life in a drop of water

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Life in water

Aquatic habitats surround us in quite different types, beginning with a small puddle containing water just for a few days, continuing with different ponds and lakes and at last the gigantic ocean habitats.

Countless organisms inhabit these aquatic biotopes, from the smallest bacteria up to macroscopic organisms, an endless sample space for curious microscopists.

Taking samples in aquatic habitats is quite easy. In small puddles you can take enough interesting material with a simple ladle sample. Plankton nets are used to concentrate the planctonic organisms by sampling in larger water habitats.

A very useful technique to take a look at the broad bandwidth of creatures living in an aquatic habitat is the use of new living space. Two microscope slides, each putting together with rubber bands, are placed in a frame and dimpled into the habitat you want to take samples from. Within about two weeks the glass surfaces are colonized by several organisms, ready to take a microscopic look at in an undisturbed surrounding.

Photomicrography

Gerd Günther

English / Deutsch

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