A Mixture of Things Within Moss
Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 3:45 pm
Hi all, while I was examining some mosses this morning I thought I'd 'hook-out' one of the ubiquitous cyanobacteria 'globules' so often found in moss.
Anyway, this seemed a good time to have a practice with the darkfield and phase capabilities of the condenser of my Olympus BX40. I don't have much use for these techniques but why not have a go at them if they're there....
The Objective for the Ph2 images is a simple Olympus Achr 40x Ph2 objective. I actually quite like it's performance although I have very little phase experience. The phase contrast of my old Orthoplan never really seemed to 'cut the mustard' with me for some reason, aesthetic probably rather than technical.... As soon as I tried the phase of the BX40, with this simple Achr objective, I preferred the look of the phase images, and do now occasionally use phase for live temporary-slide examination.
Here are a few of the DF images using the darkfield position on the phase condenser, of the somewhat flattened and coverslipped cyanobacteria 'blob' as above. Not very good images compared the the amazing DIC versions I know, but quite interesting to me as a brightfield practitioner. Water-mounted with coverslip.
Like a great-big bundle of beaded necklaces, the cyanobacteria from their gelatinous 'blob' found in my moss samples....
and
Other 'things' lurk also it seems, althoguh I don't actually know what they are apart perhaps from 'algae'?
Again in the simple darkfield of the Olympus phase condenser's DF position which I believe is usable to about 0.65 n.a..
Here's a phase contrast 40x Ach objective version of the last image, maybe even a diatom or desmid-type thing in there?
Another mixture, phase again,
A 2-image stack, does anyone have an idea what the tiny black rods are in the image below?
More beads, some larger ones in the chains?
Some brightfield, a couple of objects with 'tails'....
and
Not very good images, but an idea, especially for a beginner, of just what may be found in a miniscule gelatinous 'blob' stuck in between moss leaves!
Anyway, this seemed a good time to have a practice with the darkfield and phase capabilities of the condenser of my Olympus BX40. I don't have much use for these techniques but why not have a go at them if they're there....
The Objective for the Ph2 images is a simple Olympus Achr 40x Ph2 objective. I actually quite like it's performance although I have very little phase experience. The phase contrast of my old Orthoplan never really seemed to 'cut the mustard' with me for some reason, aesthetic probably rather than technical.... As soon as I tried the phase of the BX40, with this simple Achr objective, I preferred the look of the phase images, and do now occasionally use phase for live temporary-slide examination.
Here are a few of the DF images using the darkfield position on the phase condenser, of the somewhat flattened and coverslipped cyanobacteria 'blob' as above. Not very good images compared the the amazing DIC versions I know, but quite interesting to me as a brightfield practitioner. Water-mounted with coverslip.
Like a great-big bundle of beaded necklaces, the cyanobacteria from their gelatinous 'blob' found in my moss samples....
and
Other 'things' lurk also it seems, althoguh I don't actually know what they are apart perhaps from 'algae'?
Again in the simple darkfield of the Olympus phase condenser's DF position which I believe is usable to about 0.65 n.a..
Here's a phase contrast 40x Ach objective version of the last image, maybe even a diatom or desmid-type thing in there?
Another mixture, phase again,
A 2-image stack, does anyone have an idea what the tiny black rods are in the image below?
More beads, some larger ones in the chains?
Some brightfield, a couple of objects with 'tails'....
and
Not very good images, but an idea, especially for a beginner, of just what may be found in a miniscule gelatinous 'blob' stuck in between moss leaves!