A New Project - Invertebrates of temporary hilltop rockpools
After following a few iNat contributors who provided some amazing posts based on microscopy a project sprung to mind. Thanks to @closterium_mysterium, @shanesmicroscope and @mnold1 for the inspiration. While I normally chase the plants and animals in the Aussie bushland, and Australian freshwater sponges and beasties, a microscopic view of the world seemed to offer new horizons ...so...
The Hilltop Temporary Rockpool Invertebrates
The bushland on the central Coast of NSW is dominated by varied eucalypt forests, scrubland, heath and patches of rainforest. This often sits on top of rocky and sandy ridges, valleys and hills overlaying sandstone geology. On top of many hills there are exposures of sandstone containing depressions which become small pools after rain. Most dry out completely within a short time, but during their brief watery existence become small freshwater habitats for a variety of invertebrates and microorganisms (along with occasional frogs).
This project will attempt to document some of these invertebrates and microorganisms.
Method
- A small sample of the soil and vegetation surrounding a dry pool will be taken and retained at room temperature for a few weeks.
- A small amount of water will be added to the sample to cover the sample to about half its depth and surround it with an area of free water. This will be kept at room temperature.
- After several days and for several weeks following the water will be sampled by dropper and examined microscopically. Any invertebrates and microorganisms observed will be photographed and the photos posted to iNat. Identifications will be made as possible.
- A New Post will be written at the end of each sampling project to describe the outcomes and link the observations together.
Trial sample - Bulls Hill Fire Trail
On Bulls Hill fire trail a rocky outcrop of sandstone topped by an electrical transmission line tower contains several depressions which fill with water after rain. These stay filled for periods from a few days to a few weeks depending on the weather. The first photo shows the site. The pools are surrounded by soil with mosses which dry out fairly completely in hot dry weather, and small plants. This surrounding vegetation is usually inundated after rain and so provides a submerged boundary to the ponds.
- A small sample of soil and moss was taken and kept in a container for several weeks at room temperature and open to the air.
- On 1/8/24 a small amount of water was added. This covered the soil and mosses to about half their depth, with an area of clear water around them, extending out about 2 cm and about 2 cm deep. This was kept at room temperature, open to the air.
- From a few days later samples were taken by dropper and examined microscopically. The resulting observations are attached. Many organisms were too small, too fast or just not adequately recorded to include, so the resulting observations represent a tiny subsample of this little ecosystem. I'm still sampling the material and will continue to do so for a while yet.
This has really been a satisfying project, so contributions to identification, or thoughts on the project or just general comments will be very gratefully received.
The next project will use material from a rocky outcrop behind the coastal town of Umina where conchostracans have been found in the past. See you then.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Family CatenulidaeObserver
spongemanDescription
Moss and soil sample taken from side of small dry pool on sandstone. Kept at room temp for 2 weeks then water added. sample by dropper and observed microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus ParacyclopsObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of moss and soil taken from edge of dry pool on exposed sandstone surface. Kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and sampled by dropper after several days at room temperature. Examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus EpactophanesObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of moss and soil taken from beside dry pool on exposed sandstone hilltop. kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Sample taken by dropper and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus EuplotesObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of moss and soil collected from beside dry pool on exposed sandstone hilltop. Kept at room temperature for several weeks. water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Sample by dropper and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus FrontoniaObserver
spongemanDescription
Small soil and moss sample taken and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Sample taken by dropper and examined microscopically. Last photo shows site of sample collection.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ciliates (Phylum Ciliophora)Observer
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from beside dry pool on exposed sandstone hilltop. Water addded and kept at room temperature for several days. Sample taken by dropper and examined microscopically. and kept at room temperature for several weeks
Photos / Sounds
What
Family AmoebidaeObserver
spongemanDescription
small soil and moss sample taken from beside dry pool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Sample taken by dropper and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus EuglyphaObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from beside dry pool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Sampled by dropper and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ostracods (Class Ostracoda)Observer
spongemanDescription
Sample of moss and soil collected and retained at room temperature for several weeks. Water added on 1-8-24 and retained at room temperature. Samples extracted by dropper and examined microscopically over next few weeks.
Photos / Sounds
What
Crustaceans (Subphylum Crustacea)Observer
spongemanDescription
Smal sample of soil and moss collected and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added on 1-8-24 and kept at rom temperature. Samples taken by dropper for next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Earthworms and Allies (Subclass Oligochaeta)Observer
spongemanDescription
small sample of soil and moss collected from dry rock pond on exposed sandstone hilltop. Kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added on 1-8-24 and kept at room temperature. samples taken by dropper and examined microscopically over next few weeks.
Photos / Sounds
What
Hypotrichs (Subclass Hypotrichia)Observer
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from dry pool on exposed sandstone hilltop. Kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added on 1-8-24 and kept at room temperature. Samples taken by dropper over several weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
spongemanDescription
Small soil and moss sample taken from dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop. Kept for several weeks at room temperature. Water added on 1-8-24 and kept at room temperature. Samples taken by dropper over several weeks and examined microscopically
Photos / Sounds
What
Mosses (Phylum Bryophyta)Observer
spongemanDescription
Site for Bulls Hill fire trail dry pond invertebrate project. Mosses surrounding dry pool, along with a little soil, sampled to extract invertebrates
Photos / Sounds
What
Class EurotatoriaObserver
spongemanDescription
Sample of soil and moss taken from dry pool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature. Sampled over next few weeks by dropper and examined microscopically
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus DesmodesmusObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on top of exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper for next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept for several weeks at room temperature. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus DifflugiaObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus AmphileptusObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus HapalosiphonObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Blue-green Algae (Phylum Cyanobacteria)Observer
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ciliates (Phylum Ciliophora)Observer
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Superorder PodopleaObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Family CatenulidaeObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on top of dry sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Family CatenulidaeObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil taken from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
spongemanDescription
Small sample of soil and moss taken from edge of dry rockpool on top of exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
spongemanDescription
Small sample taken of soil and moss from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus HantzschiaObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample taken of soil and moss from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus PinnulariaObserver
spongemanDescription
Small sample taken of soil and moss from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
Photos / Sounds
What
Raphid Diatoms (Subclass Bacillariophycidae)Observer
spongemanDescription
Small sample taken of soil and moss from edge of dry rockpool on exposed sandstone hilltop and kept at room temperature for several weeks. Water added and kept at room temperature for several days. Samples taken by dropper over next few weeks and examined microscopically.
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