Protozoa-ciliata of a small pond at Logy Bay, Newfoundland

Abstract

The ciliate fauna of a small, freshwater pond at Logy Bay, Newfoundland was studied in 1968-70. A preliminary survey of the seasonal occurrence of the protozoa as affected by ecological parameters was made. -- The study pond is quite acidic (pH 4.50-5.15), with high chloride content (99.26 p.p.m.), a wide annual water temperature range (0.5-20.8ﾟC), and a fluctuation of dissolved solid concentration (75-144 p.p.m.). -- Twenty-nine ciliate species of 19 genera were determined. Other ciliates belonging to a least 30 taxa were not identified beyond the generic level. -- Three groups among the studied ciliates are particularly interesting and demand rediscovery for further study. Tetrahymena vorax for its polymorphic life cycle; Coleps heteracanthus, Aspidisca sp., Condylostoma sp., Dysteria sp., and Trachelocerca sp. which might be new ecotypes of marine ciliates; and Coleps sp., Urotricha sp., Microthorax sp., and Lembadion sp., perhaps new species.