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Deng H, He C, Worden AZ, Gong J. Employing a triple metabarcoding approach to differentiate active, dormant and dead microeukaryotes in sediments. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16615. [PMID: 38501240 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Microbial communities are commonly characterised through the metabarcoding of environmental DNA. This DNA originates from both viable (including dormant and active) and dead organisms, leading to recent efforts to distinguish between these states. In this study, we further these approaches by distinguishing not only between viable and dead cells but also between dormant and actively growing cells. This is achieved by sequencing both rRNA and rDNA, in conjunction with propidium monoazide cross-linked rDNA, to partition the active, dormant and relic fractions in environmental samples. We apply this method to characterise the diversity and assemblage structure of these fractions of microeukaryotes in intertidal sediments during a wet-dry-rewet incubation cycle. Our findings indicate that a significant proportion of microeukaryotic phylotypes detected in the total rDNA pools originate from dormant and relic microeukaryotes in the sediments, both in terms of richness (dormant, 13 ± 2%; relic, 47 ± 5%) and read abundance (dormant, 20 ± 7%; relic, 14 ± 5%). The richness and sequence proportion of dormant microeukaryotes notably increase during the transition from wet to dry conditions. Statistical analyses suggest that the dynamics of diversity and assemblage structure across different activity fractions are influenced by various environmental drivers. Our strategy offers a versatile approach that can be adapted to characterise other microbes in a wide range of environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiwen Deng
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cui He
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Alexandra Z Worden
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jun Gong
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou, China
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2
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Omar A, Moon JH, Jung JH. Morphology and molecular phylogeny of two hypotrichous ciliates (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea) from South Korea, including Hemiurosomoida koreana n. sp. Eur J Protistol 2024; 92:126045. [PMID: 38100885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2023.126045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The living morphology, infraciliature, and molecular phylogeny of a new soil ciliate, Hemiurosomoida koreana n. sp., discovered in a sample collected from a mountain in the northeast of South Korea, were investigated. The new species possesses the characteristics of the genus Hemiurosomoida, i.e., a reduced number of frontal-ventral-transverse cirri, three dorsal kineties of which kineties 1 and 2 each bears a caudal cirrus, and a single dorsomarginal kinety. It is distinguishable from congeners and other similar species by at least one distinct qualitative or quantitative character including the body size, the presence and arrangement of cortical granules, the number of adoral membranelles, marginal cirri, and dorsal dikinetids, or by the arrangement of transverse cirri. Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA gene sequences also support the assignment of the new species to the non-monophyletic genus Hemiurosomoida. In addition, the living morphology, infraciliature, and the 18S rRNA gene sequence of a Korean population of Nothoholosticha flava were studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atef Omar
- Natural Science Research Institute, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, South Korea.
| | - Ji Hye Moon
- Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, South Korea
| | - Jae-Ho Jung
- Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, South Korea.
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3
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Odisi EJ, de Freitas RC, do Amaral DS, da Silva SB, da Silva MAC, de Oliveira Sant Ana W, de Souza Lima AO, Rörig LR. Metataxonomy of acid mine drainage microbiomes from the Santa Catarina Carboniferous Basin (Southern Brazil). Extremophiles 2023; 28:8. [PMID: 38133826 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-023-01324-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Mining activities generate large quantities of wastes that significantly alter the biogeochemistry and ecological structure of entire river basins. Microbial communities that develop in these areas present a variety of survival and adaptation mechanisms. Knowing this diversity at the molecular level is strategic both for understanding adaptive processes and for identifying genomes with potential use in bioremediation and bioprospecting. In this work, prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities were evaluated by meta-taxonomics (16S and 18S amplicons) in sediments and water bodies impacted by acid mine drainage in an important coal mining area in southern Brazil. Five sampling stations were defined on a gradient of impacts (pH 2.7-4.25). Taxon diversity was directly proportional to pH, being greater in sediments than in water. The dominant prokaryotic phyla in the samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, OD1, Nitrospirae, and Euryarchaeota, and among the eukaryotes, algae (Ochrophyta, Chlorophyta, Cryptophyceae), fungi (Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and Cryptomycota), and protists (Ciliophora, Heterolobosea, Cercozoa). The prokaryotic genera Leptospirillum, Acidithiobacillus, Acidiphilium, Thiomonas, Thermogymnomonas, and Acidobacterium, and the eukaryotic genera Pterocystis and Poteriospumella were associated with more acidic conditions and higher metal concentrations, while the prokaryotic genera Sediminibacterium, Gallionella Geothrix, and Geobacter were more abundant in transitional environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estácio Jussie Odisi
- Laboratory of Phycology, Department of Botany, Federal University of Santa Catarina (LAFIC - UFSC), Florianópolis, Campus Universitário Trindade, Caixa Postal 476, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil
- Biome4All, São Paulo, SP, 01419-909, Brazil
| | | | - Diego Serrasol do Amaral
- Laboratory of Phycology, Department of Botany, Federal University of Santa Catarina (LAFIC - UFSC), Florianópolis, Campus Universitário Trindade, Caixa Postal 476, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil
| | | | - Marcus Adonai Castro da Silva
- Center for Earth and Sea Technological Sciences, University of Vale Do Itajaí (UNIVALI), Rua Uruguai, 458, Itajaí, SC, 88302-202, Brazil
| | - William de Oliveira Sant Ana
- SATC Technological Center, Beneficent Association of the Santa Catarina Coal Industry (SATC), Pascoal Meller St. 73, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - André Oliveira de Souza Lima
- Center for Earth and Sea Technological Sciences, University of Vale Do Itajaí (UNIVALI), Rua Uruguai, 458, Itajaí, SC, 88302-202, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Rubi Rörig
- Laboratory of Phycology, Department of Botany, Federal University of Santa Catarina (LAFIC - UFSC), Florianópolis, Campus Universitário Trindade, Caixa Postal 476, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil.
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4
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Xu X, Wu X, Xu W, Sun Y, Zhang L, Yang Z. Water acidification weakens the carbon sink capacity of mixotrophic organisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 865:161120. [PMID: 36581282 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mixotrophs combine both autotrophic and heterotrophic cell structures, and their highly plastic nutritional modes can shape the structure of food web and affect the carbon sink capacity of aquatic ecosystems. As pH affects the growth of phytoplankton by altering the carbonate balance system, water acidification caused by environmental pollution and global climate change may affect the nutritional modes of mixotrophs and bring a serious environmental consequence. In this study, we cultured mixotrophic Ochromonas gloeopara under autotrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic conditions at different pH levels to test the tendency of its nutritional model and the changes in photosynthetic carbon fixation capacity. Results showed that: (1) with decreasing pH, carbon uptake of Ochromonas through phagocytosis gradually replaced the carbon fixation of photosynthesis; (2) with increasing pH, Ochromonas grazing rate decreased, and the relative contribution of photosynthetic carbon fixation to total carbon acquisition increased for Ochromonas; (3) Ochromonas became more heterotrophic under water acidification, which was involved in the up-regulated expression of genes encoding key enzymes that regulate nutrient perception, movement ability, and cell repair. These findings suggested that acidification caused mixotrophic organisms to become more heterotrophic, which can change their functional role and weaken their carbon sink capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Xiyi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Wenjie Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yunfei Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Lu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Zhou Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Bharti D, Kumar S. Description of a new oxytrichid ciliate, Oxytricha buxai n. sp. and redescription of O. quadricirrata Blatterer and Foissner, 1988 based on morphology and 18S rDNA analyses. Eur J Protistol 2023; 88:125959. [PMID: 36801512 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2023.125959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The morphology of a new oxytrichid ciliate, Oxytricha buxai n. sp., isolated from a soil sample collected from the Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India, was studied based on live observation and protargol impregnation. The new species is characterised by a body size of 85×35 µm in vivo, two macronuclear nodules with one or two micronuclei attached at variable positions, a few colourless cortical granules scattered throughout cortex, adoral zone of membranelles about 35% of body length with 26 membranelles on average, about 18 cirri in left and 16 cirri in right marginal row, right marginal row starts at the level of buccal vertex, usually 18 frontoventral transverse cirri, five dorsal kineties including one dorsomarginal row, three caudal cirri. Further, a redescription based on live and protargol-impregnated specimens of Oxytricha quadricirrata Blatterer and Foissner, 1988, isolated from a moss sample collected from the Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India, is provided. The Indian population of O. quadricirrata is similar in morphology to the type population. However, the dorsal side shows some variation, i.e., the presence of a second dorsomarginal row with one or two bristles and incomplete fragmentation of dorsal kinety 3 (vs single dorsomarginal row and complete fragmentation). The resting cyst is spherical and about 20 µm across, with a wrinkled surface. Morphogenesis is in typical Oxytricha pattern. Based on 18S rDNA, phylogenetic analyses show Oxytricha to be a polyphyletic genus. Further, O. quadricirrata clusters away from O. granulifera, thereby supporting the validity of the former.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daizy Bharti
- Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata 700 053, India
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata 700 053, India.
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Weithoff G, Bell EM. Complex Trophic Interactions in an Acidophilic Microbial Community. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071340. [PMID: 35889059 PMCID: PMC9321944 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Extreme habitats often harbor specific communities that differ substantially from non-extreme habitats. In many cases, these communities are characterized by archaea, bacteria and protists, whereas the number of species of metazoa and higher plants is relatively low. In extremely acidic habitats, mostly prokaryotes and protists thrive, and only very few metazoa thrive, for example, rotifers. Since many studies have investigated the physiology and ecology of individual species, there is still a gap in research on direct, trophic interactions among extremophiles. To fill this gap, we experimentally studied the trophic interactions between a predatory protist (Actinophrys sol, Heliozoa) and its prey, the rotifers Elosa woralli and Cephalodella sp., the ciliate Urosomoida sp. and the mixotrophic protist Chlamydomonas acidophila (a green phytoflagellate, Chlorophyta). We found substantial predation pressure on all animal prey. High densities of Chlamydomonas acidophila reduced the predation impact on the rotifers by interfering with the feeding behaviour of A. sol. These trophic relations represent a natural case of intraguild predation, with Chlamydomonas acidophila being the common prey and the rotifers/ciliate and A. sol being the intraguild prey and predator, respectively. We further studied this intraguild predation along a resource gradient using Cephalodella sp. as the intraguild prey. The interactions among the three species led to an increase in relative rotifer abundance with increasing resource (Chlamydomonas) densities. By applying a series of laboratory experiments, we revealed the complexity of trophic interactions within a natural extremophilic community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guntram Weithoff
- Department Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling, University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Biodiversity Research, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Elanor M. Bell
- Department Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling, University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
- Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS 7054, Australia;
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Smith SA, Santoferrara LF, Katz LA, McManus GB. Genome architecture used to supplement species delineation in two cryptic marine ciliates. Mol Ecol Resour 2022; 22:2880-2896. [PMID: 35675173 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine which taxonomic methods can elucidate clear and quantifiable differences between two cryptic ciliate species, and to test the utility of genome architecture as a new diagnostic character in the discrimination of otherwise indistinguishable taxa. Two cryptic tintinnid ciliates, Schmidingerella arcuata and Schmidingerella meunieri, are compared via traditional taxonomic characters including lorica morphometrics, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene barcodes and ecophysiological traits. In addition, single-cell 'omics analyses (single-cell transcriptomics and genomics) are used to elucidate and compare patterns of micronuclear genome architecture between the congeners. The results include a highly similar lorica that is larger in S. meunieri, a 0%-0.5% difference in rRNA gene barcodes, two different and nine indistinguishable growth responses among 11 prey treatments, and distinct patterns of micronuclear genomic architecture for genes detected in both ciliates. Together, these results indicate that while minor differences exist between S. arcuata and S. meunieri in common indices of taxonomic identification (i.e., lorica morphology, DNA barcode sequences and ecophysiology), differences exist in their genomic architecture, which suggests potential genetic incompatibility. Different patterns of micronuclear architecture in genes shared by both isolates also enable the design of species-specific primers, which are used in this study as unique "architectural barcodes" to demonstrate the co-occurrence of both ciliates in samples collected from a NW Atlantic estuary. These results support the utility of genomic architecture as a tool in species delineation, especially in ciliates that are cryptic or otherwise difficult to differentiate using traditional methods of identification.
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pH Regulates the Formation and Hatching of Cryptocaryon irritans Tomonts, Which Affects Cryptocaryoniasis Occurrence in Larimichthys crocea Aquaculture. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0005822. [PMID: 35254098 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00058-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptocaryon irritans are the main pathogens of white spot disease in marine teleost. However, the occurrence of cryptocaryoniasis is influenced by several abiotic factors including the pH. To explore the effect of pH on the life cycle of C. irritans (encystment, cleavage, and hatchability), protomonts and tomonts of C. irritans were incubated in seawater of 10 different pH levels (2-11). pH 8 was used as the control. The change in morphology and infectivity of theronts that hatched from tomonts against Larimichthys crocea were then recorded. We found that pH 6-9 had no significant effect on the encystment, cleavage, and hatching of the parasites. However, pH beyond this limit decreased the cleavage and hatching of the tomonts. Furthermore, extreme pH decreased the number of theronts hatched by each tomont and the pathogenicity of the theronts, but increased the aspect ratio of the theronts. Infectivity experiments further revealed that extreme pH significantly decreased the infectivity of C. irritans against L. crocea. In conclusion, the C. irritans can survive in pH of 5 to 10, but pH 6-9 is the optimal range for the reproduction and infectivity of C. irritans. However, extreme pH negatively affects these aspects. IMPORTANCE Cryptocaryon irritans is a ciliate parasite that causes "white spot disease" in marine teleosts. The disease outbreak is influenced by hosts and a range of abiotic factors, such as temperature, salinity, and pH. Studies have shown that change in pH of seawater affects the structure (diversity and abundance of marine organisms) of marine ecosystem. However, how pH affects the life cycle and survival of C. irritans, and how future ocean acidification will affect the occurrence of cryptocaryoniasis, are not well understood. In this study, we explored the effect of pH on the formation and hatching of C. irritans tomonts. The findings of this study provide the foundation of the environmental adaptation of C. irritans, the occurrence of cryptocaryoniasis, and better management of marine fish culture.
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Jin D, Li L, Lyu J, Warren A, Shao C. Morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a freshwater ciliate, Oxytricha multilineata n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia). Eur J Protistol 2022; 82:125864. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2022.125864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Neupane S, Saski C, Nayduch D. House fly larval grazing alters dairy cattle manure microbial communities. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:346. [PMID: 34911456 PMCID: PMC8672618 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02418-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background House fly larvae (Musca domestica L.) require a live microbial community to successfully develop. Cattle manure is rich in organic matter and microorganisms, comprising a suitable substrate for larvae who feed on both the decomposing manure and the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes therein. Microbial communities change as manure ages, and when fly larvae are present changes attributable to larval grazing also occur. Here, we used high throughput sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes to characterize microbial communities in dairy cattle manure and evaluated the changes in those communities over time by comparing the communities in fresh manure to aged manure with or without house fly larvae. Results Bacteria, archaea and protist community compositions significantly differed across manure types (e.g. fresh, aged, larval-grazed). Irrespective of manure type, microbial communities were dominated by the following phyla: Euryarchaeota (Archaea); Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes (Bacteria); Ciliophora, Metamonanda, Ochrophyta, Apicomplexa, Discoba, Lobosa and Cercozoa (Protists). Larval grazing significantly reduced the abundances of Bacteroidetes, Ciliophora, Cercozoa and increased the abundances of Apicomplexa and Discoba. Manure aging alone significantly altered the abundance bacteria (Acinetobacter, Clostridium, Petrimonas, Succinovibro), protists (Buxtonella, Enteromonas) and archaea (Methanosphaera and Methanomassiliicoccus). Larval grazing also altered the abundance of several bacterial genera (Pseudomonas, Bacteroides, Flavobacterium, Taibaiella, Sphingopyxis, Sphingobacterium), protists (Oxytricha, Cercomonas, Colpodella, Parabodo) and archaea (Methanobrevibacter and Methanocorpusculum). Overall, larval grazing significantly reduced bacterial and archaeal diversities but increased protist diversity. Moreover, total carbon (TC) and nitrogen (TN) decreased in larval grazed manure, and both TC and TN were highly correlated with several of bacterial, archaeal and protist communities. Conclusions House fly larval grazing altered the abundance and diversity of bacterial, archaeal and protist communities differently than manure aging alone. Fly larvae likely alter community composition by directly feeding on and eliminating microbes and by competing with predatory microbes for available nutrients and microbial prey. Our results lend insight into the role house fly larvae play in shaping manure microbial communities and help identify microbes that house fly larvae utilize as food sources in manure. Information extrapolated from this study can be used to develop manure management strategies to interfere with house fly development and reduce house fly populations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-021-02418-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saraswoti Neupane
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Christopher Saski
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Dana Nayduch
- USDA-ARS, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, Manhattan, KS, USA.
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Wang J, Zhang T, Li F, Warren A, Li Y, Shao C. A new hypotrich ciliate, Oxytricha xianica sp. nov., with notes on the morphology and phylogeny of a Chinese population of Oxytricha auripunctata Blatterer & Foissner, 1988 (Ciliophora, Oxytrichidae). MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 3:303-312. [PMID: 37073288 PMCID: PMC10077236 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-020-00089-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The morphology and infraciliature of the new hypotrichous ciliate, Oxytricha xianica sp. nov., and a Chinese population of Oxytricha auripunctata Blatterer & Foissner, 1988, are investigated using live observation and protargol staining. Oxytricha xianica sp. nov. is defined by the body size 85-130 µm × 30-50 µm in vivo, the typical oxytrichid 18 frontoventral-transverse cirri, cortical granules absent, undulating membranes reduced or absent, three caudal cirri, dorsal kineties in Oxytricha pattern, and two ellipsoidal macronuclear nodules. The Chinese population of O. auripunctata differs slightly from other populations in the arrangement and color of cortical granules and position of anterior end of dorsal kinety 4. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU-rDNA sequences support the assertion that O. auripunctata belongs to Oxytricha and Oxytrichidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Wang
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710119 China
| | - Tengteng Zhang
- Insititute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Fengchao Li
- College of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002 China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | - Yanbo Li
- Handan Foreign Language School of Hebei Province, Handan, 056002 China
| | - Chen Shao
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710119 China
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12
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Farthing HN, Jiang J, Henwood AJ, Fenton A, Garner TWJ, Daversa DR, Fisher MC, Montagnes DJS. Microbial Grazers May Aid in Controlling Infections Caused by the Aquatic Zoosporic Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:592286. [PMID: 33552011 PMCID: PMC7858660 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.592286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-living eukaryotic microbes may reduce animal diseases. We evaluated the dynamics by which micrograzers (primarily protozoa) apply top-down control on the chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) a devastating, panzootic pathogen of amphibians. Although micrograzers consumed zoospores (∼3 μm), the dispersal stage of chytrids, not all species grew monoxenically on zoospores. However, the ubiquitous ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis, which likely co-occurs with Bd, grew at near its maximum rate (r = 1.7 d-1). A functional response (ingestion vs. prey abundance) for T. pyriformis, measured using spore-surrogates (microspheres) revealed maximum ingestion (I max ) of 1.63 × 103 zoospores d-1, with a half saturation constant (k) of 5.75 × 103 zoospores ml-1. Using these growth and grazing data we developed and assessed a population model that incorporated chytrid-host and micrograzer dynamics. Simulations using our data and realistic parameters obtained from the literature suggested that micrograzers could control Bd and potentially prevent chytridiomycosis (defined as 104 sporangia host-1). However, simulated inferior micrograzers (0.7 × I max and 1.5 × k) did not prevent chytridiomycosis, although they ultimately reduced pathogen abundance to below levels resulting in disease. These findings indicate how micrograzer responses can be applied when modeling disease dynamics for Bd and other zoosporic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel N. Farthing
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jiamei Jiang
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Alexandra J. Henwood
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andy Fenton
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Trent W. J. Garner
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David R. Daversa
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew C. Fisher
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David J. S. Montagnes
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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13
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Fan X, Yao S, Luo X, Dong T, Xu Y, Chen L, Bourland W, Zhao Y, Huang J. Some morphologically distinguishable hypotrich ciliates share identical 18S rRNA gene sequences – taxonomic insights from a case study on Oxytricha species (Protista, Ciliophora). Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Modern taxonomic studies of ciliated protozoa require both morphological and molecular data. One dilemma is how to distinguish morphologically similar species with few nucleotide differences in the widely used marker, the 18S rRNA gene. In the present study, two Oxytricha species were morphologically documented using light and electron microscopy. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and a fragment of the rRNA gene covering the 18S-ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-28S rRNA gene regions were sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses of all available Oxytricha granulifera-related populations were performed to reveal the internal relationships of this group. We described a new species, Oxytricha atypica sp. nov., distinguished from its congeners by having seven postoral ventral cirri resulting from the additional fragmentation of anlage V during ontogenesis. Although their 18S rRNA genes differ by only one nucleotide, divergence of the COI gene is as high as 11.8% between O. atypica and the closely related species, O. granulifera. All but one of the COI nucleotide substitutions were synonymous. We documented the highly conserved nature of the 18S rRNA gene in the morphospecies of Oxytricha. Based on these findings, we speculate that O. granulifera contains cryptic species or morphospecies needing further characterization, and new insights for the taxonomy of hypotrich ciliates are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinpeng Fan
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shunli Yao
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaotian Luo
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianyao Dong
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingyun Chen
- College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China
| | - William Bourland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Yan Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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14
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Xin R, Banda JF, Hao C, Dong H, Pei L, Guo D, Wei P, Du Z, Zhang Y, Dong H. Contrasting seasonal variations of geochemistry and microbial community in two adjacent acid mine drainage lakes in Anhui Province, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115826. [PMID: 33160735 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is generated by the bio-oxidation of sulfide minerals. To understand the AMD formation and evolution, it is necessary to determine the composition and variation of acidophilic community, and their role in AMD ecosystem. In this study, we compared seasonal variations of geochemistry and microbial composition of two adjacent AMD lakes with different formation histories in Anhui Province, China. Lake Paitu (PT) formed in 1970s near a mine dump and the pH was in the range of 3.01-3.16, with the lowest in spring and summer while the highest in winter. The main ions in PT were Al and SO42-, whereas Fe concentration was relatively low. The concentrations of these ions were the lowest in summer and the highest in winter. Lake Tafang (TF) formed in around 2013 in a pit was more acidic (pH 2.43-2.75), but the seasonal variation of pH was the same as PT. Compared with Lake PT, TF had higher Fe, lower Al and SO42- concentrations, and showed no significant seasonal changes. Despite salient seasonal variations of prokaryotic composition in Lake PT, Ferrovum was the major iron-oxidizing bacterium in most seasons. Furthermore, Lake PT was also rich in heterotrophic bacteria (48.6 ± 15.9%). Both prokaryotic diversity and evenness of Lake TF were lower than PT, and chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria (71.7 ± 25.4%) were dominant in almost all samples. Besides Ferrovum, more acid tolerant iron-oxidizer Leptospirillum and Acidithiobacillus were also abundant in Lake TF. Chlamydomonas was the major eukaryote in Lake PT and it flourished repeatedly at the end of December, causing an extremely high chlorophyll a concentration (587 μg/L) at one sampling site in 2016, which provided rich nutrients for heterotrophic bacteria. The main alga in Lake TF was Chrysonebula, but its concentration was low, apparently because of the strong acidity and dark red color of lake water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruirui Xin
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Joseph Frazer Banda
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chunbo Hao
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Huiyuan Dong
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Lixin Pei
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Dongyi Guo
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Pengfei Wei
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zerui Du
- Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hailiang Dong
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China; Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA
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15
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Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Oxytricha seokmoensis sp. nov. (Hypotrichia: Oxytrichidae), with notes on its morphogenesis. Eur J Protistol 2019; 71:125641. [PMID: 31639568 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2019.125641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A new hypotrichous ciliate, Oxytricha seokmoensis sp. nov., was discovered in a soil from a forest in South Korea and described based on the observations of living and stained specimens. In addition, phylogenetic analyses were performed using the small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene sequence. Morphologically, the new species is similar to the O. granulifera-complex in terms of ciliary structure and arrangement of cortical granules, but dorsal kineties 3 and 4 (not completely separated vs. separated) and macronuclear nodules in the cyst (separated vs. fused) differ. Oxytricha seokmoensis is most similar to O. pulvillus, but can be distinguished by the number of adoral membranelles (30-40 vs. 23-27), contractile vacuole (present vs. absent), number of left (27-37 vs. 17-25) and right (27-35 vs. 18-23) marginal cirri, and lepidosomes on the cyst surface (present vs. absent). In a phylogenetic tree, O. seokmoensis is distinctly separated from the O. granulifera clade, but is sister to the Paroxytricha clade. In addition, O. seokmoensis and P. longigranulosa have the smallest genetic difference (d = 0.015, 23 of 1579 nt difference). This close relationship is supported by incomplete dorsal kinety 3 fragmentation and separated macronuclear nodules in resting cysts.
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16
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Méndez-Sánchez D, Mayén-Estrada R, Luo X, Hu X. A New Subspecies of Oxytricha granulifera (Hypotrichia: Oxytrichidae) from Mexico, with Notes on its Morphogenesis and Phylogenetic Position. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2017; 65:357-371. [PMID: 29044809 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The genus Oxytricha Bory de Saint-Vincent in Lamouroux, Bory de Saint-Vincent and Deslongchamps, 1824 comprises about 38 species distributed worldwide and has been considered to be a nonmonophyletic group. Based on living observations, protargol preparations, and a small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequence, we describe a new subspecies Oxytricha granulifera chiapasensis n. subsp. This new taxon is morphologically characterized by undulating membranes basically in a Stylonychia-pattern, six dorsal kineties, size in vivo ca. 60-120 × 20-40 μm, 21-30 right and 21-31 left marginal cirri, 22-29 adoral membranelles, and spherical cortical granules arranged in longitudinal rows on the dorsal side. In terms of the SSU rRNA gene sequence, the new subspecies differs from populations of O. granulifera from GENBANK by 7-35 nucleotides. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Oxytricha granulifera gene sequences were nested into three groups, with the new subspecies included in one of them. Oxytricha granulifera chiapasensis n. subsp. is different from Oxytricha granulifera granulifera Foissner and Adam, 1983 and Oxytricha granulifera quadricirrata Blatterer and Foissner, 1988 based on: (i) undulating membranes in Stylonychia-pattern, (ii) formation of a sixth dorsal kinety during morphogenesis, (iii) the adoral membranelles number, and (iv) inhabiting freshwater habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Méndez-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Protozoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Ext. s/núm. Ciudad Universitaria, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rosaura Mayén-Estrada
- Laboratorio de Protozoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Ext. s/núm. Ciudad Universitaria, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Xiaotian Luo
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Xiaozhong Hu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
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17
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Morphology, morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a new soil ciliate Paragonostomoides xianicum n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia, Gonostomatidae). Eur J Protistol 2017; 61:233-243. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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18
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Mesa V, Gallego JLR, González-Gil R, Lauga B, Sánchez J, Méndez-García C, Peláez AI. Bacterial, Archaeal, and Eukaryotic Diversity across Distinct Microhabitats in an Acid Mine Drainage. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1756. [PMID: 28955322 PMCID: PMC5600952 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid mine drainages are characterized by their low pH and the presence of dissolved toxic metallic species. Microorganisms survive in different microhabitats within the ecosystem, namely water, sediments, and biofilms. In this report, we surveyed the microbial diversity within all domains of life in the different microhabitats at Los Rueldos abandoned mercury underground mine (NW Spain), and predicted bacterial function based on community composition. Sediment samples contained higher proportions of soil bacteria (AD3, Acidobacteria), as well as Crenarchaeota and Methanomassiliicoccaceae archaea. Oxic and hypoxic biofilm samples were enriched in bacterial iron oxidizers from the genus Leptospirillum, order Acidithiobacillales, class Betaproteobacteria, and archaea from the class Thermoplasmata. Water samples were enriched in Cyanobacteria and Thermoplasmata archaea at a 3–98% of the sunlight influence, whilst Betaproteobacteria, Thermoplasmata archaea, and Micrarchaea dominated in acid water collected in total darkness. Stalactites hanging from the Fe-rich mine ceiling were dominated by the neutrophilic iron oxidizer Gallionella and other lineages that were absent in the rest of the microhabitats (e.g., Chlorobi, Chloroflexi). Eukaryotes were detected in biofilms and open-air water samples, and belonged mainly to clades SAR (Alveolata and Stramenopiles), and Opisthokonta (Fungi). Oxic and hypoxic biofilms displayed higher proportions of ciliates (Gonostomum, Oxytricha), whereas water samples were enriched in fungi (Paramicrosporidium and unknown microbial Helotiales). Predicted function through bacterial community composition suggested adaptive evolutive convergence of function in heterogeneous communities. Our study showcases a broad description of the microbial diversity across different microhabitats in the same environment and expands the knowledge on the diversity of microbial eukaryotes in AMD habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Mesa
- Department of Functional Biology - IUBA, University of OviedoOviedo, Spain.,Vedas Research and Innovation, Vedas CIIMedellín, Colombia
| | - Jose L R Gallego
- Department of Mining Exploitation and Prospecting - IUBA, University of OviedoMieres, Spain
| | - Ricardo González-Gil
- Department of Biology of Organisms and Systems - University of OviedoOviedo, Spain
| | - Béatrice Lauga
- Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, CNRS/Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-chimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, UMR5254Pau, France
| | - Jesús Sánchez
- Department of Functional Biology - IUBA, University of OviedoOviedo, Spain
| | | | - Ana I Peláez
- Department of Functional Biology - IUBA, University of OviedoOviedo, Spain
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19
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Hao C, Wei P, Pei L, Du Z, Zhang Y, Lu Y, Dong H. Significant seasonal variations of microbial community in an acid mine drainage lake in Anhui Province, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 223:507-516. [PMID: 28131478 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD),characterized by strong acidity and high metal concentrations, generates from the oxidative dissolution of metal sulfides, and acidophiles can accelerate the process significantly. Despite extensive research in microbial diversity and community composition, little is known about seasonal variations of microbial community structure (especially micro eukaryotes) in response to environmental conditions in AMD ecosystem. To this end, AMD samples were collected from Nanshan AMD lake, Anhui Province, China, over a full seasonal cycle from 2013 to 2014, and water chemistry and microbial composition were studied. pH of lake water was stable (∼3.0) across the sampling period, while the concentrations of ions varied dramatically. The highest metal concentrations in the lake were found for Mg and Al, not commonly found Fe. Unexpectedly, ultrahigh concentration of chlorophyll a was measured in the extremely acidic lake, reaching 226.43-280.95 μg/L in winter, even higher than those in most eutrophic freshwater lakes. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities showed a strong seasonal variation. Among the prokaryotes, "Ferrovum", a chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacterium was predominant in most sampling seasons, although it was a minor member prior to September, 2012. Fe2+ was the initial geochemical factor that drove the variation of the prokaryotic community. The eukaryotic community was simple but varied more drastically than the prokaryotic community. Photoautotrophic algae (primary producers) formed a food web with protozoa or flagellate (top consumers) across all four seasons, and temperature appeared to be responsible for the observed seasonal variation. Ochromonas and Chlamydomonas (responsible for high algal bloom in winter) occurred in autumn/summer and winter/spring seasons, respectively, because of their distinct growth temperatures. The closest phylogenetic relationship between Chlamydomonas species in the lake and those in Arctic and Alpine suggested that the native Chlamydomonas species may have been both acidophilic and psychrophilic after a long acclimation time in this extreme environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunbo Hao
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Pengfei Wei
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lixin Pei
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zerui Du
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yanchun Lu
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Hailiang Dong
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China; Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
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20
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Wang J, Lyu Z, Warren A, Wang F, Shao C. Morphology, ontogeny and molecular phylogeny of a novel saline soil ciliate, Urosomoida paragiliformis n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia). Eur J Protistol 2016; 56:79-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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21
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New contributions to the biodiversity of ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) from Antarctica, including a description of Gastronauta multistriata nov. spec. Polar Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1869-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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22
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Fan Y, Zhao X, Hu X, Miao M, Warren A, Song W. Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of two novel ciliates, with establishment of a new genus, Pseudogastrostyla n. g. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia, Oxytrichidae). Eur J Protistol 2015; 51:374-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2015.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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Hu X, Fan Y, Warren A. New record of Apoholosticha sinica (Ciliophora, Urostylida) from the UK: morphology, 18S rRNA gene phylogeny and notes on morphogenesis. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 65:2549-2561. [PMID: 25948616 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.000301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The benthic urostylid ciliate Apoholosticha sinicaFan et al., 2014 was isolated from a salt marsh at Blakeney, UK, and reinvestigated using light microscopy and small-subunit rRNA gene sequencing. Morphologically, it corresponds well with the original description. Several stages of divisional morphogenesis and physiological reorganization were also observed from which the following could be deduced: (i) the oral apparatus is completely newly built in the proter; (ii) frontal-ventral-transverse cirral anlage II does not produce a buccal cirrus; (iii) each of the posteriormost three or four anlagen contributes one transverse cirrus at its posterior end; (iv) a row of frontoterminal cirri originates from the rearmost frontal-ventral-transverse cirral anlage; (v) the last midventral row is formed from the penultimate frontal-ventral-transverse cirral anlage. Based on new data, two diagnostic features were added to the genus definition: (i) the midventral complex is composed of midventral pairs and midventral row and (ii) pretransverse ventral cirri are absent. Based on a combination of morphological and morphogenetic data, the genus Apoholosticha is assigned to the recently erected subfamily Nothoholostichinae Paiva et al., 2014, which is consistent with sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene data. It is also concluded that this benthic species, previously reported only from China, is not an endemic form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhong Hu
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, PR China.,Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Yangbo Fan
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, PR China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
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24
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Jung JH, Park KM, Min GS. Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Pseudocyrtohymena koreana
n. g., n. sp. and Antarctic Neokeronopsis asiatica
Foissner et al., 2010 (Ciliophora, Sporadotrichida), with a Brief Discussion of the Cyrtohymena
Undulating Membranes Pattern. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2014; 62:280-97. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2013] [Revised: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Ho Jung
- Department of Biological Sciences; Inha University; Incheon 402-751 South Korea
| | - Kyung-Min Park
- Department of Biological Sciences; Inha University; Incheon 402-751 South Korea
| | - Gi-Sik Min
- Department of Biological Sciences; Inha University; Incheon 402-751 South Korea
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25
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Shao C, Chen L, Pan Y, Warren A, Miao M. Morphology and phylogenetic position of the oxytrichid ciliates, Urosoma salmastra (Dragesco and Dragesco-Kernéis, 1986) Berger, 1999 and U. karinae sinense nov. sspec. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia). Eur J Protistol 2014; 50:593-605. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2014] [Revised: 08/10/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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26
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Chen L, Zhao X, Ma H, Warren A, Shao C, Huang J. Morphology, morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a soil ciliate, Pseudouroleptus caudatus caudatus Hemberger, 1985 (Ciliophora, Hypotricha), from Lhalu Wetland, Tibet. Eur J Protistol 2014; 51:1-14. [PMID: 25306105 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2014.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Pseudouroleptus caudatus caudatus Hemberger, 1985, a soil ciliate isolated from Tibet, was studied in vivo and after protargol impregnation. The Tibetan population is mainly characterized by: elongate body with narrowly rounded anterior end and tapered posterior end; length of buccal area relative to body length ca. 20-25%; cortical granules colourless, round, densely distributed throughout sub-pellicular layer of cell; one parabuccal cirrus; post-peristomial cirrus lacking in 75% of specimens analyzed; left and right ventral rows commence at same level; four dorsal kineties; 3-6 inconspicuous caudal cirri; two macronuclear nodules; 2-7 micronuclei; contractile vacuole located at about 33% of body length near left margin. Morphogenesis is characterized by: (1) parental adoral zone of membranelles retained completely; (2) anterior segments of streaks VI and IV and the whole of streak V form the anterior, middle, posterior segments of the mixed row, respectively; (3) right ventral row originates de novo in both daughter cells; (4) marginal rows develop intrakinetally; (5) dorsal kinety anlage 3 develops de novo in the proter and intrakinetally in the opisthe; and (6) the two macronuclear nodules fuse into a single mass which then divides. Molecular phylogenies corroborate the morphological identification and support the close relationship between Pseudouroleptus and Strongylidium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Chen
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering Ministry of Education, Department of Biology and Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Xiaolu Zhao
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Honggang Ma
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Chen Shao
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering Ministry of Education, Department of Biology and Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Jie Huang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
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27
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Shao C, Lv Z, Pan Y, Al-Rasheid KAS, Yi Z. Morphology and phylogenetic analysis of two oxytrichid soil ciliates from China, Oxytricha paragranulifera n. sp. and Oxytricha granulifera Foissner and Adam, 1983 (Protista, Ciliophora, Hypotrichia). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2014; 64:3016-3027. [DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.062281-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphology and infraciliature of two hypotrichous ciliates, Oxytricha paragranulifera n. sp. and Oxytricha granulifera Foissner and Adam, 1983, collected respectively from the surface of a sandy soil in the Huguang mangrove forest, Zhanjiang, China, and the surface of soil in a forest beside Ziwu Road, Xian, north-west China, were examined. O. paragranulifera n. sp. is characterized by an elongate body with slightly tapered anterior end, two macronuclear nodules and two micronuclei, paroral and endoral in Stylonychia-pattern, colourless cortical granules distributed in clusters or irregular short rows, adoral zone occupying 37 % of the body length, marginal rows almost confluent posteriorly, six dorsal kineties and three caudal cirri, caudal cirri and dorsal bristles almost indistinguishable when viewed in vivo. The well-known O. granulifera Foissner and Adam, 1983 was also redescribed and can be separated from the novel species by having cortical granules arranged along dorsal kineties and marginal rows on both sides (vs grouped in clusters as well as in short irregular rows), paroral and endoral in Oxytricha-pattern (vs in Stylonychia-pattern), macronuclear nodules obviously detached (vs adjacent) and a non-saline terrestrial habitat (vs saline terrestrial). The separation of these two taxa is also firmly supported by the molecular data, which show a significant difference between the two in their SSU rRNA gene sequences (similarity 97.1 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data suggest a close relationship within the Oxytrichidae assemblage between O. paragranulifera n. sp. and O. granulifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Shao
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, PR China
| | - Zhao Lv
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, PR China
| | - Ying Pan
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China
| | | | - Zhenzhen Yi
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
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28
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Chen X, Miao M, Ma H, Al-Rasheid KAS, Xu K, Lin X. Morphology, Ontogeny, and Phylogeny of Two Brackish Urostylid Ciliates (Protist, Ciliophora, Hypotricha). J Eukaryot Microbiol 2014; 61:594-610. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xumiao Chen
- Institute of Oceanology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Qingdao 266071 China
- Laboratory of Protozoology; Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity; Ocean University of China; Qingdao 266003 China
| | - Miao Miao
- College of Life Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Honggang Ma
- Laboratory of Protozoology; Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity; Ocean University of China; Qingdao 266003 China
| | | | - Kuidong Xu
- Institute of Oceanology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Qingdao 266071 China
| | - Xiaofeng Lin
- Laboratory of Protozoology; Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment Science in Guangdong Higher Education; College of Life Science; South China Normal University; Guangzhou 510631 China
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29
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Morphology, morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a new marine ciliate, Trichototaxis marina n. sp. (Ciliophora, Urostylida). Eur J Protistol 2014; 50:524-37. [PMID: 25254329 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The live morphology, infraciliature and morphogenesis of a new urostylid ciliate, Trichototaxis marina n. sp., collected from coastal water in Qingdao, China, were studied based on the observations of live and silver stained specimens. The new species is characterised as follows: body very flexible and contractile, slight to brick-reddish in colour due to irregularly-shaped, brick-red pigments; ca. 70 adoral membranelles; about 17 frontal cirri arranged in a bicorona; average 67 midventral pairs, the right base of each pair being conspicuously larger than the left base; five to seven transverse cirri; constantly two frontoterminal, one buccal and two pretransverse ventral cirri; two or three left marginal rows; right and innermost left marginal rows with 56-92 and 66-106 cirri, respectively; six bipolar dorsal kineties; more than 100 macronuclear nodules. The characteristic morphogenetic feature in T. marina is the development of the left marginal rows, that is, only one left marginal row is newly built the other one or two being retained from the parental cell. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal gene sequence data reveal a close relationship of T. marina with members of family Pseudokeronopsidae.
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30
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Weisse T. Ciliates and the Rare Biosphere—Community Ecology and Population Dynamics. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2014; 61:419-33. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weisse
- Research Institute for Limnology University of Innsbruck Mondseestraße 95310 Mondsee Austria
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31
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Hu X. Ciliates in extreme environments. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2014; 61:410-8. [PMID: 24801529 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
As eukaryotic microbial life, ciliated protozoan may be found actively growing in some extreme condition where there is a sufficient energy source to sustain it because they are exceedingly adaptable and not notably less adaptable than the prokaryotes. However, a crucial problem in the study of ciliates in extreme environments is the lack of reliable cultivation techniques. To our knowledge, only a tiny fraction of ciliates can be cultured in the laboratory, even for a very limited period, which can partly explain the paucity of our understanding about ciliates diversity in various extremes although the interest in the biodiversity of extremophiles increased significantly during the past three decades. This mini-review aims to compile the knowledge of several groups of free-living ciliates that can be microscopically observed in extreme environmental samples, although most habitats have not been sufficiently well explored for sound generalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhong Hu
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity & College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
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32
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Weisse T, Scheffel U, Stadler P, Foissner W. Functional ecology of the ciliate Glaucomides bromelicola, and comparison with the sympatric species Bromeliothrix metopoides. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2013; 60:578-87. [PMID: 23865693 PMCID: PMC4028988 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Revised: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the ecology and life strategy of Glaucomides bromelicola (family Bromeliophryidae), a very common ciliate in the reservoirs (tanks) of bromeliads, assessing its response to food quality and quantity and pH. Further, we conducted competition experiments with the frequently coexisting species Bromeliothrix metopoides (family Colpodidae). In contrast to B. metopoides and many other colpodean ciliates, G. bromelicola does not form resting cysts, which jeopardizes this ciliate when its small aquatic habitats dry out. Both species form bactivorous microstomes and flagellate-feeding macrostomes. However, only G. bromelicola has a low feeding threshold and is able to adapt to different protist food. The higher affinity to the local bacterial and flagellate food renders it the superior competitor relative to B. metopoides. Continuous encystment and excystment of the latter may enable stable coexistence of both species in their natural habitat. Both are tolerant to a wide range of pH (4–9). These ciliates appear to be limited to tank bromeliads because they either lack resting cysts and vectors for long distance dispersal (G. bromelicola) and/or have highly specific food requirements (primarily B. metopoides).
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weisse
- Research Institute for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Herzog Odilostrasse 101, Mondsee, 5310, Austria
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Weisse T, Laufenstein N, Weithoff G. Multiple environmental stressors confine the ecological niche of the rotifer Cephalodella acidophila. FRESHWATER BIOLOGY 2013; 58:1008-1015. [PMID: 23704795 PMCID: PMC3659023 DOI: 10.1111/fwb.12104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The planktonic food web in extremely acidic mining lakes is restricted to a few species that are either acidophilic or acidotolerant. Common metazoans inhabiting acidic mining lakes with a pH below 3 include rotifers in the genera Cephalodella and Elosa. The life history response of Cephalodella acidophila to three environmental key factors, pH (2, 3.5, 5.0 and 7.0), temperature (10, 17.5 and 25 °C) and food concentration (10 000, 35 000 and 50 000 algal cells per mL), was investigated in a full factorial design using life-table experiments. The effect of each of the three environmental variables investigated on the rotifer life cycle parameters (life span, fecundity and population growth rate) differed. C. acidophila is a stenoecious species with a pH optimum in the range 3-4 and a comparably high food threshold. Combining the laboratory results with field data, we conclude that C. acidophila is severely growth limited in its natural habitat. However, low pH alone is not harmful as long as temperatures are moderate to warm and food is abundant. The population of C. acidophila in the field is maintained mainly due to release from competitors and predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weisse
- Research Institute for Limnology of the University of InnsbruckMondsee, Austria
| | - Nicole Laufenstein
- Institute for Limnology of the Austrian Academy of SciencesMondsee, Austria
| | - Guntram Weithoff
- Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling, University of PotsdamPotsdam, Germany
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Chen X, Yan Y, Hu X, Zhu M, Ma H, Warren A. Morphology and morphogenesis of a soil ciliate, Rigidohymena candens (Kahl, 1932) Berger, 2011 (Ciliophora, Hypotricha, Oxytrichidae), with notes on its molecular phylogeny based on small-subunit rDNA sequence data. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2013; 63:1912-1921. [DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.048611-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphology and morphogenesis of the stylonychine hypotrich Rigidohymena candens (Kahl, 1932) Berger, 2011, isolated from garden soil in Qingdao, China, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation methods. The Qingdao isolate possesses all diagnostic morphological characters of R. candens. The main events during binary fission are as follows: (i) the proter retains the parental adoral zone of membranelles entirely, whereas the old undulating membranes dedifferentiate into an anlage that gives rise to the leftmost frontal cirrus and the new undulating membranes of the proter; (ii) five streaks of fronto-ventral-transverse cirral anlagen are segmented in the pattern 3 : 3 : 3 : 4 : 4 from left to right, which form two frontal, four frontoventral, one buccal, five ventral and five transverse cirri, respectively; (iii) dorsal morphogenesis is in the typical Oxytricha pattern; (iv) three caudal cirri are formed, one at the posterior end of each of dorsal kineties 1, 2 and 4; and (v) the postoral ventral cirrus V/3 is not involved in primordia formation. The morphological and morphogenetic observations and phylogenetic analyses based on the small-subunit rDNA sequence data support the validity of Rigidohymena Berger, 2011 and its systematic position in the subfamily Stylonychinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xumiao Chen
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China
| | - Ying Yan
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China
| | - Xiaozhong Hu
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China
| | - Mingzhuang Zhu
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China
| | - Honggang Ma
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
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35
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Weisse T, Scheffel U, Stadler P, Foissner W. Bromeliothrix metopoides, a boom and bust ciliate (Ciliophora, Colpodea) from tank bromeliads. Eur J Protistol 2013; 49:406-19. [PMID: 23541138 PMCID: PMC3688101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2013.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2012] [Revised: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the recently described colpodid ciliate Bromeliothrix metopoides in a series of laboratory experiments to reveal the environmental factors that constrain this species to its peculiar habitat, i.e. the tanks of bromeliads. Our results demonstrated that the various life stages of this ciliate (bacterivorous theronts and microstome trophonts, flagellate-feeding macrostomes) have specific demands in terms of food quality and quantity. Bromeliothrix required a high food threshold (>1.4 mg C L−1) in order to thrive. Food quality also affected resting cyst formation of B. metopoides when the experimental containers dried out. Its maximum growth rates (μmax = 4.71 d−1, i.e. 6.8 doublings d−1) belong to the highest ones recorded thus far for free-living ciliates. The pH niche of B. metopoides was relatively wide (pH ∼4 to >9) under optimal food conditions. However, its high sensitivity to unfavourable environmental conditions let the population collapse within several hours. We conclude that B. metopoides is a boom and bust ciliate that is specifically adapted to its peculiar habitat but virtually unviable in other environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weisse
- University of Innsbruck, Research Institute for Limnology, Mondsee, Austria.
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