The plant material has been largely digested. Only traces of cell walls are still visible. The small, active protists have declined in number and a few larger circular protists appear. Where there was a a cover of floating vegetation a few days ago, now there is just a green film.
https://youtu.be/SbKwO0naCdg
The Mopping Up of Plant Cells
-
- Posts: 3486
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
-
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 11:34 am
Re: The Mopping Up of Plant Cells
The round guys are stalked peritrich ciliates (the so-called "bell animalcules"), busily filter-feeding on bacteria, purifying the water. They are likely in the Vorticella infusionum complex (cf. Vorticella microstoma turgescens), which are considered indicators of "isosaprobic" and "polysaprobic" water conditions (i and p on the chart I posted on your other thread). Water in those zones has very low oxygen and very high levels of decaying organic matter (which you already know, of course!
).
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
-
- Posts: 3486
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Re: The Mopping Up of Plant Cells
Wow! Thanks for giving me a little orientation. I am naive observer.