Euplotopsis muscicola ( Kahl, 1932 ) Borror & Hill, 1995

Tirjaková, Eva, Botlíková, Simona & Vďačný, Peter, 2015, Checklist and distribution of ciliates from the family Euplotidae Ehrenberg, 1838 (Protista: Ciliophora: Spirotrichea) in Slovakia, Central Europe, Zootaxa 3920 (2), pp. 343-365 : 358-359

Euplotopsis muscicola ( Kahl, 1932) Borror & Hill, 1995

( Figs 3 F, 6A–E; Table 3 )

This species belongs among one of the most common soil ciliates worldwide ( Foissner 1998; Foissner et al. 2002). In Slovakia, E. muscicola was preferentially reported in samples of soil, decaying wood mass, mosses and leaflitter at a variety of localities in Slovenský raj (Slovak Paradise) ( Tirjaková & Matis 1987); in the town of Bratislava ( Andelová & Tirjaková 2000; Chrenková & Tirjaková 2000); in the Malé Karpaty Mts. ( Tirjaková & Vďačný 2004; Holecová et al. 2005, 2012; Tirjaková 2005; Bartošová & Tirjaková 2005, 2008); in the Trnavská pahorkatina hills ( Holecová et al. 2005); and in the Borská nížina lowland, Podunajská rovina (Danubian Upland), Považské podolie valley, and Strážovské vrchy Mts. ( Bartošová & Tirjaková 2008). Further, E. muscicola was found in Sphagnum from the Rojkovské rašelinisko peatbog ( Tirjaková 1992b). We recorded this species in mosses and leaf litter from various localities: Hviezdoslavov, Šamorín, Vyšný Skálnik, and Kopagrund (unpubl. observ.).

Apart from terrestrial habitats, this species was recorded also from limnetic biotopes of Slovakia: in the main stream and branches of the Danube ( Matis 1961; Szentivány & Tirjaková 1994; Matis & Tirjaková 1995); in a thermal pond at a temperature of 38 ºC in the Bojnice Spa ( Matis & Straková-Striešková 1991); in the riverside zone of the Danube ( Tirjaková 1992a); in polluted streams in Slovenský kras (Slovak Krast) ( Tirjaková 1997a); in an acidified spring area from the Malé Karpaty Mts. ( Tirjaková 1997b; Tirjaková & Stloukal 2004); and in a tree hole of Acer campestre in the Malé Karpaty Mts. ( Tirjaková & Vďačný 2005). We recorded E. muscicola in a pond from Šajdíkove Humence, Záhorie, W Slovakia (unpubl. observ.).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Various euplotids recoded at the territory of Slovakia after protargol (A) and silver nitrate (B – F) impregnation. (A) Euplotoides aediculatus, dorsal view showing nuclear apparatus. (B, C) Euplotoides patella, ventral (B) and dorsal (C) view. (D) Euplotopsis affinis, dorsal view showing the double- eurystomus silverline pattern. (E) Euplotopsis finki, dorsal view showing the double- eurystomus silverline pattern. (F) Euplotopsis muscicola, dorsal view showing the muscicola silverline pattern. AZM—adoral zone of membranelles, CC—caudal cirri, DK—dorsal kineties, FV—frontoventral cirri, MA—macronucleus, MI—micronucleus. Scale bars: 20 µm (D – F), 30 µm (B, C), and 50 µm (A).