A Thesis Submitted For Ph.d Taxonomic And Morphogenetic Studies On Hypotrichs (protozoa: Ciliophora)

Ciliate plays an important role in cell biology, molecular biology, and ecology because their complicated morphogenetic process, unique sexual reproduction, special nuclear dualism and close relation with the micro-food-web. As the most complex and highly differentiated group, hypotrichs has been a research hotspot, especially on its diversity and morphorgenesis. However, owing to technology limit, there are still numerous unknown and little known taxa even after over 300 years study. More conflicts, confusion needs revision.Taxonomic and morphogenetic studies on hypotrichs are carried out, including 12 genera and 19 species from various habitats off the coast of Shandong and Guangdong. Three new genera and nine new species are established, and five species are first found in China. The main achievements are composed of morphology and morphogenesis parts:Morphology:1) Three new generaApodiophrys, Heterodiophrys and Pseudodiophrys are established according the number and arrangement of the marginal cirri, and the pattern of the undulating membranes. Apodiophrys is characterized as two grouped marginal cirri which are apart from each other, while Heterodiophrys has a marginal cirral row. Pseudodiophrys is unique on having one highly reduced undulating membrane.2)Nine new speciesBased on the comparison with other known similar species, nine new forms founded are described: Caryotricha paraminuta, Pseudokeronopsis atypical, Apodiophrys ovalis, Heterodiophrys zhui, Paradiophrys zhangi, Pseudodiophrys nigricans, Euplotes sinicus, Euplotes parabalteatus, and Euplotes orientalis.3)The new combationBase on the redescription of the Kiitricha minuta Xu et al., 2009 from Qingdao, it is believed that this morphotype should be assigned to the genus Caryotricha, and an improved diagnosis was given.4)Two similar speciesTwo species which are similar to Aspidisca caspica and Amphisiella milnei respectively ,are found. Due to the rough reports on the latter, these two species are identified as cf. or aff. species.5)Three new recordsThree species, Caryotricha minuta, Euplotes raikovi and Aspidisca fusca, were first found in China. The redescription based on living observation and infraciliature are made.6)Redescription on five speciesBased on the Qingdao population, additional living and infraciliature information of Pseudokeronopsis flava, Sterkiella histriomuscorum, Anteholosticha marimonilata and Euplotes vannus are afforded.Morphogenesis:1) The morphogenetic process of Sterkiella histriomuscorum and Amphisiella aff. milnei are described in detal and compared with their congeners. The results show the conservative in the morphogenesis of Sterkiella and Amphisiella.2) Compared to its congeners, Tachysoma pellionellum has a distinct mode in the morphogenesis of frontoventral-transverse anlagen and the dorsal kineties, which suggests that Tachysoma may comprise more genera.3) Cortical and nuclear apparatus evolution of Anteholosticha marimolinata are described in detail. Differences in the fate of parental oral apparatus and the generation of the FVT-anlagen support the previous view that Anteholosticha is a heterogeneous group which probably comprises several genera.4) The complete morphogenetic process of two population of Euplotes vannus are studied, in which the proter and the opisthe got unequal number of caudal cirri. Comparison the morphogenetic characters of E. vannus with its congeners'suggests the morphogenesis of Euplotes is highly stable and conservative.