2006Botanical Garden in Aobayama X

Soils from the L, H, and A layers were sampled from the Tohoku University Botanical Garden in Sendai. This is a video of an organism taken from the A layer, the first layer below the soil surface (which is composed of L, F, and H layers). The A layer is mainly composed of mineral particles and humus. At first organisms could not be found in the newly collected soil, so the samples (including water) were left for one month and then observed.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
This ciliate resembles the one collected from the H layer that is shown in video "Botanical Garden in Aobayama V"(

https://www.youtube.com/v/8K0dk0sejb4

) , but the body here is longer and thinner. The shape of its mouth and the surrounding area are similar to the No. 10 organism, suggesting that it might be Cytrolophosis.

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

However, the cell of Cytrolophosis is shaped almost like a cigarette, and a gel-like sheath, within which the cell moves back and forth, usually covers it. In contrast, the cell of the ciliate in this video is flatter and lacks a sheath, and it frequently bends and twists its body.

These features may indicate a Cytrolophosis in a state of starvation, or another type of ciliate other than Cytrolophosis, such as Protocruzia or possibly others.

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

Sampling Date : 06 December 2006

Sampling Site : Tohoku University Botanical Garden in Aobayama  Google Map