The Search for New Species of the Protist Family Folliculinidae in Australia and a Taxonomic Review of the Genus Folliculinidae
Date
2024
Authors
Douglas, John Stuart
Editors
Advisors
O'Handley, Ryan
Howarth, Gordon
Labrandis, Agatha
Edgcomb, Virginia (Woods Hole Oceanogaphic Institution USA)
Howarth, Gordon
Labrandis, Agatha
Edgcomb, Virginia (Woods Hole Oceanogaphic Institution USA)
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Abstract
PRIMARY GOAL: To explore an under-researched topic in Australian marine science, specifically the single-celled protists of the family Folliculinidae. Extensive field work was carried out in South Australia, some in New South Wales and Heron Island. Samples were also collected from Hydrothermal Vents by WHOI and OET. Folliculinids belong to the ciliate order Heterotrichida, and are one of very few free-living ciliates with a life cycle. Folliculinids are large, sedentary, ciliate protists living in chitinous lorica attached to a substrate. The motile larval stage, called a ‘swarmer’, constructs the lorica and then metamorphoses into an adult trophont. This is an unusual life cycle in free-living marine ciliates. The life cycles of some Australian species were studied in detail during this research and an extensive library of digital microscopy images and video micrography was constructed. There are two types of life cycle (see Chapter 4 for detailed descriptions). The literature was reviewed, and the Genera according to a number of authors including John S. Douglas was also reviewed. Observation of living folliculinids under the microscope revealed a complex life cycle. Three new genera were discovered, one Edithofolliculina symbiodidia is the only folliculinid with endosymbiotic Symbiodidia. Seventeen new species where found, along with several new records and a number of new species that are not yet described. No systematic research on folliculinids had previously been carried out in Australia and no new species had been described from Australia. Many cultures revealed new images of mitotic and morphologic divisions. No review of the literature of the genera had been carried out since Hadži’s work in 1951.
School/Discipline
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2024
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