Fascinating Microbes found in a Pond

Images made through a microscope. All subject types.

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Antartica
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Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 9:57 pm

Fascinating Microbes found in a Pond

Post by Antartica »

I spent some time chasing these awesome microbes. They glide through the water with such smooth and beautiful movements, it really is fascinating to see how they live.

Does anyone know the names of these microbes? The second one in particular is truly spectacular.

https://youtu.be/C0bEIQuVJ7Y

Robert Berdan
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Location: Calgary
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Re: Fascinating Microbes found in a Pond

Post by Robert Berdan »

Hi - the long ciliates you photographed are Spirostomum sp - I see them often and there are several species. They are magnificent to watch.
So are many other creatures like Tardigrades, rotifers, amoeba, desmids etc.
Cheers
RB

Bruce Taylor
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Re: Fascinating Microbes found in a Pond

Post by Bruce Taylor »

Robert Berdan wrote:
Sat Apr 01, 2023 4:07 pm
Hi - the long ciliates you photographed are Spirostomum sp - I see them often and there are several species.
Cheers
RB
Hi Robert! The very long ciliates in this video are not Spirostomum, but various species of marine karyorelicteans (this is a saltwater sample, and these are typical "marine interstitial" critters). The first is likely Kentrophoros, or something similar, and the very long ones we see later in the video are from the family Trachelocercidae (Trachelocerca, Tracheloraphis, etc.). The shorter ciliate that comes up second is probably Anigsteinia clarissima (a marine relative of Blepharisma), and the fourth is a small litonotid (Litonotus, etc.). Near the end we see a nematode, and some other kind of worm.
It Came from the Pond (Blog): http://www.itcamefromthepond.com/

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