Thursday, July 12, 2007

I spend all my time outdoors, this time of year, so that means not much time indoors at the microscope. If you are stuck indoors, though, for one reason or another, observing with a microscope is a great hobby. It definitely ranks as one of my favorite indoor activities. You should get outdoors, though, long enough to do some collecting. If you're working with pond water, my advice is to think green. The base of most aquatic food chains is comprised of algae and photosynthetic bacteria. These organisms provide cover and nutrition, just as green stuff does in the macro environment. Be sure to also scrape some samples from the bottom muck for organisms that are working that part of the ecosystem. When preparing slides, a little goes a long way. Just a drop with a little green or muck is all you need. Too much and you won't be able to isolate those protozoans and invertebrates from their hiding places. If you are thinking of getting your first microscope, first read my article, Microscope Guide for Beginners. If you are trying to figure out how to use your first microscope or make a slide mount, see my article Using your First Microscope.