Microscopic Critters ID

Pond water has lots of interesting critters in it.  Here are a few that you will find in your sample.

Wolosyznskia is a dinoflagellate.  This one has armour which helps it to keep its shape.

Wolosyznskia is a dinoflagellate. This one has armour which helps it to keep its shape.  It has two flagella (tails) that help it move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haematoccoccus is actually a green alga that is red....it can swim.

Haematoccoccus is actually a green alga that is red….it can swim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Euglena are eat other organisms and can also photosythesize (make food from light).  They also have a tail that helps them move.

Euglena eat other organisms and can also photosythesize (make food from light). They also have a tail that helps them move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volvox is a big ball made up of many tiny cells.  Each cell has two flagella (tails).  The little circles inside is a daughter colony.

Volvox is a big ball made up of many tiny cells. Each cell has two flagella (tails). The little circles inside is a daughter colony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Micrasterial is a green alga known as a desmid.  They have two identical halves.

Micrasterias is a green alga known as a desmid. They have two identical halves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nostoc is made up of filaments in a slime ball.  It is a type of bacteria that can photosynthesize (take energy from the sun to make food).

Nostoc is made up of filaments in a slime ball. It is a type of bacteria that can photosynthesize (take energy from the sun to make food).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spirygyra is a filamentous algae (long strings) that has spiral chloroplasts (the part of the cell that takes energy from the sun to make sugar = photosynthesis).

Spirygyra is a filamentous algae (long strings) that has spiral chloroplasts (the part of the cell that takes energy from the sun to make sugar = photosynthesis).