title: The First Record for the Americas of Loxodes rex, a Flagship Ciliate with an Alleged Restricted Biogeography.
abstract: As the foundations of food webs, protozoa are essential to the success of an ecological system. These organisms are often overlooked, and research in the Americas is sparse. Recent samplings conducted in freshwater canals and ponds in Florida, USA, have revealed Loxodes rex, an alleged endemic ciliate species. Originally described as endemic to tropical Africa, L. rex has been considered a prime candidate for proof of microbial endemism. Our studies have shown this giant, non-encysting ciliate to be thriving in subtropical Florida. Our observations are novel and include both the first record of occurrence for the Americas and the first high-quality in vivo images for this charismatic species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK. hunter.n.hines@gmail.com.|Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, 34946, USA. hunter.n.hines@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hunter N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.affiliation: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, 34946, USA.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK. gesteban@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Genoveva F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Esteban
mesh_terms: D049628:Body Size; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005431:Florida; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology*
keywords: Biogeography; Ciliate; Endemism; Florida; Loxodes rex; Protozoa