Pond life in SW FL
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- Location: Cape Coma FL
Pond life in SW FL
So yesterday while at work and out driving around I was in a gated community, and decided to get a sample of water from one of their many large ponds and see what was in it at home. I had a plastic bottle that served well, and after carefully checking for alligators I got my sample and started looking around in it this morning. At first it seemed disappointingly bereft of life, but I kept at it, and on the second slide I found this delightful organism:
I have no idea what it is, so for now I'm calling it VeryWeirdPondAnimal. I holds still long enough to get a shot of it and it's internal organs move around a lot, but when it moves it's really fast. Prolly a copepod.
There were also some kinds of worms tapered at each end moving around:
And there were these tube organisms also, which may be the same things with the ends opened up, I don't know:
Most elusive and interesting was this stinger tailed organism that moved around so fast I could not get any good shots of it close up, and I had a very good shot of it at 10/.25, but ToupLite somehow lost it. I'll try to get another one.
Oh, then I found this neat rod-like organism with it's internals changing focus on me:
And is this a water flea?
I have no idea what it is, so for now I'm calling it VeryWeirdPondAnimal. I holds still long enough to get a shot of it and it's internal organs move around a lot, but when it moves it's really fast. Prolly a copepod.
There were also some kinds of worms tapered at each end moving around:
And there were these tube organisms also, which may be the same things with the ends opened up, I don't know:
Most elusive and interesting was this stinger tailed organism that moved around so fast I could not get any good shots of it close up, and I had a very good shot of it at 10/.25, but ToupLite somehow lost it. I'll try to get another one.
Oh, then I found this neat rod-like organism with it's internals changing focus on me:
And is this a water flea?
Re: Pond life in SW FL
Lilly, let me suggest a few sites which will help you identify the microorganisms you collect;
http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/guide/gui ... en.htm#4.2
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.h ... g.uk/pond/
http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/protists/exhibition.htm
http://microlife.parvarium.com/thumbnails.html
http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/guide/gui ... en.htm#4.2
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.h ... g.uk/pond/
http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/protists/exhibition.htm
http://microlife.parvarium.com/thumbnails.html
Good adviceand after carefully checking for alligators....
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- Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:00 pm
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Re: Pond life in SW FL
Hi Jim,JimT wrote:Lilly, let me suggest a few sites which will help you identify the microorganisms you collect;
http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/guide/gui ... en.htm#4.2
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.h ... g.uk/pond/
http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/protists/exhibition.htm
http://microlife.parvarium.com/thumbnails.html
Good adviceand after carefully checking for alligators....
Thank you for the links. I got a PM from Josh here and a link to his own reference page, and with that I was able to identify the stinger-tailed organism I saw this morning as Colurella. I really am having such fun! This way better than Netflix or Amazon Prime video!
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Re: Pond life in SW FL
You got that right! Way better and lots of sites on the WEB that one can search.This way better than Netflix or Amazon Prime video!
Looks like you are getting your camera to work better but why the rose colour?
JimT
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- Location: Cape Coma FL
Re: Pond life in SW FL
The color is the best I can do with ToupLite for Mac, which seems to have many issues and shortcomings. It grieves me to think I may have to buy a Windows box to get this right, and get decent video of what I see on my screen. I really hate Windows...JimT wrote:You got that right! Way better and lots of sites on the WEB that one can search.This way better than Netflix or Amazon Prime video!
Looks like you are getting your camera to work better but why the rose colour?
JimT
- Crater Eddie
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Re: Pond life in SW FL
You can use a shell program to make newer Windows look like XP.
CE
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB
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- Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:00 pm
- Location: Cape Coma FL
Re: Pond life in SW FL
I have no idea how to do that, or how to run Windows on a Mac. I tried two years ago, and failed quite miserably. I use Macs exclusively, after having been disastrously hacked and taken down on Windows in the past several times at great expense. I'm not prepared to undergo that experience again. I view Windows as an open invitation to every hacker, script kiddie,and scammer out there, and every one of them cut their teeth on Windows. I never want anything to do with Windows again.Crater Eddie wrote:You can use a shell program to make newer Windows look like XP.
CE
Re: Pond life in SW FL
An additional photo editor, in which you can play around with the results you are getting, might be the easiest way to go.The color is the best I can do with ToupLite for Mac, which seems to have many issues and shortcomings.
Here is a useful list, some are free.
https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/mac- ... 6-3514061/
https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/mac- ... s-3642413/
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Re: Pond life in SW FL
Lilly,
I've just taken the liberty of adjusting your first image a little [hope you don't mind]
This took less than 5 minutes, using the iPad whilst travelling on the 'bus.
I used 'PhotoToaster' ... But many more sohisticated tools are available.
MichaelG.
I've just taken the liberty of adjusting your first image a little [hope you don't mind]
This took less than 5 minutes, using the iPad whilst travelling on the 'bus.
I used 'PhotoToaster' ... But many more sohisticated tools are available.
MichaelG.
Too many 'projects'
Re: Pond life in SW FL
Lilly...thanks for this wonderful microscopy sharing! Based on the variety of meiofauna and protists you encountered from this water sample...well I suggest for safety sake..you not collect where alligators might ambush you ( I've heard it gets worse in your warmest seasons...yikes!).
Pretty please..as quick as possible...setup your own home outdoor tank...stocked with outdoor area scoops of plants/muck/duckweeds/algae/sticks...etc. .
I live in fingerlakes/US ...where we humans are top predators to face on openlands collection hikes...please learn how to craft a blanced outdoor aquarium/wetland culture/microcosm...and stop risking 'gator ambush' at ponds you are not familiar with...just my thoughts..thanks for this enjoyable microscopy path you kindly share with us in forum.
Charlie guevara
Pretty please..as quick as possible...setup your own home outdoor tank...stocked with outdoor area scoops of plants/muck/duckweeds/algae/sticks...etc. .
I live in fingerlakes/US ...where we humans are top predators to face on openlands collection hikes...please learn how to craft a blanced outdoor aquarium/wetland culture/microcosm...and stop risking 'gator ambush' at ponds you are not familiar with...just my thoughts..thanks for this enjoyable microscopy path you kindly share with us in forum.
Charlie guevara
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Re: Pond life in SW FL
Hi Charlie, thank you for that. Well, it's Florida, if you have a full bathtub there's a gator in it. You just get used to living around them and learn to give them their space. Most of them aren't big enough to give you trouble, but you never know when that 12 foot guy will show up. I know how to spot them if they are around even if they are under water close to the shore. That outdoor tank does sound like a good idea though, it would be much handier.charlie g wrote:Lilly...thanks for this wonderful microscopy sharing! Based on the variety of meiofauna and protists you encountered from this water sample...well I suggest for safety sake..you not collect where alligators might ambush you ( I've heard it gets worse in your warmest seasons...yikes!).
Pretty please..as quick as possible...setup your own home outdoor tank...stocked with outdoor area scoops of plants/muck/duckweeds/algae/sticks...etc. .
I live in fingerlakes/US ...where we humans are top predators to face on openlands collection hikes...please learn how to craft a blanced outdoor aquarium/wetland culture/microcosm...and stop risking 'gator ambush' at ponds you are not familiar with...just my thoughts..thanks for this enjoyable microscopy path you kindly share with us in forum.
Charlie guevara
Re: Pond life in SW FL
The first one image appears to be a nauplii perhaps of a copepod.
Re: Pond life in SW FL
A little off topic - but it will hopefully address the image issues you have been having (re - image quality)
Have you considered using your mobile phone?
If you have an intelligent phone, it will have an incorporated camera that is in all probability much better than your Toupcam.
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... omicro.pdf
Have you considered using your mobile phone?
If you have an intelligent phone, it will have an incorporated camera that is in all probability much better than your Toupcam.
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... omicro.pdf
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
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- Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:00 pm
- Location: Cape Coma FL
Re: Pond life in SW FL
Yes, I tried that, and my android phone cannot get any image at all through the eyepiece. Just a black blob.75RR wrote:A little off topic - but it will hopefully address the image issues you have been having (re - image quality)
Have you considered using your mobile phone?
If you have an intelligent phone, it will have an incorporated camera that is in all probability much better than your Toupcam.
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... omicro.pdf
Re: Pond life in SW FL
Do try again. I do not think that success is tied to the operating system. With a little patience (trial and error) you should get good results.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
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- Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:00 pm
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Re: Pond life in SW FL
I've quite run out of patience for that approach. It got me nothing after a LOT of trying. Moving right along....75RR wrote:Do try again. I do not think that success is tied to the operating system. With a little patience (trial and error) you should get good results.
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- Posts: 274
- Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:00 pm
- Location: Cape Coma FL
Re: Pond life in SW FL
Hey Charlie,charlie g wrote:Lilly...thanks for this wonderful microscopy sharing! Based on the variety of meiofauna and protists you encountered from this water sample...well I suggest for safety sake..you not collect where alligators might ambush you ( I've heard it gets worse in your warmest seasons...yikes!).
Pretty please..as quick as possible...setup your own home outdoor tank...stocked with outdoor area scoops of plants/muck/duckweeds/algae/sticks...etc. .
I live in fingerlakes/US ...where we humans are top predators to face on openlands collection hikes...please learn how to craft a blanced outdoor aquarium/wetland culture/microcosm...and stop risking 'gator ambush' at ponds you are not familiar with...just my thoughts..thanks for this enjoyable microscopy path you kindly share with us in forum.
Charlie guevara
Today I got more pond water, I went into Google Earth and found ponds on Cape Coral. There was one easy to get to, so I looked around the house for containers, and had only 5 gallon buckets. Good enough. I put one in my car with a lid for it and drove to the pond. There was only one gator, and it was about 100 ft. out just lying on the surface, maybe a 7 footer. I got my bucket of pond water and brought it home. So now I'm going to have that outdoor tank you spoke of. All the pond water I'll need for a very long time.
Re: Pond life in SW FL
Great findings