tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30584505.post1589806832909450698..comments2024-03-21T13:06:46.763-07:00Comments on Wanderin' Weeta (With Waterfowl and Weeds): Between micro and macroSusannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923063322849781223noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30584505.post-45278733769780842862012-02-26T02:29:15.050-08:002012-02-26T02:29:15.050-08:00Hi, Ceratina.
Thanks for the tips! I've spent...Hi, Ceratina.<br /><br />Thanks for the tips! I've spent hours today browsing through the Microscopy primer, and then trying to translate some of what I learned to Element. I fixed one old microscope photo, and ruined another. Progress, of a sort.Susannah Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11923063322849781223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30584505.post-27143618469838694502012-02-24T15:50:21.641-08:002012-02-24T15:50:21.641-08:00Oh, what a cruel grandson to introduce you to phas...Oh, what a cruel grandson to introduce you to phase, then snatch it away again! But at least he didn't leave you completely bereft.<br /><br />To get the most out of your bright field scope, Molecular Expressions is a great starting point. They have some nice interactive simulations for how to do the adjustments for various kinds of microscopy<br /><br />http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/index.html<br /><br />Another great resource is Microscopy UK. The site is mess, but the content is worth it. They have a monthly online magazine, and the archives are chock full of articles about technique, critters, scopes and scope history, and more.<br /><br />http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html<br /><br /><br />If it's at all possible on your scope, try to set it up for 'dark field' illumination. it's not quite so nice as phase, but it's much better for live critters than bright field. For general hunting, no special slide prep is needed--just stick a well slide in and gawk. To slow down fast critters, you can add methyl cellulose to increase the viscosity.<br /><br /><br />Two books worth having:<br /><br />"Guide to Microlife" by Kenneth G Rainis. Still in print, but expensive for a smallish book (US$50), and not easy to find used. But it's a wonderful field guide to the meiofauna. It's written for kids, but is just as useful for adults. Lots of good photos.<br /><br />Eric V. Grave "Using the Microscope - A Guide for Naturalists"<br /> Out of print and hard to find but it's excellent.<br /> <br />Have fun with the new toy, and I'm looking forward to lots of pictures!<br /><br />CeratinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30584505.post-65768540470458172692012-02-22T07:26:19.569-08:002012-02-22T07:26:19.569-08:00I might have been a bit ambitious with the suggest...I might have been a bit ambitious with the suggestion of a good guide. There aren't too many easily available, but any good basic biology/zoology text will have some helpful info about the smaller critters (but not diatoms).<br /><br />I forgot about rotifers. They attach to things by a short stalk and sweep foot into their mouths with cilia. Can sometimes be confused with hydroids. If you're lucky, you might also see gastrotrichs. (The only reason I even know about this obscure little group is that one of my friends was working on them at uni some decades ago. I was delighted to find an <a href="http://www.gastrotricha.unimore.it/" rel="nofollow">entire website dedicated to them</a>.)Snailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063904446757916981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30584505.post-67757177834104093862012-02-21T23:29:53.084-08:002012-02-21T23:29:53.084-08:00Margy; and what they eat, they poop, converted to ...Margy; and what they eat, they poop, converted to plant food.<br /><br />Anonymous; that's very helpful. I have, on occasion, left bowls of sand and water overnight, to observe the tiny tubeworms that set up camp in the top layer. I didn't think of covering the containers; I will do that in future.<br /><br />I'll get myself some Rose Bengal. Thank you.Susannah Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11923063322849781223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30584505.post-14215329329205638972012-02-21T21:07:36.882-08:002012-02-21T21:07:36.882-08:00If you're going to be working with meiofauna, ...If you're going to be working with meiofauna, it helps a lot to stain them, since so much of it is transparent. Rose Bengal is what's normally suggested.<br /><br />It can also help to deoxygenate your sediment sample overnight (leave it in a covered container overnight) The more motile ones will migrate to the uppermost couple milimeters, and then scrape that with a spoon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30584505.post-4880398266187349772012-02-21T19:31:24.143-08:002012-02-21T19:31:24.143-08:00And nematodes seem to live forever (and multiply) ...And nematodes seem to live forever (and multiply) in my garden. At least they don't seem to eat much. - MargyPowell River Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17580698518291129041noreply@blogger.com