Collecting pond samples...

[Joe Henry]

Hello, I live in New England where the ponds are close to icing over now so the water is obviously very cold now. My question is if I collect some "bottom muck" right now will I still be able to get a good culture started in my jar? Thanks, Joe.

[deBult]

Yes, I sampled from under the beginning ice cover last week (both free water and bottom samples): 5 different Daphnia species, rotifer, protists, several green algae and some Desmids (the latter will not last very long in your culture though).

[Ryanb]

I’ve read somewhere that winter is one of the most diverse times of the year species wise. Give it a go and try to collect an open water sample as well as a muck/algae sample

[apochronaut]

Dead plant material is the source of life in ponds. A decaying leaf in the bottom of the jar is helpful along with just a tiny bit of sugar. The best location to tske a sample from is just at the shore and if there is at all a current, where the current is least.
Then , add some open and deeper water.