How to Grow Protozoans Using Grass & Hay
Protozoa are tiny one-celled organisms that live in water. Invisible to the naked eye, these microscopic creatures can exist in drinking water or in ponds and streams. Although most are harmless, they can contribute to disease. Growing your own protozoa to observe with a microscope is easy and provides kids with the opportunity to view their structure and movement for themselves.
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Things You'll Need
- Quart jar
- Fishing net (optional)
- Pond water
- Pond scum
- Mud
- Hay
- Leaves
- 2 to 3 grains rice
- Eyedropper
- Culture dish
- Magnifying glass
- Microscope/slides
Instructions
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Visit a pond or vernal pool (small ponds that only appear in the spring and dry up during the summer) to gather water, pond scum (green gooey material found around the edges of the pond or floating on the top), and mud from the bottom of the pond. You may need a fishing net to gather scum and mud.
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Fill a quart jar with 1 cup of water, scum and mud. Add several pieces of hay and leaves. Seal the jar and place in a warm area out of direct sunlight. Allow the jar to rest for three or four days.
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Place a few grains of long grain rice in the mixture. Allow it to set for an additional two to three days. The mixture may turn brown and develop a strong odor as the hay and leaves decompose. This creates the perfect environment for the protozoa to grow.
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Use an eyedropper to remove a sample of the water. Place it in a small container or culture dish. Observation with a hand held magnifying glass may reveal large protozoa. Place a drop of the solution on a glass slide with a cover to view them under a microscope to observe the many kinds of protozoa that have grown in your solution.
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References
- Photo Credit Nate Brelsford/sxc.hu
