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Updating Biodiversity Studies in Loricate Protists: The Case of the Tintinnids (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea)
Author(s) -
Santoferrara Luciana F.,
Bachy Charles,
Alder Viviana A.,
Gong Jun,
Kim YoungOk,
Saccà Alessandro,
Silva Neto Inácio D.,
StrüderKypke Michaela C.,
Warren Alan,
Xu Dapeng,
Yi Zhenzhen,
Agatha Sabine
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/jeu.12303
Subject(s) - biology , intraspecific competition , biodiversity , ecology , identification (biology) , interspecific competition , zoology
Species determination is crucial in biodiversity research. In tintinnids, identification is based almost exclusively on the lorica, despite its frequent intraspecific variability and interspecific similarity. We suggest updated procedures for identification and, depending on the aim of the study, further steps to obtain morphological, molecular, and ecological data. Our goal is to help improving the collection of information (e.g. species re‐/descriptions and DNA barcodes) that is essential for generating a natural tintinnid classification and a reliable reference for environmental surveys. These suggestions are broadly useful for protistologists because they exemplify data integration, quality/effort compromise, and the need for scientific collaborations.