Ciliate Diversity in Stream Biofilms revealed by group-specific PCR primers.

Abstract

The ciliates are a diverse protozoan phylum, thought to be of considerable ecological importance in stream ecosystems, including organisms which are abundant and important consumers of bacteria, algae and other protozoa. Understanding of ciliate diversity and ecology is limited, however, particularly in benthic habitats such as stream biofilms. In this study, phylum-specific PCR primers were used in combination with cloning, sequencing and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis to investigate ciliate communities in stream biofilms.