International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 172-181 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ijms 172 Review Article Open Access Morphological Classification, Species Diversity, and Ecological Functions of Ciliate Communities QibinXu Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: qibin.xu@cuixi.org International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0022 Received: 05 May, 2024 Accepted: 12 Jun., 2024 Published: 30 Jun., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Xu, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproductio4n in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Xu Q.B., 2024, Morphological classification, species diversity, and ecological functions of ciliate communities, International Journal of Marine Science, 14(3): 172-181 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0022) Abstract Ciliate communities are crucial in ecosystems, and studying their diversity and ecological functions is essential for understanding microbial community structures and functions, as well as for environmental monitoring and ecological conservation. This study reviews the morphological classification, species diversity, and ecological functions of ciliate communities. By analyzing ciliate morphological characteristics, classification standards, and methods, this study explores species richness and distribution patterns, using genetic and molecular biology techniques to identify ciliate species and investigate their biogeographical patterns. Ciliates play significant ecological roles in nutrient cycling, energy flow, and interactions with other microorganisms and higher trophic levels. Case studies of ciliate communities in freshwater, marine, and soil environments illustrate their specific manifestations and provide recommendations for future research. This study aims to offer a systematic review of ciliate diversity and ecological functions, providing scientific basis for ecosystem management and conservation. Keywords Ciliate communities; Morphological classification; Species diversity; Ecological functions; Molecular tools 1 Introduction Ciliates are a diverse group of single-celled eukaryotes that play crucial roles in aquatic ecosystems. They are key components of the microbial loop, acting as predators of bacteria and protozoa, and providing nutrition for higher trophic levels (Kulaš et al., 2021a). Ciliates are found in various aquatic environments, including freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems, where they contribute to nutrient cycling and energy flow (Weisse et al., 2017; Fernandes et al., 2020). Traditional morphological methods have been used to study ciliate communities, but recent advancements in molecular techniques have revealed a much higher diversity than previously recognized (Rossi et al., 2016). Understanding the diversity and ecological functions of ciliate communities is essential. Ciliates serve as bioindicators of environmental conditions, making them valuable for monitoring ecosystem health (Kulaš et al., 2021a; 2021b). Their sensitivity to changes in water quality and environmental pressures allows researchers to assess the impact of human activities on aquatic ecosystems (Kulaš et al., 2021b). Additionally, ciliates play a significant role in the food web, influencing the population dynamics of bacteria, algae, and other protists, and serving as prey for zooplankton (Weisse et al., 2017). This makes them integral to the stability and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Studying ciliate diversity also provides insights into the evolutionary processes and biogeographic patterns of microorganisms, contributing to our understanding of biodiversity at the microbial level. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the morphological classification, species diversity, and ecological functions of ciliate communities. We will summarize the current knowledge on the morphological and molecular diversity of ciliates in various aquatic environments, discuss the ecological roles and functional diversity of ciliates, highlighting their contributions to nutrient cycling, energy flow, and ecosystem stability, and evaluate the use of ciliates as bioindicators for environmental monitoring, assessing the effectiveness of different methodological approaches in studying ciliate communities . Furthermore, we will identify gaps in current research and suggest future directions for studying ciliate diversity and functions, emphasizing the integration of morphological and molecular techniques. By addressing these objectives, this study aims to enhance our
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