Water flea - Polarized (image added)

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 1:26 pm

Interesting. I wonder if it's something that happens naturally in water of high mineral content. I would have thought it would affect the buoyancy and swimming ability of the animal.

Starshade · Post by **Starshade** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:59 am

Stunning photos!

I actually observed similar structures before, but, unfortunately, my scope could not do this colorful polarized effect and the lenses were not matching the demands in terms of magnification.

I only observed such things covering the shells of water fleas in small bodies of water. For example, in an almost desiccated mini-pond. When I saw it I thought that the salts in drying water just naturally crystallized on water fleas no matter how ridiculous it sounds. I didn't measure the salinity of water... and I definitely didn't want to taste it!

In one of the videos I made the flea started moving violently and the encrusting material was falling off bit by bit. But the footage is not spectacular.

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 4:16 am

Thanks Starshade, that tends to confirm my suspicions.

RogelioMoreno · Post by **RogelioMoreno** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 4:21 pm

David, Starshade and Cactusdave

Thank you very much for your comments.

Rogelio

curt0909 · Post by **curt0909** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:53 pm

Superb. I especially like the sharpness and color of these photos

RogelioMoreno · Post by **RogelioMoreno** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 3:42 am

curt0909, thank you.

Here a couple more images:

Rogelio

Ernst Hippe · Post by **Ernst Hippe** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:33 pm

Hi Rogelio,
I observe these crystals in waterfleas' carapax now since several years, but without an explanation. Published in the german magazine MIKROKOSMOS in 2008, No.2. However an attempt of a chemical analysis is just being started. So I hope to know more soon.

RogelioMoreno · Post by **RogelioMoreno** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:13 am

Ernst Hippe wrote:Hi Rogelio,
I observe these crystals in waterfleas' carapax now since several years, but without an explanation. Published in the german magazine MIKROKOSMOS in 2008, No.2. However an attempt of a chemical analysis is just being started. So I hope to know more soon.

I hope you find an explanation. I will be waiting.

Thank you for your comments.

Rogelio

Rylee Isitt · Post by **Rylee Isitt** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:33 pm

This could make a very geeky pattern for a Hawaiian shirt.

Very unusual. Nicely done!

RogelioMoreno · Post by **RogelioMoreno** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:56 am

Rylee Isitt wrote:This could make a very geeky pattern for a Hawaiian shirt.

Very unusual. Nicely done!

You are right, I did not see it from that point.

Thank you for your comments.

Rogelio