I love rotifers! They seem to be the testing ground for so many ways to move and survive in a pond. The rotifers included in my observations are all from one small section of a nameless pond in the Chuckanut Trail system. I did three plankton tows as part of a wetland study from about 2017 through 2018. And, for the study, I creatively named the water body: Chuckanut Pond.
I was able to borrow collection, preservation and microscopy equipment from Skagit Valley College's Environmental Conservation lab, then set up a microscope at my kitchen counter for a few months to view and attempt to identify plankton. There were a few cladocerans and copepods. But mostly there were lots of different rotifers, along with some exquisite single-celled algae.
I'm not completely sure about any of my IDs. But this first one, Testudinella patina, seems like it could be what I think it is based on comparing it with some online images. However, I'll take any suggestions and feedback from anyone who is more confident about rotifer identification.
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