Great Lakes Waterlife Photo Gallery

Protozoa of the Great Lakes

Key

Species List

Links

Protozoans are a highly diverse group of single-celled organisms. Some protozoans are plant-like in that they contain chloropyll and so can use energy directly from the sun (producers or autotrophs); these may or may not be mobile. Many of these are classified with the algae. Other protozoans are more animal-like, getting their energy by absorbing nutrients from the environment or by consuming other organisms (heterotrophs; consumers and decomposers). Some are capable of both at once (mixotrophs). Still others include a wide variety of parasites. Great Lakes protozoans have recently been recognized as a critical link in the 'microbial loop' returning energy and nutrients from bacteria and detritus which would otherwise be lost to the main pelagic food web. Unfortunately, the group is often difficult to study and comprehensive lists of the Great Lakes taxa are not readily available. The following information in this section focuses on the dominant species.

Key to the Common Great Lakes Protozoa

Rhodomonas photo

Sarcomastigophora
(Flagellates)

Ciliophora
(Ciliates)

Difflugia - photo from MTU

Rhizopoda
(Amoebae)

Key to the Common Great Lakes Flagellates
if pigmented (e.g., green) see Algae

1 apical flagellum, apical network of microvilli forming a funnel-like collar.
Choanoflagellates

Apical flagella not inserted in an oral furrow and without an apical collar.
Chrysomonads

2 or more flagella inserted in an oral furrow.
Cryptomonads

2 or more subapical flagella of unequal length attached in transverse and longitudinal furrows.
Dinoflagellates

Choanoflagellates

Desmerella spp.

Chrysomonads (see also Chrysophyta)

1 apical flagellum, no funnel-like collar.
Chromulina spp.

2 or more apical flagella, pigmented in 2 lateral chromatophores, naked cells with a long posterior haptonema.
Chrysochromulina spp.

2 or more apical flagella, pigmented in 2 lateral chromatophores, lorica, colonial.
Dinobryon spp.

Cryptomonads (see also Cryptophyta)

apical flagella, colorless and free-swimming.
Ochromonas spp.

subapical flagella of unequal length, colorless.
Cryptaulax spp. or Katablepharis spp.

Cryptomonas photo

subapical flagella of unequal length, pigmented in 2 chloroplasts, >15um.
Cryptomonas spp.

Rhodomonas photo

subapical flagella of unequal length, pigmented in 1 chloroplast with 1 pyrenoid, <15um.
Rhodomonas spp.

Dinoflagellates (see also Dinoflagellates)

Ceratium photo
armored with conspicuous plates. >150um with an irregular shape.
Ceratium spp.

Peridinium photo
armored with conspicuous plates. <20um ovoid.
Peridinium spp.

Gymnodinium photo
naked without conspicuous plates.
Gymnodinium spp.

Key based on: Common Planktonic Protozoa in the Upper Great Lakes: An Illustrated Guide. Carrick and Fahnenstiel. NOAA.

Key to the Common Great Lakes Ciliates

Body cilia reduced or absent, aboral zone of membranelles forms a complete ring.
Choreotrichida

enclosed in a vase-shaped lorica with reticulate rings
Codonella spp.

Tintinnidium photo - courtesy of

flexible tube-shaped lorica
Tintinnidium spp.

naked
Strombilidium spp.

Body cilia reduced or absent, adoral membranelles form an incomplete ring, naked
Oligotrichida

spherical with lateral bristles
Pelagohalteria spp.

Pelagostrombidium fallax photo courtesy of "Larger than Life"

ovoid with a slight spiral, thick paratene cap encases entire posterior.
Pelagostrombidium spp.

heart-shaped with a slight spiral, thin paratene cap posterior.
Strombidium spp.

Body cilia reduced to a sub-equatorial fringe, usually attached.
Sessilida

ovoid 10-30um, attached by a retractable stalk
Vorticella spp.

bell-shaped in a cup-shaped lorica, attached without a stalk
Vaginicola spp.

Prominent body cilia in two types forming an apical band in the upper 3/4 of the cell. May be armored.
Prorodontida

body cilia an apical band surrounding the oral region, with a single caudal cilium
Pseudobalanion spp.

body cilia an apical band over the upper 3/4 of the cell with a single caudal cilium
Urotricha spp.

Prominent body cilia in two types, raised cytostome, mouth apical or subapical with a tubular passage extending inward.
Haptorida

cell flask-shaped, apex with a distinct ventral bend.
Lagynophyra spp.

Body cilia in 1 girdle behind the anterior oral dome.
Monodinium spp.

Body cilia in 2 girdles behind the anterior oral dome - one extending forward.
Mesodinium spp.

Body cilia in 2 girdles one at the equator and the 2nd a short dense band around the oral region.
Akenasia spp.

Key based on: Common Planktonic Protozoa in the Upper Great Lakes: An Illustrated Guide. Carrick and Fahnenstiel. NOAA.

Species List

Phylum Sarcomastigophora (more photosynthetic flagellates included with the algae)
- Order Bicoecales
  - Bicoeca (aka Bicosoeca, Poteriodendron)
    - Bicoeca campanulata M
    - Bicoeca crystallina M
    - Bicoeca lacustris? M
    - Bicoeca mitra M
    - Bicoeca petiolata MO
    - Bicoeca tubiformis MO
- Order Choanoflagellida
  - Codosiga E
  - Desmarella HMS
  - Lagenoeca
    - Lagenoeca globosa M
  - Monosiga E
  - Rhynchomonas
  - Salpingoeca
  - Stelexmonas
    - Stelexmonas dichotoma MO

Order Chrysomonadida
- Anthophysa
- Chromulina HMSE
  - Chromulina minima
- Chrysosphaerella
  - Chrysosphaerella longispina
- Diceras
- Dinobryon HMSE
- Kephyrion
- Mallomonas E
- Ochromonas HMS
- Pseudokephyrion
- Spumella E
Craspedomonadales
- Sphaeroeca M
Order Cryptomonadida
- Chilomonas E
- Chlamydomonas E
- Chroomonas E
- Cryptaulax HMS
- Cryptomonas HMSE
- Haematococcus E
- Katablepharis
  - Kateblepharis ovalis HMS
- Rhodomonas HMS
Order Dinoflagellida
- Ceratium HMSE
- Cystodinium
- Glenodinium E
- Gymnodinium HMS
- Peridinium HMSE
Order Prymnesiida
- Chrysochromulina HMSE
Order Rhizomastigida
- Mastigella M

Phylum Ciliophora
- Subclass Holotrichia
  - Order Prorodontida
- Subclass Peritricha
  - Order Peritrichida - Suborder Sessilina (alt Order Sessilida)
    - Family Epistylidae
      - Epistylis
    - Family Vaginicolidae
      - Cothurina
      - Vaginicola HM
    - Family Vorticellidae
      - Vorticella HME
        
        Vorticella campanula HM
- Subclass Rhabdophorina
  - Order Hymenostatida
    - Family Paramecidae
      - Paramecium
  - Order Rhynchodida (?aka Haptorida)
    - Family Didiniidae
      - *Askenasia HM
      - Mesodinium HM
    - Family Spathididae
      - Spathidium
  - Order Scuticociliatida (aka Hymenostomatida)
    - Cyclidium E
- Subclass Spirotrichia
  - Order Choretrichida
    - SO Strobilidiina - Family Strobilididae
      - *Strobilidium HME
        
        Strobilidium velox HM
    - SO Tintinnina - Family Codonellidae
      - Codonella HM
        
        Codonella cratera HM
    - SO Tintinnina - Family Tintinnidiidae
      - Tintinnidium HM
      - Tintinnopsis E
  - Order Hypotrichida
    - Family Oxytrichidae
      - Stylonychia
  - Order Odontostomatida
    - Epalxellidae
      - Epalxis
  - Order Oligotrichida
    - Family Halteriidae
      - Halteria *HME
      - Pelagohalteria HM
    - Family Stentoridae
      - Stentor E
    - Family Strombidiidae
      - Strombidium *HME
        
        Strombidium viridae E
      - Pelagostrombidium HM
- Subclass Suctoria
  - Order Suctorida
    - Family Acinetidae
      - Acineta
        
        Acineta nitocra
    - Family Podophyridae
      - Podophrya
Phylum Rhizopoda
- Diplophyrys
- Class Lobosa
  - Order Arcellinida
    - Arcellidae
      - Arcella sp. W
      - Hyalosphenia sp. W
        
        H. cuneata W
      - Schoenbornia sp. W
    - Centropyxidae
      - Centropyxis sp. W
    - Difflugiidae
      - Difflugia sp. W

Class Filosia
- Aconchulinida
  - Cyphoderiidae

Cyphoderia sp.
- Cyphoderia ampulla W
- Cyphoderia trochus W
Corythionella sp.

Corythionella golemanskyi W HEO
Corythionella georgiana H

Psammonobiotus sp. W SHEO

Psammonobiotus communis W SHEO
Psammonobiotus dziwnowi H
Psammonobiotus linearis W EO

Euglyphidae

Campascus sp.
- C. minutus W
Euglypha spp. W
- E. filifera W
Paraeuglypha sp.
- P. reticulata W
Sphenoderia sp. W
Scutiglypha sp. W
Tracheleuglypha sp.
- T. dentata W.
Trinema
- T. enchelys W
- T. lineare W

Paulinellidae

Paulinella
- P. chromatophora W

*=Dominant

Planktonic ciliates of the North American Great Lakes: Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. 2005. M. Munawar and D.H. Lynn. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, Volume 5, Number 3, 1 September 2002, pp. 345-354(10).

H=Lake Huron.

Common Planktonic Protozoa in the Upper Great Lakes: An Illustrated Guide. Carrick and Fahnenstiel. NOAA.
Euryhaline, Sand-dwelling, Testate Rhizopods in the Great Lakes. 2004. Kenneth H. Nicholls, and Hugh J. MacIsaac. J. Great Lakes Res. 30(1):123-132.
Psammonobiotus dziwnowi and Corythionella georgiana, Two New Freshwater Sand-dwelling Testate Amoebae (Rhizopoda: Filosea). 2005. Kenneth H. Nicholls. Acta Protozool. 44: 271 - 278.
Planktonic Protozoa in Lakes Huron and Michigan: Seasonal Abundance and Composition of Ciliates and Dinoflagellates. 1990. H. Carrick and G. Fahnenstiel. JGLR 16(2)319-329.

M=Lake Michigan

Common Planktonic Protozoa in the Upper Great Lakes: An Illustrated Guide. Carrick and Fahnenstiel. NOAA.
Plankton in Lake Michigan 1983 - 1992. EPA
Planktonic Protozoa in Lakes Huron and Michigan: Seasonal Abundance and Composition of Ciliates and Dinoflagellates. 1990. H. Carrick and G. Fahnenstiel. JGLR 16(2)319-329.

S=Lake Superior

Common Planktonic Protozoa in the Upper Great Lakes: An Illustrated Guide. Carrick and Fahnenstiel. NOAA.
Euryhaline, Sand-dwelling, Testate Rhizopods in the Great Lakes. 2004. Kenneth H. Nicholls, and Hugh J. MacIsaac. J. Great Lakes Res. 30(1):123-132.

E=Lake Erie

Euryhaline, Sand-dwelling, Testate Rhizopods in the Great Lakes. 2004. Kenneth H. Nicholls, and Hugh J. MacIsaac. J. Great Lakes Res. 30(1):123-132.
Carbon Dynamics of Plankton Communities in Nearshore and Offshore Lake Erie: The significance of the microbial loop for higher trophic levels. 1995. S-J Hwang. Ph.D. Dissertation.

O=Lake Ontario

W= (wave zone = 0-2m)

Euryhaline, Sand-dwelling, Testate Rhizopods in the Great Lakes. 2004. Kenneth H. Nicholls, and Hugh J. MacIsaac. J. Great Lakes Res. 30(1):123-132.

Protozoa Links

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