The monophylum Oxytrichidae (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia) contains freshwater-, marine-, and soil-dwelling species. Some taxa are extremely widespread in freshwater (e.g. Oxytricha, Stylonychia) or in terrestrial habitats (e.g. Gonostomum). Oxytricha and Stylonychia have been used for many molecular, ultrastructural, and genetic investigations. This is the first book since Ehrenberg's (1838) monumental work to summarize the morphological, morphogenetic, faunistic, and ecological data from the past 220 years, scattered in more than 2500 references from all over the world. One central dichotomous key leads directly to 32 genera comprising about 169 species, which are illustrated by more than 2400 figures, including original ones. Taxonomists, ecologists, limnologists, soil biologists, and cell biologists will find a list of synonyms, a discussion of nomenclatural and taxonomic problems, and a detailed morphological and ecological description, including almost all published faunistic records. This enables both the specialist and the practitioner to determine species without referring back to the original literature. The book offers the interested scientist a thorough and up-to-date revision of the oxytrichids.

distances between groups of ciliates were as vast as significant hurdles to obtain copyright permissions the genetic distances between plants and animals for the over 1,000 required illustrations, and I put – THE major eukaryotic kingdoms at that time! the publication schedule ahead of this element. I continued to collaborate with Mitch, and in There are a number of significant illustrated guides 1991 my first “molecular” Magisterial student, to genera and species that have recently been pub- Spencer Greenwood, published an article estab- lished. References are made to these throughout lishing 1990 or thereabouts as the beginning of the book as sources that readers can consult for this the “Age of Refinement” – the period when gene aspect of ciliate diversity. A future project that I am sequencing techniques would deepen our under- contemplating is an illustrated guide to all the valid standing of the major lines of evolution within ciliate genera.

This is the second book of a series treating the hypotrichs, a major part of the spirotrichous ciliates. It summarises 230 years of morphological, morphogenetic, faunistic, and ecological data, heretofore scattered in some 1,300 references around the world. The book provides taxonomists, cell biologists, and ecologists with a thorough survey supplying synonyms, nomenclature and systematics, and an extensive description of morphology and ecology, including almost all published records, for each species.

Ciliated protozoa are one of the most relevant biological communities in the reactors of wastewater treatment plants. These organisms are excellent tools to assess the biological status of the reactor being used to monitor wastewater treatment plants performance. This book has been designed to simplify identification of ciliates, bearing in mind the difficulties on the manipulation and proper identification of these species. The specific role of ciliates in WWTP is discussed; methods for observation together with a glossary of scientific words and a simple and easy key to the taxonomic groups of ciliates are also provided. Illustrations, drawings, photographs and brief morphological descriptions of the species are included. Guidelines for the Identification of Ciliates in Wastewater Treatment Plants is the first book to use the new official classification proposed by the Society of Protozoologists (2005). It includes a complete chapter on methodology that is designed to be easy to follow and reproduce. A simple key to classify main taxonomic groups and genera is included, as are detailed descriptions to aid observation and identification of species of ciliates, in addition to drawings and photographs that accurately reproduce ciliate species.