Month: June 2018

    Richard Long – Maintaining and Servicing Microscopes for 40 Years

    Richard Long has been servicing microscopes and delicate scientific instruments for more than 40 years. If you need your microscope cleaned or serviced he is your contact in British Columbia. After many years use or storage most instruments need a professional cleaning and lubrication. Perhaps your microscope needs a repair? Richard may be able to help – or he can give advice if it is not worth repairing.

    I met Richard Long early in my renaissance experience with microscopes about five years ago. He helped me obtain my first new instrument. I learned a lot from him as he helped me set it up and I have kept in touch with him ever since. He went into semi-retirement a couple of years ago and I presumed that others would take his place. I was wrong. There are very few qualified microscope technicians in western Canada and they are difficult to identify. I recently had my instrument serviced and was impressed with the service I received.

    Richard is a very good teacher – he knows all the ‘ins and outs’ of using a compound microscope or stereoscope. I am hoping that we can organize a course in the future so he can instruct us all in the techniques of properly operating a microscope. I would also like to get tips on using darkfield or phase contrast equipment as many new scope come equipped for these functions.

    Contact Labserv

    His company is called Labserv, it is located in the lower mainland of BC (he will give you the address when you contact him) and he now works out of his home. You can reach Richard Long by telephone (604) 218-3429 or by email at labserv@telus.net.

    Categories: People

    Red Tides Off Vancouver Island

    Red Tides

    A couple of days ago (June 2018) I was startled by the bright red colour of the seawater at Mill Bay BC. These blooms of dinoflagelates (a type of plankton) are population explosions that occur in spring and summer. Some dinoflagellates become so numerous that the water becomes a rusty-red. There is a red oil drop containing pigment in each organism that reflects to make the red colour. The small red spots in the organism, when added to a population bloom countless numbers of similar organisms give seawater the characteristic colour that makes up a red tide.

    A dinoflagellate is a single celled organism and most species live free in sea water. Most have two whip-like flagella – one to drive the organism forward and the other to make it rotate. This allows the organism to adjust its orientation and vertical position to make the best use of light for photosynthesis.

    Protoperidium sp.

    This organism feeds on bacteria, diatoms and other dinoflagellates. When organism is caught it exudes some of its cytoplasm to engulf the prey. They prey is then digested externally before being retracted back into the body.

    I took these images through my microscope with a digital camera. This dinoflagellate is a Protoperidinium sp. Dinoflagellates cannot produce their own food but are predators who catch and eat other small organisms. They in turn are prey for copepods and bottom dwelling suspension feeders such as hydroids.

    In Saanich Inlet a localized bloom became very evident when persistent wind appeared to concentrate water on the lee shore. The water looked very rusty red but at times the sun made it almost glow bright red.

    These blooms (Harmful Algal Blooms) can become dangerous because the physiology of other organisms can be affected. The organisms produce a potent neurotoxins as part of their metabolism. Filter feeder organisms (such as clams, mussels, oysters) can concentrate these toxins. If humans eat these organisms they can become very ill, or even die from paralytic shellfish poisoning.

    Beach goers can be affected even if they do not eat affected organisms. There have been cases where blowing wind picked up dried organisms with the toxins and persons who breathed them in or ingested them were affected with inflamed eyes and asthmatic-like symptoms.

    Categories: Other, Posts