Determination of the optimum period for ciliated protozoa colonizing of an artificial substrate in a tropical aquatic ecosystem

Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

The optimum period for ciliated protozoa colonizing of an artificial substrate, the polyurethane foams have been assessed in a tropical aquatic ecosystem, the Ekozoa stream of the Mfoundi River Basin in Yaounde (Cameroon). 5 days were calculated as the highest period for the biological indicators of pollution to optimally colonize the artificial substrate. This time interval is the same for all the sampling stations assessed from upstream to downstream and the various microhabitats along the water course. The statistical method applied is that of the completely randomized blocks. The colonization of the substrate increases from the first day to the fifth day, before decreasing to the tenth day. The statistical analysis of variance between the maximum day and the other sampling period was significant at 5 % while the calculation of the value between different points of the same station was not significant. The average number of ciliated protozoan ranges from 20 to 23, from upstream to downstream.

Keywords

Ciliated protozoa Colonization Artificial substrate Tropical aquatic systems 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors also wish to extend their sincere gratitude to all who assisted in promoting the present work.

References

  1. Agamaliev FG (1974) Ciliates of the solid surface overgrowth of the Caspian Sea. Acta Protozool 13:53–83Google Scholar
  2. Aguilera A, Souza-Egipsy V, Gomez F, Amils R (2007) Development and structure of eucaryotic biofilms in an extreme acidic environment, Rio Tinto (S W Spain). Microb Ecol 53(2):294–305CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Ajeagah GA, Foto MS, Njine T (2006) Application of biological indices in the assessment of pollution in the Mfoundi River Basin (Cameroon). J Cameroon Acad Sci 6(2):91–97Google Scholar
  4. Ajeagah G, Njine T, Foto S, Bilong Bilong CF, Karanis P (2007) Enumeration of Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia (oo) cysts in a tropical eutrophic lake. Int J Environ Sci Tech 4(2):223–232Google Scholar
  5. Anne LR (2000) Lotic Meiofaunal community dynamics colonization resilience and persistence in a spatially and temporally heterogenous environment. Freshwater Biology 44(1):135CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Bamforth SS (1982) The variety of artificial substrates used for microfauna. Ann Arbor Science, Michigan, pp 115–130Google Scholar
  7. Bharati VR, Khan RN, Kalavati C, Ramam AV (2006) Protozoan colonization on artificial substrates in relation to water quality in a tropical Indian harbour. J Environ Sci (China) 13(2):143–147Google Scholar
  8. Bradley MW, Esteban GF, Finlay BJ (2010) Ciliates in chalk-stream habitats congregate in biodiversity hot spots. Res Microbiol 161(7):619–625CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Cairns J Jr (1978) Zooperiphyton (especially protozoa) as indicators of water quality. Trans Am Micros Soc 97:44–49CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Cairns J Jr, Dahlberg ML, Smith KL, Waller K (1969) The relationship of freshwater protozoan communities of Mac Arthur-Wilson equilibrium model. Am Nat 103:439–454CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Chakli R (1987) Mise au point d’une technique d’échantillonnage des protozoaires ciliés dans les eaux, courantes avec un substrat artificiel, la mousse de polyuréthane, et son application à l’étude de la qualité des eaux. Thèse de Doctorat de troisième cycle. Clermont Ferrand p 261Google Scholar
  12. Chen OH, Xu RL, Tam NF, Cheung SG, Shin PK (2008) Use of ciliates (Protozoa : Ciliophora) as bioindicator to assess sediment quality of two constructed mangrove sewage treatment belts in Southern China. Mar Pollut Bull 57:694–698Google Scholar
  13. Cifluentes E, Atamo U, Kendall T, Brunkard J, Schrimshaw S (2006) Rapid assessment procedures in environmental sanitation research: a case study from the Northern border of Mexico. J Public Health 97(1):24–28Google Scholar
  14. Coppellotti O, Matarrazzo P (2000) Ciliate colonization of artificial substrates in the Lagoon of Venice. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 89:419–427CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Devaux J (1976) Dynamique des populations phytoplanctoniques dans deux lacs du massif Central Français. Ann Sta Bio Beese-en-chandeseGoogle Scholar
  16. Diaz V, Font J, Schwartz T, Romani AM (2011) Biofilm formation at warming temperatures, acceleration of microbial colonisation and microbial interactive effects. Biofouling 27(1):59–71CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Doherty M, Tamura M, Vriezen JA, McManus GB (2010) Diversity of Oligotrichia and Chorotrichia ciliates in coastal marine sediments and overlying plankton. Appl Environ Microbiol 76(12):3924–3935CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Dragesco J, Dragesco-Kerneis (1986) Cilies libres de l’Afrique intertropicale. Introduction à la connaissance et à l’étude des ciliés. Faune Tropicale XXVI Edition de l’ORSTOM pp 1–539Google Scholar
  19. Galiano FD (1976) Une nouvelle méthode pour la mise en évidence de l’infraciliature des ciliés. Labo-microbiologie, Université de Madrid. (Espagne), p 2Google Scholar
  20. Habdija P, Habdijia BI, Matonnickin P, Spdjar M (2005) Development of ciliate community on artificial substrates associated with vertical gradients of environmental conditions in a Karstic lake. Archiv fur Hydrobiol 164(4):513–537(15)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Hazen T (2002) Ciliated protozoan colonisation of substrates from Dauphin Island Alabama. Eur J Protistol 38(1):83–89CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Heaton K, Parry J (2002) The sequence of colonization of a glass surface by protozoa from lake water under laminary flow. BSSP meeting, Bristol UniversityGoogle Scholar
  23. Henglong XS, Weibo, Warren AA (2004) An investigation of the tolerance to ammonia of the marine ciliate, Euplotes vannus (Protozoa ciliophora). Hydrobiologia 519(1–3):189–195Google Scholar
  24. Holtrop AM, Fischer RU (2002) Relations between biotic integrity and the physical habitat in the Embarras River Illinois. J Freshw Ecol 17:2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Irie K, Furukawa S, Kadono T, Kawano T (2010) A green Paramecium strain with abnormal growth of symbiotic algae. Z Naturforsch C 65(11–12):681–687Google Scholar
  26. Jiang JG, Shen Y-F (2006) Development of the microbial communities in lake Donghu in relation to water quality. J Environ Monit Assess 127(1–3):227–236Google Scholar
  27. Kepner RL, Waharton RA, Coats DW (1999) Ciliated protozoa of two Antarctic lakes. Analysis of quantitative protargol staining and examination of artificial substates. Polar Biol 21(5):285–294CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Kim BH, Moon EY, Hong SS, Han MS (2003) Seasonal variations of planktonic ciliates with reference to their prey in a shallow and eutrophic Korean stream. J Freshw Ecol 18(4):577–584CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Kim YO, Chae J, Hong JS, Jang PG (2007) Comparing the distribution of ciliate plankton in the inner and outer areas of a harbor divided by an artificial breakwater. Mar Environ Res 64(1):38–53CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Lance W, Hersha D (2007) Protozoa, augmenting the headwater, bioassessment toolbox. In: Proceedings of USDA-CSREES National Water conferenceGoogle Scholar
  31. Liu J, Yang M, Qi R, An W, Zhou J (2008) Comparative study of protozoan communities in full-scale MMTPs in Beijing related to treatment proceses. Water Res 42(8–9):1907–1918CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Madoni P, Rosi O (1997) Con fronto dell efficienza do catturafra due compionatori: per microbenthose superficielle: valutazione quantitative mediante analisi statistica. Boll Pesca Ascic Idrolbiol 32:1–12Google Scholar
  33. Pastova D, Mace KM, Elena M, Perez M (2008) Ciliates and their picophytoplankton feeding activity in a high altitude warm monomictic saline lake. Eur J Protistol 44(1):13–25CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Pinheiro MDO, Power ME, Buttler B, Dayeh VR, Slawson R, Lee LEJ, Lynn DH, Bols NC (2007) Use of Tetrahymena thermophila to study the role of protozoa in inactivation of viruses in water. Appl Environ Microbiol 73(2):643–649CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Priit Z, Ingmar O (2000) Vertical distribution of planktonic ciliates in strongly stratified temperate lakes. Hydrobiologia 435(1–3):19–26Google Scholar
  36. Pucciarelli S, Buonanno F, Pellegrini G, Pozzi S, Ballarini P, Miceli C (2008) Biomonitoring of Lake Garda: identifiication of ciliate species and symbiotic algae responsible for the “black-spot” bloom during the summer of 2004. Environ Res 107(2):194–200CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Puigagut JH, Salvado D, Garcia F, Garcia J (2007) Comparison of microfauna communities in full scale subsurface flow constructed wetlands used as secondary and tertiary treatment. Water Res 41(8):1645–1652CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Roberts EC, Prisca JC, Laybourn-Parry J (2004) Microplankton dynamics in a perennially ice-covered Antartica lake–lake Hoare. Freshw Biol 49(7):853–869CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Savadet AL, Gobet A, Guillou L (2010) Comparative analysis between protest communities from the deep sea pelagic ecosystem and specific deep hydrothermal habitats. Environ Microbiol 12(11):2946–2964CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Spoon DM, Burbank WD (1967) A new method for collecting sessile ciliates in plastic dishes with tight fitting lids. J Protozool 14:735–739Google Scholar
  41. Takehito Y, Maiko K, Tek BG, Jotaro U (2001) Seasonal succession of zooplankton. Aquat Ecosyst 35(1):19–29Google Scholar
  42. Tarbe AL, Unrein F, Stenuite S, Piriot S, Sarmento H, Sinyinza D, Descy JP (2011) Protist herbivory: a key pathway in the pelagic foodweb of lake Tanganyika. Microb Ecol 62(2):314–323CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. Ult LR (2008) Attachment of the peritrich epibiont Zoothamnium intermedium Precht, 1935(Ciliophora, Peritrichia) to artificial substrates in natural environment. Braz J Biol 68(4):795–798Google Scholar
  44. Verhoeven R (2002) The structure of the microtrophic system in a development series of dune soils. Pedobiologia 46(1):75–79CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. Xu M, Cao H, Xie P, Deng D, Feng W, Xu J (2005) Use of PFU community, structural and functional characteristics in assessment of water quality in a large, highly polluted freshwater in China. J Environ Monit 7(7):670–674CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. Zaleski M, Claps MC (2001) First record of some peritrichs ciliates for San Miguel Del Monte Pond (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Guyana (concepcion) 65(1):43–53Google Scholar

Copyright information

© CEERS, IAU 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Laboratory of General Biology, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Yaounde 1YaoundeCameroon

Personalised recommendations