PRESENCE OF AN EPIBIONT EPISTYLIS SP (PROTOZOA, CILIOPHORA) ON SOME ZOOPLANKTON

Abstract

Protozoan ciliate epibionts infestation on zoo plankton in Cip Reservoir were studied seasonally, between spring 2014-winter 2015 The ciliates perit-rich epibiont Epistylis sp. (Protozoa, Ciliophora) was found as colony form on some individuals of different zooplanktonic groups, especially rotifers and copepods. Totally 23 zooplankton species (19 species from Rotifera, 3 species from Cladocera and 1 species from Copepoda in Cip Reservoir were investigated. The most important zooplanktonic group was determined as Rotifera (82.7 % of total) and observed genera with epibionts were Keratella, Polyarthra, and Brachionus. The highest density of infected zooplankton was observed in winter (14265 ind./m(3)), the lowest density of infected zooplankton was found in summer (3056 ind./m(3)). Rotifers were most infected groups with 75% in this study. Infestation of Epistylis sp. has been registered for the first time in Cip Reservoir.