Tintinnid ciliates (marine microzooplankton) of the Ross Sea

For the Ross Sea, only Marine Protected Area in Antarctica, available data on tintinnid ciliates of marine microzooplankton are mostly limited to nearshore waters near Terra Nova Bay or vicinity McMurdo Sound. Here, we report results from a geographically extensive sampling across Sea conducted December 2020. Material plankton net tows (20 µm mesh), made at 38 stations spanning over 30° latitude, was examined. We found 11 species varying commonality rarity, many showing considerable morphological variability that is here documented. four forms had not been previously reported Sea. Based our findings and previous reports, assembled accumulation curve growth inventory recorded as function effort time since 1983. Extrapolation curve, derived last 37 years, indicates continued will likely provide new records, suggesting under-sampled present. This complicates efforts detect temporal changes compositions, least with regard ciliates. Comparing curves for relatively well-studied Weddell it appears may be more species-rich.