Freshwater Copepods Calanoida and Cyclopoida

[Robert Berdan]

Some copepods are common in freshwater ponds, typically those belonging to the Cyclopoida. Calanoida copepods are characterized by long antenna and are less common in my experience, though I catch more of them using a plankton net. When I try to mount the Calanoid copepods they almost always rest on their sides. I tried mounting them without a coverslip in a well slide and finally was able to get them to spread out their antenna laterally. Some of them are able to move very fast. Their large size also necessitates photographing them with low magnification 25X.

Copepod Cyclpoida Darkfield and DIC 25X

Copepod Cyclopida Polarization microscopy 25X

Copepod Family Diaptomidae DIC microscopy 25X

Copepod Family Diaptomidae Brightfield microscopy 25X

Copepod Family Diaptomidae Brightfield microscopy 25X

[Adalbert]

very nice

[Ken Ramos]

Really colorful images, nice! A couple of them look as though they could have graced a Led Zeppelin album cover.