Taxonomic description of a new marine ciliate,Euplotes qingdaoensis n. sp. (Ciliophora: Euplotida)

The characteristics and infraciliature of a new euplotid ciliate,Euplotes qingdaoensis n.sp.,discovered from the coastal waters of Jiaozhou Bay,northern China,were studied using live observation and silver impregnation.The new marine species is characterized by a slightly fl attened body(90–110 μm×70–80 μm,in vivo),an adoral zone of 26–29 membranelles,10 strong frontoventral and fi ve transverse cirri,two caudal cirri,a single left marginal cirrus,seven dorsal kineties,a middle kinety with about 15 pairs of basal bodies,a silverline system of the double-eurystomus type,and a C-shaped macronucleus.     

Morphogenesis of the Euplotid Ciliate Uronychia binucleata Young, 1922(Ciliophora,Hypotrichia)

Morphogenesis of a population of the marine euplotid ciliate, Uronychia binucleata, which was found in Yellow Sea coastal waters next to a sewage outfall at a beach near Zhanqiao Pier, Qingdao, China, was investigated using protargol staining. The main pattern of morphogenesis is typical for the genus and can be summarized as follows: 1) the oral primordium in both proter and opisthe develops de novo in a subcortical pouch. In each daughter cell, the developing adoral zone of membranelles divides into two parts. The new membranelles formed in the proter's oral primordium will replace the leftmost five parental ones; six parental membranelles are retained by the proter; 2) the undulating membranes anlage is formed and develops independently from the oral primordium within the same subcortical pouch; 3) five primary front oventral-transverse cirral anlagen appear de novo on the cell surface; 4) the marginal cirral anlagen are formed de novo; 5) the leftmost frontal cirrus develops de novo on the cell surface; 6) two caudal cirri are formed at the posterior end of the rightmost anlage while the second primordium from the right gives rise to the third caudal cirrus. In contrast to its congeners, the anlage of the leftmost frontal cirrus is formed to the right of the undulating membranes anlage and before the formation of the latter.     

Studies on the cortical morphogenesis during cell division inHalteria grandinella (Muller, 1773) (Ciliophora,Oligotrichida)

Morphogenesis during cell division was investigated in oligotrichous ciliate,Halteria grandinella utilizing protargol impregnated specimens. The cortical morphogenetical pattern ofHalteria grandinella is generally similar to that given by Fauré-Fremiet. The proter inherits the parental adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) apparently unchanged; in the opisthe the oral primordium develops de novo from a single. AZM-anlage; somatic cirri for both the proter and opisthe are separately differentiated from 10 (seldom 9) cirral primordia that originate de novo from 10 latitudinal developmental analagen. The anlage of paroral membrane of opisthe forms just to the right of the posterior end of the oral primordium. Each streak of cirral primordia develops 4 groups of basal body pairs: both of the anterior two consist of only one pair of basal bodies, on the contrary, each of the last two groups has 2 basal body pairs. This project was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China     

STUDIES ON THE CORtICAL MORPHOGENESIS DURINg CELL DIVISION IN HaLTErIA GRANDINELLA(MULLER, 1773)(CILIOPHORA,OLIGOTRICHIDA)

Morphogenesis during cell division was investigated in oligotrichous ciliate,Halteria grandinella utilizing protargol impregnated specimens. The cortical morphogenetical pattern of Hdteria grandinella is generally similar to that given by Faure-Fremiet. The prater inherits the parental adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) appar ently unchanged; in the opisthe the oral primordium develops de novo from a single AZM-anlage; somatic cirri for both the proter and opisthe are separately differentiated from 10 (seldom 9) cirral primordia that originate de novo from 10 latitudinal developmental anlagen. The anlage of paroral membrane of opisthe forms just to the right of the posterior end of the oral primordium. Each streak of cirral primordia develops 4 groups of basal body pairs: both of the anterior two consist of only one pair of basal bodies, on the contrary, each of the last two groups has 2 basal body pairs.     

Morphology and SSU rDNA sequence analysis of two hypotrichous ciliates (Protozoa,Ciliophora, Hypotrichia) including the new species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metaurostylopsis parastruederkypkeae</Emphasis> n. sp.

The morphology and phylogeny of two hypotrichous ciliates, Metaurostylopsis parastruederkypkeae n. sp. and Neourostylopsis flavicana (Wang et al., 2011) Chen et al., 2013 were investigated based on morphology, infraciliature and the small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA) sequence. The new species, M. parastruederkypkeae n. sp. was identified according to its characteristics: body shape ellipsoidal, size about (165–200) × (45–60) μm in vivo, cell color reddish; two types of cortical granules including wheat grain-like and yellow-greenish larger ones along the marginal cirri rows and dorsal kineties and dot-like and reddish smaller ones, grouped around marginal cirri on ventral side and arranged in short lines on dorsal side; 26–41 adoral membranelles; three frontal and one parabuccal, five to seven frontoterminal, one buccal, and three to six transverse cirri; seven to thirteen midventral pairs; five to nine unpaired ventral cirri, five to seven left and three to five right marginal rows; and three complete dorsal kineties. Phylogenetic analysis based on SSU rDNA sequences showed that both Metaurostylopsis and Neourostylopsis are monophyletic. As the internal relationship between and within both genera are not clear, further studies on the species in these two genera are necessary. The key characteristics of all known twelve Metaurostylopsis-Apourostylopsis-Neourostylopsis species complex were updated.     

First record of red filament threadfin bream, Nemipterus marginatus (Valenciennes, 1830) (Perciformes, Nemipteridae), from Chinese waters

We collected five specimens of threadfin bream from Beihai, Guangxi, China in March 2010. These were subsequently identified as red filament threadfin bream Nemipterus marginatus (Valenciennes, 1830), being the first record of this species from Chinese waters. N. marginatus is distinguished by the following characteristics: lower border of eye lies above a line from tip of snout to upper base of pectoral fin; mouth oblique, maxillary extending to lower anterior border of pupil; teeth in jaws in several rows, pointed; upper jaw with 3 to 5 pairs of small recurved canines; suborbital with straight lower edge and rounded posterior edge; pectoral fins extending to between level of anus and origin of anal fin; pelvic fins reaching to the first or second anal rays; caudal fin forked, upper lobe tails into a short reddish filament; dorsal fin bluish with a yellow margin distally and a broad yellow median band which subdivides posteriorly into 3 small bands.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudolella major</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Axonolaimidae,Nematoda) from the intertidal zone of the East China Sea

A new species of free-living nematode, Pseudolella major sp. nov. is described from the intertidal mudflats of Ximen Island in the East China Sea. Pseudolella major sp. nov. is characterized as follows: body length ~1 300 μm; short cephalic setae, 2–3 μm long; amphidial fovea loop-shaped with elongated ventral branch; ventral branch 50–60 μm long and extending past the base of buccal cavity; buccal cavity cylindrical with arching or spherical base; three heavy outwardly-curving odontia with blunt tips located at anterior of buccal cavity; pharynx short with posterior bulb; ventral gland cell elongate oval-shaped, located posterior to pharyngo-intestinal junction; excretory pore situated at the level of the middle of buccal cavity; tail conical to cylindrical; spicules arched, with double-cephalate proximal end; gubernaculum with a strong dorsal caudal apophysis.     

Morphological Studies on Four Brackish Water Ciliates of the Class Spirotrichea(Protista,Ciliophora)

We reinvestigate the morphology of two oligotrich and two hypotrich ciliates collected from the coasts of north and south China, viz., Parallelostrombidium obesum Liu et al., 2015, Spirostrombidium apourceolare Liu et al., 2013, Protogastrostyla pulchra(Pereyaslawzewa, 1886) Gong et al., 2007, and Uncinata bradburyae(Gong et al., 2001) Luo et al., 2015. All the populations match well with the original samples identified in previous studies. Supplemental taxonomic data were supplied for these four species of the new populations. The species Parallelostrombidium obesum is characterised by its dorsal-ventrally flattened body shape with anterior and posterior ends transversely truncating, as well as two thigmotactic membranelles and girdle kinety that spirals around the cell one and a half times. Spirostrombidium apourceolare is characterised by its elongate ellipsoidal and dorsal-ventrally flattened body shape, two thigmotactic membranelles, about 11-27 ovoid macronuclear nodules, and girdle kinety that spirals around the cell twice with two undulations. Protogastrostyla pulchra is characterised by its elongate body shape and unique, caudally located food vacuole. Based on the new populations, we described the smaller cortical granules, clustered around dorsal bristles for the first time. The new population of Uncinata bradburyae shares the diagnostic features with the type population, which include prominent beak-like projection in anterior region, the conspicuous gap of adoral zone, proximalmost adoral membranelles distinctly elongated, and infraciliature.     

Notes on Two Marine Ciliates from the Yellow Sea,China： Placus salinus and Strombidium apolatum（Protozoa, Ciliophora）

The living morphology and infraciliature of two rare marine ciliates, Placus salinus Dietz, 1964 and Strombidium apolatum Wilbert and Song, 2005, collected from the coastal waters near Qingdao, China, were investigated by in vivo observation and protargol impregnation technique. The improved diagnosis for Placus salinus is as follows: medium-sized marine Placus, in vivo (50–60)μm×(30–40)μm; cell elliptical to barrel-shaped; 28–31 somatic kineties; single macronucleus usually ellipsoid and one micronucleus located in the indention of the macronucleus; one contractile vacuole posteriorly positioned. Strombidium apolatum is characterized by: marine strombidium (40–60)μm×(30–45)μmm in vivo, cordiform in shape with somewhat pointed posterior end and conspicuous apical protrusion; extrusomes prominent, about 15μm in length and evenly arranged along the circle kinety; about 16 collar and 5–6 buccal membranelles; one elongate macronucleus and one micronucleus; circle and ventral kineties consisting of about 53 and 45 dikinetids respectively.     

Comparison of ciliature microtubule organelles in three hypotrichous ciliate species

We examined the structure and spatial organization of ciliature base-associated microtubules (BAM) in three hypotrichous ciliates (Stylonychia mytilus, Pseudourostyla cristata, Euplotes woodruffi) in fluorescence microscopy. The results revealed that BAM, including the anterior (ALM), posterior longitudinal microtubule (PLM) and the transverse microtubule (TM) bands, are composed of tubulin. The respective microtubular bands have cytoplasmic polarization patterns that are significantly asymmetric. The BAM of the midventral files in P. cristata appear cord-shaped compared with the ALM bands of transverse cirri in both S. mytilus and E. woodruffi, which extend to the left anterior side of the cell before converging. The TM bands of the left marginal cirri (MC) in S. mytilus extend to the right side of the cell, while those of the right MC bands extend to the left. Our observations suggest that BAM traits are common in hypotrichous ciliates even though different species possess different microtubule arrangements related to the conserved cirral morphogenetic patterns in the respective species. The differing development of BAM in the three ciliate suggests that the microtubules may be conserved in different hypotrichs. We have also demonstrated that the BAM, which appear polar and asymmetric, are localized in specific cytoskeletal positions and extend in different orientations within the cortex to connect with other ciliature-associated structures and, thus, strengthen the cortex. These BAM features indicate that they are directly associated with cell motion.     

Comparative studies on the larval development of the penaeid shrimps,Penaeus Chinensis,P. merguiensis andP. penicillatus

The morphology of larval and 1st postlarval stages ofPenaeus penicillatus are described. Results from comparative studies on larval development ofP. penicillatus, P. merguiensis andP. chinensis are as follows: These three species could not be identified during their naupliar stages. In the 1st protozoea, the antennule L1/L2 value is 1.7–2.0 inP. merguiensis, but less than 1.7 inP. chinensis andP. penicillatus; in the 2nd protozoea, the supra-orbital spine inP. chinensis is not bifurcated, while those ofP. merguiensis andP. penicillatus are bifurcated; in the 3rd protozoea, there is a minute (or no) dorso-median spine on the posterior margin of the 1st and 2nd abdominal somite inP. chinensis, but they are prominent inP. merguiensis andP. penicillatus. In the mysis and 1st postlarval stages,P. chinensis differs fromP. merguiensis andP. penicillatus in having 9 (8 in the other 2 species) long setae on the exopod of pereopods 1–3; additionally, one dorsal tooth appears on the rostrum ofP. chinensis in the 2nd mysis and that of the other 2 species in the 3rd mysis;P. chinensis has 2 (mostly) or 1 dorsal tooth on the rostrum in the 3rd mysis and 2–3 in the 1st postlarva, whileP. penicillatus andP. merguiensis have only 1 in the 3rd mysis and 1st postlarva. Comparative studies on larval development showedP. penicillatus has closer affinity withP. merguiensis than withP. chinensis. Contribution No. 2218 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences     

Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Aspidisca (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Euplotida) revealed by ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequences

The internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S rRNA genes were sequenced in six populations of four Aspidisca species, namely A. leptaspis, A. orthopogon, A. magna and A. aculeata. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by means of Bayesian inference (BI), Maximum Parsimony (MP), Neighbor-Joining (NJ), and Maximum Likelihood (ML) to assess the inter- and intra-species relationships within the genus Aspidisca. All trees show similar topologies with stable supports and indicate that: (1) four well known groups, i.e., Oligotrichia, Stichotrichia, Choreotrichia and Hypotrichia, are distinctly outlined within the class Spirotrichea, and all are monophyletic other than Hypotrichia; (2) members of Aspidisca can be distinguished well, based on the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequences, and A. leptaspis and A. magna shared a closer relationship than other species; (3) Aspidisca and Euplotes branch early in the subclass Hypotrichia. To compare the phylogenetic relationships based on different genes, SSU rRNA trees were also constructed with nearly the same species inclusion, which revealed different topologies of inter-species, inter-genera and inter-subclasses.     

A review of genus Nuchequula (Teleostei: Leiognathidae) with the description of a new record from Chinese waters

We collected leiognathid fishes from the Hainan Island and Beibu Gulf between November 2007 and December 2008. Ten of these specimens were identified as Nuchequula blochii (Valenciennes 1835), which is the first record of this species in China’s waters. These specimens are distinguished by the combination of these characteristics: breast fully scaled, cheek naked, anteroventral profile of the lower jaw almost straight, a conspicuous dark blotch distally on the anterior part of spinous portion of dorsal fin, a yellow blotch distally on posterior part of spinous portion of dorsal fin, and a dark blotch on nape. This paper reviews the genus Nuchequula and describes three species that occur in China’s waters.     

Reproductive morphology ofEucheumagelatinae (Esper) J. Agardh (Solieriaceae,Gigartinales, rhodophyta)

Eucheuma gelatinae (Esper) J. Agardh has vegetative and reproductive features distinguishing it from other species ofEucheuma. The occurrence of reproductive nemathecia containing carpogonial branches, auxiliary cells and post-fertilization stages including gonimoblast and pericarp initiation, fusion cell formation stages and carposporophyte development are described and ilustrated for the first time for this species. Contribution No. 2380 of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Otolith development in larval and juvenile Schizothorax davidi: ontogeny and growth increment characteristics

Laboratory-reared Schizothorax davidi larvae and juveniles were examined to assess the formation and characteristics of David’s schizothoracin otoliths.Otolith development was observed and their formation period was verifi ed by monitoring larvae and juveniles of knownage.The results revealed that lapilli and sagittae developed before hatching,and the first otolith increment was identified at 2 days post hatching in both.The shape of lapilli was relatively stable during development compared with that of sagittae;however,growth of four sagittae and lapilli areas was consistent,but the posterior area grew faster than the anterior area and the ventral surface grew faster than the dorsal surface.Similarly,the sum length of the radius of the anterior and posterior areas on sagittae and lapilli were linearly and binomially related to total fish length,respectively.Moreover,daily deposition rates were validated by monitoring knownage larvae and juveniles.The increase in lapilli width was 1.88±0.080 0μm at the ninth increment,which reached a maximum and the decreased gradually toward the otolith edge,whereas that of sagittae increased more slowly.These results illustrate the developmental biology of S.davidi,which will aid in population conservation and fish stock management.     

Taxonomy,Morphology and Phylogeny of a New Oligotrich Ciliate–<Emphasis Type="Italic">Omegastrombidium hongkongense</Emphasis> n. sp. (Protozoa: Ciliophora) from Clear Water Bay,Hong Kong

One new marine oligotrich ciliate, Omegastrombidium hongkongense n. sp., was isolated from a bloom of Noctiluca scuntillans near Port Shelter, Hong Kong. The morphology and infraciliature of this new species were studied on both living and protargol-stained specimens. Its phylogenetic position was discussed based on the sequence of the small subunit rRNA gene. O. hongkongense is different from its congeners with special characters. The cells are usually heart-shaped, and the cell size usually is (20–35) × (20–30) μm in vivo. Its deep buccal cavity extends obliquely to about 1/2 of cell length. It shows prominent apical protrusion. The adoral zone of membranelles is divided into 17–19 collar membranelles and four buccal membranelles. It has one ball-like macronucleus. The girdle kinety forms a closed loop which obliquely surrounds the body. The ventral kinety and thigmotactic membranelles are not observed. The SSU rRNA sequence of O. hongkongense was close to those of Strombidium paracalkinsi and Varistrombidium kelum with approximately 99% similarity. In the phylogenetic trees, O. hongkongense can be grouped with O. elegans and V. kielum species with very low support (16% ML).     

Daptonema parabreviseta sp. nov. (Xyalidae,Nematoda) from the Jiaozhou Bay of the Yellow Sea,China

A new species of free-living marine nematode of the genus Daptonema Cobb, 1920 is described from the sublittoral sediment of the Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao. Daptonema parabreviseta sp. nov. is characterized by having narrowed anterior end; small funnel-shaped buccal cavity; short cephalic setae; spicules with bulbiform proximal end and pointed distal end; gubercunalum tubular shape with a blunt dorsal apophysis. The female genital system presents a spacious postvulval sac. The new species closely resembles Daptonema brevisetosum Thanh & Gagarin, 2009. However, it differs from Daptonema brevisetosum by having relatively narrowed head (10 μm vs 20 μm); spicules with bulbiform proximal end and pointed distal end, not bifurcated at distal end. Female genital system with a spacious postvulval sac (vs absent).

     

Taxonomic Studies on a New Marine Ciliate, Apocoleps magnus gen. nov., spec. nov. （Ciliophora, Colepidae）, Isolated from Qingdao, China

The morphology and infraciliature of a new marine colepid ciliate, Apocoleps magnus gen. nov., spec. nov., are described based on living observations and silver impregnations. The new genus Apocoleps is characterized by having 8 (vs. 6 in most other related genera) armour tiers, spines at both ends of the cell, 3 adoral organelles and plates with 4 reniform uni-windows. Apocoleps magnus spec. nov. is defined by the following features: body elongated and slightly curved, about 100–120μm× 35–45 μm in vivo; an...