Temporal variations in taxonomic relatedness of periphytic ciliate microfauna during its colonization periods in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China

Temporal variations in the taxonomic relatedness of periphytic ciliate microfauna during colonization periods were studied in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China, from May to June 2010. Samples were collected at two depths of 1 and 3 m, using glass slides as artificial substrates. The colonization dynamics of ciliate microfauna on the slides revealed similar patterns in species composition at both depths. In the immature communities (1-7 days), the taxonomic patterns showed high variability compared to those in the mature ones (10 days and more). However, taxonomic relatedness parameters at the two depths differed during early stages of colonization (e.g. 1-3 days). Taxonomic diversity (Delta) was subject to high variability (coefficients of variation >10%) in both immature and mature communities, whereas taxonomic distinctness (Delta*), average taxonomic distinctness (Delta(+)) and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Lambda(+)) showed high stability (coefficients of variation <10%) during the colonization times of 3-21 days. These findings suggest that 3-21-day exposure times are sufficient to detect the taxonomic distinctness of periphytic ciliate microfauna at water depths of 1-3 m for the purposes of ecological research and monitoring of marine ecosystems.