Pyrgodiscus armatus diatom (trial)

Images made through a microscope. All subject types.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

Macro_Cosmos
Posts: 1511
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:23 pm
Contact:

Pyrgodiscus armatus diatom (trial)

Post by Macro_Cosmos »

Image

Extremely rare diatom, endemic to Brno, Czechia.
300x DIC

J_Rogers
Posts: 87
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:29 pm
Location: North Carolina, USA

Re: Pyrgodiscus armatus diatom (trial)

Post by J_Rogers »

Incredible sharpness for that level of magnification!

When a diatom is classified as rare, is that simply due to the specific conditions needed for survival, i.e., only a few bodies of water in one region, or is it based upon a population probability per volumetric unit?

rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Posts: 23561
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
Contact:

Re: Pyrgodiscus armatus diatom (trial)

Post by rjlittlefield »

Very nice!

300X is an unusual number -- what were the optics for this?

--Rik

Macro_Cosmos
Posts: 1511
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:23 pm
Contact:

Re: Pyrgodiscus armatus diatom (trial)

Post by Macro_Cosmos »

rjlittlefield wrote:
Mon Nov 14, 2022 7:29 pm
Very nice!

300X is an unusual number -- what were the optics for this?

--Rik
60x with PE5x projection eyepiece.
J_Rogers wrote:
Mon Nov 14, 2022 7:23 pm
Incredible sharpness for that level of magnification!

When a diatom is classified as rare, is that simply due to the specific conditions needed for survival, i.e., only a few bodies of water in one region, or is it based upon a population probability per volumetric unit?
You are right, the word rare is subjective. Some base it on (x) number of samples found in (y) number of raw materials. There are many exceptionally rare diatoms such as Kittonia elaborata (Oamaru) and Kittonia tripedia (only in Russia).
Some large ones are very rare too.

In the case of the P. armatus, according to Anne, one needs to go through 2kg of raw material to get a small vial of diatoms, and among them, one has the chance of finding an undamaged copy (this one is damaged at the back).

I would base rarity on either the accessibility of the location (Antarctican diatoms are all rare) or the occurrence per quantity of raw material.

anne
Posts: 146
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 11:20 am
Contact:

Re: Pyrgodiscus armatus diatom (trial)

Post by anne »

Hello,
wonderful image!
I think this one is rare, because it is endemic, fossil and only found on this special place in Brno, Augarten.
The deposit is no longer accesible, that makes it even rarer.
best
anne

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic