Drill for LM-SEM investigations of cleared diatoms

(and other phytoplankton with similarly hard parts)

1. Make LM slide from cleared diatoms. Tows from phytoplankton are appropriate sources. View this material with phase contrast on your workstation compound microscopes.

 

2. Pick one morphological type as “yours”. If you have photographed/archived a diatom (or other protist) from the live sample, find (if you can) and claim that one. Otherwise, pick a type. Most genera that have been found in the Monday plankton samples to date have been listed. Tell the workshop participants what you’ve selected – no two persons should be going after the same taxon.

 

3. Photograph/archive “your” morphological type (“species”) with LM. If “your” type matches a live species photographed/archived during this workshop, be sure to link the two.

 

4. Look for “your” species on the SEM (individual sessions Monday PM through Wednesday). Photograph/archive critical features.

 

Principal paper reference: