Representatives of the genus Stentor (Stentoridae, Heterotrichea) are striking ciliates in environmentalwater samples because of their size (up to 4 mm) and their trumpet-like shape. Important for species identification are the following main characteristics: (1) the presence or absence of endosymbiotic algae (zoochlorellae); (2) the colour of the pigmented cortical granules, and (3) the shape of the macronucleus. The complete small subunit rDNA (SSU rDNA) of 19 further representatives of the genus Stentor was sequenced to examine the phylogenetic relationships within this genus and to determine the taxonomic value of these main characteristics. The detailed phylogenetic analyses yielded a separation of all species possessing a single compact macronucleus from those species with an “elongated” macronucleus (moniliform or vermiform). The data also indicate that the uptake of algae as well as the loss of pigmentation happened independently in different lineages. Furthermore, a high level of intraspecific variation within several species was found. Thus, S. muelleri and S. (sp.) cf. katashimai appear to represent distinct species and S. multiformis is composed of a species complex.

Bromeliothrix metopoides was discovered in tank bromeliads from Central and South America. Pure cultures could be established in various media stimulating growth of its food, i.e. bacteria and heterotrophic flagellates of the genus Polytomella. The new ciliate was investigated in the light- and scanning electron microscope, with various silver impregnation techniques, and with molecular methods, using the small-subunit rDNA. The morphology and its changes during the life cycle are documented by 167 figures and a detailed morphometry. Bromeliothrix metopoides is about 27–55 × 22–36 μm in size and has a complex life cycle with Metopus-shaped, bacteriophagous theronts and trophonts (microstomes) and obovate, flagellate-feeding macrostomes having a large, triangular oral apparatus. The thin-walled

The morphology, the infraciliature, some stages of cell division and physiological reorganization, and the SSU rRNA gene sequence of the little-known marine 18-cirri hypotrich Tachysoma rigescens (Kahl, 1932) Borror, 1972 [basionym Oxytricha (Tachysoma) rigescens], isolated from mariculture waters near Qingdao, China, were investigated. This rare species is characterized, inter alia, by narrowly spaced, small, colourless cortical granules and several conspicuous ring-shaped structures in the cytoplasm. The caudal cirri and the simple dorsal kinety pattern (three bipolar kineties) are probably plesiomorphic traits within the Hypotricha, the composition of the adoral zone of the proter from new and parental membranelles, as well as the presence of two ‘extra’ cirri behind the right marginal row strongly suggest a misclassification in Tachysoma. The SSU rRNA gene sequence data indicate that T. rigescens branches off rather basally in the Hypotricha tree, which supports the hypothesis that the 18-cirri pattern occurred very early, probably already in the last common ancestor of the Hypotricha. A detailed survey of the early branching 18-cirri hypotrichs and similar taxa (e.g. Trachelostyla pediculiformis, Hemigastrostyla enigmatica, Protogastrostyla pulchra) reveals that for T. rigescens a new genus (Apogastrostyla gen. nov.) has to be established, because there are important differences, inter alia, in the dorsal infraciliature. Besides the type species, A. rigescens comb. nov., which seems to be confined to the northern hemisphere according to the sparse faunistic data, a second marine species, A. szaboi comb. nov. (basionym Hemigastrostyla szaboi), so far only twice recorded from the Antarctic region, can be included. The Chinese population is fixed as neotype to define the species objectively, because no type material of A. rigescens is present and the original type locality is not known. The species name Tachysoma multinucleate is emended: Tachysoma multinucleatum nom. corr.

Tintinnopsis parvula Jörgensen, 1912 has apparently a cosmopolitan distribution in the pelagial of marine and brackish coastal waters. The species is redescribed based on material from the Irish Sea off the Isle of Man, using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. The agglomerated and stiff lorica measures 38–60 × 24–31 μm and is composed of a usually broadly obovate bowl and a slightly narrowed cylindroidal collar with an inner diameter of ~ 20 μm. The somatic ciliary pattern is of the most complex type, viz., it comprises a ventral, dorsal, and posterior kinety as well as a right, left, and lateral ciliary field. The left ciliary field comprises four kineties, the lateral field about ten kineties, and the right field five kineties. The oral primordium develops apparently apokinetally posterior to the lateral ciliary field and generates ~ 15 collar membranelles and one buccal membranelle. Two further populations were studied: one from the North Sea off the Island of Sylt, the other from brackish polder basins at the German North Sea coast; they match the Irish Sea specimens in all main features. The loricae formed in almost particle-free cultures have a thin wall composed of an irregular network of fibres and very few attached or interwoven particles. This matrix type differs from the other three types found in congeners. Hence, the matrix ultrastructure might represent a promising feature for a reliable subdivision of the species-rich genus Tintinnopsis Stein, 1867 in the future.

Tintinnid ciliates, characterized by the possession of a lorica into which the ciliate cell can contract, are a common component of the marine microzooplankton. Lorica architecture and size range widely and classically distinguishes species. Here relationships between ecological parameters and lorica dimensions (lorica oral diameter (LOD), lorica length (LL) and lorica volume (LV) are examined using data from literature reports. The relationships between lorica dimensions and reproductive potential, using maximum reported growth rates of natural populations (n = 52 species) are assessed. Susceptibility to copepod predation and lorica dimensions are considered based on reports of clearance rates of Acartia species feeding on tintinnid ciliates (n = 7 species). Diet and lorica dimension is analyzed using data on mean maximum food size contained in field-caught cells (n = 20 species), and preferred food size based on prey size associated with maximal reported clearance rates (n = 15 species). Overall, LOD is closely related to most of the ecological parameters. Maximum growth rate is related to LOD with smaller LODs corresponding to higher growth rates, in contrast to LL and LV. Maximum prey size is positively related to both LOD and LL but more tightly with LOD. Preferred prey size is positively related to LOD and LV but more tightly related to LOD. Clearance rates of Acartia species feeding on tintinnids are significantly related only to LOD with small LODs corresponding to lower copepod feeding rates. Relationships excluding data on species of Tintinnopsis, the species-rich genus which generally dominates coastal communities, are also examined and show similar trends. In tintinnids, LOD, known to be a conservative and relatively reliable species characteristic, appears related to a wide range of ecological characteristics.

As a result of light microscopical, ultrastructural and molecular study of three amoeba strains isolated from organs of three freshwater fish hosts, Stenamoeba amazonica sp. n. and S. limacina sp. n. are described as new amoeba species. The mutual comparison of isolated strains has extended the knowledge of morphological diversity within the genus Stenamoeba Smirnov, Nassonova, Chao et Cavalier-Smith, 2007. Molecular data obtained for these strains have complemented the phylogenetic tree that so far has contained only one nominal species within the single-genus Stenamoeba clade.

During parasitological surveys in Tasmania (Australia), four introduced fish species were investigated for the presence of trichodinid ectoparasites. Five trichodinid species were found on the skin, fins and gills of two of these fishes, i.e. the tench Tinca tinca Linnaeus, 1758 and the red fin perch Perca fluviatillis Linnaeus, 1758. Four trichodinids are known species for which comparative descriptions are provided, i.e. Trichodina acuta Lom, 1961, T. esocis Lom, 1961, T. lepsii Lom, 1962 and Trichodinella epizootica (Raabe 1950) Šrámek- Hušek, 1953. A fifth species, i.e. Trichodina tunnae sp. n. is described as a new species from the red fin perch. All species are described using silver impregnated and hematoxylin stained specimens.