Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A checklist of tintinnids (loricate ciliates) from the coastal zone of India

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report here a checklist of tintinnids (loricate ciliates) for the coastal zone of India. Based on available literature (1978 to 2017), a total of 25 stations were studied from 5 distinct areas of Indian coastal waters. A total of 151 species of 33 genera belonging to 14 families of tintinnids were documented. Diversity patterns of tintinnids were recorded higher along the west coast (30 genera and 106 species) than the east coast of India (20 genera and 93 species). Among tintinnids families, the Codonellidae (2 genera and 52 species, 20%) and the Tintinnidae (8 genera and 21 species, 19%) are the major contributors to the total tintinnids diversity in the Indian coastal zone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anandakumar, N., & Thajuddin, N. (2013). Physico-chemical properties, seasonal variations in species composition and abundance of micro zooplankton in the Gulf of Mannar, India. Indian Journal of Marine Science, 4(3), 383–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anjusha, A., Jyothibabu, R., Jagadeesan, L., Mohan, A. P., Sudheesh, K., Krishna, K., Ullas, N., & Deepak, M. P. (2013). Trophic efficiency of plankton food webs: observations from the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay, Southeast Coast of India. Journal of Marine Systems, 115-116, 40–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balkis, N., & Koray, T. (2014). A check-list of tintinnids (Protozoa: Ciliophora) in the coastal zone of Turkey. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 46(4), 1029–1038.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banse, K. (1982). Cell volumes, maximal growth rates of unicellular algae and ciliates, and the role of ciliates in the marine pelagial. Limnology and Oceanography, 27, 1059–1071.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biswas, S. N., Godhantaraman, N., Rakshit, D., & Sarkar, S. K. (2013). Community composition, abundance, biomass and production rates of Tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) in the coastal regions of Sundarban Mangrove wetland, India. Indian Journal of Marine Science, 42(2), 163–173.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calbet, A. (2008). The trophic roles of microzooplankton in marine systems. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65, 325–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das, S., Behera, R. K., Mohapatra, P. K., Sarangi, R. K., Raut, D., Patil, A., & Patnaik, L. (2017). Species composition of microzooplankton Tintinnid from the coastal waters of Digha, Bay of Bengal. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189(258), 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devi, C. R. A., Jyothibabu, R., Sabu, P., Jacob, J., Habeebrehman, H., Prabhakaran, P., Jayalakshmi, K. J., & Achuthankutty, C. T. (2010). Seasonal variations and trophic ecology of microzooplankton in the southeastern Arabian Sea. Continental Shelf Research, 30, 1070–1084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elangovan, S. S., & Padmavati, G. (2017). Distribution, diversity and carbon content of the tintinnids from the coastal waters of Pot Blair, South Andaman. Regional Studies in Marine Sciences, 14, 132–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elangovan, S. S., Kumar, A. K., Karthik, R., Sankar, R. S., Jayabharathi, R., & Padmavati, G. (2012). Abundance, species composition of microzooplankton from the coastal waters of Port Blair, South Andaman Island. Aquatic Biosystems, 8(20), 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elangovan, S. S., Padmavati, G., Karthik, R., Sankar, R. S., Rakesh, O. D., & Kumar, M. A. (2017). Comparison between microzooplankton population in polluted and moderately polluted coastal waters of Port Blair, South Andaman. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189(13), 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gauns, M. U. (2000). Role of microzooplankton in the food web chain dynamics of some tropical marine environment. Ph.D. Thesis, submitted to Goa University, pp. 1–210.

  • Gauns, M., Mochemadkar, S., Patil, S., Pratihary, A., Naqvi, S. W. A., & Madhupratap, M. (2015). Seasonal variations in abundance, biomass and grazing rates of microzooplankton in a tropical monsoonal estuary. Journal of Oceanography, 71, 345–359.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godhantaraman, N. (1994). Species composition and abundance of tintinnids and copepods in the Pichavaram mangroves (South India). Ciencias Marinas, 20(3), 371–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godhantaraman, N. (2001). Seasonal variations in taxonomic composition, abundance and food web relationship of microzooplankton in estuarine and mangrove waters, Parangipettai region, southesast coast of India. Indian Journal of Marine Science, 30, 151–160.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godhantaraman, N. (2002). Seasonal variations in species composition, abundance, biomass and estimated production rates of tintinnids at tropical estuarine and mangrove waters, Parangipettai, southeast coast of India. Journal of Marine Systems, 36, 161–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godhantaraman, N. (2004). Ecological significance of marine microzooplankton. In N. Ramaiah (Ed.), Marine microbiology: facets & opportunities (pp. 258–270). Goa: National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinbokel, J. F., & Beers, J. R. (1979). Studies on the function role of tintinnids in the southern California Bright. III. Grazing impact of natural assemblages. Marine Biology, 52, 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollibaugh, J. T., Fuhrman, J. A., & Azam, F. (1980). Radioactively labeling of natural bacterioplankton for use in trophic studies. Limnology and Oceanography, 25, 172–181.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Y., Yang, J. E., Min, J., Kang, S., & Lee, S. (2013). Using pelagic ciliated microzooplankton communities as an indicator for monitoring environmental condition under impact of summer sea-ice reduction in western Artic Ocean. Ecological Indicators, 34, 380–390.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jyothibabu, R., Madhu, N. V., Jayalakshmi, K. V., Balachandran, K. K., Shiyas, C. A., Martin, G. D., & Nair, K. K. C. (2006). Impact of freshwater influx on microzooplankton mediated food web in a tropical estuary (Cochin backwaters e India). Estuarine Coastal Shelf Science, 69, 505–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jyothibabu, R., Devi, C. R. A., Madhu, N. V., Sabu, P., Jayalakshmy, K. V., Jacob, J., Habeebrehman, H., Prabhakaran, P., Balasubramanian, T., & Nair, K. K. C. (2008). The response of microzooplankton (20–200μm) to coastal upwelling and summer stratification in the southeastern Arabian Sea. Continental Shelf Research, 28, 653–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kato, S., & Taniguchi, A. (1993). Tintinnids ciliates as indicator species of different water masses in the western North Pacific Polar Front. Fisheries Oceanography, 2, 166–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kothandapani, S., Sukumaran, M., & Muthukumaravel, K. (2016). Seasonal variations of zooplankton diversity in Muthupet estuary, south east coast of India. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 1(5), 213–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishnamurthy, K., & Santhanam, R. (1975). Ecology of tintinnids (Protozoa:Ciliata) in Porto Novo region. Indian Journal Marine Science, 4, 181–184.

  • Krishnamurthy, K., & Santhanam, R. (1978). Dictyocysta seshaiyai Sp. Nov. (Protozoa, Ciliata, Tintinnida) from Porto Novo, India. Archiv für Protistenkunde, 120, 138–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnamurthy, K., Naidu, W. D., & Santhanam, R. (1979). Further studies on Tintinnids (Protozoa:Ciliata). Archiv für Protistenkunde, 122, 171–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. B., & Kim, Y. H. (2010). Distribution of tintinnids (loricate ciliates) in East Asian waters in summer. Coastal Environmental Ecosystem Issue East China Sea, 173–180.

  • Madhupratap, M., Gauns, M., Ramaiah, N., Prasanna kumar, S., Muraleedharan, P. M., De Sousa, S. N., Sardessai, S., & Muraleedharan, U. (2003). Biogeochemistry of the Bay of Bengal: physical chemical and primary productivity characteristics of the central and western Bay of Bengal during summer monsoon 2001. Deep-Sea Research II, 50, 881–896.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, S., & Panigrahy, R. C. (1999). The tintinnids (Protozoa: Ciliata of the Bahuda estuary, east coast of India. Indian Journal of Marine Science, 28, 219–221.

  • Mukherjee, M., Banik, S. K., Pradhan, S. K., Sharma, A. P., Suresh, V. R., Manna, R. K., Panda, D., Roshith, C. M., & Mandal, S. (2015). Diversity and distribution of tintinnids in Chilika Lagoon with description of new records. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 62(1), 25–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naidu, W. D. (1983). Tintinnida (Protozoa: Ciliata)—A vital link in the estuarine food web. Mahasagar-Bulletin of the National Institute of Oceanography, 16(3), 403–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naidu, W. D., & kirshnamurthy, K. (1985). Biogeographical distribution of Tintinnids (Protozoa: Ciliata) from Porto Novo waters. Mahasagar-Bulletin of the National Institute of Oceanography, 38(3), 417–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perumal, N. V., Rajkumar, M., Perumal, P., & Rajasekar, K. T. (2009). Seasonal variations of plankton diversity in the Kaduviyar estuary, Nagapattinam, southeast coast of India. Journal of Environmental Biology, 30(6), 1035–1046.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, K. G., Sherr, E. G., Sherr, B. F., Pace, M., & Saunders, R. W. (1985). Protozoa in planktonic food webs. Journal of Protozoology, 32, 409–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prabu, V. A., Perumal, P., & Rajkumar, M. (2005). Diversity sf microzooplankton in Parangipettai coastal waters, southeast coast of India. Journal of Marine Biological Association of India, 47(1), 14–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasanna Kumar, S., Muraleedharan, P. M., Prasad, T. G., Gauns, M., Ramaiah, N., de Souza, S. N., Sardesai, S., & Madhupratap, M. (2002). Why is the Bay of Bengal less productive during summer monsoon compared to the Arabian Sea? Geophysical Research Letters, 29(24), 2235, 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajathy, T. J., Goes, S. V., Mohanraj, T., & Gadi, S. D. (2016). Diversity and abundance of microzooplankton of coastal waters of South Goa. European Journal of Biological Science, 8(4), 130–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, D., & Sarkar, S. K. (2016). Diversity, distribution and polymorphism of loricate ciliate tintinnids along Hooghly estuary, India. Journal of Marine Biological Association of India, 58(2), 61–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, D., Biswas, S. N., Sarkar, S. K., Bhattacharya, B. D., Godhantaraman, N., & Satpathy, K. K. (2014). Seasonal variations in species composition, abundance, biomass and production rate of tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) along the Hooghly (Ganges) River Estuary, India: a multivariate approach. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186, 3026–3078.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, D., Sarkar, S. K., Bhattacharya, B. D., Jonathan, M. P., Biswas, J. K., Mondal, P., & Mitra, S. (2015). Human-induced ecological changes in western part of Indian Sundarban megadelta: a threat to ecosystem stability. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 99, 186–194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, D., Ganesh, P. S., & Sarkar, S. K. (2016a). Choreotrich ciliate tintinnid (Protozoa: Ciliophora) in a tropical meso–macrotidal estuary, eastern part of India. Regional Studies in Marine Sciences, 3, 89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, D., Sarkar, S. K., Satpathy, K. K., Ganesh, P. S., Godhantaraman, N., & Biswas, J. K. (2016b). Diversity and distribution of microzooplankton Tintinnid (Ciliata: Protozoa) in the core region of Indian Sundarban wetland. Clean Soil Air Water, 44(10), 1261–1427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, D., Murugan, K., Biswas, J. K., Satpathy, K. K., Ganesh, P. S., & Sarkar, S. K. (2017a). Environmental impact on diversity and distribution of tintinnid (Ciliata: Protozoa) along Hooghly Estuary, India: a multivariate approach. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 12, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rakshit, D., Sahu, G., Mohanty, A. K., Satpathy, K. K., Jonathan, M. P., Murugan, K., & Sarkar, S. K. (2017b). Bioindicator role of tintinnid (Protozoa: Ciliophora) for water quality monitoring in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, south east coast of India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 144, 134–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robin, R. S., Muduli, P. R., Vardhan, K. V., Nagarjuna, A., Nallathambi, T., Mishra, R. K., & Balasubramanian, T. (2012). Planktonic communities and trophic interactions in the Kavaratti waters, Lakshadweep archipelago, India. International Journal of Ecosystem, 2(2), 5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahu, B. K., Srichandan, S., & Panigrahy, R. C. (2016). A preliminary study on the microzooplankton of Chilika Lake, a brackish water lagoon on the east coast of India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 188(69), 1–14.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santoferrara, L. F., Alder, V. V., & McManus, G. B. (2017). Phylogeny, classification and diversity of Choreotrichia and Oligotrichia (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 112, 12–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saravanakumar, A., Rajkumar, M., Serebiah, S., & Thivakaran, G. A. (2007). Abundance and seasonal variations of zooplankton in the arid zone mangrove of Gulf of Kachchh-Gujarat, Westcoast of India. Pakistan Journal of Biological Science, 10(20), 3525–3532.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saravanan, S., & Sivakami, R. (2016). A seasonal analysis of micro zooplankton in the backwaters of Kottaipattinam, Tamil Nadu, India. International Journal of Current Microbiology Applied Sciences, 5(11), 257–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherr, E. B., Sherr, B. F., & Paffenhofer, G. A. (1986). Phagotrophic protozoa as food for meatzoans: a ‘missing’ trophic link in marine pelagic food webs? Marine Microbial Food Webs, 1, 61–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sooria, P. M., Jyothibabu, R., Anjusha, A., Vineetha, V., Vinita, J., Lallu, K. R., Paul, M., & Jagadeesan, L. (2015). Plankton food web and its seasonal dynamics in a large monsoonal estuary (Cochin backwaters, India)—significance of mesohaline region. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(427), 1–22.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasan, A., Santhanam, R., & Jagatheesan, G. (1988). Biomass & seasonal distribution of planktonic tintinnids of Pullavazhi estuary, southeast coast of India. Indian Journal of Marine Science, 17, 131–133.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Director, CSIR-NIO, Goa, India for providing necessary facilities.

Funding

This work was carried out under the project of GAP3167 (PDF/2017/000867) funded by Department of Science and Technology—India (DST-SERB) and MLP 1702. This is NIO’s contribution no. 6300.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403004, India

    S. Sai Elangovan & Mangesh Gauns

Authors
  1. S. Sai Elangovan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mangesh Gauns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mangesh Gauns.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sai Elangovan, S., Gauns, M. A checklist of tintinnids (loricate ciliates) from the coastal zone of India. Environ Monit Assess 190, 672 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7039-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7039-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation