The ciliated protozoa are important members of the interstitial biotope
by virtue of their numbers and biomass. These single celled organisms
form complex communities in the spaces between sandgrains in many marine
sediments. Despite their important role in benthic ecology, there has
been a lack of detailed studies on this large and fascinating group.
Although difficult and demanding to work with, the most important aspect
that has hampered research on these fragile organisms has been the lack
of a suitable identification guide.