further technological applications.

New records for associations between peritrich protozoan ciliates (Ciliophora, Sessilida) and polychaete worms (Annelida) from off the southeastern coast of India.

We report herein three epibiotic associations between peritrich ciliate protozoans and polychaete worms, as observed in Tamilnadu, southeastern coast of India. Epibiont ciliates Epistylis sp.1 were found all over the integument of individuals of the terebellid polychaete Terebella sp., collected from Vellar estuary. Epistylis sp.2 ciliates were observed attached to Namalycastis abiuma polychaetes, on both sides of parapodia. Cothurnia sp. ciliates were found on anterior most paleae and hooks of Sabellaria sp. polychaetes, both latter associations from material from the Uppanar estuary. Those epibiont/basibiont associations are all new to science and discussed herein, together with a review on the previous reports of epibiont ciliate protozoans in Indian waters.

A checklist of ciliates (Ciliophora) inhabiting on cnidarians.

A compilation of the ciliate epibiont species (Ciliophora) found on marine and fresh water cnidarians has been carried out based on published records. The checklist includes the taxonomic position of each species of epibiontic ciliate, the species of basibiont cnidarians, the geographic zones and the bibliographic references where they were recorded. Cnidarians, especially colonial sessile forms, represent suitable substrates for numerous sessile and vagile ciliates. Altogether 79 ciliate species belong to five classes viz. Spirotrichea, Heterotrichea, Phyllopharingea, Suctorea and Oligohymenophorea were listed. The most diverce as epibions on cnidarians are representatives of Suctorea with 41 species and Peritrichia (under the class Oligohymenophorea) with 25 species. Three species belong to class Spirotrichea, four Heterotrichea and one Phyllopharingea. Among the other representatives (except Peritrichia) of class Oligohymenophorea, four species belong to subclass Scutucociliatia, one species each in subclass Hymenostomatia and Apostomatia. One suctorian species Ophryodendron abietinum and two species of peritrichs, Cothurnia cordylophora and Rhabdostyla sertularium one Heterotrichea Halofolliculina corallasia and one Scutucociliatia Philaster guamensis are likely specific to cnidarian hosts only.

Effect of Cothurnia variabilis and Epistylis gammari (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) on Metabolic Rate of the Crayfish Cambarellus (Cambarellus) montezumae

Peritrichs usually settle on the external surface and gills of crustaceans. However, their physiological effect on the host has not been studied. Respiratory rate is a susceptible index for some factors that affect an organism. To test if ciliates attached to the crustacean gills have a physiological effect, we measured crustacean oxygen consumption in a closed system. Crayfish Cambarellus (Cambarellus) montezumae were collected in Lago Xochimilco in Mexico City and were isolated in chambers. Two peritrich species, Cothurnia variabilis (32.5%) and Epistylis gammari (67.5%), were observed on the gills. The metabolic rate was evaluated by oxygen consumption with a polarimetric oximeter. Statistical analyses demonstrated that a density of ciliates attached to the gills of the crayfish above ~50 individuals increased oxygen consumption with a positive correlation to epibiont density. We conclude that C. variabilis and E. gammari ciliate epibionts attached to the gill of the crayfish Cambarellus (Cambarellus) montezumae cause an increase in metabolic rate.

Teamwork in the viscous oceanic microscale

Nutrient acquisition is crucial for oceanic microbes, and competitive solutions to solve this challenge have evolved among a range of unicellular protists. However, solitary solutions are not the only approach found in natural populations. A diverse array of oceanic protists form temporary or even long-lasting attachments to other protists and marine aggregates. Do these planktonic consortia provide benefits to their members? Here, we use empirical and modeling approaches to evaluate whether the relationship between a large centric diatom, Coscinodiscus wailesii, and a ciliate epibiont, Pseudovorticella coscinodisci, provides nutrient flux benefits to the host diatom. We find that fluid flows generated by ciliary beating can increase nutrient flux to a diatom cell surface four to 10 times that of a still cell without ciliate epibionts. This cosmopolitan species of diatom does not form consortia in all environments but frequently joins such consortia in nutrient-depleted waters. Our results demonstrate that symbiotic consortia provide a cooperative alternative of comparable or greater magnitude to sinking for enhancement of nutrient acquisition in challenging environments.

A checklist of ciliate epibionts (Ciliophora) found on bryozoans.

A compilation of the ciliate (Ciliophora) species found on marine and fresh water bryozoans as epibionts has been carried out based on published records. The checklist includes the taxonomic position of each species of epibiontic ciliate, the species of basibiont bryozoans, localities and the bibliographic references. Altogether 40 ciliate species from classes Spirotrichea (two species); Suctorea (sixteen species); Oligohymenophorea, subclass Peritrichia (sixteen species) and Heterotrichea, family Folliculinidae (six species) were listed. Among registered species, six were reported on bryozoans only. Only one species of peritrich ciliate Ellobiophrya conviva adapted to inhabit on tentacles of bryozoans with special adhesive organelle (cinctum or adhesive ring) indicate a possible specific to bryozoan host.

Report of ciliate epibionts (Ciliophora, Suctorea) on meiobenthic invertebrates from the Indian coast near Karwar, Karnataka

Report of ciliate epibionts (Ciliophora, Suctorea) on meiobenthic invertebrates from the Indian coast near Karwar, Karnataka

A checklist of suctorian epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora) found on meiobenthic marine nematodes

ABSTRACTA compilation of the ciliated suctorian species found on marine meiobenthic nematodes as epibiont has been carried out based on published records. It included the taxonomic position of each species of ciliate epibiont, the species of basibiont nematodes, the geographic zones where they have been found and the different records of these species together with the corresponding bibliographic references. Altogether 12 suctorian species were listed. Among registered suctorian species, Thecacineta oregonensis, T. urceolata, Trematosoma rotunda, Loricophrya bosporica, L. mediterranea, L. scanica, L. sivertseni, L. spitinae and L. stresemanni are likely specific to nematodes. The species as Thecacineta calix and Limnoricus ceter were found on a variety of hosts. Representatives of the genus Thecacineta reproduce by vermigemmic budding, swarmers of which are unable to swim, and often attached close to the cloaca of the nematodes. Any regularity in localization were not observed in the representatives of genera Trematosoma and Loricophrya, which form ciliary, swimming swarmers.

Suctorians (Ciliophora: Suctoria) as epibionts of decapods of families Cambaridae and Pseudothelphusidae.

Epibiosis is common among ciliates and crustaceans because the calcified surface of the crustacean body offers a suitable site for colonization by the epibiont. Suctoria are among the most common epibiont ciliate groups of freshwater decapod crustaceans. The aim of this study is to increase knowledge of suctorians as epibionts of freshwater decapod crustaceans of the families Cambaridae and Pseudothelphusidae. Crustaceans were collected from three rivers and one pond in Chiapas, Mexico. Six species of suctorian epibionts were recorded: Acineta tuberosa, Podophrya maupasi, P. sandi, Tokophrya cyclopum, T. quadripartita and Trichophrya epistylidis. This is the first record of ciliate epibionts on members of family Pseudothelphusidae (represented by Phrygiopilus montebelloensis and Raddaus bocourti), and the first record of suctorians epibionts on Procambarus (Austrocambarus) sp. (Cambaridae).

Effects of salinity, temperature and turbidity on the survivorship of the epibiotic peritrich Epistylis sp.

AME Aquatic Microbial Ecology Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials AME 82:299-306 (2019) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ame01898 Effects of salinity, temperature and turbidity on the survivorship of the epibiotic peritrich Epistylis sp. Salome Jones1,2,*, Nicola K. Carrasco1, Renzo Perissinotto1,2, Andre Vosloo1 1School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa 2DST/NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa *Corresponding author: salomemandyjns@gmail.com ABSTRACT: The peritrich ciliate Epistylis sp. is commonly found attached to the dominant calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus stuhlmanni in the St Lucia Estuary, South Africa. A study was conducted to test if salinity interacted with temperature and turbidity to affect the survivorship of Epistylis sp. Two-way analysis of variance on ranks was conducted to test for the main and interaction effects of these parameters. There was no interaction between temperature and salinity, and temperature (15, 21 and 30°C) did not affect Epistylis sp. The survivorship of Epistylis sp. was however significantly and negatively affected by high salinity. Post hoc analyses revealed that the highest salinity level (25) was responsible for most of the Epistylis sp. mortalities. The survivorship of Epistylis sp. was significantly affected by the interaction between turbidity and salinity. High turbidity (1000 nephelometric turbidity units [NTU]) negatively affected survivorship across the entire salinity gradient (0 to 25), and high salinity (25) also generally resulted in low survivorship across the turbidity gradient of 50 to 1000 NTU. As the host P. stuhlmanni is more tolerant of high salinity and high turbidity, these findings suggest that these conditions can modulate epibiosis by limiting the prevalence and cover of Epistylis sp. in the St Lucia Estuary, particularly when salinity is high. KEY WORDS: Ciliate epibiont · Copepod host · Physico-chemical drivers · St Lucia Estuary Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousCite this article as: Jones S, Carrasco NK, Perissinotto R, Vosloo A (2019) Effects of salinity, temperature and turbidity on the survivorship of the epibiotic peritrich Epistylis sp.. Aquat Microb Ecol 82:299-306. https://doi.org/10.3354/ame01898 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AME Vol. 82, No. 3. Online publication date: March 14, 2019 Print ISSN: 0948-3055; Online ISSN: 1616-1564 Copyright © 2019 Inter-Research.

Rhabdostylid Ciliates (Ciliophora, Peritrichia, Epistylididae) as Epibionts on Chironomid Larvae: Evidence of High Specificity and Association with Organic Pollution.

Although epibiont ciliates make up a significant part of the biomass in aquatic ecosystems and may cause perceptible alterations in the population dynamics of their hosts, studies on the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that control the abundance of these microorganisms are scarce in literature. In the present study, we investigated the colonization site and intensity of rhabdostylid epibiont upon chironomid larvae and assessed the influence of organic pollution and chironomid communities on the prevalence and abundance of epibiont ciliates at five sampling stations (two in rural areas and three in urban areas) along a neotropical urban stream over a period of 12 months. Among the 24 genera of chironomids found and the 31,976 larvae analyzed, 96.12% belonged to the Chironomus genus, of which 16.95% (5212) were colonized by Rhabdostyla aff. chironomi. The infestation intensity varied from one to 67 individuals per host with an average intensity of 4.86 (± 33.45). Ciliates were only found colonizing the chironomids' ventral tubules. The high number of chironomid larvae, high host- and site-specificity, low infestation intensity, and absence of apparent structural damage to hosts evidence an intimate relationship between epibiont and basibiont as well as a possibly long coevolutionary history. Both prevalence and abundance of epibiont ciliates were correlated to the pollution rate of the studied stream. There was an alteration in the composition and structure of the chironomid community along the sampling stations. Numeric dominance of Chironomus-tolerant chironomids and its direct correlation to infestation prevalence and to ciliates abundance highlights the predilection of both peritrich ciliates and Chironomus larvae for organically-enriched environments.

Vertical distribution of the relic species Eurytemora lacustris (Copepoda, Calanoida) in stratified mesotrophic lakes

The aim of this study was to determine factors affecting the vertical distribution of Eurytemora lacustris in mesotrophic lakes (Wigry, Hańcza, Szurpiły; north-eastern Poland) during the summer stagnation. Eurytemora lacustris was found in all of the studied lakes, with the highest abundance (8 ind. L−1) in Lake Wigry. In Lake Szurpiły, E. lacustris has never been recorded before. The results of this study revealed that E. lacustris was most numerous in thermocline zones, suggesting that this species could temporarily tolerate warmer water and lower oxygen concentrations due to better food resources. During the study, it was found that a large part of the E. lacustris population had epibiont ciliates, in contrast to other species of zooplankton that did not have any epibionts. The improvement in the water quality of many deep lakes could lead to an increase in the abundance of E. lacustris. However, epibiont ciliates may be a threat for this species and may play a substantial role in determining the production, distribution, and community dynamics of E. lacustris.

First Report of Epibiont Ciliates (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) Living on Aquatic Larvae of Pyralidae (Lepidoptera)

ABSTRACT: Epibiosis is the assemblage of epibionts on a given host individual (basibiont). Several studies have shown that epibionts can cause deleterious effects to their hosts. Here, we report the first record of epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) living on larvae of Pyralidae (Lepidoptera) from the Neotropical region.

Impacts of turbidity on an epibiotic ciliate in the St Lucia Estuary, South Africa

Ciliate epibionts inhabit aquatic systems globally and may exert negative impacts on their hosts. Evidence of the environmental drivers of these epibionts is lacking. This study aimed to test the effects of turbidity on the attachment success of the ciliate Epistylis sp. on the copepod Pseudodiaptomus stuhlmanni in the turbid St Lucia Estuary, South Africa. Epistylis sp. was exposed to P. stuhlmanni individuals for 24 h under six turbidity treatments (range 8–1,500 NTU). The prevalence and density of Epistylis sp. exposed to inorganic silt decreased significantly across the turbidity range in both runs of this experiment. In the natural silt treatments, prevalence increased with turbidity up to 500 and 250 NTU in the first and second experiment, respectively. Beyond these peaks, prevalence decreased. Density peaked at 250 NTU in both experiments. High prevalence and density in the natural silt experiments is directly related to the high organic matter content in this treatment. Association of Epistylis sp. with turbidity may impact negatively P. stuhlmanni, as the longevity of this copepod is negatively related to heavy cover by Epistylis sp. and to turbidity. These findings show that environmental factors may play a key role in modulating epibiotic interactions.

Peritrich epibionts on the hadal isopod species Macrostylis marionae n. sp. from the Puerto Rico Trench used as indicator for sex-specific behaviour

Macrostylis marionae n. sp. is described by means of integrative taxonomy. It is the second isopod species (Crustacea) described from the hadal Puerto Rico Trench. It differs from other Macrostylidae (Janiroidea) predominantly by the lack of the tergal borders between the fossosome segments. Adult males of M. marionae n. sp. differed from females and juveniles of both sexes in a higher number of peritrich ciliate epibionts. In total, 64.3% of adult males and only 10.5% of adult females were infested. Because macrostylids are generally considered infaunal, with a digging lifestyle, while peritrichs require aquatic medium for filter feeding, this observed pattern led to the hypothesis of a behavioural sexual dimorphism in this species of Macrostylidae. Accordingly, the epibionts may prefer adult male macrostylids as basibionts because of a rather epifaunal and roaming lifestyle. In contrast they may avoid females due to a stationary and infaunal behaviour. Additionally, the stage progression of the M. marionae male ontogeny was reconstructed.

Genetic analysis of ciliates living on the groundwater amphipod Crangonyx islandicus (Amphipoda: Crangonyctidae)

AbstractTwo endemic subterranean freshwater amphipod species have been discovered in groundwater of the volcanic active zone in Iceland, Crangonyx islandicus and Crymostygius thingvallensis. At least five different ciliate sequences were isolated from C. islandicus and the analysis of variation at the 18S ribosomal DNA gene suggests that they present previously unsequenced species, from the orders Apostomatida and Philasterida. Apostome ciliates are well known to be exuviotrophic epibionts on crustaceans. Analyses of ciliate epibionts from different groundwater amphipod species from North America and mainland Europe revealed distinct groups of ciliates and higher diversity on the epigean amphipod Crangonyx pseudogracilis. Analysis of geographic patterns of the most common ciliate within Iceland revealed population differentiation supporting limited current connectivity between the different groundwater systems. Our study reports an occurrence of previously undescribed ciliate species in a groundwater ecosystem characterized by low species diversity.

OBELIA BIDENTATA CLARK, 1875 FROM PORT SAID, EGYPT: RE-DESCRIPTION OF THE POLYP STAGE AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLYP CILIATE EPIBIONTS

Hydranth, hydrotheca and gonangium structure and morphology of Obelia bidentata Clark, 1875, specimens collected from Port Said, Egypt, is found to be similar to that of other specimens collected elsewhere in the world. The present materials are characterised by oblique hydrothecal diaphragm and truncated gonotheca with no obvious aperture. Blastostyle carrying the medusa buds was observed to force its way through the apical gonotheca wall to release the medusae. Spatial distribution of the polyp ciliate epibionts was investigated as well. The largest number of ciliate epibionts was found on the hydrotheca followed by hydrocaulus then the hydroriza, while the lowest was found on hydrothecal pedicel. Species of the genera Cothurniopsis and Vaginicola were recorded for the first time as hydroid epibionts.