Under the Microscope

 In a previous post, I discussed the river surveys carried out as part of our citizen science project monitoring pollutants in the watershed of the River Wye. That post was primarily concerned with chemical pollutants such as phosphates, nitrates, nitrites and ammonia.

Equally important, though less well studied by citizen scientists, is the aquatic life found in the rivers and tributaries. At some point, we hope to be trained to go 'kick sampling' so we can document the freshwater invertebrates living in our streams. In this post, we take a quick look at some of the microbes present using our new Celestron microscope.

Samples were collected from the smaller Belmont Pool in April 2024 where there had been an algal bloom event. In Photo 1 we see an example of a diatom, a type of algae, responsible for generating 20 - 30 % of the oxygen produced every year. Measuring the type, number and distribution of diatoms in a water body provides a primary indicator of water quality and ecosystem health.

Photo 1: Diatom from Belmont Pool (small) - April 2024

Photo 2 shows a strand of filamentous algae ...

Photo 2: Filamentous Green Algae, Belmont Pool (April 2024)

... while Photo 3 displays a diatom attached to filamentous algae (diatoms will often attach themselves to surfaces) ...

Photo 3: Diatom attached to Filamentous Green Algae

In the next two photographs, are examples of bell animalcules ('little animals") first discovered by Antoine van Leeuwenhoek in the 1600s, a Dutch microbiologist.

Photo 4: Bell Animalcules, Belmont Pool (April 2024)

Photo 5: Bell Animalcules, Belmont Pool (April 2024)

You don't need to travel to exotic locations to see such fascinating micro-organisms. The next two videos were recorded with the Celestron LCD Digital Microscope II. Note (i) how the bell animalcules are anchored by a single stalk that contracts like a coil and (ii)  the flagella or cilia that direct food into the 'mouth' opening and can also be used for propelled movement.

  

Video 1: Bell Animalcules, Belmont Pool (April 2024)

Video 2: Bell Animalcules, Belmont Pool (April 2024)