Research Product

The specific purposes of the present work are to review the systematics and cytology of genus Lagenophrys and to report the results of investigations on morphologic, morphogenetic, and biologic aspects of Lagenophrys callinectes. New results reported and described herein are: (1) the first description of ultrastructure of the trophont of a species of Lagenophrys; (2) detailed patterns of the infraciliature of L. callinectes; (3) changes in the infraciliature associated with cytologic changes in the life cycle of the peritrich; (4) the structures involved in the physical and biological relationship between L. callinectes and the blue crab; and (5) host-ciliate interactions such as host-organ preference of the ciliate, seasonal intensities of infestations, seasonal prevalences, and host-specificity. Finally, the relationships that these results may have to the further elucidation of peritrich taxonomic affinities and phylogeny will be discussed.