Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

crseaquist

Fecha

Marzo 2, 2024 a las 06:44 MAÑANA CST

Descripción

Gathered dry leaves on 2024-02-23 and stored in water.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

mnold1

Fecha

Septiembre 3, 2023 a las 06:22 TARDE EDT

Descripción

Mag. 400x

  • A water sample was taken on 09/03/2023 from pond-edge using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microbes. Air temp. 80°F.

Amazingly pink ciliate. For a reference see the observation by Bruce Taylor, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0bDRJTc50c.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

mnold1

Fecha

Enero 6, 2024 a las 03:00 TARDE EST

Descripción

Mag. 200x (1,4); 400X (2,3)

  • A pond-side water sample (retentate) was taken on 01/06/2024 using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microorganisms. (The shoreline had a layer of ice about 1/4" thick that needed to be breached in order to accommodate the dipnet. The retentate contained a lot of sediment due to the shallow depth and disturbance caused by the net.) Air temp 35F.

Thuricola, a loricate peritrich ciliate. Lorica has a valve flap that must be pushed open to allow the zooids to feed. The lorica is round-bottomed and stalkless. Images in the video, https://youtu.be/om-CaI8zPlk, suggest there may be a vertical indentation at the aperture of the lorica.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

crseaquist

Fecha

Diciembre 7, 2023 a las 03:01 TARDE CST

Descripción

Water sample taken from the edge of a freshwater playa on 2023-12-07 using a turkey baster.

Video: https://youtu.be/f22Nib6qYbg

Fotos / Sonidos

Fecha

Julio 23, 2023 a las 07:26 TARDE MSK

Descripción

This is one of three related observations of ciliates: two Stentor and its parasites Sphaerophrya from one water sample. This is an observation of parasitic ciliates (at different stages).

A water sample was taken from the bank of the Vuoksi River. The sample was stored at room temperature and observed one day after collection.

Related Observations:
1st Stentor https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195742375
2nd Stentor https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195742590

Video: https://youtu.be/rWhk8K2WvFE

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

dms1535

Fecha

Mayo 26, 2023 a las 04:28 TARDE CEST

Descripción

Haltidytes crassus was a relatively common species at the time of its first description. Since then - probably due to the influence of industrial agriculture - this pretty gastrotrich has become very rare.

The main characteristic of H. crassus are the five dorsal and three ventral “jumping spines”, with which the animal catapults itself out of the danger zone when threatened.

dorsal Dorsal (juvenile animal); ds: dorsal spines (5 pairs).

The long, caudal and hair-shaped last ventral pair of spines, which far overhang the body and cross each other in resting position, is conspicuous. Three ciliary rings on the head are used for swimming locomotion, while the ventral ciliary bands typical of gastrotrichs are used for gliding over the substrate.

ventral

Ventral; cr: 3 ciliary rings for locomotion; js: jump spines; cs: long caudal spines; se: seta on papillae.

The posterior palps - as in all members of the genus Hatidytes - are on distinct papillae.

median

Median; br: “brain”; ph: pharynx; oo: mature ovum; in: “intestine”; mf: muscle fibers that move the jumping spines.

The internal anatomy has some peculiarities. For example, distinct muscle fibers can be seen that couple to the attachment sites of the jumping spines. Adhesive glands and the associated adhesive tubes are not present in this genus.

The typical movement and behavior of the animals can be seen in the following YouTube video:

Youtube-Player

Movie about Haltidytes crassus

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

mnold1

Fecha

Octubre 14, 2023 a las 08:29 TARDE EDT

Descripción

Mag. 400x

  • A pond-side water sample (retentate) was taken on 10/14/2023 using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microorganisms. Air temp 58F.

Reference: https://arcella.nl/arcella-conica/

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

mnold1

Fecha

Octubre 14, 2023 a las 07:13 TARDE EDT

Descripción

Mag. 400x

  • A pond-side water sample (retentate) was taken on 10/14/2023 using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microorganisms. Air temp 58F.

Relatively large Galeripora discoides, diameter 130µ; aperture 65µ; ratio of aperture to full diameter 0.5.
Reference: https://arcella.nl/galeripora-discoides/.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

mnold1

Fecha

Noviembre 1, 2023 a las 08:58 TARDE EDT

Descripción

Mag. 400x

  • A pond-side water sample (retentate) was taken on 10/14/2023 using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microorganisms. Air temp 58F.

Small (55µ wide x 45µ tall; aperture ~17µ), tall-domed Arcella with a highly folded dorsal surface. I think this is too small to be Arcella gibbosa, but may be A. intermedia, both appear in Siemensma's Microworld: https://arcella.nl/arcella-gibbosa/ and https://arcella.nl/arcella-intermedia/

Fotos / Sonidos

Fecha

Abril 2021

Descripción

Continued observation of a sample collected 20210314 from a river tributary, scoop of sediment near the bank.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

crseaquist

Fecha

Septiembre 24, 2022 a las 10:29 MAÑANA CDT

Descripción

Water sample (freshwater) was taken on 09/09/2022 using a 10µm dip net to enrich for microorganisms.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

crseaquist

Fecha

Abril 13, 2023 a las 03:49 TARDE CDT

Descripción

Water sample (freshwater) was taken on 2023-04-09 using a turkey baster.

Fotos / Sonidos

Fecha

Abril 29, 2023 a las 07:12 TARDE MSK

Descripción

Here, a population of Cinetochilum margaritaceum is presented and measurements of several of them have been taken.

A water sample was collected from the shore of Srednerogatsky Pond. The air temperature was 14°C (57.2 °F). The sample was kept at room temperature until it was assayed 6 days later.

Video: https://youtu.be/yCe9MKw1KWQ

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

jane_trembath

Fecha

Abril 28, 2021 a las 09:29 TARDE SAST

Descripción

Aquatic flatworm. Several different worms in this observation. Like trains that run on rails they glided fast and straight. Some were long trains with many 'coaches' (zooids) and others just the engine. Very flat because they passed under everything including each other without skipping a beat.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

jane_trembath

Fecha

Enero 1, 2022 a las 09:33 TARDE SAST

Descripción

Large amount of flatworms in a small sample of Wolffia arrhiza where they evidently live in the stomates of the plants. Saw one emerging on video.

These worms capable of swimming backwards as several of these did when the water was drying out under the cover slip.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

bdstaylor

Fecha

Septiembre 24, 2023 a las 11:43 MAÑANA EDT

Descripción

The species is not well differentiated from A. intermedia and A. hemisphaerica.

The specimen was collected in the Mer Bleue Bog conservation area, air-dried on an adhesive disk and imaged in the scanning electron microscope at the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

bdstaylor

Fecha

Septiembre 6, 2023 a las 07:01 MAÑANA EDT

Descripción

A testate amoeba from a forest fen in Wakefield, Quebec. The specimen was air-dried and imaged in a scanning electron microscope at the Canadian Museum of Nature.

The image shows two features that differentiate Galeripora from its cousin Arcella: 1) an organic coating on the outer ventral surface of the shell, obscuring the hexagonal units out of which it is composed; and 2) small pores encircling the aperture.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

bdstaylor

Fecha

Agosto 15, 2023 a las 08:59 TARDE EDT

Descripción

Likely a Leptopharynx costatus with zoochlorellae.

Like other microthoracids, it is equipped with extrusomes. When exploded, these have four arms at the tip (a character of the family Microthoracidae, per Omar & Foissner, 2012, link below). The last two images show discharged extrusomes.

I looked at two specimens closely (the first is shown in images 1-3, the second in images 4 and 5). Both were a bit over 50 μm in length, and resemble those of L. bromeliophilus (as recorded in Omar & Foissner, 2011, link below).

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2012.00620.x?casa_token=1_WqvnjfmrgAAAAA%3AQT9TfSLAfbU4YKlozTGIadKe0rCyK2voNwTy4xKcfiOiOQWstjnTKy048aTCWwV9MpVZS_2kFZW4kQ

https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/763567.pdf

Etiquetas

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

roman_romanov

Fecha

Junio 15, 2002 a las 05:44 TARDE +07

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

roman_romanov

Fecha

Junio 15, 2002 a las 05:44 TARDE +07

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

roman_romanov

Fecha

Junio 15, 2002 a las 05:44 TARDE +07

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

roman_romanov

Fecha

Junio 15, 2002 a las 05:44 TARDE +07

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

roman_romanov

Fecha

Junio 14, 2002 a las 05:30 TARDE +07

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

roman_romanov

Fecha

Junio 14, 2002 a las 05:30 TARDE +07

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

roman_romanov

Fecha

Junio 15, 2002 a las 05:44 TARDE +07

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

roman_romanov

Fecha

Junio 15, 2002 a las 05:44 TARDE +07

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

bdstaylor

Fecha

Junio 19, 2023 a las 06:18 TARDE EDT

Descripción

A ciliate with a curious flagellum-like process at its anterior. This structure is not a true flagellum. It does not move independently, but simply dangles from the ciliate's mouth as it swims around. Its purpose is not known. In other respects, Ileonema closely resembles Trachelophyllum. Like members of that genus it is enveloped by a coat of ornate epicortical scales, visible only in the scanning electron microscope. (See Foissner's monograph on Terrestrial and Semiterrestrial Ciliates from Venezuela and Galápagos, pp. 50ff)

Ileonema dispar is the type species of the genus, which was erected in 1884 by Alfred C. Stokes. In 1922, Penard described a similar species under the name I. simplex. I think there reason to believe that I. dispar and I. simplex are the same species, viewed in different conditions. Penard observed only one specimen, although he was able to watch it for a couple of hours. Stokes found I. dispar "in abundance", and describes it as having a variable shape: "Its changes of form are...quite constant as it rests among the algal threads and lengthens the entire body into a club-shaped creature searching for food, or contracts into an egg-shape with a short, narrow neck." However, he only illustrates one specimen (a rather pudgy one!), and it is this illustration that was reproduced in Kahl, with a short description (Kahl does not seem to have found the organism himself). Stokes also observed that his Ileonema is nearly identical in overall appearance to Trachelophyllum apiculatum: a telling comment, since the latter is usually quite slender, like Penard's simplex.

Stokes describes the "flagellum" as follows: "entire flagellum one-half the length of the body, the basal half thick, obliquely grooved and presenting a twisted or cord-like appearance, slightly tapering yet suddenly constricted at the beginning of the finely filamentous distal one-half."

The "flagella" of my critters are generally shaped much as Stokes describes: quite thick at the proximal end, finely filamentous at the distal. Seeing them at low magnification, it's easy to see how he might have misinterpreted the flagellum as being twisted, or ropelike. In my observations, the flagella of some individuals, at certain levels of illumination, appear to be quite uniform from base to tip.

The Ileonema in my population are also extremely contractile, ranging in shape from plumply ovoid to gracefully attenuated and vermiform. After they've eaten, they become almost unrecognizable!

Etiquetas

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

crseaquist

Fecha

Junio 14, 2023 a las 03:04 TARDE CDT

Descripción

Water sample taken from the stagnate edge of a freshwater lake was taken on 2023-06-09 using a turkey baster.

See Martin Kreutz's page:
https://realmicrolife.com/dexiotrichides-centralis/

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

dms1535

Fecha

Mayo 5, 2023 a las 11:05 MAÑANA CEST

Descripción

Aspidiophorus paradoxus is the largest Aspidiophorus species with about 300µm length.

Fig. 1: Dorsal scales.

The entire animal is covered with relatively large rhombic peduncle scales.

Fig. 2: Cross section

In cross-section, the structure of the peduncle scales can be clearly seen: the scales sit with a small basal plate on the cuticle of the animal, from which a thin, hollow peduncle rises. At the end of the peduncle sits a rhombic terminal plate, with a central keel. At the posterior end of the animal, the terminal plates of the last row of scales are enlarged.

The pharynx of the animal is terminally swollen, and the head is weakly five-lobed with two separate pairs of palpal tufts.

Fig. 3: Ventral view.

Ventrally, the strong hypostomion behind the mouth opening is striking. The two ciliated bands split at the head, but the inner branches do not unite in the population I examined. The base of the toes does not bear scales, the adhesive tubes
measure about 50% to 70% of the toe length and taper to a point.

Let's take a closer look at the scales:

Fig. 4: Back scales

In the scales on the back, the rhombic shape of the end plates can be seen most clearly. Less conspicuous - but typical for the species - is the middle keel of the scales.

Fig. 5: Cross section of scales

In cross section the complex geometry of the peduncle scales becomes clear - base plate, peduncle and end plate form a very flexible and stable carapace. The additional cavity under the outer scales acts like a "crumple zone" and further increases the protective effect.

Fig. 6: Cross-section of scale stems.

The stems of the scales consist of hollow tubes that ensure maximum stability with minimum material input - a fascinating example of evolutionary optimization.

The abdomen of the animals is not completely covered with petiolar scales. Rather, they end in the anal region and are joined by simple small, rounded keel scales that are not an obstruction to feces.

Fig. 7: Scaling of the abdomen.

At the furca base some (according to literature 4) spines protrude into the toe cutout.

The head is almost completely covered with slightly smaller peduncle scales:

Fig. 8: Head scales

Cephalion and pleurae are quite small and inconspicuous.

According to literature A. paradoxus has three teeth in the pharynx:

Fig. 9: Mouth armament.

In the animals I examined, only a curved stylet brace was found, the tip of which protrudes into the lumen of the pharynx and probably serves to open algal cells that are conveyed past it. It is possible that the literature reference to "three teeth" is merely based on a microscopic artifact, as the entire clasp may not be in the focal plane as a whole.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

mnold1

Fecha

Mayo 8, 2023 a las 05:18 TARDE EDT

Descripción

Mag. 400x
For reference images see http://www.digicodes.info/Micrasterias_muricata.html. This taxon has been observed in 2 nearby waterbodies: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/132612551 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105465282.

  • A water sample was taken on 5/8/2023, from the shore of Lantern Hill Pond, using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microbes. Air temp. 73°F.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

mnold1

Fecha

Mayo 8, 2023 a las 04:35 TARDE EDT

Descripción

Mag. 400x
Filled with Zoochlorellae, like Acanthocystis turfacea and A. pernardi, both found locally. However. this specimen is very different in that it is covered with loose, elliptical scales (5-10µ in length). I do not see any spine-scales. The long axipodea are very granular and are, occasionally, piled high from the base with elliptical scales (40-50µ high!). The elliptical scales form a disorganizes, 10µ thick layer enveloping the entire protoplasm. The best candidate (by my eye) for an ID, at Siemensma's Microworld, is Raphidocystis ambigua https://arcella.nl/raphidocystis-ambigua/. A 2nd possibility is R. symmetrica https://arcella.nl/raphidocystis-symmetrica/, but the current specimen is much larger than those recorded by Siemensma. No reference to Zoochrorella is made in describing either taxon. I could not find a match among the Acanthocystis.

  • A water sample was taken on 5/8/2023, from the shore of Lantern Hill Pond, using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microbes. Air temp. 73°F.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

peptolab

Fecha

Febrero 26, 2023 a las 07:32 TARDE EST

Descripción

Prorocentrum species from the intertidal benthos of marine estuary Acabonac Harbor at Louse Point. I'm thinking this is Prorocentrum lima. Does anyone have any better insight as to species? The cells measure 49 um in length. The GIFs and three stills are from one of the few motile cells I have found. The remaining photos are from numerous non-motile cells. In many cells you can see the central pyrenoid with its ring-like starch sheath, the large posterior nucleus, and in some cells the anterior pusule- a system of membrane vesicles, tubules, and sacs connected with the flagellar canal by a permanent opening which is thought to play a role in osmoregulation and nutrient uptake.

"Species of the genus Prorocentrum C.G.Ehrenberg are recurrently reported from tropical and temperate waters, where they occur in benthic, epibenthic and planktonic habitats. Approximately 70 species of Prorocentrum are known, with Prorocentrum micans C.G.Ehrenberg as the type, of which around 30 species are associated with sediments and live epiphytically on macroalgal surfaces, floating detritus and corals. Morphologically, prorocentroid dinoflagellates are quite distinct compared to other dinoflagellates. They have two larger thecal plates separated by a sagittal suture and tiny platelets in the periflagellar area. They are also devoid of the typical dinoflagellate cingulum and sulcus but possess two typical dinoflagellate flagella arising from the flagellar pore. The taxonomy of Prorocentrum is based mainly on criteria such as cell shape and size, thecal plate surface morphology (ornamentation and pore patterns), intercalary band morphology and the architectural details of the periflagellar area (number of platelets, spines, collars and protrusions). Ultrastructural features such as the presence of trichocysts and mucocysts and the presence or organization of pyrenoids in the plastids have also been used for taxonomic descriptions" (1).

"Several Prorocentrum species, namely P. lima (Ehrenberg) Stein; P. cordatum (Ostenfeld) Dodge (as P. minimum (Pavillard) Schiller); P. borbonicum Ten-Hage, Turquet, Quod, Puiseux-Dao and Couté; P. concavum Fukuyo; P. leve Faust, Kibler, Vandersea, Tester and Litaker; P. rhathymum A.R. Loeblich III, Sherley and Schmidt; P. hoffmannianum Faust emend. Fraga (also P. maculosum Faust); and P. caipirignum Fraga, Menezes and Nascimento have been shown to produce complex toxic molecules such as okadaic acid (OA); dinophysistoxin (DTX)-1, -2, -4 and -5c; borbotoxins; and prorocentrolides. OA and/or its analogues are complex lipid- and water- soluble polyether molecules that have been associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in humans due to the consumption of contaminated clams, crabs and mussels" (1).

  1. Morphology and Phylogenetics of Benthic Prorocentrum Species (Dinophyceae) from Tropical Northwestern Australia. Arjun Verma, Aniuska Kazandjian, Chowdhury Sarowar, D. Tim Harwood, J. Sam Murray, Insa Pargmann, Mona Hoppenrath and Shauna A. Murray. Toxins 2019, 11, 571; doi:10.3390/toxins11100571

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

mnold1

Fecha

Enero 24, 2023 a las 04:12 TARDE EST

Descripción

Mag. 400
The interesting thing here is that this rotund ciliate has swallowed Peridinium-like, freshwater dinoflagellate; this is the large brownish mass... in the 2nd image, the girdle of dinoflagellate is readily visible.

  • A water sample was taken on 1/24/2023, from the shore of Rosemond Lake , using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microbes. Air temp. 42°F.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

plingfactory

Fecha

Diciembre 6, 2022 a las 11:44 MAÑANA CET

Descripción

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

plingfactory

Fecha

Mayo 11, 2014 a las 05:47 TARDE CEST

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

plingfactory

Fecha

Diciembre 10, 2018 a las 06:08 TARDE UTC

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

plingfactory

Fecha

Noviembre 16, 2021 a las 09:30 MAÑANA CET

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

plingfactory

Fecha

Octubre 10, 2021 a las 09:12 TARDE CEST

Descripción

very colourful ciliate due to digestion of cyanobacteria. More on this here:
https://www.plingfactory.de/Science/Atlas/KennkartenProtista/01e-protista/e-Ciliata/e-source/Nassula%20ornata.html