For non-taxonomists, revisions and monographs are often the main source of information about a group of organisms. Monographs are also appreciated by specialists because time-consuming enquiries about, for example, nomenclature, taxonomy, or ecology can be avoided. Further, the diversity of a higher taxon is thoroughly documented. Part 3 of the monograph of hypotrichs contains all genera which do not belong to the oxytrichids (Berger 1999), urostylids (Berger 2005), or the euplotine spirotrichs. According to the Berger (2001; updated version, see http://protozoology.com) about 77 genera comprising circa 240 species are concerned. They belong to various higher taxa, for example, the Amphisiellidae, the Kahliellidae, the Strongylidae. On the assumption that 30–50% of the species are synonyms, species indeterminata, or species belonging to other higher taxa, about 120–170 valid species are known at present. The last detailed revision of hypotrichous ciliates (stichotrichs according to a new terminology) was published by Kahl (1932). A short review was provided by Borror (1972). The Monograph of Hypotrichs. Part 3 will be organized like the monograph of the oxytrichids already published by the applicant (Berger 1999). A copy of this almost 1100 pages long treatise should serve as example. The present monograph will be published by Buckhuys Publishers (The Netherlands).

The project is planned over a three year period and comprises the following parts: (i) Critical inventory and monographic treatment of the available data since 1758. The data about the genera treated are distributed in about 1500 papers. About 50% of the three-year period are estimated for this part. (ii) Morphological investigation of species using live observation and silver staining. About 20% of time are estimated. (iii) Investigation of morphogenesis of some key species. Morphogenetic data are often very useful for the analysis of phylogenetic relationships of hypotrichs (Berger & Foissner 1997). About 20% of time are estimated. (iv) Cladistic analysis of urostylids using traditional methods and computer programs. About 5% of time are estimated. (v) Investigation of some key species by molecularbiological methods in collaboration with the group of Prof. Dr. Martin Schlegel, University of Leipzig, Germany. Within the oxytrichid hypotrichs molecularbiological investigations provided many, very useful data to elucidate the phylogeny. About 5% of time are estimated for isolation and cultivation.

The experience tells me that about 5.5 printed pages on average are necessary for a thorough revision of a ciliate species. Thus, the present monograph (Part 3) will be about 700 to 1000 pages long. I hope that this part of the monograph of hypotrichs will be, like the other parts, a standard for the next 50 to 100 years!

References
Berger H (1999), Monographiae Biologicae, 78, 1–1092 (Kluwer)
Berger H (2001) Catalogue of ciliate names 1. Hypotrichs, 214 pp (Verlag Helmut Berger).
Berger (2005), Monograph of Urostylids (Springer).
Berger H & Foissner W (1997), Archiv für Protistenkunde, 148, 125–155.
Borror AC (1972), Journal of Protozoology, 19, 1–23.
Kahl A (1932) Tierwelt Deutschlands, 25, 399–650.