Boring

[Wim van Egmond]

Waldo, you were right. Bacteria are not the most interesting subjects for light microscopists. A bit boring image. But we can't live without bacteria. So we should not neglect them.

These were found on the surface of the water in a sample. I let the coverslip float on it for a while and than it was full with these rather big bacteria. Shot with a 63X planapo. Fine details but I had to enhance the contrast.

I have no idea what type of bacteria they are. They are a bit greenish.

Wim

[Ecki]

Wim,

these look like green sulfur bacteria to me.

Regards
Ecki

[Cactusdave]

I thought green sulphur bacteria were obligate anaerobes, and these were on the surface film with lots of oxygen?

[Ecki]

I thought green sulphur bacteria were obligate anaerobes, and these were on the surface film with lots of oxygen?

You are correct - Purple Bacteria are obligate anaerobes. Sometimes though you will find them in the mold film after their shelter was destroyed. See here:

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... +darkfield

They won't survive for long but they don't die straight away. If Wim's bacteria would not have those granules I would have thought Cyanobacteria. But I have seen such granules often in Sulphur Bacteria.

I am currently writing about Sulphur Bacteria therefore I might be biased

[pwnell]

Waldo, you were right. Bacteria are not the most interesting subjects for light microscopists. A bit boring image. But we can't live without bacteria. So we should not neglect them.

They are huge! And very beautiful... I have never seen any bacteria where you can actually resolve details. Very well done and this changed my perception, at least theoretically (until I can find similar bacteria myself )