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<p>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 1 000 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.</p>

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Morphological differences and statistical validation of tintinnid lorica traits at a global scale

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月1日

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  • Siting Hu,
  • Yunfan Zhang,
  • Wenhua Bian,
  • Jichen Qiu,
  • Lijie Peng,
  • Ying Yu,
  • Wuchang Zhang,
  • Meiping Feng

摘要

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 1 000 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.