Freshwater Fluorescent Worlds

A gallery featuring pictures of microscopic invertebrates and plans stained with various dyes. We did the dying for a small scientific project related to staining method development.

An unidentified plant seed under UV light. The object is stained with various fluorescent dyes each targetting a different structure. Single nuclei are visible in the seedling

The image got a honorable mention in Olympus Bioscapes 2011 photomicrography contest.
black background plant seed colorful fluorescence red orange yellow blue seedling micro microscope surface
A small water flea under UV light. The object is stained with various fluorescent dyes and in addition it was immobilized in a fluorescent substance, hence the glow around the object.
water flea crustacean fluorescence glowing transparent black background abstract blue micro microscope
A small water flea (possibly Pleuroxus truncatus) under UV light. The object is stained with various fluorescent dyes and in addition it was immobilized in a fluorescent substance, hence the glow around the object.
water flea crustacean green black background fluorescence micro microscope pleuroxus truncatus
A hydra (Hydra viridis) stained with fluorescent dyes under UV light. Notice that orange color indicates increase of acidity on the surface.
cnidarian fluorescence hydra tentacles green blue orange micro microscope hydra viridis
A freshwater copepod with fluorescent dyes under UV light.
crustacean cyclops fluorescence black background green blue micro microscope
A freshwater oligochaeta stained with fluorescent dyes under UV light. The surface has a green glow and individual cells are visible upon closer inspection.
fluorescence oligochaeta green blue black background
A freshwater worm (oligochaeta) setae under UV light. Worms use setae in many ways, including for locomotion. The fluoresence here is observable due to stains with which the worm was treated.
blue abstract micro microscope black background oligochaeta fluorescence
A baby of Polyphemus pediculus (water flea) under UV light.
water flea baby fluorescence green micro microscope
Babies of Polyphemus pediculus (water flea) under UV light, though the animals look undeveloped, a lot of them swim around in water where adults live. The image is a composition of 3 pictures.
water flea baby fluorescence green micro microscope
An ostracod under UV light. The object is stained with various fluorescent dyes.
crustacean ostracode fluorescence green blue red colorful micro microscope