@article{WeisseMoserScheffeletal.2013,
  author    = {Weisse, Thomas and Moser, Michael and Scheffel, Ulrike and Stadler, Peter and Berendonk, Thomas U. and Weithoff, Guntram and Berger, Helmut},
  title     = {Systematics and species-specific response to pH of Oxytricha acidotolerans sp nov and Urosomoida sp (Ciliophora, Hypotricha) from acid mining lakes},
  series = {European journal of protistology},
  volume    = {49},
  journal   = {European journal of protistology},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Jena},
  issn      = {0932-4739},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.ejop.2012.08.001},
  pages     = {255 -- 271},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {We investigated the morphology, phylogeny of the 18S rDNA, and pH response of Oxytricha acidotolerans sp. nov. and Urosomoida sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotricha) isolated from two chemically similar acid mining lakes (pH similar to 2.6) located at Langau, Austria, and in Lusatia, Germany. Oxytricha acidotolerans sp. nov. from Langau has 18 frontal-ventral-transverse cirri but a very indistinct kinety 3 fragmentation so that the assignment to Oxytricha is uncertain. The somewhat smaller species from Lusatia has a highly variable cirral pattern and the dorsal kineties arranged in the Urosomoida pattern and is, therefore, preliminary designated as Urosomoida sp. The pH response was measured as ciliate growth rates in laboratory experiments at pH ranging from 2.5 to 7.0. Our hypothesis was that the shape of the pH reaction norm would not differ between these closely related (3\% difference in their SSU rDNA) species. Results revealed a broad pH niche for O. acidotolerans, with growth rates peaking at moderately acidic conditions (pH 5.2). Cyst formation was positively and linearly related to pH. Urosomoida sp. was more sensitive to pH and did not survive at circumneutral pH. Accordingly, we reject our hypothesis that similar habitats would harbour ciliate species with virtually identical pH reaction norm.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WeisseLaufensteinWeithoff2013,
  author    = {Weisse, Thomas and Laufenstein, Nicole and Weithoff, Guntram},
  title     = {Multiple environmental stressors confine the ecological niche of the rotifer Cephalodella acidophila},
  series = {Freshwater biology},
  volume    = {58},
  journal   = {Freshwater biology},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {0046-5070},
  doi       = {10.1111/fwb.12104},
  pages     = {1008 -- 1015},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {1The planktonic food web in extremely acidic mining lakes is restricted to a few species that are either acidophilic or acidotolerant. Common metazoans inhabiting acidic mining lakes with a pH below 3 include rotifers in the genera Cephalodella and Elosa. 2The life history response of Cephalodella acidophila to three environmental key factors, pH (2, 3.5, 5.0 and 7.0), temperature (10, 17.5 and 25 degrees C) and food concentration (10000, 35000 and 50000algal cells per mL), was investigated in a full factorial design using life-table experiments. 3The effect of each of the three environmental variables investigated on the rotifer life cycle parameters (life span, fecundity and population growth rate) differed. C.acidophila is a stenoecious species with a pH optimum in the range 34 and a comparably high food threshold. Combining the laboratory results with field data, we conclude that C.acidophila is severely growth limited in its natural habitat. However, low pH alone is not harmful as long as temperatures are moderate to warm and food is abundant. 4The population of C.acidophila in the field is maintained mainly due to release from competitors and predators.},
  language  = {en}
}