Binocular Compound Microscopes

During summer, algae blooms can be found in almost any body of water be it the beach, river or pond. Algae are microscopic producers of sugars and oxygen in the aquatic environment. They come in a variety of colors: green, blue-green, brown, , golden-brown , and red. Since they are microscopic, binocular compound microscopes can be used to study their physical and chemical properties and characteristics. Algae can be phytoplankton, kelp forests, or stone and rock surface coverings.

By getting a sample from the pond in your own backyard, you can see the microscopic algae in the pond water using binocular compound microscopes. Aside from algae, a glass side sample of pond water that is viewed under binocular compound microscopes can uncover a myriad of organisms. Binocular compound microscopes can magnify he specimen being examined so that you can see minute details like the color, shape, movement and texture of the organisms.

In the original article, the development of taxonomy of algae was being explained from the type of classification of Carolus Linnaeus to the classification of organisms into five kingdoms, until the discovery of a new type of classification called Archae by Dr. Carl Woese.

Archae are somewhat similar to bacteria but are genetically and biochemically different because they came from animals, plants, fungi, and protists. They usually inhabit high temperate environments like the highly alkalinic and acidic waters of the Yellowstone National Park and other heat vents, according to the original article. They can tolerate temperatures up to 100°C. Researchers have discovered that aside from high-temperate environments, Archae can also be found in the digestive tracts of termites and cows as well as in oxygenless mud on the marsh bottoms, underground petroleum deposits, in extremely saline environments and in other marine life.

Ever seen the slippery blue-green things in the surface of stone and rocks on streams and ponds? These are blue-green algae. Blue-green algae are now classified as Cyanobacteria. They are usually very small, unicellular, and can only be seen in binocular compound microscopes in small samples of water. The naked eye can see them when they are grouped in large colonies. They indicate dangerously polluted water because Cyanobacteria can tolerate high amounts of nitrogen level compared to green algae. Anabaena and Spirulina are some of the species under Cyanobacteria.

Green algae found in freshwater ponds and unpolluted ponds are classified as Eukaryotes. When examined under binocular compound microscopes, you can see them as filamentous greens with one or two cells. Under this classification are the Volvox, Desmids, and Diatoms species.

Volvox species, when examined under binocular compound microscopes, have bright green spheres of many individual cells with each individual cell surrounded by two to four similar cells and have whip-like flagella to help them move.

Single-celled green alga are called Desmids and are found in freshwater habitats. Unlike the Volvox species, they do not have a flagella. Large colonies of Spyrogira green algae can indicate polluted water.

Diatoms can be found in the bottom of ancient lakes and oceans. The white chalky materials of mineral layers formed by diatoms are used for cleansers, abrasives, filtering agents, and paints.

There is such diversity of life in any body of water. With the use of binocular compound microscopes, you can discover and study these organisms.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 7th, 2007 at 6:53 am and is filed under binocular compound microscopes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.