Peritrich epibiont protozoans in the zooplankton of a subtropical shallow aquatic ecosystem (Monjolinho Reservoir, Sao Carlos, Brazil)

A checklist of epibiotic ciliates (Peritrichia and Suctoria) on the cladoceran crustaceans

“…Data on host preferences of epibionts are somewhat contradictory. Gibert & Schroder (2003) found some instances of host specificity, but Thiéry & Cazaubon (1992) and Regali-Seleghim & Godinho (2004) concluded that the epibiotic relationships are influenced more by the habitat and swimming habits of the crustacean hosts than preference for a specific host taxon. To complicate matters, Vekhov (1987) demonstrated that vulnerability to infestation by epibionts does not depend on the swimming speed or size of the host.…”

First report of Epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) living on larvae of Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) from Brazil

“…Several ciliate protozoans live as epibionts on animals and plants, using them as Most ciliates, for example, of the genus Rhabdostyla Kent, 1880 (Peritrichia, Epistylidae), live as epibionts of freshwater invertebrates, such as rotifers, crustaceans (Cladocerans, Copepods), insects from the orders Ephemeroptera and Diptera (Chironomidae), and annelids (Oligochaeta and Polychaeta) 1 . Along these lines 5 , found Rhabdostyla sp. and Scyphidia sp.…”

“…The negative effects of epibiosis on the host may involve, for example, a decrease in survival capability and perturbation of movement 4 . Epibiosis is beneficial for epibiont protozoa, which can be transported to regions richer in food or to much more oxygenated places, as pointed out by 5 . As pointed by following works 6 , peritrichs are a diverse, ecologically important ciliate group usually with a complex life cycle.…”

“…On the other hand, as pointed by work 4 peritrichs primarily consume bacteria, their location on the body of the host is indifferent. As pointed by 5 consider that bigger organisms are easier targets for the epibionts than smaller ones. Consequently, our observations may be related to epibiont preference for these aquatic organisms or to the presence of a comparatively larger adhesion surface offered by each Odonata individual.…”

Record of Rhabdostyla chironomi Kahl, 1933 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) Epibiont on Chironomidae larvae (Diptera, Chironomidae) in a lotic sytem in Brazil

“…In Brazil, R. pristinis Righi, 1973 species were recorded on Pristina minuta (Stephenson, 1914) (Oligochaeta, Naididae), in soil samples collected near the Capivara River in Serra do Cipó mountains (19° 30' S and 43° 45' W), Minas Gerais (Righi, 1973) and Rhabdostyla sp. on metazooplankton organisms (rotifers, cladocerans and copepods), in a shallow eutrophic artificial reservoir, Monjolinho Resevoir (22° 01' S and 47° 53' W), São Carlos, São Paulo (Regali-Seleghim and Godinho, 2004).…”