Microbes in a narrow space among particles

In a narrow space surrounded by particles, various microbes seem to be enjoying their lives. A flat leaf-shaped flagellate swims along, while a tiny amoeba without pseudopodia proceeds by pushing the front of its body forward as it contracts its rear end. A long filamentous algal colony and a variety of diatoms are all actively swimming around.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
The organism that appears at the beginning and very end of this video may belong to a group related to Anisonema and Petalomonas, because it has a hard, flat body and a flagellum extending forward. It seems to be a rare species. However, we cannot be sure because the base of the forward flagellum is not clear, and we can’t confirm　whether it has another flagellum at the posterior end.

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

The organism that appears during the middle part of this video may be Saccamoeba judging from its protoplasmic streaming and cell size. But it cannot be verified without examining the posterior end, which is not shown in this video.

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

Sampling Date : 28 May 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River B  Google Map

Microbes towing aggregates

In this view many aggregates are being pushed or pulled around by an amoeba and some diatoms. We can see an amoeba pulling one particle toward another, and finally many particles are connected together.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
The organism in this video may be Saccamoeba. When amoebas are travelling, other particles often get stuck to the posterior end, which we can see in this video.

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

Sampling Date : 28 May 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River B  Google Map