Amoeba gobbles algae cells in Mono Lake

Sample taken from Mono Lake, California. Viewed with a Swift FM-31 Field Microscope and Nikon Coolpix 885 at 400X. Mono Lake is a soda lake [sometimes called an "alkali lake"] with a high salt content and a high pH. Such water is toxic to humans and most animals, yet a large population of microorganisms lives in Mono Lake. The algal cells are similar to Chlorella and coated the bottom of the shallows. Numbers of these Amoebae were found, busily munching the algal cells.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• science
• ecology
• Amoeba
• algae
• microscopy

[Scitech101]

where is its nucleaus

[WLanier]

The amoeba is so full of algae cells [the round green bodies] that identifying the nucleus is uncertain. It may be the larger brownish region that appears roughly round, but that is a guess, rather than an identification.

[yupko]

Did the microscope itself have a camera or did you look into the microscope with a camera?

[WLanier]

A Nikon Coolpix 885 digital camera was attached to the eyepiece of the microscope. The 885 accessories include an adapter threaded to attache to auxillary lenses. The eyepiece on my Swift FM-31 field microscope is a Leitz 10x eyepiece threaded to accept the adapter.

[hoodstarx1]

i didnt see it eat

[WLanier]

The little green balls = algae inside the amoeba, and going along with it as it moves, are the same as the little green balls = algae outside the amoeba. Although the videomicrograph does not clearly show the amoeba engulfing a single algae cell, the only other conclusions make little sense.

[kimluvskurtcobain]

fascinating. just fascinating ...

[radhazard888]

it moves kind of slow slower than i thought

[chaosarcee]

thats algae abuse!

[chelseymemoi123]

weird

[genziwenzi]

intrestinn....

[Ringleader141]

WOW!

[hinduw]

my microscope looks like urs but at 10 x, how is this 400x, are they just that small?

[loadsoftrouble]

Very helpful when studying for zoo. thank you for posting!

[waffamoto]

Whewie! Look at 'im go! :D