Dear Colleagues,
I'm teaching a course on Symbiosis this semester, and we are going to try
some small projects with symbiotic organisms that are easy to maintain and
rear. At least in theory. I've been trying to raise up a population of
the green Hydra (Chlorohydra viridissima) and have a question or two for
anyone who has worked with these beautiful animals.
1. How do you gently dislodge them when you need to inoculate a new dish?
Those little guys hang on tight. Any trick to making them let go?
2. I've read some of the papers by Muscatine on appropriate solutions in
which to grow them and what to feed them. He recommended brine shrimp, but
my brine shrimp appear to be as big, if not bigger than the Hydra. Can
they actually "swallow" something bigger than they are?
I'm also trying to grow a population of Paramecium bursaria. For anyone
with experience with this organism, what's an easy way to collect them for
viewing under the microscope or for transfer to a new container?
Any tips at all will be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Kathleen Archer
