Hidden Microscopic World

By Anonymous -
My research is on the diatom communities of the Everglades. These silicious, environmentally sensitive algae like to live buried within a complex biofilm called periphyton.With the naked eye, periphyton just looks like muck or scum. But there is a hidden microscopic world that is quite fascinating and even beautiful.

Everglades periphyton magnified 1000x: filamentous cyanobacteria and a diatom


Coccoid and filamentous cyanobacteria


Calcite crystals on filamentous cyanobacteria

The cells of Utricularia, bladderwort (a carnivorous aquatic plant)

Rod shaped bacteria

Cosmarium, a green algae

Diploneis, a diatom

Nematode that wouldn't sit still for its photo



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