Beginners microscopy?

[stickman]

Can anyone recommend a decent book on microscopy (for a complete beginner)? Obviously with a view to studying fungi a little more closely!

I have some fairly basic equipment (bought to study various parasites of Gallus domesticus (my gals)) but I suspect it could be of much more use...

I would like to learn more about basic techniques (staining etc) and would ultimately like to take digital shots so I can bug you all with, well, you know really tiny stuff

cheers in advance for any advice!

Nick.

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by stickman

Can anyone recommend a decent book on microscopy (for a complete beginner)? Obviously with a view to studying fungi a little more closely!

I have some fairly basic equipment (bought to study various parasites of Gallus domesticus (my gals)) but I suspect it could be of much more use...

I would like to learn more about basic techniques (staining etc) and would ultimately like to take digital shots so I can bug you all with, well, you know really tiny stuff

cheers in advance for any advice!

Nick.

Nick
The BMS do a booklet on microscopic identification but How to Identify Mushrooms to Genus III: Microscopic Features. (Mad River Press Inc., Eureka is an excelent book.
Mal

[stickman]

Couldn't find the booklet so have taken your advice and ordered the book Mal.

My only fear is my old microscope might need a bit of upgrading!!

Well, it's a start. I welcome any other ideas.....

Nick.

[SheffieldLass]

Thanks for the book details Mal, I think I'll get that too.

Nick
I have used a book by Watling in the past. I think it was Watling, R., 1986 Identification of the Larger Fungi. You may be able to find it in the library or secondhand. I don't know how it compares with the book Mal recommended.

There is nothing better than having an expert to show you what is what though ... that helped me years ago, did a couple of evening class courses where we used microscopes. So make friends with a keen expert mycologist! I have and she is very useful, in fact she was a student on those courses years ago!

Almost as good, and available 24/7 is the bioimages website, shortcut to a useful page. AGARICALES (mushrooms and toadstools)
Link to home page:
BioImages - Virtual Fieldguide (UK)

There are quite a few pictures on there of the microscopic details of some species, so you can get to see what you should be looking for, see if yours looks something like!

Also a very quick guide:
methods for the study of Entoloma

Guide on chemicals:
Guide to Chemicals for Fungal Microscopy

You'll also then discover you will need some more books, like FAN or Fungi of Switzerland which give the microscopic details.

And also trying to track down Melzer's solution at an affordable price is nigh impossible unless you have the right contacts ... I'm still looking....

Melanie

[Meta menardi]

This site is very useful, the Micscape magazine has covered loads of different techniques.

Microscopy-UK full menu of microscopy and microscopes on the web

[CapAndBracket]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

And also trying to track down Melzer's solution at an affordable price is nigh impossible unless you have the right contacts ... I'm still looking....

Melanie

You need to befriend your nearest ABFG member for that.

Cheers J.P.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

And also trying to track down Melzer's solution at an affordable price is nigh impossible unless you have the right contacts ... I'm still looking....

Melanie

hi Melanie

your contacts at Sheffield Uni may be able to help . . . one problem is that Melzer's Iodine (as you may well know) contains chloral hydrate - this is a listed poison (some of the pre-Raphaelites were addicted to it - particularly Rossetti); however, it is used as a clearing agent in the compound and is not essential in obtaining the appropriate reactions

accordingly, an easier substitute is Lugol's Iodine (which doesn't have the chloral) you can buy that from Brunel Micro; see Solvents - it still does the job; but note in the US effective August 1, 2007, the DEA now regulates Lugol's solution (and, in fact, all iodine solutions containing greater than 2.2% iodine) as a List I precursor because it may potentially be used in the illicit production of methamphetamine.

so, the legal and health and safety brigade may soon make accessing basic chemicals more and more difficult for the amateur - for example it is now virtually impossible to buy pure ammonia (because it is, again, an important chemical used in the production of crystal meth)

we live in a complex world

regards

Chris

[tufftie]

There used to be a microscopical club I belonged to called Queckett (based at the Natural History Museum) - they were always very helpful with beginners might be worth seeing if they have a website?

[SheffieldLass]

Chris
Thanks for the info on the Lugol's iodine, that is very useful to know ... I'll get some ...

Sheff University don't have Melzer's any more because of the chloral hydrate issue. They used to mix some for the fungus course.

You're right we do seem to live in a much more complex world these days. Seems anything that has a chance of being used to make something more menacing gets banned ... like taking drinking water on planes. They even took away my empty plastic bottle ...

Melanie

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Chris
like taking drinking water on planes. They even took away my empty plastic bottle ...

Melanie

yes and then they try to sell you drinks on board in glass bottles!

my favourite gripe was watching everyone having their plastic nail files taken away in the UK and then changing planes in Zurich and going past an (airside) Swiss Army Knife shop that had some variants you could probably have taken a moderately sized tree down with!!!!