Specimen #20 Algae

Specimen 20: Algae

Figure 1: Pictured Eudorina specimen with edges in focus; each spherical individual cell composing the colony contains two flagella, which are difficult to see even under high power; cells are bright green color, as seen above.

Scientific Name: Eudorina
Order: Chlamydomonadales
Family: Volvocaceae
Collection Date: September 20, 2015
Habitat: Quiet waters, open waters, shallows of ditches, bogs, ponds, puddles
Location: Observation Pond - Hiram College Field Station - Hiram, OH
Description: Green; individual cells are spherical with two flagella; form colonies, which range in size from 40-50 μm in diameter
Collector: Caroline Georskey

Key Used: Rainis, K.G, Russell, B.J.1996. Guide to Microlife. A Division of Grolier Publishing. Danbury, CT.

Key Steps:

• Shape key pp. 30 --> Eudorina pp. 139

Ecology:
Typically two volvocine species are studied: the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a unicellular alga, and Volvox carter as a multicellular alga with differentiated cell types (Lerche & Hallmann). While species with intermediate characteristics exist, they tend to complicate the boundaries between unicellular and differentiated multicellular species (Lerche & Hallmann). An example of one of these species is Eudorina elegans, and it requires detailed genetic manipulation and has limited DNA and/or protein sequence information, which scientists are in the process of discovering (Lerche & Hallmann).

Links:

http://www.microscope-microscope.org/applications/pond-critters/protozoans/mastigophora/eudorina.htm
http://cfb.unh.edu/phycokey/Choices/Chlorophyceae/colonies/colonies_flagellated/EUDORINA/Eudorina_key.html
http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/641
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=5597
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6750/13/11

Algae Links:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/greenalgae/greenalgae.html
http://botany.si.edu/projects/algae/
http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/algal-biofuels
http://tolweb.org/accessory/Algae:_Protists_with_Chloroplasts?acc_id=52

Specimen #19 Algae

Specimen 19: Algae

Figure 1: The chloroplasts are visible in these sphere-shaped green protists.

Figure 2: Group of Volvox pictured together containing various numbers of cells within their colonies.

Scientific Name: Volvox
Order: Volvocales
Family: Volvocaceae
Collection Date: September 20, 2015
Habitat: Quiet ponds, open water, puddles, ditches, shallow ponds, bogs, freshwater
Location: Observation Pond - Hiram College Field Station - Hiram, OH
Description: Green protists, oval shaped, up to 50,000 individual cells within a gelatinous sphere, spin through the water, up to 1 mm (colony)
Collector: Caroline Georskey

Key Used: Rainis, K.G, Russell, B.J.1996. Guide to Microlife. A Division of Grolier Publishing. Danbury, CT.

Key Steps:

• Shape Key pp. 30 --> Volvox #70 pp.153

Ecology:
These colonies were first studied by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1700, and have since been used as a genetic model for study of morphogenesis (Britannica). Volvox is known to exhibit differentiation, which is considered to be significant in tracing the evolution of higher animals from microorganisms (Britannica).

Links:

http://www.britannica.com/science/Volvox
http://www.eol.org/pages/11637/overview
http://microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art97b/volvoxms.html
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/V/Volvox.html
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/olympusmicd/galleries/moviegallery/pondscum/protists/volvox/index.html

Algae Links:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/greenalgae/greenalgae.html
http://botany.si.edu/projects/algae/
http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/algal-biofuels
http://tolweb.org/accessory/Algae:_Protists_with_Chloroplasts?acc_id=52

Specimen #18 Algae

Specimen 18: Algae

Figure 1: A longer segment of the algae species with a reproductive cell present. Cells appear to be green in color, as pictured.

Figure 2: A small segment of the algae is present, with a reproductive cell in view.

Scientific Name: Tribonema
Order: Tribonematales
Family: Tribonemaraceae
Collection Date: September 20, 2015
Habitat: Quiet waters, found in ditches, especially in spring
Location: Observation Pond - Hiram College Field Station - Hiram, OH
Description: Filamentous green protists, reproductive cell present
Collector: Caroline Georskey

Key Used: Rainis, K.G, Russell, B.J.1996. Guide to Microlife. A Division of Grolier Publishing. Danbury, CT.

Key Steps:

• Filamentous green protists --> pp. 127
•  --> Tribonema pp. 133

Ecology:
Some Tribonema species can be found in metal-polluted streams (University of New Hampshire). 

Links:

http://cfb.unh.edu/phycokey/Choices/Tribophyceae/TRIBONEMA/Tribonema_key.html
http://dbmuseblade.colorado.edu/DiatomTwo/sbsac_site/genus.php?g=Tribonema
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=2053
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:catalogueoflife.org:taxon:d7912808-29c1-102b-9a4a-00304854f820:col20120124

Algae Links:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/greenalgae/greenalgae.html
http://botany.si.edu/projects/algae/
http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/algal-biofuels
http://tolweb.org/accessory/Algae:_Protists_with_Chloroplasts?acc_id=52

Specimen #17 Algae

Specimen 17: Algae

Figure 1: The specimen can be identified from its green color, hornlike projection, and disk-shape, as seen above.

Scientific Name: Pediastrium
Order: Chlorococcales
Family: Hydrodictyaceae
Collection Date: September 21, 2015
Habitat: Rare in deep water; found in ponds and lakes along shores
Location: Willa's Garden Pond - South Russell, OH
Description: Disk-shaped colonial green algae, characterized by peripheral hornlike projections; freshwater plankton; number of cells per colony varies
Collector: Willa Schrlau

Key Used: Rainis, K.G, Russell, B.J.1996. Guide to Microlife. A Division of Grolier Publishing. Danbury, CT.

Key Steps:

• Protist Key pp. 78
• Organism without stalk, free swimming, grouped together, floating, or as a filament --> 3
• Colored --> 4
• Cells are green; contain chloroplasts --> 5
• Cells not arranged in green filaments --> 6
• Green and yellow - Green protists --> pp. 150 --> pp. 152 Pediastrium

Ecology:
This specimen is predominantly found in freshwater, and plays a key role in oxygen production (Chantangsi).

Links:

http://www.britannica.com/science/Pediastrum
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artsep01/pediastrum.html
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=6032
http://www.cfb.unh.edu/phycokey/Choices/Chlorophyceae/colonies/colonies_not_flagellated/PEDIASTRUM/Pediastrum_key.html

Algae Links:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/greenalgae/greenalgae.html
http://botany.si.edu/projects/algae/
http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/algal-biofuels
http://tolweb.org/accessory/Algae:_Protists_with_Chloroplasts?acc_id=52

Specimen #16 Slimemold

Specimen 16: Slimemold

Figure 1: Pictured above are immature examples of the cushion-like specimen that were collected from a well-rotted wood. They are pinkish in color and when "popped," they released a toothpaste-like substance of a similar color. 

Scientific Name: Lycogala epidendrum
Common Name: Wolf's Milk
Order: Liceales
Family: Reticulariaceae
Collection Date: September 20, 2015
Habitat: scattered or clustered on well-rotted wood
Location: Hiram College Field Station - Hiram, OH
Description: fruiting bodies appear pinkish-gray to bright red in color when young, but turn olive-brown with age; paste-like substance; appear in small, cushion-like bulbs
Collector: Breanna Beltz

Key Used: Stephenson, S.L, Stempen H. 1994. Myxomycetes: A Handbook of SlimeMolds. Timber Press, Inc.. Portland, OR.

Key Steps:

• Order: Liceales --> pp. 76 
• Fruiting body an aethalium or pseudoaethalium --> 2
• Fruiting body an aethalium, pulvinate to subglobose, with no evidence or individual sporangium-like units --> 4
• Pseudocapillitium consisting of flattened hyaline tubules; spores pallid --> Lycogala epidendrum

Ecology:
This specimen is inedible (Messiah College). This is one of the most commonly found and identified slime molds (Messiah College).

Links:

http://www.messiah.edu/Oakes/fungi_on_wood/puffball%20and%20cushion/species%20pages/Lycogala%20epidendrum.htm
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/lycogala.html
http://ncrfungi.uark.edu/species/38_lycogalaEpidendrum/lycogalaEpidendrum.html
http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Lycogala+epidendrum

Slimemold Links:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/protista/slimemolds.html
http://www.microbeworld.org/types-of-microbes/protista/slime-molds
http://www.herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/FunFacts/SlimeMold.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/the-sublime-slime-mold/
http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/articles/2013/SlimeMold.shtml

Specimen #15 Algae

Specimen 15: Algae

Figure 1: The oval stacked cells (four pictured) are imaged. The outside cells are seen to have two spines on each. Cells are green in this specimen.

Scientific Name: Scenedesmus
Order: Chlorococcales
Family: Scenedesmaceae
Collection Date: September 21, 2015
Habitat: Shallow, ditches, ponds, bogs, puddles, quiet, open waters
Location: Willa's Garden Pond - South Russell, OH
Description: Green; oval stacked cells, 50-250 μm; 4-12 cells; outside cells have two spines
Collector: Willa Schrlau

Key Used: Rainis, K.G, Russell, B.J.1996. Guide to Microlife. A Division of Grolier Publishing. Danbury, CT.

Key Steps:

• Shape Key pp. 31 --> pp. 69
• Scenedesmus --> pp. 148

Ecology:
This type of algae is a common component of freshwater plankton, and is used in experimental work with pollution and photosynthesis issues (Britannica). During sewage purification processes, Scenedesmus provides oxygen in order to breakdown organic matter, helping to destroy harmful substances (Britannica).

Links:

http://www.britannica.com/science/Scenedesmus
http://www.labome.org/topics/organisms/algae/green/scenedesmus-2232.html
http://dbmuseblade.colorado.edu/DiatomTwo/sbsac_site/genus.php?g=Scenedesmus
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=6104

Algae Links:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/greenalgae/greenalgae.html
http://botany.si.edu/projects/algae/
http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/algal-biofuels
http://tolweb.org/accessory/Algae:_Protists_with_Chloroplasts?acc_id=52

Specimen #14 Fungi

Specimen 14: Fungi

Figure 1: The specimen was found on the side of a dead hardwood stump.

Figure 2: The radial wrinkles can be see in the specimen. It is brown in color, and is darkening/bruising with age as it is stored. The specimen appears woody, and tougher due to age.

Figure 3: The underside of the specimen shows the visible tubes (pores), and the lack of stalk. The pores were initially white and darkened with age. 

Figure 4: The deep, elongated tubes forming a united layer can be seen pictured above.

Scientific Name: Ischnoderma resinosum
Common Name: Resinous polypore
Order: Polyporales
Family: Fomitopsidaceae
Collection Date: October 8, 2015
Habitat: Solitary or several together on dead hardwoods; widely distributed but not particularly common; fruiting mostly in summer and fall
Location: Hiram College Field Station - Hiram, OH
Description: Radially wrinkled, exude droplets, shelving, woody, stalk absent, pores, cap brown in color
Collector: Breanna Beltz

Key Used: Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press. New York, NY.

Key Steps:

• Key to major groups of fleshy fungi --> pp. 52
• Fruiting body shelflike, crustily, tough, woody, layer of pores under cap --> Polypores & Bracket Fungi pp. 549
• Spore-bearing surface not composed of tubes, or if composed of tubes then the tubes form a united layer, fruiting body fleshy, tough, woody --> 2
• Stalk absent, growing on wood, fruiting body knoblike, hooflike, bracketlike, shelflike, crustily --> 4
• Pore surface exposed, not growing on birch --> 5
• Pore surface differently colored (not pinkish/reddish-purple/blackish-purplish) --> 6
• Fruiting body not rescpindle, has cap --> 7
• Spore-bearing surface with deep, elongated, mazelike pockets or even gills or "teeth" --> 8
• Spore-bearing surface with tubes (pores), elongated or mazelike --> 10
• Fruiting body annual (with only one tube layer), cap soon dark to brown to blackish, often roughened, radially wrinkled, fruiting body at first watery and often beaded with droplets, but tougher in age, pore surface whitish at first but aging or bruising darker, found on dead trees, widespread but not common --> Ischoderma resinosum pp. 573

Ecology:
This species is often found on the deadwood of hardwoods or conifers, usually appearing in fall (Kuo, 2004). They tend to cause a rot that separates the rings in aging wood (Kuo, 2004). It is found very widely distributed in North America (Kuo, 2004).

Links:

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/ischnoderma_resinosum.html
http://www.messiah.edu/Oakes/fungi_on_wood/poroid%20fungi/species%20pages/Ischnoderma%20resinosum.htm
http://www.wisconsinmushrooms.com/Ischnodermaresinosum.html
http://www.iub.edu/~preserve/flora/mushrooms/i_resinosum.html
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/resinous-polypore

Fungi Links:

http://www.britannica.com/science/fungus
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/fungi.html
http://www.microbeworld.org/types-of-microbes/fungi
http://www.herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/FunFacts/Kingfact.htm