While the main focus of my research interests is in the calcifying coccolithophores , the samples that we have obtained in the cold polar waters have been dominated by diatoms and dinoflagellates .
Phytoplankton @ Colin Brownlee
The picture shows a few examples of live diatoms and other phytoplankton in fresh samples from polar waters . A : A single cell of a chain-forming species of Chaetoceros ; B : Left image shows a very large diatom ( Rhizosolenia spp .) with a smaller unidentified diatom ( top ), and two dinoflagellates . The image of chlorophyll fluorescence shows that these cells are all photosynthetic , apart from the dinoflagellate at the bottom left which has no chlorophyll ( heterotrophic ). C : Another very large diatom ( Coscinodiscus spp .) with a very small unidentified diatom ( bottom right ); D : A population of small diatoms . Interestingly , different sampling stations give different proportions of very large and very small diatoms ; E : A silicoflagellate ( Dichtyocha speculum ). Middle picture : A minke whale . Note the pictures are not all at the same scale !
Taking pictures of phytoplankton while we are sampling gives a feeling of reassurance that there is actually something alive in this freezing cold water . Microscopy at sea , however does come with some problems . Firstly , a moving , vibrating ship is not an ideal platform for looking at creatures a few microns in size . However , modern fast , sensitive cameras have made this far less of a problem than it used to be . Secondly , staring down a microscope on a lurching rolling ship can seriously affect your digestion . Fortunately we all have our sea legs at this stage of the cruise . Thirdly , there is a real danger of becoming too immersed in
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