Spatiotemporal Variations in Abundance and Biomass of Planktonic Ciliates Related to Environmental Variables in a Temporal Pond, Argentina

This report describes the structure and seasonal dynamics of ciliated protozoa associated with variations in the physicochemical characteristics of the environment in a temporary pond in the Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Plankton samples were obtained and physicochemical variables measured monthly for two years. A total of 50 planktonic ciliates were recorded. The highest species richness occurred during the pond´s filling and stable-hydric phases. Upon the pond´s desiccation, the number of ciliate species decreased, with the lowest values being recorded in spring; while the highest abundance and biomass were observed before the droughts. Ciliate diversity tended to be higher after droughts but decreased with pond desiccation. Most of the ciliate species were rare and found during the filling periods. Vorticella convallaria, Pelagostrobilidium wilberti, and Coleps hirtus were dominant; Cyclidium glaucoma, Strobilidium caudatum, Pseudochilodonopsis piscatoris, Limnostrombidium viride, L. pelagicum, and Chilodonella sp. were common; and Pelagostrombidium mirabile along with Rhabdostyla sp.?an epibiont on cladocerans?were occasional. The first and the sum of all axes in canonical correspondence analysis explained a significant portion of the ciliate-data variance. The autumn and winter samples grouped together corresponding to the highest conductivities, high precipitations, and low temperatures?properties characterizing the filling and stable-hydric periods. The species were distributed mainly according to conductivity and temperature gradients along the first canonical axis. The structure and temporal dynamics of planktonic ciliates from this temporary pond varied with the changes in physicochemical characteristics of the environment determined by flooding and desiccation.Fil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; Argentin

Ciliados (Protozoa) de sedimentos secos de una charca temporaria de la Argentina

Temporary ponds represent special environments that are inhabited by organisms adapted to changing environmental conditions. Ciliates are able to survive complete loss of water in these transient habitats through cyst formation. Nevertheless, ciliates from the Neotropical region in general have been poorly studied through the use of modern techniques. The main goal of this study is to describe the ciliates developing in dried sediments of a temporary pond from the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina through samplings that were performed during the period 2003-2005. Soil samples were obtained during drought phases and rewetted in laboratory, in order to establish raw and enriched cultures. Ciliates were then studied both in vivo and after  impregnation with protargol. In this study, we present four new records for Argentina (Gonostomum affine (Stein, 1859) Sterki, 1878, Stylonychia bifaria (Stokes, 1887) Berger, 1999, Pleurotricha lanceolata (Ehrenberg, 1835) Stein, 1859, Meseres  corlissi Petz and Foissner, 1992), one more for South America (Blepharisma americanum (Suzuki, 1954) Hirshfield, Isquith and Bhandary, 1965), and two for the Neotropical Realm (Gonostomum strenuum (Engelmann, 1862) Sterki, 1878, Stylonychia lemnae Ammermann and Schlegel, 1983).Los cuerpos de agua temporarios son ambientes particulares que se encuentran habitados por organismos adaptados a condiciones fl uctuantes. Los ciliados son capaces de sobrevivir a la pérdida completa de agua del ambiente gracias a la formación de estructuras de resistencia. Por otra parte, los ciliados de la región Neotropical han sido poco investigados con técnicas modernas. El objetivo de este estudio es referir los ciliados que se desarrollaron a partir de los sedimentos secos de una charca temporaria de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, en la que se realizaron muestreos durante el período 2003-2005. Las muestras de suelo fueron obtenidas durante las fases de sequía y luego resuspendidas en el laboratorio para realizar cultivos naturales y enriquecidos. Los ciliados fueron estudiados in vivo y luego de la impregnación argéntica con protargol. En este trabajo se presentan 4 nuevos registros de especies para la fauna de ciliados de la Argentina (Gonostomum affi ne (Stein, 1859) Sterki, 1878, Stylonychia bifaria (Stokes, 1887) Berger, 1999, Pleurotricha lanceolata (Ehrenberg, 1835) Stein, 1859, Meseres corlissi Petz and Foissner, 1992), 1 para América del Sur (Blepharisma americanum (Suzuki, 1954) Hirshfi eld, Isquith and Bhandary, 1965) y 2 para la región Neotropical (Gonostomum strenuum (Engelmann, 1862) Sterki, 1878, Stylonychia lemnae Ammermann and Schlegel, 1983).Fil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Lopretto, Estela Celia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Morphology and divisional morphogenesis of brackish water ciliate Novistrombidium rufinoi sp. nov. (Ciliophora: Oligotrichia) from Brazil

The strombidiid ciliate Novistrombidium rufinoi sp. nov. is described from observations on live and protargol-impregnated specimens. The organisms were isolated from samples of slightly brackish water from Cabiúnas Lagoon, located in Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, an environment conservation area in the northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The new species measures ~40 x 35 μm in vivo and differs from congeners by having a 7?11 μm long, adherent, non-retractile tail that lacks cilia and a conspicuously spring-shaped adoral zone which has two thigmotactic membranelles. Stomatogenesis in the opisthe is hypoapokinetal and parental oral apparatus is retained in the proter.Fil: Da Silva Paiva, Thiago. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Domingos da Silva Neto, Inácio. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Biodeterioration Studies in the Ruins of San Ignacio Miní, Misiones

Las Ruinas de San Ignacio Miní, emplazadas en las cercanías del río Paraná, provincia de Misiones, fueron declaradas patrimonio de la humanidad por la UNESCO en 1984. En sus construcciones predomina la piedra asperón rojo, típica de la zona. El conjunto de la Misión de San Ignacio Miní no debería ser visualizado como una ruina, el propósito de preservar su arquitectura tiene que ver con la idea de establecer un diálogo intertemporal con una experiencia extraordinaria. Tanto los indígenas como los jesuitas, construyeron una forma de vida que preservó la identidad guaraní. Es necesario entonces, llamar la atención sobre la necesidad de estudiar el biodeterioro que sufren estas construcciones y así, poder implementar medidas de protección y realizar las tareas sucesivas de restauración. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la colonización biológica de las Ruinas y el efecto en el biodeterioro de las mismas. Se tomaron muestras de los biofilms formados sobre las superficies, que luego se analizaron en el laboratorio utilizando técnicas microbiológicas y microscópicas (microscopía óptica y electrónica de barrido). Se realizó también el estudio químico de las superficies colonizadas utilizando el análisis de energía por dispersión de rayos x (EDX). Se aislaron bacterias, cianobacterias, hongos, protozoos y líquenes. Se observó un efecto sinérgico de los factores ambientales y la actividad biológica, que puede conducir al deterioro químico y/o físico de estas construcciones.The Ruins of San Ignacio Miní, located in the margins of the Paraná river, Misiones province, were declared as cultural heritage by the UNESCO in 1984. In their buildings prevails the rock red sandstone, which is typical from this region. The Mission of San Ignacio Miní should not be considered as a ruin, since the purpose of their preservation deals with the idea of establishing an intertemporal dialog with an extraordinary experience. Indians as well as Jesuits, had a way of life that preserved the identity of the guaraní culture. In this way, biodeterioration studies become very important to the implementation of protection acts and the consequent restoration. The aim of this work was studying the biological colonization of the Ruins and the effect in their biodeterioration. Biofilms samples were analyzed applying microbiological and microscopic techniques (light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy). The chemical study of colonized surfaces was also performed by the surface analytical techniques (EDX). Bacteria, cianobacteria, fungi, protozoa and lichens were isolated from the samples. A synergistic effect of environmental factors and biological activity was observed, which can lead to chemical and/or physical deterioration of these constructions.Fil: Nuñez, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Centro de Invest.y Desarrollo del Cuero. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Invest.científicas. Centro de Invest.y Desarrollo del Cuero; ArgentinaFil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Guiamet, Patricia Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Gómez de Saravia, Sandra Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentin

A new species of Uronychia (Spirotrichea: Euplotida) from Argentina

Uronychia clapsae sp. n. was discovered in an artificial channel that drains an endorheic area from the “sandy Pampa” into the upper basin of Salado River, Buenos Aires, Argentina. This euplotid measures 56–112 μm × 42–70 μm in vivo, is oval in shape and the buccal field is enormous, occupying ca. 80% of body length. It is characterized by having two macronuclear nodules and one micronucleus; usually 10 anterior and invariably three posterior membranelles; right end of paroral hook-like; buccal cirrus base about 3.5–6.0 μm long; invariably four frontal, two ventral, three left marginal, four transverse, and three caudal cirri; six dorsal kineties, kinety 1 with 15–22 dikinetids. Most Uronychia species were recorded in marine habitats, while this new isolate was found in a slightly saline, inland water body. Taxonomic and nomenclatorial concerns on some species assigned to Uronychia are also discussed.Fil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Morphology of Clapsiella magnifica gen. n., sp. n., a new hypotrichous ciliate with a curious dorsal ciliary pattern

The present work describes the morphology and infraciliature of a new hypotrichous ciliate, Clapsiella magnifica gen. n., sp. n., found in rewetted soil from a temporal pond in Argentina. It was studied by means of live observation and protargol impregnation. Its main diagnostic features are: Flexible hypotrich measuring 250–320 μm × 70–140 μm in vivo; two macronuclear nodules and 4–6 micronuclei. Single contractile vacuole. Cytoplasm transparent, cortical granules absent. Somatic ciliature composed of a tricorona of cirri, three buccal(?) cirri, 6–9 ventral rows, 3–5 right marginal(?) rows, one left marginal row, and 12–17 transverse cirri. Dorsal pattern rather complicated, with about 14 kineties and kinety fragments, with scattered kinetids among them; 17–28 caudal cirri arranged in three rows on dorsal kineties 1, 3, and 7. Remarkably, dorsal kinetids have two or four basal bodies, bearing a stiff bristle arising from left anterior basal body. Adoral zone composed of 70–92 membranelles, occupying about 40% of body length in protargol preparations; paroral and endoral curved, resembling a cyrtohymenid pattern. The peculiar dorsal ciliary arrangement and the unique combination of other characters require the establishment of a new genus for this new species, which is considered incertae sedis in the Hypotricha but possibly related to the oxytrichids.Fil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Morphology and Notes on Morphogenesis during Cell Division of Deviata polycirrata n. sp. and of Deviata bacilliformis (Gelei, 1954) Eigner, 1995 (Ciliophora: Kahliellidae) from Argentina

Described herein are the morphology and certain morphogenetic stages of a new freshwater ciliate species, Deviata polycirrata n. sp., and of  Deviata bacilliformis recorded in the soil of a dried  temporary pond from Argentina. Ciliates were studied alive and after silver impregnation with Protargol. Deviata polycirrata n. sp. measures 130-180 microns 45-70 microns in vivo. The species possesses 8-9 long cirral rows on the right and 9-13 on the left of the oral zone, and 3 dorsal rows of dikinetids. The adoral zone is composed of 39-48 membranelles. There are four macronuclear nodules and usually two micronuclei. A single contractile vacuole is located equatorially on the left body margin. This new species mainly differs from its congeners in having a higher number of cirral rows, the three long dorsal rows of dikinetids (vs. usually one to two dorsal rows of dikinetids), and a higher number of adoral membranelles. The other species reported here, D. bacilliformis, is recorded for the first time in Argentina. Unlike previous observations on this species, on the dorsal surface there are cirral rows that are preceded by cilia (combined cirral rows), and stomatogenesis begins with the proliferation of nonciliferous basal bodies some distance posterior to the buccal vertex.Fil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; Argentin

Hypotrichous ciliates (Protozoa: Ciliophora) from a temporary pond in Argentina, with redescription of Apoamphisiella hymenophora (Stokes, 1886) Berger, 1999

Hypotrichous ciliates collected in the plankton and soil samples from a temporary pond in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, were characterized after live observations and protargol impregnation. Apoamphisiella hymenophora (Stokes) Berger is redescribed and the neotype material deposited. Apoamphisiella hymenophora differs from its congeners in having 2 macronuclear nodules, 1 contractile vacuole with anterior and posterior collecting canals, the absence of cortical granules, 2 cirri behind the rightmost frontal cirrus, 1 postoral cirrus, 6 dorsal rows of dikinetids along with scattered dikinetids on the right body margin, and 3?9 caudal cirri arranged in groups at the ends of dorsal rows 1, 2, and 4. Rigidohymena candens, R. quadrinucleata, Histriculus histrio, Gastrostyla steinii, and Pseudouroleptus caudatus are new for the Argentine microfauna. Since especially the soil ciliates have been almost unexplored in South America, the results from the present investigation describe and contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of these microorganisms within this geographical region.Fil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; Argentin

Morphological aspects and seasonal changes of some planktonic ciliates (Protozoa) from a temporary pond in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

The morphology of some planktonic ciliates in a temporary freshwater pond located in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, is compared and the seasonal variation in their abundances over an annual cycle is described. Samples were taken from June 2004 to June 2005. Physical and chemical characteristics of the environment were also recorded. Taxonomic identifications were made in vivo and after employing the Protargol technique. Five planktonic species were recorded for the first time in South America.Fil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División de Zoología Invertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Lopretto, Estela Celia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División de Zoología Invertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Maria Cristina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División de Zoología Invertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología ; Argentin

Description of Notohymena pampasica n. sp. (Ciliophora, Stichotrichia)

Notohymena pampasica n. sp. was isolated from terrestrial samples obtained from a temporary pond during its dry phase in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The ciliates were grown in resuspended soil material and were studied in vivo and after impregnation with protargol. The species measures 84-112 × 35-42 µm. The organism cytoplasm is transparent, with many refractive cytoplasmic globules, which appear dark brown at low magnification, and are located mainly at the posterior end and the margins of the body. There are colorless refractive cortical granules in longitudinal rows at the bases of dorsal dikinetids and around ventral cirri. The contractile vacuole presents two inconspicuous collecting canals. The nuclear apparatus is composed of 2 macronuclear nodules and 2 (rarely 3) micronuclei. There are 22-29 oral polykinetids and paroral and endoral membranes arranged in a pattern typical of Notohymena. The somatic ciliature is arranged in 3 frontal, 1 buccal, 4 fronto-ventral, 3 (rarely 4) postoral, 2 pre-transverse, 5 transverse, and 2 marginal rows of cirri. Dorsally there are 6 rows of dikinetids and 3 caudal cirri. This new species primarily differs from congeners in the color and pattern of disposition of the cortical granules.Fil: Kuppers, Gabriela Cristina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División de Zoología Invertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología ; ArgentinaFil: Lopretto, Estela Celia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División de Zoología Invertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin