Discussion and Results

The laboratory aim was to identify each test organism given in the samples, differ
them from each other by comparing to the pictures from the laboratory manual. After
that, for each person of the lab was given a sample that in my case was number 12 and
the task was to count the cells at the microscope to find out how many cells are in 1
mL of sample by pouring 1mL of the sample at a special plate which contains small
and big squares. The squares used were the big ones. These squares are references to
count the cells and to do calculations to find the number of cells.
Instruments used:
- Pipe
- Microscope (OLYMPUS OPTICAL CX21), Ocular 10X, Objective
40X, Magnification 400x
- glasses
- plates
The analyzed test organisms could be differed by shape and behavior. The hardest to
see was the protozoa Tetrahymena pyriformis due to the fact that it was moving around
the plate. All the algae could be easily differed from each other due to the specific
cellular shape of each one, Scenedesmus subspicatus and Chlorella vulgaris the
spherical ones and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata in a shape that looks like a
comma. Other difference that could be seen was the formation of colonies (like the
Scenedesmus subspicatus).
Identified Microbes:
-

Tetrahymena pyriformis
Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Sample No:
-

12

N of test organisms counted in the squares (only Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

because Tetrahymena pyriforms were moving a lot):
Square Quantity
1

12

10

11

10

5
Average: 8,4
Calculations:
-

Factor for small squares= 1000/ (1/400*0,1) = 4*106

Average of cells= 8,4= M
Algae cells/ml= 8,4*4*106

Result:
-

3,36*107 cells/mL

The experiment was successfully done. Although there was some difficult in
regulating the microscope to focus at the test organisms and the squares to count them.