A USER-FRIENDLY GUIDE TO THE CILIATES (PROTOZOA, CILIOPHORA) COMMONLYUSED BY HYDROBIOLOGISTS AS BIOINDICATORS IN RIVERS, LAKES, AND WASTE-WATERS, WITH NOTES ON THEIR ECOLOGY
W. Foissner et H. Berger, A USER-FRIENDLY GUIDE TO THE CILIATES (PROTOZOA, CILIOPHORA) COMMONLYUSED BY HYDROBIOLOGISTS AS BIOINDICATORS IN RIVERS, LAKES, AND WASTE-WATERS, WITH NOTES ON THEIR ECOLOGY, Freshwater Biology, 35(2), 1996, pp. 375-482
1. A user-friendly guide to 300 ciliate species (Protozoa, Ciliophora)
used as bioindicators by river, lake and waste water ecologists is pr
ovided. The guide is an English translation of the flow charts written
in German and published by Foissner et nl. (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995) i
n the Ciliate Atlas, a monograph on the ciliates used as bioindicators
in the saprobic system. This guide is designed for users not Specific
ally trained in identification of ciliates. Main groups and species ar
e keyed dichotomously on forty-seven flow charts using simple characte
rs usually recognizable in live specimens. Species with conspicuous ch
aracters, e.g. large size or distinct colour, are shown on thirty-two
separate charts designated 'special keys'. Although the flow charts gi
ve a high probability of correct species identifications, these should
nevertheless be checked against the detailed figures and descriptions
contained in the Ciliate Atlas. 2. A table with the species keyed and
their main ecological characteristics (biomass, food preference, sali
nity tolerance, preferred occurrence, saprobiological classification)
is also provided. 3. Typical ciliate communities found in natural and
polluted habitats are briefly described and figured on thirteen plates
. 4. A detailed systematic index is provided for all taxa mentioned in
the flow charts.