Daphniidae
Great Aunt Daphne: A portrait of Daphnia pulex
Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Olympus P15
Objective: Zeiss x10 plan achromat
Sample from Warnham Local Nature Reserve, Horsham, West Sussex
Daphnia pulex
Microscope: Watson Bactil (horizontal/monocular config)
Ocular: Zarf G9 photo-adapter
Objective: Watson 2.75/0.15 parachromat
1.5x inclined monocular head
Illumination: LED with macro substage condenser
Camera: Canon Powershot G9
ISO400, F4.5, 1/640 s
Sample from Warnham LNR 10-Aug-2008
Daphnia longispina
a very similar species to Daphnia pulex, but with a prominent spine
Female with eggs in brood pouch
Projectina Microscope
Objective: Watson x4 parachromat
Ocular: Watson x8 compensating
Polarised light/retardation filter + substage wheelstop
Stack of four images combined (Combine4z)
Daphnia longispina
Another female with eggs
Projectina microscope
10x macro objective
Olympus P15 ocular
Transmitted light, no substage
Camera: Aiptek Pocket Cam 3 Mega
Specimen from Warnham Mill Dipping Pond 2, 28-Dec-2003
Daphniidae: Ceriodaphnia reticulata
Ceriodaphnia reticulata var serrata
Note prominence on the back of the carapace that characterises this variant and the reticulations on the carapace typical of the species
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Olympus P7
Objective: Zeiss Plan 1.6/0.03 - 5/0.1
Brightfield
24 images/Helicon Focus
Camera : Canon EOS 500D/Flash
Sample from Warnham LNR Sep 2009
Ceriodaphnia reticulata
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Objective: Zeiss x10 plan achromat
Ocular: Olympus P15
Sample from Warnham LNR 28 May 2007
Main pond (Heron Bird Hide)
above: 8 images/Helicon Focus
A video showing typical swimming motion of C. reticulata
Microscope: Watson Bactil (horizontal/monocular config)
Ocular: Zarf G9 photo-adapter
Objective: Watson 2.75/0.15 parachromat
1.5x inclined monocular head
Illumination: LED with macro substage condenser
Camera: Canon Powershot G9
Daphniidae: Simocephalus vetulus
Portrait of Simocephalus vetulus
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Objective: Leitz 16/0.45 NPL Fluotar ICT
Ocular: Olympus P7
Substage: Leitz 0.9NA ICT
Flash: Vivitar 283/resistive control
Camera Canon EOS 500D
55 images stacked Helicon Focus
Sample from Warnham LNR Dipping Ponds, 13 Sep 2009
Microscope: Projectina
Objective: 10x macro
Ocular: Wild x10 photo
Substage condenser with top lens removed
DG wheelstop
Sample from Warnham, Dipping Pond 3 19-Feb-2004
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Zeiss Kpl 10/18
Objective: Zeiss Plan achromat 10/0.22
Brightfield (Luxeon K2 LED)
Camera: Canon Powershot S50
Sample from Basingstoke Canal (Brookwood)
Daphniidae: Scapholebris mucronata, cornuta form
This species lives suspended under the surface of the water
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Zeiss Kpl 10/18
Objective: Zeiss Plan achromat 10/0.22
Brightfield
Stack of 17 images/CombineZP
Max contrast pyramid stack
Sample from Warnham LNR
Daphniidae: Scapholebris mucronata, cornuta form
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Zeiss Kpl 10/18
Objective: Zeiss Plan achromat 10/0.22
Brightfield
Stack of 27 images/Combine ZP
Max contrast pyramid stack
Chydoridae
This family has a rather different body shape to the Daphniidae
Eurycercus lamellatus
This is the largest British member of this family and is a smooth and fast swimmer
Specimen from Warnham Mill Pond August 2005
Projectina Microscope
Objective: 10x macro
Ocular: Wild x10 photo
Substage condenser with top lens removed
DG wheelstop
Sample from Warnham LNR 19-Feb-2004
Pleuroxus uncinatus
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Olympus P15
Objective: Zeiss x10/NA 0.22 plan achromat
Brightfield
Sample from Warnham LNR main pond 28 May 2007
38 images/Helicon Focus
Chydorus sphaericus
In contrast to its cousin Eurycercus, this is one of the smallest British Cladocerans
Eggs are just visible in the brood pouch (darker area on left of image).
Projectina microscope
Objective: 20x Achromat
Ocular: Olympus P15
Illumination: Rheinberg
Combination of 13 images by CombineZ4, retouched to soften artefacts
Camera: Aiptek Pocket Cam 3 Mega
Sample from Warnham, Dipping Pond 2, 28-Dec-2003
but viewed 13-Jan-2004
Chydorus sphaericus var coelatus (=C. brevilabris (?) - note the sculpted edges to the carapace
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Zeiss KPL 10/18
Objective: Leica 20/0.3 EF L
Substage: Leitz 0.9 NA ICT
Lighting: Variable Oblique
Camera: Canon Powershot S50
Stack 0f 26 images/Zerene Stacker (Pyramid)
Sample from Basingstoke Canal (Brookwood)
04 Apr 2009
Chydoridae: Alona quadrangularis
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Zarf G9 photo-adapter
Objective: Leitz 16/0.45 NPL Fluotar ICT
Substage: Leitz ICT
Camera: Canon Powerhsot G9
Flash: Vivitar 283
Sample from Warnham Millpond 10 Aug 2008
Another species of Alona
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Zarf G9 photo adapter
Objective: Leitz NPL Fluotar 16/0.45 ICT
Substage: Leitz ICT
Camera: Canon Powershot G9
Flash: Vivitar 283
Sample from garden pond
Feb 2008
Chydoridae: Alona affinis
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Zarf G9 Photo Adapter
Objective: Zeiss Plan 1.6/0.03 - 5/0.1
(Approx. scale only)
Sample from basingstoke Canal (Brookwood)
28 June 2008
Camera: Canon Powershot G9
Built-in flash
Alona affinis is characterised by the form of the foot and the number of denticles
Bosminidae: Bosmina longirostris
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Ocular: Olympus P15
Objective: Zeiss x25 plan achromat
Brightfield
Specimen from WLNR main pond, 28 May 2007
27 images/Helicon Focus
Polyphemidae: Polyphemus pediculus
Microscope: Zeiss Standard
Objective: Zeiss 1.6/0.03 -5/0.1
Ocular: Zarf G9 photo-adapter
Brightfield
Sample from Warnham LNR June 2009
Notable for the lack of carapace that characterises other Cladocerans