I'm currently conducting a research on the phytoplankton composition of a series of ponds and water streams in moutain areas of my state (Bahia, Brazil). These organisms in the pictures are very frequent in my samples, but I can find no information on them. Any specialist would help me out with this? In the pictures they sometimes appear in a tridimensional manner, some other times, less frequently, as bidimensional.
Hi Nunes
I think these are fungal hyphae. If you really want to know about phytoplankton composition. Kindly include meta-genomic techniques to your study. Microscope is just not enough. Start with whole DNA isolation, then go for 16S as well as 18S sequencing. You will get to know the whole composition of your sample by analyzing your obtained sequences using different bioinformatic tools.
All the Best.
looks more like green algae, eventually Zygnematales or Desmidiales,
A short look into a good book should give an adequate answer, at least on the family, eventually even on the genus level, depanding, what you need. People have identifyed organisms over centuries without molecular biology. Try autofluorescence (if you have it available) to differentiate between fungy and algae.
looks like cyanophyceace
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fatma_Guellati/post/Is_there_a_site_or_any_references_where_I_can_look_at_diversity_of_green_and_blue_green_alga_with_images_and_their_genus/attachment/59d659d179197b80779af26a/AS%3A543885395808256%401506683791553/download/Freshwater+Algae++Identification+and+Use+as+Bioindicators.PDF
Thank you all for the answers and suggestions. Best regards!
Malcolm Baptie
, as a matter of fact I had also asked a question here, yesterday, about some unidentified structures that appeared in the same sample as the ones in these pictures, and some researchers argued that they should be trichomes from bromeliads. I'll follow your suggestion and consider it in the next sampling expedition to the area. Thanks a lot!
Hello Vladimir de Sales Nunes
Were there any water lily belonging to the genus Nymphaea sp. present at the vicinity of the place where you had collected the samples from? Because the structures in your pictures are very similar to the lignified inner hairs or trichomes of the aerenchyma tissues of leaf stalks of Nymphaea sp., the basic structure is same although the ornamentation vary from species to species. These are mostly found in waterways where the older leaf stalks senesce and decompose, thus expose the internal anatomical features to the water current. You may also observe them in a river even if you collect the samples downstream with no visible lily patch in sight. Being lignified ensures their prolonged retention in the benthic substrates or in the water column.
With regards,
Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee
Dr. Phanibhusan Ghosh
Sir, I gratefully acknowledge your support.
I agree with Malcolm and Abdishek, these structures have most likely a non-planktonic origin.
cheers,
Jeroen
I have no idea about the fresh water organisms as my research area is different.
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