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Spatial variation of percentage abundance (a) and biomass (b) of five different size classes of ciliates in 15 nearshore stations in Gulf of Gabes. Size classes of ciliates: CI (15-30 µm), CII (30-50 µm), CIII (50-100 µm), CIV (100-200 µm) and CV (> 200 µm). 

Spatial variation of percentage abundance (a) and biomass (b) of five different size classes of ciliates in 15 nearshore stations in Gulf of Gabes. Size classes of ciliates: CI (15-30 µm), CII (30-50 µm), CIII (50-100 µm), CIV (100-200 µm) and CV (> 200 µm). 

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Diversity and structure of ciliate communities in the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia) were investigated based on a survey of 15 nearshore stations along 237 Km, by monthly sampling over a year. Ciliated protozoa were identified to genus and/or species level and enumerated. Statistic tools were used to explain ciliate assemblage. High ciliate species richne...

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Context 1
... sp. (Balech, 1974) 72.66 18.18 Autotrophe Protoperidinium sp. (Balech, 1974) 22.5 2.38 Not defined Scrippsiella trochoidea (Loeblich III, 1965) 30 6.28 Mixotrophe oligotrichs found during their study was related to the ol- igotrophic status of the Gulf of Gabes (Bel Hassen et al., 2008;Drira et al., 2010a). The quantitative dominance of tintinnids during their study was related to pollution; the Gulf of Gabes is the subject of pollution from an- thropogenic and industrial activities Hannachi et al., 2009). The differences in the community composition of tintinnid ciliates suggest that ciliate com- munities in the east and central Mediterranean are more diverse in terms of numbers of endemic species, numbers of species, and species evenness (Dolan et al., 1999). The study on the spatial succession of ciliate size classes at each station in the Gulf of Gabes is therefore important for understanding their significance in the trophic organi- zation and community structure of the pelagic ecosystem. This study shows that 5 major size-classes of the ciliate assemblage are the overwhelmingly commonest sizes found ( mum teres and Tracheloraphis phoenicopterus). This may be explained by the abundance of phytoplankton as food for ciliates, which reached a density of 13.1 × 10 3 cells l -1 (Table 1). Most of the ciliate biomass was represented by 50-100 µm size classes (Fig. 3b), which was mainly dominated by the order tintinnida (Table 2). Fifty-four tintinnid species were identified, 18 of which were of the genus Tintinnopsis (Table 2). Tintinnid species richness was greater in the Gulf of Gabes than in other sea areas (Yu et al., 2013). The lower contributions of the smallest species, from 15-30 µm, which accounted for 2 to 30 % of total biomass may be due to the grazering pressure of mesozooplankton, such as copepods ( Kchaou et al., 2009). Pérez et al. (1997) noted that copepods preferen- tially consume micro-sized ciliates. Quevedo & Anadón (2000) found that small ciliates, < 20 µm, were domi- nant in a coastal area of the southern Bay of Biscay, con- tributing about 63 % of total ciliates. Nano-ciliates were present in all samples and were numerically the domi- nant size group of the ciliate assemblage, representing between 51 and 70 % of oligotrich abundance. In terms of biomass, their contribution was less important ( Pérez et al., 2000). The size of the ciliate assemblages has been related to the trophic status of the water, with large forms, mainly phytophagous, dominating in oligotrophic waters (Gismervik et al., 2002). Indeed, these large forms are capable of exploiting lower minimum food concentra- tions ( Pérez et al., 1997;Modigh & Castaldo, ...
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... summary of the ciliate taxa observed during the entire study period at the 15 sampling stations is given in Table 2. During the entire survey period, a total of 63 taxa belonging to 8 classes, namely Spirotrichea, Prostomatea, Colpodea, Litostomatea, Oligohymenophorea, Karyorelectea, Heter- otichea and other ciliates were identified. The Spirotrichea was the most dominant group. The mean length and biovol- (Lynn and Small, 1997), mean length (µm) and biovolume (µm 3 ) of the ciliate community at the 15 nearshore sampling stations along the Gulf of Gabes. Kofoid & Campbell, 1939) 69 52 Clevea melchersi (Balech, 1948) 150 3.9 Stenosemella avellana (Meunier, 1919) 93 94.5 Salpingella spp. (Jorgensen, 1924) 112.5 2.2 Salpingacantha sp. (Kofoid & Campbell, 1929) 245 10 Undella columbiana (Wailes, 1925) 40 6.5 Rhabdonella spiralis (Fol, 1881) 300 306.6 Dadayiella ganymedes (Entz Sr., 1884) 98 23 Eutintinnus fraknoi (Daday, 1887) 101 9.3 Epiplocylis undella (Ostenfeld and Schmidt, 1901) 125 149 Metacylis jorgenseni (Cleve, 1902) 50 32.1 Ormosella acantharus (Kofoid and Campbell, 1929) 150 24.5 Poroecus apiculatus (Cleve, 1899) Cleve, 1902100 41.9 Xystonellopsis sp. (Jörgensen, 1924 78 28.5 Luminella parvicollis (Marshall, 1934 Table 2). Figure 2 shows that the number of ciliate taxa ranged between 18 and 46 at Hassi Jerbi and the Port of Gabes, respectively. Moreover, the number of taxa increased significantly at the northern stations from Tabia to the Port of Gabes (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.79). However, from the Port of Gabes to southern station Jabiat Haj Ali the number of taxa decreased (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.44) (Fig. 2). Figure 3 shows that the spatial distribution of the percentage of each protozooplankton size class is expressed according to abundance and biomass. For the size classes ex- pressed according to abundance, the largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia station while the smallest ones (15-30 μm) were concentrated at Karboub station, reaching 13 % of total size class ( Fig. 3a). At most stations, the cili- ate community was dominated by the 15-30 μm size class, which accounted for 15 to 79 % of the total size class. It was followed by the 30-50 μm and 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 8 to 51 % and 12 to 48 % of total size class, respectively. The contribution of the largest species (larger than 100 μm) did not exceed 14 % of total ciliate abundance (Fig. 3a). However, at most stations, the great- est biomass contribution came from the 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 21 to 73 % of total biomass production (Fig. 3b). It was followed by the 100-200 μm and 30-50 μm size classes, which accounted for 1 to 62 % and 7 to 38 % of total biomass production, respectively. The contribution of the smallest species from 15-30 µm was the lowest, varying from 2 to 30% of total biomass production. The largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia and Ras Younga stations, accounting for 15 and 10 % of total biomass production, respectively (Fig. 3b). The ANOVA test to which the Bonferroni correction was applied, showed that for both abundance and biomass of the five studied size classes of ciliates differed signifi- cantly among the sampled stations (For abundance, F (4,70) = 30.98; p = 0.000; For Biomass, F (4,70) = 28.11; p = ...
Context 3
... summary of the ciliate taxa observed during the entire study period at the 15 sampling stations is given in Table 2. During the entire survey period, a total of 63 taxa belonging to 8 classes, namely Spirotrichea, Prostomatea, Colpodea, Litostomatea, Oligohymenophorea, Karyorelectea, Heter- otichea and other ciliates were identified. The Spirotrichea was the most dominant group. The mean length and biovol- (Lynn and Small, 1997), mean length (µm) and biovolume (µm 3 ) of the ciliate community at the 15 nearshore sampling stations along the Gulf of Gabes. Kofoid & Campbell, 1939) 69 52 Clevea melchersi (Balech, 1948) 150 3.9 Stenosemella avellana (Meunier, 1919) 93 94.5 Salpingella spp. (Jorgensen, 1924) 112.5 2.2 Salpingacantha sp. (Kofoid & Campbell, 1929) 245 10 Undella columbiana (Wailes, 1925) 40 6.5 Rhabdonella spiralis (Fol, 1881) 300 306.6 Dadayiella ganymedes (Entz Sr., 1884) 98 23 Eutintinnus fraknoi (Daday, 1887) 101 9.3 Epiplocylis undella (Ostenfeld and Schmidt, 1901) 125 149 Metacylis jorgenseni (Cleve, 1902) 50 32.1 Ormosella acantharus (Kofoid and Campbell, 1929) 150 24.5 Poroecus apiculatus (Cleve, 1899) Cleve, 1902100 41.9 Xystonellopsis sp. (Jörgensen, 1924 78 28.5 Luminella parvicollis (Marshall, 1934 Table 2). Figure 2 shows that the number of ciliate taxa ranged between 18 and 46 at Hassi Jerbi and the Port of Gabes, respectively. Moreover, the number of taxa increased significantly at the northern stations from Tabia to the Port of Gabes (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.79). However, from the Port of Gabes to southern station Jabiat Haj Ali the number of taxa decreased (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.44) (Fig. 2). Figure 3 shows that the spatial distribution of the percentage of each protozooplankton size class is expressed according to abundance and biomass. For the size classes ex- pressed according to abundance, the largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia station while the smallest ones (15-30 μm) were concentrated at Karboub station, reaching 13 % of total size class ( Fig. 3a). At most stations, the cili- ate community was dominated by the 15-30 μm size class, which accounted for 15 to 79 % of the total size class. It was followed by the 30-50 μm and 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 8 to 51 % and 12 to 48 % of total size class, respectively. The contribution of the largest species (larger than 100 μm) did not exceed 14 % of total ciliate abundance (Fig. 3a). However, at most stations, the great- est biomass contribution came from the 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 21 to 73 % of total biomass production (Fig. 3b). It was followed by the 100-200 μm and 30-50 μm size classes, which accounted for 1 to 62 % and 7 to 38 % of total biomass production, respectively. The contribution of the smallest species from 15-30 µm was the lowest, varying from 2 to 30% of total biomass production. The largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia and Ras Younga stations, accounting for 15 and 10 % of total biomass production, respectively (Fig. 3b). The ANOVA test to which the Bonferroni correction was applied, showed that for both abundance and biomass of the five studied size classes of ciliates differed signifi- cantly among the sampled stations (For abundance, F (4,70) = 30.98; p = 0.000; For Biomass, F (4,70) = 28.11; p = ...
Context 4
... summary of the ciliate taxa observed during the entire study period at the 15 sampling stations is given in Table 2. During the entire survey period, a total of 63 taxa belonging to 8 classes, namely Spirotrichea, Prostomatea, Colpodea, Litostomatea, Oligohymenophorea, Karyorelectea, Heter- otichea and other ciliates were identified. The Spirotrichea was the most dominant group. The mean length and biovol- (Lynn and Small, 1997), mean length (µm) and biovolume (µm 3 ) of the ciliate community at the 15 nearshore sampling stations along the Gulf of Gabes. Kofoid & Campbell, 1939) 69 52 Clevea melchersi (Balech, 1948) 150 3.9 Stenosemella avellana (Meunier, 1919) 93 94.5 Salpingella spp. (Jorgensen, 1924) 112.5 2.2 Salpingacantha sp. (Kofoid & Campbell, 1929) 245 10 Undella columbiana (Wailes, 1925) 40 6.5 Rhabdonella spiralis (Fol, 1881) 300 306.6 Dadayiella ganymedes (Entz Sr., 1884) 98 23 Eutintinnus fraknoi (Daday, 1887) 101 9.3 Epiplocylis undella (Ostenfeld and Schmidt, 1901) 125 149 Metacylis jorgenseni (Cleve, 1902) 50 32.1 Ormosella acantharus (Kofoid and Campbell, 1929) 150 24.5 Poroecus apiculatus (Cleve, 1899) Cleve, 1902100 41.9 Xystonellopsis sp. (Jörgensen, 1924 78 28.5 Luminella parvicollis (Marshall, 1934 Table 2). Figure 2 shows that the number of ciliate taxa ranged between 18 and 46 at Hassi Jerbi and the Port of Gabes, respectively. Moreover, the number of taxa increased significantly at the northern stations from Tabia to the Port of Gabes (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.79). However, from the Port of Gabes to southern station Jabiat Haj Ali the number of taxa decreased (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.44) (Fig. 2). Figure 3 shows that the spatial distribution of the percentage of each protozooplankton size class is expressed according to abundance and biomass. For the size classes ex- pressed according to abundance, the largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia station while the smallest ones (15-30 μm) were concentrated at Karboub station, reaching 13 % of total size class ( Fig. 3a). At most stations, the cili- ate community was dominated by the 15-30 μm size class, which accounted for 15 to 79 % of the total size class. It was followed by the 30-50 μm and 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 8 to 51 % and 12 to 48 % of total size class, respectively. The contribution of the largest species (larger than 100 μm) did not exceed 14 % of total ciliate abundance (Fig. 3a). However, at most stations, the great- est biomass contribution came from the 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 21 to 73 % of total biomass production (Fig. 3b). It was followed by the 100-200 μm and 30-50 μm size classes, which accounted for 1 to 62 % and 7 to 38 % of total biomass production, respectively. The contribution of the smallest species from 15-30 µm was the lowest, varying from 2 to 30% of total biomass production. The largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia and Ras Younga stations, accounting for 15 and 10 % of total biomass production, respectively (Fig. 3b). The ANOVA test to which the Bonferroni correction was applied, showed that for both abundance and biomass of the five studied size classes of ciliates differed signifi- cantly among the sampled stations (For abundance, F (4,70) = 30.98; p = 0.000; For Biomass, F (4,70) = 28.11; p = ...
Context 5
... summary of the ciliate taxa observed during the entire study period at the 15 sampling stations is given in Table 2. During the entire survey period, a total of 63 taxa belonging to 8 classes, namely Spirotrichea, Prostomatea, Colpodea, Litostomatea, Oligohymenophorea, Karyorelectea, Heter- otichea and other ciliates were identified. The Spirotrichea was the most dominant group. The mean length and biovol- (Lynn and Small, 1997), mean length (µm) and biovolume (µm 3 ) of the ciliate community at the 15 nearshore sampling stations along the Gulf of Gabes. Kofoid & Campbell, 1939) 69 52 Clevea melchersi (Balech, 1948) 150 3.9 Stenosemella avellana (Meunier, 1919) 93 94.5 Salpingella spp. (Jorgensen, 1924) 112.5 2.2 Salpingacantha sp. (Kofoid & Campbell, 1929) 245 10 Undella columbiana (Wailes, 1925) 40 6.5 Rhabdonella spiralis (Fol, 1881) 300 306.6 Dadayiella ganymedes (Entz Sr., 1884) 98 23 Eutintinnus fraknoi (Daday, 1887) 101 9.3 Epiplocylis undella (Ostenfeld and Schmidt, 1901) 125 149 Metacylis jorgenseni (Cleve, 1902) 50 32.1 Ormosella acantharus (Kofoid and Campbell, 1929) 150 24.5 Poroecus apiculatus (Cleve, 1899) Cleve, 1902100 41.9 Xystonellopsis sp. (Jörgensen, 1924 78 28.5 Luminella parvicollis (Marshall, 1934 Table 2). Figure 2 shows that the number of ciliate taxa ranged between 18 and 46 at Hassi Jerbi and the Port of Gabes, respectively. Moreover, the number of taxa increased significantly at the northern stations from Tabia to the Port of Gabes (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.79). However, from the Port of Gabes to southern station Jabiat Haj Ali the number of taxa decreased (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.44) (Fig. 2). Figure 3 shows that the spatial distribution of the percentage of each protozooplankton size class is expressed according to abundance and biomass. For the size classes ex- pressed according to abundance, the largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia station while the smallest ones (15-30 μm) were concentrated at Karboub station, reaching 13 % of total size class ( Fig. 3a). At most stations, the cili- ate community was dominated by the 15-30 μm size class, which accounted for 15 to 79 % of the total size class. It was followed by the 30-50 μm and 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 8 to 51 % and 12 to 48 % of total size class, respectively. The contribution of the largest species (larger than 100 μm) did not exceed 14 % of total ciliate abundance (Fig. 3a). However, at most stations, the great- est biomass contribution came from the 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 21 to 73 % of total biomass production (Fig. 3b). It was followed by the 100-200 μm and 30-50 μm size classes, which accounted for 1 to 62 % and 7 to 38 % of total biomass production, respectively. The contribution of the smallest species from 15-30 µm was the lowest, varying from 2 to 30% of total biomass production. The largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia and Ras Younga stations, accounting for 15 and 10 % of total biomass production, respectively (Fig. 3b). The ANOVA test to which the Bonferroni correction was applied, showed that for both abundance and biomass of the five studied size classes of ciliates differed signifi- cantly among the sampled stations (For abundance, F (4,70) = 30.98; p = 0.000; For Biomass, F (4,70) = 28.11; p = ...
Context 6
... summary of the ciliate taxa observed during the entire study period at the 15 sampling stations is given in Table 2. During the entire survey period, a total of 63 taxa belonging to 8 classes, namely Spirotrichea, Prostomatea, Colpodea, Litostomatea, Oligohymenophorea, Karyorelectea, Heter- otichea and other ciliates were identified. The Spirotrichea was the most dominant group. The mean length and biovol- (Lynn and Small, 1997), mean length (µm) and biovolume (µm 3 ) of the ciliate community at the 15 nearshore sampling stations along the Gulf of Gabes. Kofoid & Campbell, 1939) 69 52 Clevea melchersi (Balech, 1948) 150 3.9 Stenosemella avellana (Meunier, 1919) 93 94.5 Salpingella spp. (Jorgensen, 1924) 112.5 2.2 Salpingacantha sp. (Kofoid & Campbell, 1929) 245 10 Undella columbiana (Wailes, 1925) 40 6.5 Rhabdonella spiralis (Fol, 1881) 300 306.6 Dadayiella ganymedes (Entz Sr., 1884) 98 23 Eutintinnus fraknoi (Daday, 1887) 101 9.3 Epiplocylis undella (Ostenfeld and Schmidt, 1901) 125 149 Metacylis jorgenseni (Cleve, 1902) 50 32.1 Ormosella acantharus (Kofoid and Campbell, 1929) 150 24.5 Poroecus apiculatus (Cleve, 1899) Cleve, 1902100 41.9 Xystonellopsis sp. (Jörgensen, 1924 78 28.5 Luminella parvicollis (Marshall, 1934 Table 2). Figure 2 shows that the number of ciliate taxa ranged between 18 and 46 at Hassi Jerbi and the Port of Gabes, respectively. Moreover, the number of taxa increased significantly at the northern stations from Tabia to the Port of Gabes (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.79). However, from the Port of Gabes to southern station Jabiat Haj Ali the number of taxa decreased (Linear regression; r 2 = 0.44) (Fig. 2). Figure 3 shows that the spatial distribution of the percentage of each protozooplankton size class is expressed according to abundance and biomass. For the size classes ex- pressed according to abundance, the largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia station while the smallest ones (15-30 μm) were concentrated at Karboub station, reaching 13 % of total size class ( Fig. 3a). At most stations, the cili- ate community was dominated by the 15-30 μm size class, which accounted for 15 to 79 % of the total size class. It was followed by the 30-50 μm and 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 8 to 51 % and 12 to 48 % of total size class, respectively. The contribution of the largest species (larger than 100 μm) did not exceed 14 % of total ciliate abundance (Fig. 3a). However, at most stations, the great- est biomass contribution came from the 50-100 μm size class, which accounted for 21 to 73 % of total biomass production (Fig. 3b). It was followed by the 100-200 μm and 30-50 μm size classes, which accounted for 1 to 62 % and 7 to 38 % of total biomass production, respectively. The contribution of the smallest species from 15-30 µm was the lowest, varying from 2 to 30% of total biomass production. The largest species (> 200 μm) prevailed at Maghraouia and Ras Younga stations, accounting for 15 and 10 % of total biomass production, respectively (Fig. 3b). The ANOVA test to which the Bonferroni correction was applied, showed that for both abundance and biomass of the five studied size classes of ciliates differed signifi- cantly among the sampled stations (For abundance, F (4,70) = 30.98; p = 0.000; For Biomass, F (4,70) = 28.11; p = ...

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Spatial variability of ciliates in relation to environmental variables and abundance of heterotrophic prokaryotes, picoeukaryotes, nanoeukaryotes, microphytoplankton and mesozooplankton were studied in the Gulf of Gabes- Boughrara lagoon system in the surface layer and at the water-sediment interface between 9 and April 15, 2017. Results revealed a striking difference between the two ecosystems, with higher temperature and salinity and high availability of nitrite and total nitrogen concentrations in the Boughrara lagoon, probably generated by limited exchanges of water with the Gulf of Gabes associated with disturbed areas in the lagoon. Ciliates abundance was slightly higher in the Gulf of Gabes (16–19 × 10² cells l⁻¹) than in the Boughrara lagoon (13–16 × 10² cells l⁻¹), but the species richness was significantly higher in the Boughrara lagoon (40 taxa in the surface layer and 35 taxa at the water-sediment interface) than in the Gulf of Gabes (35 taxa in the surface layer and 33 taxa at the water-sediment interface). The ciliate community was characterized by the predominance of Spirotrichea. Tintinnids were more abundant than naked ciliates in both sampled ecosystems, except in a few stations. Some tintinnid species, such as Tintinnopsis radix, T. nana and T. parvula, showed high abundance, indicating their tolerance to environmental pollution. The dominant species T. beroidea, T. nana and Strombidium compressum showed significant relationships with nutrient concentrations, illustrating their affinity for highly eutrophic sites. Regression and correlation analyses suggest food dependence of Spirotrichea and tintinnids up on picoeukaryotes, whereas naked ciliates appeared more controlled by the availability of nanoeukaryotes and microphytoplankton. Metazooplankton abundance showed no significant relationships with ciliate abundance.
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