Tintinnids were enumerated and identified in samples collected from 36 stations between 18°-22°N, 107°-122 °E in the northern South China Sea （NSCS）. 44 species belonging to 24 genera of tintinni...Tintinnids were enumerated and identified in samples collected from 36 stations between 18°-22°N, 107°-122 °E in the northern South China Sea （NSCS）. 44 species belonging to 24 genera of tintinnids were recorded. The dominant species were He/icostome/la /onga and Tintinnopsis radix. Tintinnids abundance ranged from 0 to 2 200 cell/L, and mean abundance was 221cell/L in the surface water. Tintinnids abundance and species numbers decreased from coast to offshore. Upwelling and Pearl River discharge influenced the distribution of tintinnids by regulating nutrients supply. Maximum abundance （2 200 cell/L） was found in the surface water of A1. Tintinnids abundance showed positive relationship with chlorophyll a （Chl a） concentration, and no significant relationship was found between tintinnids abundance and temperature.展开更多
There were different biogeographical tintinnids in the oceans. Knowledge of their distribution pattern and mixing was important to the understanding of ecosystem functions. Yellow Sea(YS) and Bohai Sea(BS) were semi-e...There were different biogeographical tintinnids in the oceans. Knowledge of their distribution pattern and mixing was important to the understanding of ecosystem functions. Yellow Sea(YS) and Bohai Sea(BS) were semi-enclosed seas influenced by warm water intrusion and YS cold bottom water. The occurrence of tintinnids in YS and BS during two cruises(summer and winter) were investigated to find out: i) whether warm-water tintinnids appeared in YS and BS; ii) whether boreal tintinnids appeared in high summer; iii) the core area of neritic tintinnids and iv) how these different biogeographical tintinnids mixed. Our results showed that tintinnid community was dominated by neritic tintinnid. We confirmed the occurrence of warm-water tintinnids in summer and winter. In summer, they intruded into BS and mainly distributed in the upper 20 m where Yellow Sea Surface Warm Water(YSSWW) developed. In winter, they were limited in the surface water of central deep region(bottom depth >50 m) of YS where were affected by Yellow Sea Warm Water(YSWW). Boreal tintinnids occurred in YS in high summer(August) and in winter, while they were not observed in BS. In summer, the highest abundance of boreal tintinnids occurred in Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water, indicating the presence of an oversummering stock. In winter, they were concentrated in the north of YSWW. Vertically, neritic tintinnids abundance was high in the bottom layers. Horizontally, high neritic tintinnids abundance in bottom layers occurred along the 50 m isobath coinciding with the position of front systems. Front systems were the core distribution area of neritic tintinnids. High abundance areas of warm-water and boreal tintinnids were clearly separated vertically in summer, and horizontally in winter. High abundance of neritic tintinnids rarely overlapped with that of warm-water or boreal tintinnids.展开更多
The spatial distribution of some large tintinnid species (nominally>76 μm) was investigated according to samples collected by vertical towing in cruises to the southern Yellow Sea in summer 2000-2002 and 2004. Eig...The spatial distribution of some large tintinnid species (nominally>76 μm) was investigated according to samples collected by vertical towing in cruises to the southern Yellow Sea in summer 2000-2002 and 2004. Eight species were identified: Codonellopsis mobilis, Leprotintinnus netritus, Tintinnopsis karajacensis, T. japonica, T. kiaochowensis, T. butschlii, T. radix, and Parafavella sp. With maximum abundance of 158.2 ind/L in June 2004, C. mobilis was the dominant species, lasting from May to July 2004. Tintinnid communities were patchy and distributed mainly in shallow waters along the shore.展开更多
Spatial distribution of some large tintinnid species (nominally > 76 μm) is investigated on samples vertically towed in the southern Yellow Sea in winters of 2001 to 2004. Nine tintinnid species are recorded: Codo...Spatial distribution of some large tintinnid species (nominally > 76 μm) is investigated on samples vertically towed in the southern Yellow Sea in winters of 2001 to 2004. Nine tintinnid species are recorded: Codonellopsis morchella, Stenosemella pacifica, S. steini, Tintinnopsis schotti, T. radix, T. karajacensis, Eutintinnus tenuis, Parafavella sp., Leprotintinnus neriticus, of which C. morchella and T. radix dominated in the warm tongue-shaped zone of the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC), and S. pacifica is the next in abundance. Our study shows that these tintinnids occur repeatedly in certain special distribution patterns.展开更多
Information on tintinnid horizontal distribution in the Antarctic Continental Zone is scarce.During the summer of 2019/2020,tintinnid diversity and horizontal distribution in surface waters were investigated in the Ro...Information on tintinnid horizontal distribution in the Antarctic Continental Zone is scarce.During the summer of 2019/2020,tintinnid diversity and horizontal distribution in surface waters were investigated in the Ross Sea and Amundsen Sea polynya.Eight tintinnid species were found and the dominant species showed obvious horizontal distribution characteristics.In the Ross Sea,three tintinnid community groups were identified.Cymatocylis cristallina and Laackmanniella prolongata(group I)were dominant species and were mainly distributed in stations closer to the coast than were species in the other two groups.Codonellopsis gaussi(group II)and Cy.convallaria(group III)were mainly distributed in nearshore and offshore stations,respectively.In the Amundsen Sea polynya,the dominant species Cy.cristallina,L.prolongata and Salpingella faurei(group I)were mainly distributed in stations closer to the coast than were species in the other two groups.Cy.convallaria(group III)was mainly distributed in offshore stations.The distribution area where C.gaussi and C.cristallina were found in high abundance and abundance proportion of loricae with protoplasts was divided by the approximate boundary of the Antarctic Slope Front Current and Coastal Current in the Ross Sea.The highest abundance proportion in the Ross Sea was the 32-36μm lorica oral diameter(LOD)size class(75.7%),and the 36-40μm LOD size class(56.0%)was found in the Amundsen Sea polynya.Temperature-salinity-plankton diagrams of the two seas revealed that temperature may be the main reason for species distribution.Our results contribute to a better understanding of horizontal distribution of the microbial food web,and serve as a baseline for future studies of pelagic community change in the Antarctic Continental Zone.展开更多
In order to investigate the tintinnid diversity,vertical distribution and latitudinal variation in the tropical West Pacific Ocean,water samples of different depths from surface to 200 m were collected along four tran...In order to investigate the tintinnid diversity,vertical distribution and latitudinal variation in the tropical West Pacific Ocean,water samples of different depths from surface to 200 m were collected along four transects.Totally 124 tintinnid species in 39 genera were detected.Most species preferred to live in the surface and subsurface waters.High tintinnid species richness,abundance and diversity index mainly occurred at depths slight shallower than the layer of deep chlorophyll maximum.Species richness,abundance and Shannon's diversity index were significant positive correlation with temperature and chlorophyll a in vivo fluorescence,but significant negative correlation with salinity and depth.The correlations between most dominant species and environmental factors were not significant.Tintinnid diversity was extremely high in this area,species richness ranged from 25 to 52 at each station,Shannon's diversity indexes were higher than 3 at most sampling positions from surface to 75 m.Proportions of redundant species were high,accounted for 87.90%of species pool and 60.38%of total abundance,indicating high capacity to response to changes in resource composition and predation pressures of tintinnid communities in the tropical West Pacific Ocean.展开更多
The ciliate community in the Bohai Sea (China) was studied from 23 September to 7 October 1998. A hurricane struck the study area between the two grid station investigations, which were six days apart. Six tintinnid s...The ciliate community in the Bohai Sea (China) was studied from 23 September to 7 October 1998. A hurricane struck the study area between the two grid station investigations, which were six days apart. Six tintinnid species (Favella panamensis, Leptotintinnus nordqvisti, Tintinnopsis butschlii, T. karajacensis, T. Radix and Wangiella dicollaria) were identified. Total cililate abundance in the surface layer ranged from 20 to 770 ind/l. In the first grid investigation, Tintinnopsis karajacensis dominated in the warm, low salinity waters at the Huanghe River mouth. Aloricate ciliate sp.1 dominated in the cold, high salinity waters in the northwest of the study area and the Bohai Strait. In the second grid investigation, T. Karajacensis almost disappeared. The abundance of aloricate ciliate sp.1 decreased drastically. The aloricate ciliate sp.2 dominated at the Bohai Strait. The change of ciliate abundance may be due to the disturbance of hurricane.展开更多
Tintinnid ciliates are important pelagic microplankton.Most studies previously conducted in the Amundsen Sea have covered a relatively small latitude range and provided minimal information about tintinnid species comp...Tintinnid ciliates are important pelagic microplankton.Most studies previously conducted in the Amundsen Sea have covered a relatively small latitude range and provided minimal information about tintinnid species composition and distribution.The present study was conducted to investigate tintinnid assemblages from the Antarctic zone(AZ)northward through the polar front(PF)to the subantarctic zone(SAZ).A total of 17 tintinnid species belonging to seven genera were collected,and 16 were identified.Results show that nine of the species are endemic to the Southern Ocean and they mainly inhabit the AZ near Antarctic continent with an abundant proportion exceeding 60%of total tintinnid.According to the tintinnid abundance distribution,the species were divided into four groups:Group I includes Acanthostomella norvegica,Codonellopsis glacialis,C.pusilla and Cymatocylis antarctica and mainly occurs in the northern boundary of the PF;Group II includes Cymatocylis convallaria forma calyciformis,an unidentified species,and Amphorellopsis quinquealata and mainly inhabits the PF;Group III includes Salpingella costata,Cymatocylis vanhoeffeni,C.convallaria forma cristallina,C.convallaria forma drygalskii,C.convallaria,Codonellopsis gaussi,and Laackmanniella naviculaefera and mainly occurs in the AZ near the Antarctic continent;and Group IV,which comprises Salpingella sp.and inhabits all zones.The new species of tintinnid(belonging to Group II)primarily inhabit the AZ but also are distributed in the PF,and they have large lorica-oral-diameter(LOD).The distribution ranges of tintinnid assemblages from the AZ to PF were determined,in addition to the different assemblages mixed in the PF.The information provided in this study increases our understanding of tintinnid assemblages from the Antarctic continent in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and Antarctic waters.展开更多
As one of the important microzooplankton in marine pelagic habitats,tintinnids are classified as neritic genera,oceanic genera and cosmopolitan genera.Until now,we know little about the interaction between neritic and...As one of the important microzooplankton in marine pelagic habitats,tintinnids are classified as neritic genera,oceanic genera and cosmopolitan genera.Until now,we know little about the interaction between neritic and oceanic genera in continental shelves.Low species richness area was found in the mixing area between neritic and oceanic genera in the East China Sea.In this study,we investigated the spatial distribution of tintinnid community throughout the entire Bohai Sea in May(spring)of 2014 to find out:(1)whether the tintinnid assembalges differed in the three major bays bordering this shallow inland sea;(2)whether there was low species richness area in the Bohai Sea.Three genera and 11 species attributed to neritic and cosmopolitan taxa were reported from this region.Tintinnid abundance averaged(81±216)ind./L(0–1234 ind./L).Tintinnid community differed within the three major bays,with each characterized by different tintinnid taxa.Referring to the average abundance of three bays,tintinnids were most abundant in the Laizhou Bay((328±445)ind./L),and least abundant in the Liaodong Bay((34±57)ind./L).A low species richness area occurred in the central Bohai Sea(20–40 m isobaths),in some stations of which no tintinnid was recorded.Our study demonstrates that tintinnid community varied greatly over small spatial scales,and low species richness area was found in the mixing area between neritic and oceanic genera within this inland sea.展开更多
Tintinnid ciliates are suggested as model in plankton ecology and are traditionally identified based on lorica traits with ecological importance(e.g.,growth rate,prey selection,and energy transfer efficiency).However,...Tintinnid ciliates are suggested as model in plankton ecology and are traditionally identified based on lorica traits with ecological importance(e.g.,growth rate,prey selection,and energy transfer efficiency).However,statistical validation has been limited for this taxonomic system,which has been increasingly critiqued.Here,we compiled a global dataset of tintinnid lorica morphology from the literature and statistically tested the validity of lorica traits for classification at family and genus levels.A total of 840 species were selected from over 1000 documented species,and their distinctive lorica traits(lorica types,open ends,collar presence,and biogeographic distribution patterns)were extracted and linked to the established phylogenetic tree.Significant differences were revealed across family-and genus-level(but not at species-level)classifications and across multiple morphological parameters,including critically distinctive lorica traits,size metrics(lorica oral diameter,LOD,and equivalent spherical diameter,ESD),and individual carbon biomass.Our findings provide quantitative evidence for the validity of morphological taxonomy,and preliminary foundation for linking morphological taxonomy with molecular data.Moreover,our findings provide one of the first statistical foundations for future studies integrating morphology and ecology to elucidate plankton ecological functioning at a global scale.展开更多
基金support for this study was provided by the National Science Committee through Grants NSC 40531006, U0633007, 40576052
文摘Tintinnids were enumerated and identified in samples collected from 36 stations between 18°-22°N, 107°-122 °E in the northern South China Sea （NSCS）. 44 species belonging to 24 genera of tintinnids were recorded. The dominant species were He/icostome/la /onga and Tintinnopsis radix. Tintinnids abundance ranged from 0 to 2 200 cell/L, and mean abundance was 221cell/L in the surface water. Tintinnids abundance and species numbers decreased from coast to offshore. Upwelling and Pearl River discharge influenced the distribution of tintinnids by regulating nutrients supply. Maximum abundance （2 200 cell/L） was found in the surface water of A1. Tintinnids abundance showed positive relationship with chlorophyll a （Chl a） concentration, and no significant relationship was found between tintinnids abundance and temperature.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.41576164)the ‘Strategic Priority Research Program-Western Pacific Ocean System:Structure,Dynamics and Consequences’ of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.XDA11020103.1)NSFC-Shandong Joint Fund for Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences (No.U1606404)
文摘There were different biogeographical tintinnids in the oceans. Knowledge of their distribution pattern and mixing was important to the understanding of ecosystem functions. Yellow Sea(YS) and Bohai Sea(BS) were semi-enclosed seas influenced by warm water intrusion and YS cold bottom water. The occurrence of tintinnids in YS and BS during two cruises(summer and winter) were investigated to find out: i) whether warm-water tintinnids appeared in YS and BS; ii) whether boreal tintinnids appeared in high summer; iii) the core area of neritic tintinnids and iv) how these different biogeographical tintinnids mixed. Our results showed that tintinnid community was dominated by neritic tintinnid. We confirmed the occurrence of warm-water tintinnids in summer and winter. In summer, they intruded into BS and mainly distributed in the upper 20 m where Yellow Sea Surface Warm Water(YSSWW) developed. In winter, they were limited in the surface water of central deep region(bottom depth >50 m) of YS where were affected by Yellow Sea Warm Water(YSWW). Boreal tintinnids occurred in YS in high summer(August) and in winter, while they were not observed in BS. In summer, the highest abundance of boreal tintinnids occurred in Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water, indicating the presence of an oversummering stock. In winter, they were concentrated in the north of YSWW. Vertically, neritic tintinnids abundance was high in the bottom layers. Horizontally, high neritic tintinnids abundance in bottom layers occurred along the 50 m isobath coinciding with the position of front systems. Front systems were the core distribution area of neritic tintinnids. High abundance areas of warm-water and boreal tintinnids were clearly separated vertically in summer, and horizontally in winter. High abundance of neritic tintinnids rarely overlapped with that of warm-water or boreal tintinnids.
基金Supported by China’s 863 Program (No.2006AA09Z179)973 Program (No.2006CB400604)
文摘The spatial distribution of some large tintinnid species (nominally>76 μm) was investigated according to samples collected by vertical towing in cruises to the southern Yellow Sea in summer 2000-2002 and 2004. Eight species were identified: Codonellopsis mobilis, Leprotintinnus netritus, Tintinnopsis karajacensis, T. japonica, T. kiaochowensis, T. butschlii, T. radix, and Parafavella sp. With maximum abundance of 158.2 ind/L in June 2004, C. mobilis was the dominant species, lasting from May to July 2004. Tintinnid communities were patchy and distributed mainly in shallow waters along the shore.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, No. 40876085)National Key Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, No. 2006CB400604)+1 种基金Knowledge Innovation Program of CAS (No. KZCX2-YW-213-3)NSFC (No. 40821004)
文摘Spatial distribution of some large tintinnid species (nominally > 76 μm) is investigated on samples vertically towed in the southern Yellow Sea in winters of 2001 to 2004. Nine tintinnid species are recorded: Codonellopsis morchella, Stenosemella pacifica, S. steini, Tintinnopsis schotti, T. radix, T. karajacensis, Eutintinnus tenuis, Parafavella sp., Leprotintinnus neriticus, of which C. morchella and T. radix dominated in the warm tongue-shaped zone of the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC), and S. pacifica is the next in abundance. Our study shows that these tintinnids occur repeatedly in certain special distribution patterns.
基金financially supported by National Polar Special Program “Impact and Response of Antarctic Seas to Climate Change” (Grant no. IRASCC 01-02-01D)funded by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant no., 2020M672149)the Applied Research Project for Postdoctoral in Qingdao。
文摘Information on tintinnid horizontal distribution in the Antarctic Continental Zone is scarce.During the summer of 2019/2020,tintinnid diversity and horizontal distribution in surface waters were investigated in the Ross Sea and Amundsen Sea polynya.Eight tintinnid species were found and the dominant species showed obvious horizontal distribution characteristics.In the Ross Sea,three tintinnid community groups were identified.Cymatocylis cristallina and Laackmanniella prolongata(group I)were dominant species and were mainly distributed in stations closer to the coast than were species in the other two groups.Codonellopsis gaussi(group II)and Cy.convallaria(group III)were mainly distributed in nearshore and offshore stations,respectively.In the Amundsen Sea polynya,the dominant species Cy.cristallina,L.prolongata and Salpingella faurei(group I)were mainly distributed in stations closer to the coast than were species in the other two groups.Cy.convallaria(group III)was mainly distributed in offshore stations.The distribution area where C.gaussi and C.cristallina were found in high abundance and abundance proportion of loricae with protoplasts was divided by the approximate boundary of the Antarctic Slope Front Current and Coastal Current in the Ross Sea.The highest abundance proportion in the Ross Sea was the 32-36μm lorica oral diameter(LOD)size class(75.7%),and the 36-40μm LOD size class(56.0%)was found in the Amundsen Sea polynya.Temperature-salinity-plankton diagrams of the two seas revealed that temperature may be the main reason for species distribution.Our results contribute to a better understanding of horizontal distribution of the microbial food web,and serve as a baseline for future studies of pelagic community change in the Antarctic Continental Zone.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41706192,41576164the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Shandong Joint Fund for Marine Science Research Centers under contract No.U1606404
文摘In order to investigate the tintinnid diversity,vertical distribution and latitudinal variation in the tropical West Pacific Ocean,water samples of different depths from surface to 200 m were collected along four transects.Totally 124 tintinnid species in 39 genera were detected.Most species preferred to live in the surface and subsurface waters.High tintinnid species richness,abundance and diversity index mainly occurred at depths slight shallower than the layer of deep chlorophyll maximum.Species richness,abundance and Shannon's diversity index were significant positive correlation with temperature and chlorophyll a in vivo fluorescence,but significant negative correlation with salinity and depth.The correlations between most dominant species and environmental factors were not significant.Tintinnid diversity was extremely high in this area,species richness ranged from 25 to 52 at each station,Shannon's diversity indexes were higher than 3 at most sampling positions from surface to 75 m.Proportions of redundant species were high,accounted for 87.90%of species pool and 60.38%of total abundance,indicating high capacity to response to changes in resource composition and predation pressures of tintinnid communities in the tropical West Pacific Ocean.
文摘The ciliate community in the Bohai Sea (China) was studied from 23 September to 7 October 1998. A hurricane struck the study area between the two grid station investigations, which were six days apart. Six tintinnid species (Favella panamensis, Leptotintinnus nordqvisti, Tintinnopsis butschlii, T. karajacensis, T. Radix and Wangiella dicollaria) were identified. Total cililate abundance in the surface layer ranged from 20 to 770 ind/l. In the first grid investigation, Tintinnopsis karajacensis dominated in the warm, low salinity waters at the Huanghe River mouth. Aloricate ciliate sp.1 dominated in the cold, high salinity waters in the northwest of the study area and the Bohai Strait. In the second grid investigation, T. Karajacensis almost disappeared. The abundance of aloricate ciliate sp.1 decreased drastically. The aloricate ciliate sp.2 dominated at the Bohai Strait. The change of ciliate abundance may be due to the disturbance of hurricane.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41576164)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41876217)+4 种基金the CNRS-NSFC Joint Research Projects Program(No.41711530149)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2017YFC14 04402)the Senior User Project of RV KEXUE(No.KE XUE2018G17)the Chinese Polar Environment Comprehensive Investigation&Assessment Programmes(No.CHINARE2016-01-05)the Scientific and Tech-nological Innovation Project by Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(No.2015ASK J02)
文摘Tintinnid ciliates are important pelagic microplankton.Most studies previously conducted in the Amundsen Sea have covered a relatively small latitude range and provided minimal information about tintinnid species composition and distribution.The present study was conducted to investigate tintinnid assemblages from the Antarctic zone(AZ)northward through the polar front(PF)to the subantarctic zone(SAZ).A total of 17 tintinnid species belonging to seven genera were collected,and 16 were identified.Results show that nine of the species are endemic to the Southern Ocean and they mainly inhabit the AZ near Antarctic continent with an abundant proportion exceeding 60%of total tintinnid.According to the tintinnid abundance distribution,the species were divided into four groups:Group I includes Acanthostomella norvegica,Codonellopsis glacialis,C.pusilla and Cymatocylis antarctica and mainly occurs in the northern boundary of the PF;Group II includes Cymatocylis convallaria forma calyciformis,an unidentified species,and Amphorellopsis quinquealata and mainly inhabits the PF;Group III includes Salpingella costata,Cymatocylis vanhoeffeni,C.convallaria forma cristallina,C.convallaria forma drygalskii,C.convallaria,Codonellopsis gaussi,and Laackmanniella naviculaefera and mainly occurs in the AZ near the Antarctic continent;and Group IV,which comprises Salpingella sp.and inhabits all zones.The new species of tintinnid(belonging to Group II)primarily inhabit the AZ but also are distributed in the PF,and they have large lorica-oral-diameter(LOD).The distribution ranges of tintinnid assemblages from the AZ to PF were determined,in addition to the different assemblages mixed in the PF.The information provided in this study increases our understanding of tintinnid assemblages from the Antarctic continent in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and Antarctic waters.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41576164,41806205 and 41576007the Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics,Second Institute of Oceanography under contract No.SOED1610。
文摘As one of the important microzooplankton in marine pelagic habitats,tintinnids are classified as neritic genera,oceanic genera and cosmopolitan genera.Until now,we know little about the interaction between neritic and oceanic genera in continental shelves.Low species richness area was found in the mixing area between neritic and oceanic genera in the East China Sea.In this study,we investigated the spatial distribution of tintinnid community throughout the entire Bohai Sea in May(spring)of 2014 to find out:(1)whether the tintinnid assembalges differed in the three major bays bordering this shallow inland sea;(2)whether there was low species richness area in the Bohai Sea.Three genera and 11 species attributed to neritic and cosmopolitan taxa were reported from this region.Tintinnid abundance averaged(81±216)ind./L(0–1234 ind./L).Tintinnid community differed within the three major bays,with each characterized by different tintinnid taxa.Referring to the average abundance of three bays,tintinnids were most abundant in the Laizhou Bay((328±445)ind./L),and least abundant in the Liaodong Bay((34±57)ind./L).A low species richness area occurred in the central Bohai Sea(20–40 m isobaths),in some stations of which no tintinnid was recorded.Our study demonstrates that tintinnid community varied greatly over small spatial scales,and low species richness area was found in the mixing area between neritic and oceanic genera within this inland sea.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.42576134the National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No.2023YFD2401901the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation under contract No.ZR2024QD183.
文摘Tintinnid ciliates are suggested as model in plankton ecology and are traditionally identified based on lorica traits with ecological importance(e.g.,growth rate,prey selection,and energy transfer efficiency).However,statistical validation has been limited for this taxonomic system,which has been increasingly critiqued.Here,we compiled a global dataset of tintinnid lorica morphology from the literature and statistically tested the validity of lorica traits for classification at family and genus levels.A total of 840 species were selected from over 1000 documented species,and their distinctive lorica traits(lorica types,open ends,collar presence,and biogeographic distribution patterns)were extracted and linked to the established phylogenetic tree.Significant differences were revealed across family-and genus-level(but not at species-level)classifications and across multiple morphological parameters,including critically distinctive lorica traits,size metrics(lorica oral diameter,LOD,and equivalent spherical diameter,ESD),and individual carbon biomass.Our findings provide quantitative evidence for the validity of morphological taxonomy,and preliminary foundation for linking morphological taxonomy with molecular data.Moreover,our findings provide one of the first statistical foundations for future studies integrating morphology and ecology to elucidate plankton ecological functioning at a global scale.
