MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Our bird bath is still a must stop for insects and birds. The Spirogyra matts in it are bubbling O2 with our 40's-50's temps. I can see the waterfleas naked eye..but today I sampled the Spirogyra.

Charlie Guevara, fingerlakes/US

I used DF, some dl phase, and BF illumination, and 60X and my 100X dry objectives, as well as the 10X and 20X objectives,

These algae filaments are so pleasing a green color for me. The sample I was observing generated O2 bubbles under my coverslip.

Please enjoy my Fall'17 birdbath sample. Charlie guevara

Nice photos and great bird bath! I never thought to grow spirogyra in one, will have to try that next year. Does it survive the winter that way or do you have to restock?
CE

Most algae,protozoa, and the water fleas, rotifers,nematodes (the meiofauna) continue life under ice..if there is liquid water under the ice..so a bird bath here in fingerlakes/NY would freeze solid and shatter if not drained before Jack Frost comes to stay. Each year I 'stock the bath' from area waters..that bath is a hub of activity all year until drained. I've shattered a few bird baths by forgetting to drain it..that top does not match the base because of my folly. These little island ecosystems are quite relaxing to observe everynow and then. Charlie guevara

Nice post Charlie - you've really squeezed a lot of detail from these 'in the raw' as they are! Interesting to see the bird-bath again.
Good-stuff Mr G.

Thanks, John B, it goes something like: 'When the world wearies, and society ceases to satisfy, remember the garden microscopy'...thank you, Louisa May Alcott! Charlie Guevara

The anatomy of the Spirogyra storage granules, the burping of pure O2 induced by the substage illuminator, the behaviors of these algae are quite active and notable to naked eye observations, here is a wetmount prep a few minutes after being illuminated during observation...already O2 bubbles generated under the coverslip.

Great photos and story.. Thanks for sharing!...

BillT

Bonjour
Jolie images
Merci pour le partage
Cordialement seb

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, vasselle,hkv, et al, for enjoying our Fall'17 fingerlakes/US bird bath microcosm. I cheer all microscopists to keep an outdoor microcosm close to home...'feed it sample waters' from your locales area outdoor wetlands..it's a relaxing stewardship quite akin to Victorian Englands: terrarium. or aquarium hobbies. And the dragon flies, the pollinaters, the birds ( and my doggies, when I'm not quick enough to scold them!)...these neighbors all utilize the island ecosystem. Charlie guevara

Where are your black and white companions?

Good images.

Thanks for asking, Jim T ! In a silly version of the ancients putting their legends in the night sky star patterns...I first put my doggies up into our online sky, in Olivers excellent 'zine connected to this forum...I'm a microscopist perhaps who needs to get a life.

I never really expected my doggies to be a strong presence in forum postings. But here's last weeks 'bear hunt (Tardigrade water bears that is)' in the immediate aftermath of days of chilly gentle rains. Charlie guevara

I have lost a few bird bath basins (say that 3 times real fast!) to the ice as well. Glad to see your furry helper again!.
CE

ETA:

Here is mine this morning

Crater Eddie wrote:I have lost a few bird bath basins (say that 3 times real fast!) to the ice as well. Glad to see your furry helper again!.
CE

I also love hearing about your dogs...

BillT