MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Hello everybody,
I started this hobby about 60 years ago (I`m 75), but only after retiring have I been able to dedicate significant time to it. Making diatom slides, recovering used microscopes and testing /evaluating objectives and eyepieces, microscope technologies and history describe most of my microscopy interests. Opportunities for collecting diatoms occur frequently, since I live part of the year near the sea, and part near fresh water streams and lakes.
Glad to joyn this interesting group, I look forward to learn from you guys, and help whenever I can.

Welcome j almeida,

do post some photos of your microscope in the 'My microscope' section when you have a moment. I am sure we would all like to see them.

Looking forward to your diatom photos!

Hi, welcome to the forum!
Do you observe your diatoms in living condition or do you make permanent slides from them?
Looking forward to what you will post here.

Bob

Welcome to the forum

Hello Bob, I like to observe the diatoms live, but also make permanent slides, either with Pleurax or with Naphtrax. I make strew slides, since I don´t have the ability to select and arrange them. My sources are the Atlantic coast of Bahia (13°S 38°w) and the streams and lakes of the Pirenees and the Alps. From the Atlantic I have the most prevalent for the location, such as Pleurosigma, Navicula, Coscinodiscus, Gyrosigma, Surirella,but also Podocystis Americana, Cymatopleura, Campylodiscus, Actynoptichus, Triceratium, and others I can´t identify. From freshwater, the common ones, Epithemia, Cocconeis, Denticula, Frustulia, etc, but also Surirella Spiralis. I am not a conosseur, I try to identify by comparison with samples in the internet. Are yoy a diatom colector?