Abstract: As one of the important components of microzooplankton, marine planktonic ciliates serve as a crucial link between microbial food web and classical food chain. Some planktonic ciliates in their life cycle can encyst, and can excyst when environment is favorable. The encystment and excystment cycle is very important to the planktonic population dynamics in water column. Though the vegetative stage of planktonic ciliates has been frequently studied, the resting phase is largely ignored. In China, we do not even begin research in this field. This paper reviewed the progress in cyst research, including cyst morphology, cyst abundance, environmental parameters of cyst formation, cyst development during excystment, and excystment in relation to environmental parameters, which could be helpful to promote the study of the cysts of marine planktonic ciliates in China.

Key words: Stipa breviflora desert steppe, constructive species, dominant species, interspecific relationship.