Microscopic observation of epilithic algae

1. Collect pebbles or cobbles from stream bed, and bring them back to a lab in some stream water.

2. Remove biofilm on the surface of a pebble or cobble using a toothbrush, and re-suspend in stream water.

3. Collect one drop of the re-suspended biofilm and place on a slide glass and cover. Observe under a microscope with the magnification of 4 to 400X.

4. Identify dominant algal taxa to genus level for each sample and note the top three taxa.

5. Also draw the algae found in your sample.

6. Store in 70% ethanol as evidences.