Morphological characterization of ciliate species across the South Korea

Abstract

This study investigated the diversity and distribution of ciliates across various Korean habitats, including freshwater, brackish, and marine environments. Ciliate samples were collected from different locations and identified using modern morphological methods. In the laboratory, live observations and staining techniques aided identification under stereo and DIC microscopes. The focus was on ciliates belonging to the Class Karyorelictea. Following collection, samples were processed in the lab, and the morphology of live and impregnated specimens was analyzed. Six ciliate species were identified and described, belonging to five genera, three families, three orders, and two classes within the phylum Ciliophora. Notably, five species represented new records for Korea: Kovalevaia sulcata (Kovaleva, 1966) Foissner, 1997, Loxodes striatus orientalis Xu et al., 2014, Trachelocerca sagitta (Müller, 1786) Ehrenberg, 1840, Tracheloraphis katzae Ma et al., 2021, and Urosoma caudata (Ehrenberg, 1833) Berger 1999. Only Loxodes kahli Dragesco and Njiné, 1971 was previously reported in Korea, but here it is redescribed in detail. This study highlights the importance of detailed morphological analyses and distributional data for ciliate biodiversity research in Korea. Further exploration is needed to elucidate the ecological roles and evolutionary relationships of these ciliates, ultimately contributing to broader conservation and ecological management efforts.