The Mopping Up of Plant Cells

[DonSchaeffer]

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

[Bruce Taylor]

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! ).

[DonSchaeffer]

Wow! Thanks for giving me a little orientation. I am naive observer.