Scanning Electron Microscope Observations on Some Life History Stages of Carchesium polypinum (Ciliata, Peritrichia)1

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Sessile zooids, and mobile telotrochs and microgamonts of Carchesium polypinum (Protozoa, Ciliata, Peritrichia), were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The results were compared to earlier light and electron microscope studies in order to investigate structural changes concerned with adaptation and differentiation. Telotrochs and microgamonts always had a contracted peristome and usually had a long phalange of cilia. Striae around the contracted buccal apparatus in all 3 stages were convoluted and often had thickened margins; those in telotrochs and microgamonts had oral‐aboral ectoplasmic cross‐connections. Nonbuccal striae of telotrochs and microgamonts varied in structure and height differences between epiplasmic peaks and alveoli surface membranes. The number of striae were constant in all 3 stages. Pellicular pore structure did not vary in any of the stages examined and resembled parasomal sacs located near buccal structures. Fully relaxed sessile zooids had ectoplasmic ridges coursing from polykinety kinetosomes and cilia to an area in front of the ciliated portion of the haplokinety; these ridges were interpreted to be the interkinetal fibers. Telotroch bands of sessile zooids consisted of 2 or 3 parallel ectoplasmic ridges which circled the aboral region and contained structures resembling pores. Telotroch bands in telotrochs and microgamonts had 2 enlarged, parallel ectoplasmic ridges circling the aboral region; telotroch band cilia were found between these ridges. In addition, a fold‐like, ectoplasmic structure extended beyond the 2 ridges and was located between the telotroch band cilia and the aboral ridge. The epiplasmic shelf surrounding the stalk in sessile zooids was enlarged in telotrochs, and cilia were seen in the scopula depression. No scopula organelle was seen in any microgamont.

Fine structure of the peritrichous ectocommensal Zoothamnium sp. with emphasis on its mode of attachment to penaeid shrimp

“…The pellicular pattern and surface topography oJ: Zoothamnium sp. are typical of other stalked sessile peritrichs (Barlow & Finley 1976;Small & Ranganathan 1970;Zagon 1971). This study supports previous histological evidence (Lightner 1975) that Zoothamnium sp.…”

Morphometric study of a Brazilian strain of Carchesium polypinum (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) attached to Pomacea figulina (Mollusca: Gastropoda), with notes on a high infestation

“…The overall morphology of the Brazilian strain of C. polypinum described in the present study is very similar to the species studied by ZAGON (1970ZAGON ( , 1971, ZAGON & SMALL (1970), CURDS et al (1983), ESTEBAN & FERNÁNDEZ-GALIANO (1989), FOISSNER et al (1992, so we considered both conspecific. We provided a morphometric characterization of the species based on 10 characters measured from living individuals and nine characters measured from protargolstained specimens (Tab.…”

“…As demonstrated by recent papers, the infraciliature revealed with silver impregnation is highly species-specific, especially the structure of infundibular polykineties in the oral apparatus, playing an essential role in the determination of species (CLAMP 1990, JI & SONG 2004, JI et al 2005. Several published reports describe the morphology of the colony and zooids of C. polypinum (KAHL 1935, LOM 1964, CURDS 1969, ZAGON 1970, 1971, ZAGON & SMALL 1970, CURDS et al 1983, ESTEBAN & FERNÁNDEZ-GALIANO 1989, FOISSNER et al 1992, however, few morphometric characters were included in these studies. In the present study, we provide a characterization of the species based on new morphometric characters as used by UTZ (2007).…”

Redescription of Vorticella oceanica Zacharias, 1906 (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) with notes on its host, the marine planktonic diatom Chaetoceros coarctatum Lauder,1864

“…The presence of a pellicular ridge or comb separating the haplokinety and polykinety, and the rows of barren kinetosomes extending beyond the ciliary rows, are consistent with those reported by Warren (1991) for Scyphidia physarum . The attachment of the haplokinetal cilia directly to the peristomial collar is in contrast with that of the colonial peritrich Carchesium polypinum where the cilia of the haplokinety are attached to an ectoplasmic ridge or shelf (Zagon, 1971 ;Carey & Warren, 1983) .…”