Activity 12.5 Let us make to prepare a hay infusion and observe microorganisms. Class 9

Activity 12.5 Let us make to prepare a hay infusion and observe microorganisms. Class 9

Activity 12.5 Let us make

Aim: To prepare a hay infusion and observe microorganisms (Protists) under a microscope.

Procedure:

1. From a lawn, collect a small sample of grass.
2. Take a small glass bottle and fill one fourth of it with the grass, straw or fodder.
3. Fill the bottle with stagnant water or pond water and mix it with the collected plant material.
4. Cover the bottle with a muslin cloth and tie it using a thread.
5. Keep the bottle aside undisturbed for a week.
6. Just open the mouth of the bottle by removing the muslin cloth, put the drop of water on a clean slide and observe it under a microscope.

Observations: Do you notice moving organisms in the drop of water under the microscope? Can you identify them by comparing them with Fig. (Microscopic illustration of common protists)?

Yes, you will likely observe small moving organisms in the drop of water. These are protists - single-celled eukaryotic organisms that live in water or moist places. By comparing with Fig. you may identify organisms such as Amoeba (that moves using pseudopodia and changes shape), Paramecium (oval-shaped, moves rapidly using cilia), and Euglena (moves using a flagellum and appears greenish due to chlorophyll). These organisms belong to the Kingdom Protista. Some are autotrophic (like Euglena) and others are heterotrophic (like Amoeba).

Conclusion: The observed organisms belong to Kingdom Protista.