Specimen Collection and Identification

Location

Types of Samples

The types of samples we collected at a particular location may have included: 

plankton tows	plant or macroscopic algae samples	rock or log scrapings
We used a nano-plankton net to filter water with a surface, vertical, or oblique tow.	We collected aquatic plants, decaying plant material, and visible algal mats or tuffs for associated microscopic organisms.	We scraped submerged rocks and logs for attached microscopic organisms.

Sample Storage

Samples were placed in whirl packs in the field, kept on ice when available, and refrigerated in the lab until examination.  

Sample Preparation

This webpage strives to portray the natural, living state of the organisms.

• I did not use preservatives or stains; nor did I use color filters during microscopy. 

• In 2003, I attempted to used methyl cellulose as a movement inhibitor to photograph fast moving organisms, but this was shortly discontinued after only a very few occasions.

Photography

Age of samples

• In 2001, I examined the samples typically on several occasions, ranging from the day of collection to about two months after collection. 

• In 2003 and 2005, I examined the samples typically only on the day of collection, but sometimes one or two days later.

Compound Microscope (in Dr. Michael Gretz's laboratory)

• Samples were viewed with a Zeiss Axioskop, a differential interference contrast (DIC) compound microscope, equipped with Plan Neofluar objectives (20x and 40x) and an optivar (1.25x, 1.6x, 2.0x, 2.5x). 

• The microscope used an attached Sony model DXC-930 3 chip video camera to transmit an analog signal. 

• In 2001, the signal was captured as digital images with a Snapper 24 image capture card installed on a UNIX computer.  Video was recorded on VHS tape and later converted to digital video using the Matrox card of 2003. 

• In 2003, the signal was captured as digital video with a Matrox RT 2500 video capture card installed on a PC.  Images were then acquired from the digital video. 

• In 2005, the signal was captured as digital images with a Scion CG7 image capture card, and as digital video with a Matrox RTX 100 XP video capture card, installed on separate PCs.  Images of animated specimens were often acquired from the digital video.

• This setup allowed all images and video to be captured without the use of oil immersion.

Dissecting Microscope (in Dr. Casey Huckins' laboratory)

• Digital images of macrophytes were captured with a dissecting microscope. 

I thank both Dr. Gretz and Dr. Huckins for giving me the opportunity to create this collection.

Identification

Algae are classified following:

1. Graham, LE and LW Wilcox. 2000. Algae. Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ.

with modifications for desmids, diatoms, and tribophyceans following:

2. Wehr, JD and RG Sheath (eds). 2003. Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification. Academic Press. San Diego, CA.

and modifications for chlorophyceans following:

3. Guiry, MD, F Rindi, and GM Guiry. 2005. AlgaeBase version 4.0. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org

Additional references used to identify algal specimens include:

4. Canter-Lund, H and JWG Lund. 1995. Freshwater Algae: their microscopic world explored. Biopress Limited. Bristol, England.

5. Cox, EJ. 1996. Identification of Freshwater Diatoms from Live Material. Chapman & Hall.

6. John, DM, BA Whitton, and AJ Brook (eds). 2002. The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles: An Identification Guide to Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK.

7. Patrick, R and CW Reimer. 1966, 1975. The Diatoms of the United States Exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii, vol. I & II. Academy of Natural Sciences.

8. Prescott, GW. 1962. Algae of the Western Great Lakes Area. Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers. Dubuque, Iowa.

9. Prescott, GW. 1964. How to Know the Freshwater Algae. Wm. C. Brown. Dubuque, Iowa.

10. Smith, GM. 1920, 1924 . Phytoplankton of Inland Lakes of Wisconsin, Parts I & II. Bulletin No. 57 of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. (reprinted in 1977 by J. Cramer).

11. Smith, GM. 1950. The Fresh-water Algae of the United States. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. NY.

12. Tiffany, LH and ME Britton. 1952. The Algae of Illinois. Hafner Publishing Company. New York.

13. Whitford, LA and GJ Schumacher. 1973. A Manual of Freshwater Algae. Sparks Press. Raleigh, NC.

Protozoans are classified following:

1. Taylor, WD and RW Sanders. 2001. Protozoa. In: (ed.) JH Thorp and AP Covich. Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates. Academic Press.

Additional references used to identify protozoan specimens include:

2. Jahn, TL and FF Jahn. 1949. How to Know the Protozoa. Wm. C. Brown. Dubuque, Iowa.

3. Kudo, RR. 1966. Protozoology 5th ed. Charles C. Thomas. Springfield, IL.

4. Lee, JJ, GF Leedale, and P Bradbury (eds). 2000. An Illustrated Guide to the Protozoa 2nd ed, vol 1 & II. Society of Protozoologists. Lawrence, Kansas.

5. Lundin, FC and LS West. 1963. The Free-living Protozoa of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Monographic Series #1. The Northern Michigan College Press. Marquette, MI.

6. Patterson, DJ. and S. Hedley. 1992. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: A Colour Guide. Wolfe Publishing Ltd.