Stentor Meulleri?

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Bschnitzer
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon May 16, 2022 6:57 pm
Location: Northern Virginia

Stentor Meulleri?

#1 Post by Bschnitzer » Tue Jul 05, 2022 2:54 am

S. Meulleri with recently ingested Cosmarium. 40x darkfield

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QbiJxZ ... p=drivesdk
1. Olympus BH2 BHTU trinocular w/DPlan objectives, Risingcam 20mp 1” USB
2. Motic SMZ 168 Stereo w/Nikon 1 V1
3. Extreme macro rig Nikon D500/PB6 bellows/10x CFI Achr/Raynox DCR150/Wemacro Rail

Bruce Taylor
Posts: 986
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 11:34 am

Re: Stentor Meulleri?

#2 Post by Bruce Taylor » Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:44 am

Very pretty image! It doesn't show enough detail for ID to species, unfortunately. Even if a moniliform macronucleus were clearly visible, identification is complicated by two other possibilities, S. katashimai and colorless S. polymorphus (without zoochlorellae/algal endosymbionts).

Bschnitzer
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon May 16, 2022 6:57 pm
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Stentor Meulleri?

#3 Post by Bschnitzer » Wed Jul 06, 2022 3:29 pm

Thanks, Bruce.

The new camera is working out well so far, though I am still working out my imaging workflow kinks.

The long string macronucleii were clearly visible on other focal planes, but not in this image. I will see if the video I have shows more distinguishing features.

Bob
1. Olympus BH2 BHTU trinocular w/DPlan objectives, Risingcam 20mp 1” USB
2. Motic SMZ 168 Stereo w/Nikon 1 V1
3. Extreme macro rig Nikon D500/PB6 bellows/10x CFI Achr/Raynox DCR150/Wemacro Rail

Bschnitzer
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon May 16, 2022 6:57 pm
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Stentor Meulleri?

#4 Post by Bschnitzer » Wed Jul 06, 2022 5:16 pm

Here are two video's of the same subject. Unfortunately, none of the video's or stills I saved shows the string of nuclei.

What is more apparent to me now is that the green algae appears encapsulated. Is this a symbiont situation?

Regards,

Bob


100x darkfield
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jQpZU2 ... sp=sharing

200x darkfield
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fUcoJ2 ... sp=sharing
1. Olympus BH2 BHTU trinocular w/DPlan objectives, Risingcam 20mp 1” USB
2. Motic SMZ 168 Stereo w/Nikon 1 V1
3. Extreme macro rig Nikon D500/PB6 bellows/10x CFI Achr/Raynox DCR150/Wemacro Rail

Bruce Taylor
Posts: 986
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 11:34 am

Re: Stentor Meulleri?

#5 Post by Bruce Taylor » Wed Jul 06, 2022 7:00 pm

Bschnitzer wrote:
Wed Jul 06, 2022 5:16 pm
What is more apparent to me now is that the green algae appears encapsulated. Is this a symbiont situation?
No, encapsulated algae are food. :)
The long string macronucleii were clearly visible on other focal planes
If the macronucleus you observed was in a single "string"--a long tube, or band--this would be S. roeselii. If it was in the form of a "beaded string" (with separate nodules), identification to species is more difficult, because we now have more than one colorless species with a macronucleus in that shape (twenty years ago, only one such form was recognized). From these videos, the shape of the macronucleus is not completely clear, to me. Darkfield microscopy is pretty, but not great for ciliate identification. So, I would skip the species ID, and simply call this "Stentor".

Bschnitzer
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon May 16, 2022 6:57 pm
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Stentor Meulleri?

#6 Post by Bschnitzer » Wed Jul 06, 2022 9:11 pm

Bruce,

Thanks for the comments. I’m learning the limitations of dark field for sure - naked amoeba just show as an unbound collection of granules.

The string of macronucleii were distinct pearls, so “stentor” will suffice. I do get carried away with trying to ID to species level - blame it on my 50 year old Biology education. Hey, 50 years ago there were a lot fewer species, right? :D

Sometimes I shoot for pretty and the dark field condenser gives me more hits in that regard. Conversely, I’m sure there are instances where DF illuminates features not apparent or indistinct in BF.

Thanks again.
1. Olympus BH2 BHTU trinocular w/DPlan objectives, Risingcam 20mp 1” USB
2. Motic SMZ 168 Stereo w/Nikon 1 V1
3. Extreme macro rig Nikon D500/PB6 bellows/10x CFI Achr/Raynox DCR150/Wemacro Rail

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