Updating Biodiversity Studies in Loricate Protists: the Case of the Tintinnids (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea).

SANTOFERRARA L.,; BACHY, C; ALDER VA; GONG J; KIM YO; SACCÀ A; DA SILVA NETO ID; STRÜDER-KYPKE MC; WARREN A; XU D; YI Z; AGATHA S

JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

1066-5234

Species determination is crucial in biodiversity research. In tintinnids, identification is based almost exclusively on the lorica, despite its frequent intraspecific variability and interspecific similarity. We suggest updated procedures for identification and, depending on the aim of the study, further steps to obtain morphological, molecular, and ecological data. Our goal is to help improving the collection of information (e.g., species re-/descriptions and DNA barcodes) that is essential for generating a natural tintinnid classification and a reliable reference for environmental surveys. These suggestions are broadly useful for protistologists because they exemplify data integration, quality/effort compromise, and the need for scientific collaborations