• Journal of Species Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.514-516
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• 2016

Three marine and one brackish-water ciliates (Dysteria crassipes $Clapar\grave{e}de$ and Lachmann, 1859; Gruberia calkinsi $Beltr\acute{a}n$, 1933; Pleuronema salmastra Dragesco, 1986; Zosterodasys agamaliev Deroux, 1978) were isolated from Incheon in Korea and their morphologies were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.278-286
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• 2022

During a field survey of Korean marine ciliates, we collected Pleuronema marinum from a brackish water sample. It is characterized by the presence of a contractile vacuole in mid-body, rather than the subterminal/ terminal contractile vacuole as in other congeners. The cells were examined in vivo and based on protargol and 'wet' silver nitrate impregnation. In addition, the nuclear 18S rRNA gene was sequenced using a single cell. The Korean population morphologically and molecularly resembles a Chinese population of P. marinum. Historical review of the species concludes that 1) two or more species have been assigned into P. marinum, 2) the position of contractile vacuole (e.g., in mid-body) is a valid character state, and 3) P. marinum is probably a rare species. Here we provide a monographic treatment of P. marinum to clarify the issue and for further studies of relevant species. Considering there are about 40 nominal species and complex nomenclatural acts in the genus Pleuronema, further studies should provide descriptions based on protargol and 'wet' silver impregnation with marker gene(s).

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

During a field survey of Korean marine ciliates, we collected three ciliate species from the eastern coastal waters of the Yellow Sea. Based on the observation of living and protargol and wet silver nitrate stained cells, the ciliates, belonging to the classes Spirotrichea and Oligohymenophorea, were identified as Cardiostomatella vermiformis (Kahl, 1928) Corliss, 1960, Parallelostrombidium paraellipticum Song et al., 2018, and Pleuronema paucisaetosum Pan et al., 2015. Both Parallelostrombidium paraellipticum and Pleuronema paucisaetosum were described only from their type localities, i.e., brackish water, suggesting that they tolerate a broad range of salinity, while Cardiostomatella is marine ciliate and seems to be cosmopolitan. These three species were reported for the first time in Korea. Brief descriptions, remarks to justify their identity and to compare the present isolates with similar taxa, and photomicrographs were provided for the three species.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.184-190
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• 2021

The diversity of scuticociliates (subclass Scuticociliatia Small, 1967) had previously been superficially investigated in Korea and only 10 species were reported according to the National Species List of Korea published in 2019. Here, we identify four scuticociliates, collected from three coastal water samples, by observing protargol-impregnated specimens. As a result, the present species belong to the order Pleuronematida Fauré-Fremiet in Corliss, 1956 and their lower taxonomic classifications are as follows: family Eurystomatellidae Miao et al., 2010 - Eurystomatella sinica Miao et al., 2010; family Pleuronematidae Kent, 1881 - Pleuronema grolierei Wang et al., 2008, P. setigerum Calkins, 1902, and Schizocalyptra aeschtae Long et al., 2007. The family Eurystomatellidae and the genus Schizocalyptra Dragesco, 1968 are reported for the first time in Korea. Considering that the scuticociliates are a species-rich group and very common in most habitats(including freshwater and terrestrial habitats), our findings indicate that we are far from understanding the complete diversity of Korean scuticociliates.