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Spatial and temporal occurrence of Rhabdostyla cf. chironomi Kahl, 1933 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) as an epibiont on chironomid larvae in a lotic system in the neotropics

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Abstract

In order to show how environmental factors could influence the spatial and temporal distribution of epibiosis, we investigated the occurrence of the ciliate Rhabdostyla cf. chironomi (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) attached to Chironomidae larvae in an urban stream in southeast Brazil. Samples were collected monthly for 1-year period at five sampling stations along the stream. Among the 24 genera analyzed, the genus Chironomus was the most abundant, with 16.84% carrying R. cf. chironomi. This epibiotic relationship was only recorded in sample stations located in a heavily populated urban area of the stream. Statistical analyses demonstrated significant correlations between infestation prevalence and environmental parameters such as rainfall, bacterial density, and host abundance. The occurrence of epibionts on the larvae was spatially and temporally heterogeneous. The results are discussed in terms of possible factors related to the heterogeneous spatial and temporal occurrence. Greater understanding of the ecological factors governing the occurrence of the epibiont–host relationship is essential to establish future use of this relationship as water quality indicator in lotic systems.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Dionéia Evangelista Cesar and to Guilherme Alfenas for providing the bacterial data, and to M.Sc. Nilo Stephan and Vívian Oliveira for their technical support with identification and collection of chironomid larvae. We also acknowledge the comments and suggestions made by the editor and anonymous reviewers. This study was financially supported by FAPEMIG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, ICB, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil

    Adalgisa F. Cabral, Roberto G. Alves & Marta D’Agosto

  2. Department of Zoology, CCS, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Roberto Júnio P. Dias

  3. Biosciences College, Pontifícia Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Laura R. P. Utz

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  1. Adalgisa F. Cabral
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  2. Roberto Júnio P. Dias
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  4. Roberto G. Alves
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  5. Marta D’Agosto
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Correspondence to Adalgisa F. Cabral.

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Handling editor: Luigi Naselli-Flores

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Cabral, A.F., Dias, R.J.P., Utz, L.R.P. et al. Spatial and temporal occurrence of Rhabdostyla cf. chironomi Kahl, 1933 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) as an epibiont on chironomid larvae in a lotic system in the neotropics. Hydrobiologia 644, 351–359 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0202-2

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