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Morphology, taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of three marine peritrich ciliates, including two new species: Zoothamnium apoarbuscula n. sp. and Z. apohentscheli n. sp. (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Peritrichia)

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Abstract

Zoothamnium is a speciose genus, most species of which have incomplete morphological data based on modern criteria. In the present study, the morphology of three species of Zoothamnium, i.e., Z. apoarbuscula n. sp., Z. apohentscheli n. sp., and Z. alternans, collected in Qingdao, China, was revealed using living observation and silver staining. In addition, the SSU rDNA of each species was sequenced for phylogenetic analyses. Zoothamnium apoarbuscula n. sp. is characterized by its umbellate colony which is up to 900 μm high, dichotomously branched stalk, differentiation of zooids, and infundibular polykinety 3 comprising three equal-length ciliary rows. Zoothamnium apohentscheli n. sp is characterized by its large colony up to 1700 μm high, alternately branched stalk, and infundibular polykinety 3 comprising three equal-length ciliary rows. A population of Z. alternans is described in detail. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequence data revealed that species with an alternately branched stalk cluster together in gene trees and probably represent an independent lineage within the genus Zoothamnium.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (project number: 31801984, 31772440, 31970486) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 201762017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China

    Tong Wu, Yuqing Li, Borong Lu & Weibo Song

  2. Institute of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycle, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China

    Zhuo Shen

  3. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China

    Zhuo Shen

  4. Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    Alan Warren

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  1. Tong Wu
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  2. Yuqing Li
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  3. Borong Lu
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  4. Zhuo Shen
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  5. Weibo Song
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  6. Alan Warren
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Contributions

WS conceived and guided the study. TW conducted sampling and performed experiments. BL identified the species. YL analyzed the phylogeny and interpreted the results. TW and BL wrote the manuscript, and AW and ZS reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Borong Lu or Zhuo Shen.

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We declare that all applicable international, national, and or institutional guidelines for sampling, care, and experimental use of organisms for the study have been followed and all necessary approvals have been obtained.

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Edited by Jiamei Li.

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Wu, T., Li, Y., Lu, B. et al. Morphology, taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of three marine peritrich ciliates, including two new species: Zoothamnium apoarbuscula n. sp. and Z. apohentscheli n. sp. (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Peritrichia). Mar Life Sci Technol 2, 334–348 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42995-020-00046-y

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