Phylogeny of the Order Tintinnida (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea) Inferred from Small‐ and Large‐Subunit rRNA Genes

We characterized six tintinnid ciliates from Antarctic waters using molecular markers and morphological traits: Amphorellopsis quinquealata, Codonellopsis gaussi, Cymatocylis convallaria, Cy. calyciformis, Cy. drygalskii, and Laackmanniella prolongata. The 100% similarity in SSU-ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2-partial LSU rDNA sequences among Cy. convallaria, Cy. calyciformis, and Cy. drygalskii is supportive of synonymy. Codonellopsis gaussi and L. prolongata also showed high levels of similarity in SSU rDNA (99.83%) and the D2 domain of LSU rDNA (95.77%), suggesting that they are closely related. Phylogenetic analysis placed Cymatocylis in the Rhabdonellidae, Amphorellopsis in the Tintinnidae and L. prolongata/Co. gaussi within the Dictyocystidae.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…To compare the phylogenetic trees based on SSU rDNA and partial LSU rDNA, 29 LSU rRNA gene sequences of tintinnid ciliates were retrieved from the NCBI database following the method of Santoferrara et al. (). Each data set was aligned using SILVA Incremental Aligner (SINA) v. 1.2.11 (Pruesse et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Kim

Choi

Dolan

et al. 2013

“…; Santoferrara et al. ,b), they are a monophyletic group. Thus, tintinnids are a coherent group ecologically as microzooplankters, morphologically as loricate ciliates, and phylogenetically as members of the order Tintinnida.…”

Section: General Characteristics Of Tintinnids and Ecological Role Inmentioning

confidence: 97%

Southern Ocean Biogeography of Tintinnid Ciliates of the Marine Plankton

Dolan

Pierce

Yang

et al. 2012

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

“…; Santoferrara et al. ). In contrast, the use of the ITS2 secondary structure and compensatory base changes for species separation is controversial and should be cautiously evaluated (Caisova et al.…”

Section: Other Aspects Involved In Understanding Tintinnid Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 96%

Updating Biodiversity Studies in Loricate Protists: The Case of the Tintinnids (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea)

Santoferrara

Bachy

Alder

et al. 2016

Self Cite

Species determination is crucial in biodiversity research. In tintinnids, identification is based almost exclusively on the lorica, despite its frequent intraspecific variability and interspecific similarity. We suggest updated procedures for identification and, depending on the aim of the study, further steps to obtain morphological, molecular, and ecological data. Our goal is to help improving the collection of information (e.g. species re-/descriptions and DNA barcodes) that is essential for generating a natural tintinnid classification and a reliable reference for environmental surveys. These suggestions are broadly useful for protistologists because they exemplify data integration, quality/effort compromise, and the need for scientific collaborations.ACCURATE species identification is critical to understand protist biodiversity in all its dimensions (taxonomic, genetic, and functional). It is also the only means to track species distributions and abundances, especially in the context of potential shifts due to climate change. Recent developments in sequencing technologies have led to the discovery of novel lineages, life styles, and physiological traits, and are more and more integrated in