Strange Microorganisms in Algae Sample
Jan 05, 2020 • 9:42 PM UTC
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Tigercat
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Noticing the algae covering the sides of the water feeder for our horse, I decided to take a sample and see if I could spot any microorganisms under the foldscope. As it turned out, I was in luck!
I first noticed the creature on the right because of the strange mouth-like appendage at its centre, that looked as if to be biting something, though I’m not sure what. I then thought that the motion reminded me of a heartbeat, though I knew this couldn’t be the case, as the pulses later grew intermittent, and creatures of this size don’t have circulatory systems (at least, to my knowledge, not in the form of those seen in larger organisms).
I first noticed the creature on the right because of the strange mouth-like appendage at its centre, that looked as if to be biting something, though I’m not sure what. I then thought that the motion reminded me of a heartbeat, though I knew this couldn’t be the case, as the pulses later grew intermittent, and creatures of this size don’t have circulatory systems (at least, to my knowledge, not in the form of those seen in larger organisms).
Zoom out from the most active organism. Notice the second one in the top left as
well. At first I thought I’d caught a smaller microorganism in a bubble due to my not pressing the PVC coverslip down properly, but I now believe that the bubble is indeed the cell, with the ‘mouth’ located near the centre. I am reaffirmed in this belief by the fact that the less active organism in the top left has a similar shape to this one, and both have a slighly yellow-orange colour to them that differs to the background.
well. At first I thought I’d caught a smaller microorganism in a bubble due to my not pressing the PVC coverslip down properly, but I now believe that the bubble is indeed the cell, with the ‘mouth’ located near the centre. I am reaffirmed in this belief by the fact that the less active organism in the top left has a similar shape to this one, and both have a slighly yellow-orange colour to them that differs to the background.
Notice the movements towards the bottom of the cell, as well as the other organism jerking in the upper left hand corner towards the end.
I attempted to place the foldscope in dark field mode to see if I could spot anything new. While the ‘mouth’ is less-defined, notice the ripples that can be seen as it opens and closes. Any help to identify what these microorganisms are would be greatly appreciated!
Edit: Below are pictures of the trough that I took my sample from
Edit: Below are pictures of the trough that I took my sample from
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