a ciliate with symbiotic algae

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:42 am

It was a rather hungry (seawater) protozoon. You see the diatoms, different algae ecc. But in addition I observed also symbiotic algae - especially on the surface of the ciliate.
Can you help me with the identification?

Thank you
Franz

Martin Kreutz · Post by **Martin Kreutz** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:23 am

Hi Franz,

I can't believe it! Your ciliate is definitively Frontonia fusca! Only two verifications of this species in the last 100 years. The first one from Kahl 1931 (s. Kahl, p. 321). The second one is just from 2008 and described in an article from Sergei I. Fokin published in Denisia 23, the so called "Festschrift" for Wilhelm Foissner. Interestingly Fokin found the neotype population in Italy, near Naples, the Naples Zoological Station "Anton Dohrn". The description of Fokin is detailed. Your ciliate, so far I can recognize it on your images, matchs all features of Frontonia fusca. Very conspicuous is the dark green spot of granules at the right side of the anterior end. Because the knowledge of this ciliate is very poor I recommend you to send your finding to Prof. Fokin directly if you like:

sifokin@biologia.unipi.it

If possible try to get images at higher magnification from the CV's (there must be two of it), from the Ma + Mi and from the mouth opening.

Best wishes

Martin

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:59 pm

Hallo Martin,
your answer was really a big surprise for me. Certainly I will wright to Sergei I. Fokin. I found this ciliate already two times. It always had a green spot.
I only have pictures made with a 40x Objective. A biger Nikon-objektiv for DIC and infinity optic (60x or 100x) is clearly to expensive for me and exceed my financial possibilities.
Viele Grüße
Franz

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:36 pm

Congratulations on the find there Franz

, a feather in your cap for sure!

Martin Kreutz · Post by **Martin Kreutz** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:49 am

Hi Franz,

I've read your post about F. fusca again. I wonder if your scale in the first image is correct. According the 10 µm bar the ciliate is only 20 µm long. Where did you recognize the symbiotic algae? If you talk about the green spherules beneath the pellicle I have the feeling that this are scattered droplets of the green spot at the anterior end. Please check your private messages!

Thanks

Martin

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:18 pm

Hallo Martin,

probably my scale bar is not right. I too was doubting about it today, because i made it with a computerprogram with wich I am not very familiar. I will misure the ciliate again.
Today I found this protozoon on an other place. I send two pictures I made today.

Franz

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:02 am

Hallo Martin,

today i misured the ciliate again (without computer!). It was 175 mµ long.
Sorry about the scale bar!

Franz

Jbailey · Post by **Jbailey** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:30 am

Excellent micrographs, Franz!

Jim

Martin Kreutz · Post by **Martin Kreutz** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:03 am

Hi Franz,

thanks for the update. On the image below you can recognize clearly, that the dark green spot ist actually located to the right side of the anterior end. The new measurement matches the data of Fokin (100 - 170 µm) perfectly.

I would like to send you the article of Fokin. I left you a message for this purpose.

Martin