Hi all,
I have recently gotten interested in microscopy - I bought a microscope a while ago to try and get a closer look at some tiny creatures in my invertebrate tank, and the other day I decided to have a look at some stagnant water from my garden. Now I can't stop hunting for tiny little creatures, but I am finding it difficult to identify some of them.
How do you normally go about identifying organisms that you have never seen before? I have been able to identify most of what I have found but the following photo has got me stuck:
It is quite large (compared to the other creatures in the sample) and was moving slowly to the right in that photograph. Is it some kind of algae?
Would you recommend buying a textbook to help identify things I have never seen before? Or is there a good resource on the net that I can use?
What is the best way to identify microbes?
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- Cactusdave
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That's a diatom, and yes it's a kind of alga. It's hard to recommend a general book for identifying microscopic life in freshwater, though there are many good specialist books. I do find this a good guide for protozoa though http://www.amazon.com/Free-Living-Fresh ... 0470235675 . This site is a good source of books on all aspects of microscopy, especially older and more specialist ones. http://www.savonabooks.free-online.co.uk/
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- rjlittlefield
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Steve, welcome aboard!
For general introduction, try http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... iologyimmu and look at the "Frequently bought together" items.
--Rik
For general introduction, try http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... iologyimmu and look at the "Frequently bought together" items.
--Rik
Thanks guys - I thought it looked like a diatom, but for some reason I thought that diatoms were always small and couldn't move.
I found that book (Free Living Freshwater Protozoa) on amazon earlier but I'm not sure if I want to spend £40 on a book just yet. I suppose I can always ask on here if I get stuck!
I found that book (Free Living Freshwater Protozoa) on amazon earlier but I'm not sure if I want to spend £40 on a book just yet. I suppose I can always ask on here if I get stuck!
- rjlittlefield
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