Cedrick Adorna

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   <img alt="20190314004429_IMG_2198" class="wp-image-136949 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="136949" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="136949" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1552524269","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190314004429_IMG_2198" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=136949" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_136946/20190314004429_IMG_2198.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Prophase stage
   </figcaption>
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   <img alt="20190314013838_IMG_2202" class="wp-image-136952 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="136952" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="136952" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1552527518","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190314013838_IMG_2202" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=136952" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_136946/20190314013838_IMG_2202.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Metaphase stage
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   <img alt="20190314013412_IMG_2201" class="wp-image-136954 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="136954" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="136954" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1552527252","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190314013412_IMG_2201" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=136954" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_136946/20190314013412_IMG_2201-2.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Anaphase stage
   </figcaption>
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   <img alt="20190314010904_IMG_2199" class="wp-image-136955 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="136955" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="136955" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1552525744","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190314010904_IMG_2199" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=136955" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_136946/20190314010904_IMG_2199-1.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Telophase stage
   </figcaption>
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 </li>
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<p>
 Hi, I’m Cedrick from the Philippines. This is my first time to post here ever since I received my foldscope four months ago.
</p>
<p>
 I recently discovered that there is a hidden “Magnifier” tool that comes with installing iOS 12 on my iPhone 6, that can be turned on by going to “Settings” &gt; “General” &gt; “Accessibility” &gt; “Vision”, and selecting “Magnifier” under it and toggling it on. It gives your iPhone more zooming capability compared to the limited zooming capability of its camera.
</p>
<p>
 I tested it with foldscope’s magnification and was delighted to see the different stages of plant cell mitosis in an onion root tip more clearly.
</p>


Testing my foldscope with iPhone&#8217;s &#8220;Magnifier&#8221; tool on a prepared slide of onion root tip

<p>
 I recently went to a park in Manila and noticed my shirt catching several of these tiny bugs being blown by the wind. I brought home one to examine it closely. It measures only about 2.5 mm in length, and confirmed that it is an insect as it has three pairs of jointed legs.
</p>
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   <img alt="20190328004450_IMG_2331" class="wp-image-139652 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139652" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139652" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190328004450_IMG_2331" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139652" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190328004450_IMG_2331-1.png"/>
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   <img alt="20190329193201_IMG_2333" class="wp-image-139653 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139653" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139653" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329193201_IMG_2333" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139653" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329193201_IMG_2333-1.jpg"/>
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<p>
 Based on my research, I found out that this insect is called a “thrips”. I still don’t know if there is a local Filipino term for this insect, as it is my first time to see one. I was also surprised to find out that some species have 2 pairs of wings, as their wings are almost impossible for me to see with the naked eye. But their wings are so narrow and small that they are incapable of conventional insect flight (i.e., creation of leading edge vortex). Instead, they employ a different mechanism called “clap and fling” wherein their wings clap together and then fling apart, sucking air in and creating a vortex over each wing. But they could also travel through “inactive flight” by simply letting themselves get picked up by the wind. When at rest, their wings are folded back very closely over their flat bodies, hence the difficulty of seeing their wings. Using a low-magnification lens though, I was able to confirm that the species I brought home had wings, and so I began dissecting them very carefully and taped them on a microscope slide. Each wing is just about 1 mm in length.
</p>
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   <img alt="20190329194748_IMG_2334" class="wp-image-139654 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139654" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139654" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329194748_IMG_2334" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139654" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329194748_IMG_2334-1.jpg"/>
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   <img alt="20190329204415_IMG_2335" class="wp-image-139655 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139655" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139655" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329204415_IMG_2335" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139655" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329204415_IMG_2335-1.jpg"/>
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<p>
 What’s interesting about thrips wings is that they are feather-like, having fringes of cilia running along each wing’s margin. In fact, the name of their order “Thysanoptera” was derived from the Greek words
 <em>
  thysanos
 </em>
 , “tassel or fringe”, and
 <em>
  pteron
 </em>
 , “wing”, for their fringed wings that look unlike any other insect wings, and are thus worthy of observation. Using my foldscope, I was able to examine each wing more closely.
</p>
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   <img alt="20190329221345_IMG_2336" class="wp-image-139656 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139656" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139656" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329221345_IMG_2336" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139656" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329221345_IMG_2336-1.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    An entire thrips wing at 140x magnification
   </figcaption>
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   <img alt="20190329221642_IMG_2337" class="wp-image-139657 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139657" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139657" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329221642_IMG_2337" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139657" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329221642_IMG_2337-1.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    The base of a wing
   </figcaption>
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   <img alt="20190329224444_IMG_2338" class="wp-image-139658 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139658" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139658" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329224444_IMG_2338" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139658" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329224444_IMG_2338-1.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    Proximal third of a wing, showing the presence of fringe cilia and almost lack of venation and texture
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   <img alt="20190329224702_IMG_2339" class="wp-image-139659 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139659" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139659" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329224702_IMG_2339" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139659" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329224702_IMG_2339-1.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    Proximal third of another wing with some fringe cilia detached, showing more clearly their marginal attachments
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   <img alt="20190329225231_IMG_2340" class="wp-image-139661 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139661" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139661" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329225231_IMG_2340" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139661" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329225231_IMG_2340-1.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    Middle third of a wing, showing slight constriction and site of texture transformation going distally
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   <img alt="20190329230056_IMG_2341" class="wp-image-139663 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139663" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139663" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329230056_IMG_2341" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139663" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329230056_IMG_2341-1.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    Distal third of a wing, showing more texture
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   <img alt="20190329230527_IMG_2342" class="wp-image-139664 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139664" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139664" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329230527_IMG_2342" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139664" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329230527_IMG_2342-1.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    Closer look at the distal third of another wing, showing a seemingly random pattern of round pits dotting across the wing’s surface
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   <img alt="20190329231111_IMG_2343" class="wp-image-139665 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139665" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="139665" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190329231111_IMG_2343" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=139665" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139597/20190329231111_IMG_2343-1.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    Closer look at the distal third of another wing, showing variation of texture pattern in a single species; here, the round pits seem to be more organized and radiate from a central vein
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<p>
 I would be very happy if anyone could help me identify the species of this thrips, as I have not seen any picture online of a thrips species sporting similar wing appearance.
</p>


Observation of the feather-like wings of an unidentified thrips (Order: Thysanoptera) species under the foldscope

<p>
 Recently I’ve been trying to find face mites by sticking some clear tape on my forehead and cheeks. I still haven’t found one yet (I should probably stick the tape on my face longer) but what I do find consistently are these dead skin cells:
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="20190411234723_IMG_2357" class="wp-image-142943 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="142943" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190411234723_IMG_2357" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_142770/20190411234723_IMG_2357.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  dead skin cells at 140x magnification
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
 At first, I never paid much attention on them as I was determined to find face mites. But as I failed to catch a glimpse on those little critters over and over, eventually I noticed the peculiarity of the shapes of my skin cells. I also noticed that when the cells get caught on the tape, they are stuck together like tiles as they once did on my face, and rarely do I see a cell occurring alone. If these were living cells (like those found at the level of the stratum spinosum), then I wouldn’t wonder why they would still stick together. But these are dead skin cells (specifically, at the stratum corneum layer), and I don’t expect them to retain such mosaic-like integrity when they desquamate. Yet through foldscoping, I found out that somehow, they still do.
</p>
<p>
 That’s when I thought that perhaps, their shape played a role in preserving such integrity. I began researching on the shape of our skin cells, and I found out that their shape resembles a very complex 3D structure called
 <em>
  tetrakaidecahedron
 </em>
 – a polyhedron with 14 faces – albeit sporting a more flattened version of it.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="shape" class="wp-image-142972 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="142972" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="shape" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_142770/shape.jpg"/>
</figure>
<p>
 Upon further reading, I learned that in 1887, Lord Kelvin favored this shape over all other polyhedrons as “the best shape for packing equal-sized objects together to fill space with minimal surface area”. Furthermore, this shape contributes to the efficacy of our skin as a barrier to prevent leaks, as its multiple rectangular and hexagonal sides provide much areas for tight junctions to form barriers. Perhaps this is the reason how our skin cells maintain such strong “bonds” with each other even after they’re technically dead.
</p>
<p>
 To examine this intricate arrangement among our skin cells more closely, I took more magnified pictures of my dead skin cells with the aid of the foldscope. I picked the clearest image that shows the cells packed together and digitally edited it with a white/blue phone camera filter to reveal areas that are more elevated than the background (represented by whiter areas). I then compared it with online images of how flattened tetrakaidecahedra would look like on top view when they are stacked on top of one another (i.e., specific arrangements when the tetrakaidecahedra would look more hexagonal, pentagonal, or quadrilateral on top view). Finally, I attempted to approximate the arrangement I observed and reconstruct it in 2D and 3D renderings.
</p>
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<p>
 Through this exercise, I found out that the surface of our skin is hardly ever completely flat, especially when working with this kind of shape. I also noticed that there are areas with faster cell turnovers (i.e., thinner areas) than other spots while being very close to each other, even if literature tells us that our skin cells follow a more organized system of layer-by-layer turnover. I’m not exactly sure why, but perhaps the layer of dead skin cells just work that way, while living skin cells still maintain an organized system as they are displaced upward to the surface. I’m also aware that there are some skin conditions like psoriasis where layers of skin cells pile up faster than these cells could desquamate, creating irregular turnover rates and producing very uneven skin surface, though I think (and hope) I’m not developing a skin condition anytime soon! I also think that some parameters as simple as the speed of tape removal from my skin or the current season or weather condition (like for instance, it’s summer here in the Philippines at present) could be at play as well. Who knows, maybe these are the same reasons why I still can’t find those face mites!
</p>
<p>
 Here are more pictures of my dead skin cells collected from my forehead and cheeks:
</p>
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   <img alt="20190412144256_IMG_2359" class="wp-image-143035 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="143035" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="143035" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190412144256_IMG_2359" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=143035" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_142770/20190412144256_IMG_2359.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    forehead skin cells
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190412144823_IMG_2360" class="wp-image-143036 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="143036" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="143036" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190412144823_IMG_2360" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=143036" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_142770/20190412144823_IMG_2360.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    cheek skin cells
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190412150124_IMG_2361" class="wp-image-143037 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="143037" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="143037" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190412150124_IMG_2361" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=143037" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_142770/20190412150124_IMG_2361.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    cheek skin cells, with a hair follicle in view
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>
<p>
 References:
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="Tetrakaidecahedron_(Kelvin_Cell)" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_142770/Tetrakaidecahedron_%28Kelvin_Cell%29">
  http://soft-matter.seas.harvard.edu/index.php/Tetrakaidecahedron_(Kelvin_Cell)
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="19593" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_142770/19593">
  https://elifesciences.org/articles/19593
 </a>
</p>


The complex geometry of our skin cells

<p>
 Ever since I learned about the existence of
 <em>
  Demodex
 </em>
 (face mites) and its presence in almost every human being a couple of months ago, I decided to look for one as I thought it would be an interesting creature to observe under the foldscope. But soon, I realized that it was very hard to find one!
</p>
<p>
 From then on, I treated the
 <em>
  Demodex
 </em>
 as one of my personal “must finds” and considered finding one as a milestone in amateur microscopy. For weeks I tried different techniques, like sticking several tapes on my face overnight, scraping oil off my nose and cheeks, and even pulling some of my facial hairs (as I’ve read that they like to live near hair follicles) – but to no avail… Until finally, I found a technique that worked!
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="20190423005133_IMG_2527" class="wp-image-145252 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="145252" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"3"}' data-image-title="20190423005133_IMG_2527" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_145150/20190423005133_IMG_2527.jpg"/>
</figure>
<p>
 Since I badly wanted to catch the face mites even while they are hiding within the pores of my skin, I thought of something that would really “stick” on my face, so I decided to use a liquid peel-off face mask. I’ve also read that they like to stay in areas with lots of sebum, so I decided to apply the peel-off mask on my nose as I believe that it’s the oiliest area of my face. After letting the mask to dry for 15 minutes, I carefully tried to peel it off in one piece (probably the trickiest part). Then, I used a tape to collect some of the “whiteheads” caught by the mask, and placed the tape on a glass slide for viewing.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="20190423131152_IMG_2528" class="wp-image-145253 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="145253" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190423131152_IMG_2528" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_145150/20190423131152_IMG_2528.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  The encircled area is the spot where I found the mite.
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
 It took me about an hour perhaps to find a single face mite. While it’s a little disturbing to think that tiny mites are living on our face at this very moment, I still somehow find it cute. For me, it looks like a tardigrade with a long tale, or a flying bison from
 <em>
  Avatar: The Last Airbender
 </em>
 , but with 8 legs instead of 6!
</p>
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=145150"}'>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190422225853_IMG_2514" class="wp-image-145254 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="145254" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="145254" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190422225853_IMG_2514" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=145254" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_145150/20190422225853_IMG_2514.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    Demodex mite at 140x magnification
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190422225805_IMG_2513" class="wp-image-145263 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="145263" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="145263" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190422225805_IMG_2513" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=145263" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_145150/20190422225805_IMG_2513-2.png"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>
<div class="wp-block-image" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=145150"}'>
 <figure class="aligncenter">
  <img alt="20190423003857_IMG_2524" class="wp-image-145256 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="145256" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190423003857_IMG_2524" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_145150/20190423003857_IMG_2524.jpg"/>
  <figcaption>
   Close-up of the mite’s opisthosoma, showing striations on the cuticle
  </figcaption>
 </figure>
</div>
<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=145150"}'>
  <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
   <span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;">
    <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pMUsyBtqF2s?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
    </iframe>
   </span>
  </div>
 </div>
</figure>
<p>
 I also found something else, but I’m not quite sure what this is. I just find it beautiful. I hope someone could enlighten me on what this is:
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="20190423163105_IMG_2529" class="wp-image-145302 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="145302" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190423163105_IMG_2529" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_145150/20190423163105_IMG_2529.png"/>
</figure>
<p>
 To those who are also looking for their face mites, I hope this post helps. Good luck, and happy hunting!
</p>


I finally found a live face mite!

Observing freshwater microorganisms that can live on top of a tree!

<p>
 Last month, I collected some pond water samples from my university and decided to make a simple hay infusion setup at home to see what microbes I can successfully culture. To make the hay infusion, I gathered some dried grass and dead leaves near the pond area (which we call “the lagoon”) and boiled them inside a glass jar. I then left the setup to cool down before filling the remaining volume of the jar with some of the pond water I collected. I check on the infusion every week and recorded the different microbes that would grow in it. For thoroughness, I tried as best as I could to identify each microbe and to note where in the setup I collected them (i.e., whether they were extracted from the top, middle, or bottom of the jar).
</p>
<p>
 During the first two weeks, I observed that ciliates dominated my infusion, with some occasional rotifers and nematodes. But just a couple of days later, I noticed that the population of rotifers, especially bdelloids, boomed so much that they were already visible on the water surface. This piqued my interest so I decided to observe them more closely under the foldscope.
</p>
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=160748"}'>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190701195942_IMG_3307" class="wp-image-160771 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="160771" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="160771" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1562011182","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190701195942_IMG_3307" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=160771" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_160748/20190701195942_IMG_3307.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Approx. size: 0.5 mm
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190702162044_IMG_3333" class="wp-image-160774 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="160774" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="160774" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190702162044_IMG_3333" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=160774" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_160748/20190702162044_IMG_3333.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    140x magnification
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>
<p>
 Most of the bdelloid rotifers that thrive in my infusion measure about 0.5 mm (500 μm) and thus are visible to the naked eye even when isolated. However, I also observed smaller bdelloids, and I’m not sure if they are the same species as the bigger ones. My best guess is that the predominant type is
 <em>
  Philodina
 </em>
 sp., though I would very much appreciate if someone could help me identify them more accurately, as I hope to culture them separately after a month. While at it, I’ll investigate further on why and how their population increased so suddenly and successfully.
</p>
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=160748"}'>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190701201724_IMG_3312" class="wp-image-160772 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="160772" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="160772" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190701201724_IMG_3312" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=160772" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_160748/20190701201724_IMG_3312.png"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190702161925_IMG_3332" class="wp-image-160773 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="160773" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="160773" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190702161925_IMG_3332" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=160773" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_160748/20190702161925_IMG_3332.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190702162143_IMG_3334" class="wp-image-160749 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="160749" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="160749" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190702162143_IMG_3334" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=160749" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_160748/20190702162143_IMG_3334.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190702163553_IMG_3337" class="wp-image-160775 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="160775" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="160775" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190702163553_IMG_3337" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=160775" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_160748/20190702163553_IMG_3337.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    A bdelloid rotifer (prob.
    <em>
     Philodina
    </em>
    sp.) side-by-side a smaller but similar one
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190702163854_IMG_3338" class="wp-image-160776 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="160776" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="160776" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190702163854_IMG_3338" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=160776" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_160748/20190702163854_IMG_3338.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    A bdelloid rotifer side-by-side a smaller, different species of rotifer (prob.
    <em>
     Colurella
    </em>
    sp.)
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190702175456_IMG_3350" class="wp-image-160777 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="160777" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="160777" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190702175456_IMG_3350" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=160777" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_160748/20190702175456_IMG_3350.png"/>
   <figcaption>
    A colony of bdelloid rotifers
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>
<p>
 I am also planning to feature the different cultures I have managed to establish from the same pond water samples in my next posts, so stay tuned! Currently, I call them my “micropets”.  Foldscoping has really opened a lot of avenues for me to discover my passions, and right now I’m thinking of becoming a micro-breeder!
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=160748"}'>
  <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
   <span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;">
    <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mau-HGtrNVQ?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
    </iframe>
   </span>
  </div>
 </div>
</figure>


A glimpse of the rotifers living in my hay infusion

<p>
 I’ve been checking on my hay infusion for quite some time now. On my last post, I described my observation that the bdelloid rotifer population has boomed so much that they became visible to the naked eye. Alongside this development, I also noticed that the population and diversity of protozoans have significantly decreased. Now, it’s been a month since I started this “little experiment”. During my recent observations using the foldscope, I still noticed that bdelloid rotifers were the predominant inhabitants of my infusion, though their population has slightly decreased and they tended to concentrate at the periphery and at the bottom of the jar. On the other hand, the protozoan population was at an all-time low.
</p>
<p>
 But while I was in the middle of noting these observations, something else caught my attention. I accidentally caught a glimpse of a peculiar creature I’ve never seen before:
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="gif optimized" class="wp-image-162375 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="162375" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="gif optimized" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/gif-optimized.gif"/>
</figure>
<p>
 I mean, just look at it! I got so mesmerized by how elegantly it swam across my field of view. At first, I thought it was just another type of protozoan, as it was about the same size as other ciliates I already know. But upon looking at it more closely, I realized that not only did it move differently compared to your average protozoan, it also displayed what looks like a tail fin!
</p>
<p>
 I became so intrigued by it that I quickly searched for what it is on the internet. At first, since I thought it swam like a dolphin, I used the keywords “
 <em>
  dolphin-like ciliate
 </em>
 ” and “
 <em>
  dolphin-like protozoan
 </em>
 “, but they didn’t yield any images that resemble what I was looking for. I then used more specific descriptions, like “
 <em>
  protozoa that moves like a dolphin
 </em>
 “, but my attempts weren’t successful either. I then figured that perhaps it was not a protozoa nor even a single-celled microorganism to begin with, so I changed my keywords to more general terms like “
 <em>
  dolphin-like microbe
 </em>
 ” and “
 <em>
  microorganism that moves like a dolphin
 </em>
 “. At some point I even thought that it might be a smaller type of rotifer, since bdelloids also sport a pair of fin-like toes or spurs, so I changed my search term to “
 <em>
  dolphin-like rotifer
 </em>
 “, but still to no avail. I then decided that a “
 <em>
  dolphin
 </em>
 ” might be a little too far-fetched a comparison, so I thought of an even simpler lookalike, such as a fish, and eventually I changed all my search terms to begin with “
 <em>
  fish-like
 </em>
 -“. After several days of still not finding any similar images on the internet, a creature that “looks-like-a-fish-but-moves-like-a-dolphin” finally came to mind – a
 <em>
  mermaid
 </em>
 !
</p>
<p>
 While still wondering why I never thought of that all along, I immediately began my online search all over again, but this time starting with the keywords “
 <em>
  mermaid-like-
 </em>
 “… until finally, I found a similar-looking image! Thanks to the winning search term “
 <em>
  mermaid-like rotifer
 </em>
 “, I learned at last what that bizarre creature is called – a GASTROTRICH. For some of you, the term might already be familiar from biology class, but it didn’t ring a bell for me. I can’t recall being taught about such creatures, at least not when I learned about rotifers. Yet, I realized two important things from this search: 1) that the internet agrees with me that they do look like mermaids; and 2) that while indeed they are NOT rotifers, they are also microscopic, multicellular animals just like them!
</p>
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=162020"}'>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190709200836_IMG_3455" class="wp-image-163024 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="163024" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="163024" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1562702916","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190709200836_IMG_3455" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=163024" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190709200836_IMG_3455.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    140x magnification
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190709152333_IMG_3447" class="wp-image-163025 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="163025" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="163025" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="20190709152333_IMG_3447" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=163025" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190709152333_IMG_3447.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190709152516_IMG_3448" class="wp-image-163026 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="163026" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="163026" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190709152516_IMG_3448" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=163026" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190709152516_IMG_3448.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190711222546_IMG_3529" class="wp-image-163029 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="163029" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="163029" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190711222546_IMG_3529" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=163029" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190711222546_IMG_3529.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190709214521_IMG_3465" class="wp-image-162025 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="162025" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="162025" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190709214521_IMG_3465" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=162025" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190709214521_IMG_3465.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
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  <figure>
   <img alt="20190709214550_IMG_3466" class="wp-image-162028 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="162028" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="162028" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190709214550_IMG_3466" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=162028" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190709214550_IMG_3466.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190709154332_IMG_3450" class="wp-image-163027 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="163027" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="163027" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190709154332_IMG_3450" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=163027" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190709154332_IMG_3450.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190709160400_IMG_3451" class="wp-image-163028 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="163028" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="163028" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20190709160400_IMG_3451" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=163028" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190709160400_IMG_3451.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>
<p>
 I tried to look for another gastrotrich in my hay infusion, and fortunately I was able to find several more. I took pictures and videos of them, but strangely enough, I wasn’t able to spot another one that swam so “mermaid-like” as the first one I found. They seemed to be shy around bright light and tended to swim away from view, so I had a little difficulty taking snapshots of them! They were also tricky to spot since they were so small (less than 0.1 mm so they weren’t visible to the naked eye) and almost transparent, like ghostly swimmers that suddenly appear out of nowhere and then disappear without a trace.
</p>
<p>
 Gastrotrichs may be one of the smallest animals and multicellular creatures in the world, as they are even smaller than unicellular microbes like
 <em>
  Paramecium
 </em>
 . Their posterior end which looks like a tail fin is actually a pair of tubes enclosing adhesive or cement glands; one gland secretes the ‘glue’ that helps them adhere to a substrate, while the other gland secretes a substance that removes the adhesion. Most species, especially freshwater dwelling ones or the
 <em>
  Chaetonotid
 </em>
 types, are able to swim smoothly through water partly due to their adhesive glands only being present at the back of their body, but mostly due to the rhythmic action of multiple cilia present in the ventral or belly side of their body. This is the very reason that their name was derived from the words “
 <em>
  gaster”
 </em>
 (belly) and “
 <em>
  thrix
 </em>
 ” (hair),  and also why they are called
 <em>
  hairybacks
 </em>
 , though their hairiness is not always apparent.
</p>
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=162020"}'>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="20190711222632_IMG_3530(1)" class="wp-image-163045 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="163045" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="163045" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="20190711222632_IMG_3530(1)" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=163045" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_162020/20190711222632_IMG_35301.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    <br/>
    The only time I spotted one gastrotrich, or
    <em>
     hairyback
    </em>
    , actually being hairy!
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>
<p>
 Like rotifers, they usually feed on detritus, small dead or living organic material, bacteria, or smaller protozoa. This could be the reason why they suddenly made their appearance in my infusion at around the same time the rotifers increased in population, as they share the same diet. Since most of the decaying matter which they feed on either float on the surface of the water or settle at the bottom near sediments, predictably they can be found swimming at these areas as well. Just as expected in my infusion, I mostly caught them on the surface or at the bottom of the jar, but also at the sides where rotifers resided too.
</p>
<p>
 Unfortunately, I learned that they are also among the shortest living animals in the world. On average, their lifespan only lasts for 3 days! Within this very short period of time, they will have laid an egg that will hatch into miniature versions of the adult, already having a fixed number of cells that will no longer divide but only enlarge as they grow and reach sexual maturity by the third day. They will be outlived by most micro-animals like rotifers, who themselves don’t have too much time to live either, only lasting for several days to weeks under normal conditions. This could probably explain why as the days go by, I see fewer and fewer gastrotrichs in my infusion until I can hardly find a single one, while the bdelloid rotifer population didn’t seem to care. But of course, it might just be that there are significantly fewer gastrotrichs in my infusion than rotifers to begin with, and that they were outcompeted by the sheer number of rotifers in their common food source. Be that as it may, I still consider myself lucky that even in a very brief moment, I was able to witness these majestic little creatures and wish that I could swim even half as good as gastrotrichs do.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=162020"}'>
  <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
   <span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;">
    <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x_PBkKuQpJg?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
    </iframe>
   </span>
  </div>
 </div>
</figure>
<p>
 Link to my previous post:
 <br/>
 <a href="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=160748">
  https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=160748
 </a>
</p>


Cedrick Adorna

Earth

Posts

I finally found a live face mite!

Observing freshwater microorganisms that can live on top of a tree!

A glimpse of the rotifers living in my hay infusion

Gastrotrichs – the ephemeral little mermaids of nature

Testing my foldscope with iPhone’s “Magnifier” tool on a prepared slide of onion root tip

Observation of the feather-like wings of an unidentified thrips (Order: Thysanoptera) species under the foldscope

The complex geometry of our skin cells

I finally found a live face mite!

Observing freshwater microorganisms that can live on top of a tree!

A glimpse of the rotifers living in my hay infusion

Gastrotrichs – the ephemeral little mermaids of nature

Testing my foldscope with iPhone’s “Magnifier” tool on a prepared slide of onion root tip

Observation of the feather-like wings of an unidentified thrips (Order: Thysanoptera) species under the foldscope

The complex geometry of our skin cells

I finally found a live face mite!

Observing freshwater microorganisms that can live on top of a tree!

A glimpse of the rotifers living in my hay infusion

Gastrotrichs – the ephemeral little mermaids of nature

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