what just happened?

[microscopeboi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPlWSW9PYZM

does anyone know what behavior these ciliates demonstrate?

[75RR]

Mexican wave?

[Hobbyst46]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPlWSW9PYZM

does anyone know what behavior these ciliates demonstrate?

First, the water drop on the slide under the coverslip shrinks so the diagonal line on the top right corner is air-water interface.
Second, probably the protists respond to the light beam. Since you move the slide, different groups are exposed to the illuminating beam.

[microscopeboi]

i dont believe they were responding to the light beam, this phenomenon happened multiple times where i kept the slide still, i just got excited when i saw it while i was recording so i followed it to keep in frame. it happened 3 or 4 times in an hour or so with different groups of same species paramecium. also, before the 'wave' the paramecium were very active and after they are incredibly still and move in weird twitchy movements. i can try to get more videos of the phenomenon occurring but its finals week so i cant ensure ill get another chance at capturing it soon.

[microscopeboi]

i was looking through todays footage and also found this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syraR853u_s

this time i kept the camera still, id recommend watching in at least 720p due to the high compression and low video quality.

[micro]

Reminds me of bees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU2rLhpaMAY