Spore Micrograph Identification Q

[KeenTeen17]

When I manage to get into microscopy, should I go out and buy a book that has pictures of every spore of every species or should I upload the photos and let you guys have a try on some?

Tomorrow will be my first official microscopy. I will go to the woods get some ganoderma spores and do a bit of microscopy and even try photographing them

[flaxton]

Good luck KT

Mal

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

I will go to the woods get some ganoderma spores

I don't expect you'll get jostled by other members of the public all trying to do the same!
;^)

For fungus spore microscopy, what sort of performance do you need from a microscope?

Jim

[KeenTeen17]

the woods are always empty Jim. so I can photo in peace.

[CapAndBracket]

I don't know of a book with a photo of every species spores.
You will find quite a few spore images on the Polish atlas of
fungi website.
Really people go by the book descrition of size/shape/colour/ornamentation,
you will find it just as frustrating as the macro features but i'm sure the
experts will give advice where possible.

Cheers J.P.

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I don't expect you'll get jostled by other members of the public all trying to do the same!
;^)

For fungus spore microscopy, what sort of performance do you need from a microscope?

Jim

Jim
At 400x you can see the general shape of the spores and get an idea of its size but you need to be able to get 1000x magnification to be get an accurate measure. Plus Meltzers or similar if you want to start looking at the ornamentation of Russula and Lactarius spores.

Mal

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by flaxton

Jim
At 400x you can see the general shape of the spores and get an idea of its size but you need to be able to get 1000x magnification to be get an accurate measure. Plus Meltzers or similar if you want to start looking at the ornamentation of Russula and Lactarius spores.

Mal

I know what you mean Mal, but let's not scare KT too much . . . 1000x gets you into the area of oil immersion and isn't always necessary . . . one of the best purchases I ever made was a x60 objective and I manage to do most of my measuring with that

the danger can be that people assume that x1000 tells you a whole lot more than x400 and that isn't always the case . . . resolution/depth of field all become more difficult the higher magnification you go - birdwatchers soon learn that x20 binoculars are well nigh useless in the field . . .

KT's first problem might be not having an eyepiece graticule to measure with, and a stage graticule to calibrate that with . . . do you have such things KT? are you able to take photo's down the scope?

if in any doubt in the first instance what I would suggest is getting a spore print of a well-known species like sulphur tuft and use that as a 'control'; providing you post that and then the spores of any 'mystery' species (at the same magnification) we will try and help

I'm sure we can suggest some interesting things to look at as well - try the spores of an Entoloma for example . . . also getting into microscopy can mean that you don't have to stop, just because the toadstools have . . . there is so much else to look at

in any case, as others have said, go for it!

Chris

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

I know what you mean Mal, but let's not scare KT too much . . .
Chris

I don't think KT is the sort to be scared easily but I would agree with all you say Chris

Mal

[KeenTeen17]

no not scared off easily My eyepiece has got a little line inside for measurement and pointing if thats what you mean. I am able to photo through microscope by trial and error

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

no not scared off easily My eyepiece has got a little line inside for measurement and pointing if thats what you mean. I am able to photo through microscope by trial and error

yes, that's what I meant; what you need to do is be able to calibrate that measuring line with a stage micrometer so you know what the markings on the eyepiece one represent; it's possible that your local school or college science department could lend you one (you only need to calibrate it once for each different objective on the 'scope)

looking forward to developments!

incidentally Ganoderma is an interesting one to look at . . . the spores are very distinctive and have led some mycologists to place it in a separate order - the Ganodermatales (others consider it to be part of the Polyporales)

Chris