Dear Jennifer,

this is absolutely sure Ciliophora. You are using not wright format for the photos. Better to use jpg. Sp, No 3 cannot download.How did you make this photos? This is the same cell or different? For me two different species. No 4 looks like Genus Cyclidium (may be glaucoma group). Oral membrane is enough transparent so should use phase contrast. If the specimens jumping, so not hesitation. Period between jumping is feeding! But jumping is not the only one important char. as Halteria or Urotricha can do, like a lot of others. Should inhibit by special liquid for precise investigation. Look my paper from 1979 with Boshko.

First two photos look like Cyclidium as well, but other species with small membrane (related view have some repr. of Uronema & Dexiotricha but diff oral structure). serious identification is possible only by silver (dry or wet) or protargor impregnation.

Andrey

ciliate

Hi Andrey,

Thank you for helping me solve this ID issue. I will not include these samples in my phytoplankon analyses! 

All of the photos I posted were of different cells. My samples are preserved in Lugol's and the photos are taken in black and white. I used a software program to take the photos (as a .tif file). Next time I will upload photos as .jpg as it is a more universal format. 

Thanks again 

Hi Maria,

Thanks for the confirmation.

It is much appreciated! 

it seems ciliate not phytoplankton

All best

i agree ciliate