wetland microscopy, harsh temperature swings, hardy communities.

[charlie g]

Amidst a deep into winter temperature climb to total ice thaws, doggie and I hiked to a wetland to collect uniquely adapted specimens of meiofauna and protists, please put on your boots..and mittens dependant upom the temperature of the hike.

Many unique organisms of 'temporary waters/temporary wetlands ' have adapted to dry mid to late summer months at this location we follow with microscopy.

Our new-normal sequence of winters which 'hammer' these wetland communities with drastic temperature swings for days to weeks are perhaps a new challenge to meiofauna in our wetlands?

From one week to the next..guess which temperature we elected to cross the wind break and collect a wet land sample? hint..no mittens trequired on the collection hike. Charlie guevara

[charlie g]

Yes yes we encountered our neighbor gammarid shrimp, these actually go into the ground water during the mid to late summer dry months. Numerous Ostracod 'seed-shrimp' bumbled about in our collected sample. I need to see if it is unusual now..but none of these Ostracod crusteaceans bore any epibiont protozoa or algae..their lack of epibionts seems striking to me...hmmm.


Ah, yes yes, my enchantment with this flatworm of temporary waters, sporting it's epibiont peritrich ciliate. I wonder how this pair finds eachother? Do they stay a 'community' in the ice phase of their habitat? During dry periods do these two separate? Charlie guevara

[charlie g]

Dark field at low mag permits clear anatomy of this gammarid crusteacean of temporary waters.

[charlie g]

'The focal plain is chased mainly in vain...I think we've got it, I think we've got it'...the flatworms planes stay mainly far from plain...and where's that bloody plain?! In vain, in vain.

When I do not use methylcellulose viscosity tool...I find my self humming this tune, hearin Rex Harrisons voice...gasp! Charlie guevara

[charlie g]

I notice the multitude of Ostracod carry no epibionts at all, unusual to me for this wetland site in winter. I see the flatworms carry their epibiont ciliates.

[charlie g]

These flatworms are quite muscular..and the light field of the stage sends them off view rapidly, reminds me of chasing eels in a barrel. The ciliate epibonts favor the posterior end of these flatworms.

Charlie Guevara/fingerlakes, US

[charlie g]

The structure of this peritrich's attachment disc, and it's hydralic function is unique! Please enjoy this midwinter collection hike. Charlie Guevara, fingerlakes/US