## These posts are not for foraging. They are intended for entertainment and intellectual satisfaction only. These posts are not a field guide nor comprehensive in any way - their accuracy is not assured in any way. Do not eat wild mushrooms unless you are a professional, have substantial professional assistance or have a wealth of personal experience with a specific species. Do not make any foraging decisions based on these posts. To do so could be dangerous or life threatening.

 

## This post makes no reference to toxicity and edibility.


********

![20171231_111916.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTRpcgkFfMQFR2FXrYEzMS7aUowe8DV6d8NZEYPLs9PPK/20171231_111916.jpg)

## An entire ecosystem thriving on a single, tiny piece of tree bark.

Generally, when we think about an ecosystem, we tend to picture the sorts of large scale organic systems we most frequently encounter - the forest and the ocean come to mind. This is not wrongheaded of us. The ocean is, of course, a conglomeration of ecosystems - as is the small lake you might enjoy swimming inside of, or the even smaller Koi pond you maintain. These systems make sense to us because we hear, see, and interact with them frequently and intuitively.

However, the  concept of an "ecosystem" applies to groups of things we tend not to be automatically aware of. Broadly speaking, an ecosystem is just a group of organisms living in a community, interacting with each other and their shared environment. **As a result, the notion of an ecosystem is scalable.**

Yes, the lake you summer on is an ecosystem - *but so is a glass of water.* Sure, the Mojave desert is an ecosystem, *but, at a small enough level, so is the inside of your toaster.*

And we can scale this down, further and further, until you arrive at the smallest, single celled organisms writhing around together in a droplet of water.

#### Ecosystems are everywhere, and if you look closely enough, you can discover astounding communities of life just about anywhere on our planet.

***********
![20171231_112315.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRWdmW4QB56HEtZYmTWub52XWB3wEszbEvEZe8BbzFarw/20171231_112315.jpg)

## In the midst of a particular harsh and inhospitable winter, my attention has recently taken a turn for the minuscule.

Obviously the primary focus of this blog has been fungi, which themselves play important roles in countless ecosystems, ranging in size from a single rotten fruit to [the ground beneath an entire forest](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus/). 

But in the [last few weeks](https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-best-guess-is-a-hemitrichia-or-trichia-species-based-on-rudimentary-microscopy) I've started to [learn more](https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-probably-metatrichia-vesparium-behold-some-serious-slime-mold-wierdness) about [slime molds](https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-myxomycetes-slime-molds-and-my-ongoing-moist-chamber-experiment-or-how-to-grow-your-own-slime-mold-in-a). 

Slime molds live in ecosystems like the ones pictured above. We don't often get to see those ecosystems up close - most of us would never even think to look. But even a cursory glance reveals an infinitesimal world that is nonetheless incredibly complex.  

#### It's important, when considering highly magnified images like these to keep the scale in mind. The flourishing image at the top of this post came from the right sample in the left-most petri dish. The imaged area is not more than 1 inch squared and contains at least two or three visible organisms and countless microscopic ones.

*******
![20171231_111741.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPqe29nZmFyjkVXaBeVwaHwyK5YYRReoLQLrwedGEsR3N/20171231_111741.jpg)

## Meet the four new additions to my moist chamber experimentation.

Each of these samples was taken from a NYC park off of downed logs. **Generally, if I were carrying out these grows with a more specific purpose in mind, I would be careful to label each with the species of the tree from which the sample was taken.** However, these four chambers, like the first one, are only proofs of concepts. Their purpose is threefold with a fourth stretch goal:

1.  Successfully grow and harvest slime mold plasmodium inside my little home lab
1. Developing the attention to detail and eye for even **noticing things this small in the first place. This may seem rudimentary, but as we'll discover next week, *this is not at all obvious or easy*!**
1. In the next couple of weeks, familiarize myself with the use of a dissecting microscope. (**"But Dber," the most astute among you might say, "you don't have a dissecting microscope." To which I reply, simply, ::winky face::**)
1. Stretch Goal - successfully identify a slime mold species. 

#### In case it was not already clear, it pleases me to strongly hint to you that I am about to receive a MAJOR upgrade to my home lab - a fairly high quality - for the work I'm doing - dissecting microscope. I will be doing an un-boxing of this gorgeous new toy when it arrives, and we will learn together how it works in the coming weeks - hopefully while also uncovering some incredible images from these four moist chambers.

***********
![20171231_112858.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWP3jWHZ8vR3hz28KFiRpxRnrgJq3B11FqWE5qAiDWH5R/20171231_112858.jpg)

## But wait, there's more! 

There wouldn't be much point to a pretty new dissecting microscope without having the ability to take some higher quality photos, and that's where the new MU300 comes in. **This camera is a giant optical leap forward, and should be able to provide substantially better picture quality than my previous MD35**.

#### Where the MD35 maxed out at under 1 megapixel, the MU300 can take 3MP stills and video, which means the future holds microscopic and deep macroscopic HD imagery. 

*********
![20171231_115124.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmacyeujU3yURcJjnJ6HLFizGzWXiG44DHSUDiTnmx9t53/20171231_115124.jpg)

## Just like the MD35, the MU300 needs to be calibrated in order to take accurate microscopic measurements.

For those who aren't familiar, I did a pretty comprehensive post a while back abut [how to calibrate a camera for microscopic measurements](https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-microscope-cleaning-and-calibration-an-exciting-new-advance-in-my-mycological-exploration-ba885ee12c1af). The long and short of it is that you need to take a photo of a known distance at a known magnification and then take a calibrating measurement of that distance in whatever software your using. 

In the above photo, you can see I've specified 10x magnification and then taken the measurement of a circle which I know is 150 microns in diameter. I know this because I used a [calibration slide](https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-MR400-Calibration-Precision-Ground-Construction/dp/B005KVGAAS) which has a series of pre-measured microscopic lengths printed on its surface. This is the same slide I used to calibrate the MD35. 

Personally, I'm sticking with all AMScope instruments, which means I'm also stuck with all AMscope proprietary software. AMScope seems to hit a middle ground of cost and quality that, so far, has met my needs quite well. The dissecting microscope I ordered is also AMScope, and well reviewed all around, so I'm hopeful my good luck will continue. 

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbyNXv5Jym9Hv29Dery6SSr2xZgarPSnJa32ddVwYATVB/A%20bisporus%20basidia%20with%20measurements.png)


# Here's the giveaway

Since I upgraded to the MU300, I no longer need my MD35 anymore. However, it still works very well and should fit into the eyepiece of most microscopes. Plus, the MU300 came with its own, fairly simple, but still totally acceptable calibration slide that can also be used to calibrate the MD35, and AMscope provides its proprietary software [for free online](http://www.amscope.com/software-download)

# The Giveaway Is Just The Camera -Microscope Not Included, This Time.


 <p>
 <div class="pull-left">
 <img src="https://steemitimages.com/DQme9pLPT5xz4h5yQmEWbWHn4Udmg4W19xm32QyJjrakcsb/spores%20400x.jpg">
 </div>

## This is the same camera I've been using for the last few months to produce all my microscopic imagery. It isn't the highest resolution, but if you've enjoyed any of my microscopic photos, they all came from this thing.

 <p>
 <div class="pull-right">
 <img src="https://steemitimages.com/DQmWmbbejr6qT8Aacvxru22R8bPMVEFnaM35uemP5QpXNMe/really%20odd%20structures.jpg">
 </div>

## It's a pretty niche item, no doubt - so there might not be any interest. 

I'd love to send this to someone and see their photos. If you think you'd get some use out of the camera, leave a comment under the post with a description of what kind of microscopic work you'll be doing. If there's only one legit sounding request, then that person gets it. If there are more than one, then I guess I'll figure out some fair but arbitrary way of deciding. I anticipate we may not have any takers. 

# But that's OK too. Because if no one wants just the camera this time, at some point in the next few months I hope to upgrade my compound microscope to one with an oil immersion lens - and when that happens, there will be another, bigger giveaway!

************

## THIS POST IS NOT INTENDED FOR FORAGING PURPOSES AND TO USE IT FOR THOSE PURPOSES WOULD BE DANGEROUS. DO NOT HUNT WILD MUSHROOMS WITHOUT RELYING ON A COMBINATION OF PROFESSIONAL FIELD GUIDES, IN PERSON PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE, OR IN PERSON GUIDANCE BY SOMEONE TRUSTWORTHY WHO HAS COPIOUS LOCAL, SPECIALIZED MUSHROOM HUNTING EXPERIENCE. FAILURE TO DO SO CAN RESULT IN GRIEVOUS PERSONAL HARM OR DEATH.

 

***********

************

Photos Are My Own


Microscopic photos were taken using an AMScope M150B entry level microscope. If you use microscopes, I'm quite sure you've never heard of this model - but its cheap and available on Amazon. The camera lens is also AMScope, MD35 - by far their crappiest microscope camera. But, still capable of material, relevant, and in some cases, dispositive, data collection.  *Lastly it should be noted that the precise magnifications are not easily deduced using the camera - but based on relative spore sizes compared to known microscopic photos from Kuo and other sources, I estimate 40, 100 and 400x.*

 

 

Information Sources 

[1][Steven L Stephenson and Henry Stempen, "Myxomycetes A Handbook of Slime Molds", 2000, p.39-44]

[2][Khan Academy](https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/intro-to-ecosystems/a/what-is-an-ecosystem)

[3][Scientific American, By Anne Casselman on October 4, 2007, "Strange but True: The Largest Organism on Earth Is a Fungus"](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus/)
 

 

********

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# Support @steemstem and the #steemstem project - curating and supporting quality STEM related content on Steemit

 

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<table>
   <tr>
        <td>
<div>
    <ul class="columns" data-columns="2">
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-mushroomer-2-what-is-a-mushroom">What is a mushroom?</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-mushroomer-3-how-to-identify-a-mushroom">How To ID A Mushroom 101</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-mushroomer-4-phallus-ravenelii-or-ravenel-s-stinkhorn-2017619t11554505z">Phallus Ravenelii/Ravenel's Stinkhorn</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-mushroomer-5-lycoperdon-perlatum-the-common-puffball">Lycoperdon perlatum/The Common Puffball</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-6-lactarius-indigo-the-indigo-milk-cap-2017625t192755427z">Lactarius Indigo/The Indigo Milk Cap</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-7-amanita-bisporigera-the-destroying-angel">Amanita bisporigera/The Destroying Angel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-8-laetiporus-sulphureus-chicken-of-the-woods">Laetiporus sulphureus/Chicken of the Woods</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-9-boletus-edulis-the-porcini">Boletus edulis/The Porcini</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-10-coprinus-comatus-the-shaggy-mane">Coprinus comatus/The Shaggy Mane</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-11-calvatia-gigantea-the-giant-puffball-2017718t112911670z">Calvatia gigantea/The Giant Puffball</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-12-gyromitra-esculenta-the-false-morel-2017722t21021878z">Gyromitra esculenta/The False Morel</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-13-super-jumbo-edition-the-elusive-genus-morchella-the-morel-2017726t184758828z">The Genus Morchella/The Morel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-15-hericium-erinaceus-the-lion-s-mane-201783t10413229z">Hericium erinaceus/The Lion's Mane</a></li>
        <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-16-stobilomyces-strobilaceus-the-old-man-of-the-woods">Stobilomyces strobilaceus/The Old Man Of The Woods</a></li>
    <li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-17-auricularia-auricula-the-jelly-ear-2017817t14117394z">Auricularia auricula/The Jelly Ear Mushroom</a></li>
    <li><a href="https://steemit.com/science/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-18-cortinarius-iodes-the-spotted-cort">Cortinarius iodes/The Spotted Cort</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-19-phallus-rubicundus-mostly-oc-photos">Phallus rubicundus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amatuer-mycologist-random-find-oc-macro-photography-of-likely-mycenoid-species-perhaps-in-mycena-genus-maybe-even-mycena">Possible "Mycenoid" species/Tiny Mushroom Foray</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-20-lyophyllum-decastes-oc-photos-and-first-effort-at-microscopy-201799t81342549z">Lyophyllum decastes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amatuer-mycologist-random-finds-probable-young-ganoderma-applanatum-the-artist-s-conk-2017914t114454425z">Random Find Ganoderma applanatum</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-beautiful-l-sulphureus-chicken-of-the-wood-2017917t205340956z">Random Find L.sulphureus</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-21-the-nidulariaceae-or-bird-s-nest-fungi-2017919t132241953z">The Nidulariaceae Family/Bird's Nest Fungi</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-an-enlightened-colony-of-lycoperdon-pyriforme-puffballs-2017924t213753157z">Random Lycoperdon Pyriforme</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/suesascience/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-22-agaricus-bisporus-the-white-button-mushroom-the-cremini-mushrom-and-the-portobello-mushroom-suesa-2017925t113328524z">Agaricus bisporus, AKA The Button Mushroom </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amatuer-mycologist-random-find-flammulina-velutipes-the-velvet-foot-2017927t15640178z">Random Find, Probable Flammulina velutipes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-likely-agaricus-campestris-the-field-mushroom-2017104t8213931z">Random Find Likely Agaricus campestris</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-fomitopsidaceae-family-not-sure-of-species-2017107t10584284z">Random Find, Fomitopsidaceae family, possibly Hapalopilus nidulans</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-first-ever-earthstar-geastrum-genus-probably-g-saccatum-2017109t22351363z">Random Find, probably G.saccatum</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-23-laetiporus-cincinnatus-the-other-chicken-of-the-wood">Laetiporus cincinnatus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-tree-health-special-the-infected-giants-of-central-park">Tree Health Special</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amatuer-mycologist-24-grifola-frondosa-the-hen-of-the-woods-the-maitake-20171024t11323672z">Grifola frondosa, Hen of the woods.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-the-basics-of-mycological-reagents-and-making-an-aqueous-4-5-koh-solution-20171027t13710514z">Reagent Basics and Making KOH Solution</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-tulostoma-lloydii-a-puffball-on-a-stick-20171031t111756420z">Random Find - Tulostoma lloydii</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-26-pycnoporus-cinnabarinus-a-bright-orange-red-mushroom-with-practical-industrial-applications-2017113t121429598z"> Pycnoporus cinnabarinus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-probably-trametes-villosa-spoiler-another-big-microscope-advancement-coming">Random Find - Probably Cerrena unicolor </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-beautiful-coprinoid-species-likely-coprinellus-disseminatus-20171110t12172296z">Random Find - Probably Coprinellus disseminatus </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-26-coprinellus-micaceus-coprinellus-sect-micacei-the-mica-caps-20171114t11587787z">Coprinellus micaceus/Coprinellus Sect Micacei </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-why-fungi-matter-part-1-saprobic-mushrooms-eaters-of-the-dead-20171117t113843753z">The Importance of Saprobic Fungi </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-microscope-cleaning-and-calibration-an-exciting-new-advance-in-my-mycological-exploration-ba885ee12c1af"> Cleaning And Calibrating A Microscope </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amatuer-mycologist-27-pluteus-cervinus-the-deer-mushroom-dc488fcc47e68"> Pluteus cervinus, "The Deer Mushroom." </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-28-hypholoma-sublateritium-the-brick-caps-35d2484f199ac"> Hypholoma sublateritium - "Brick Caps" </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-lycogala-epidendrum-my-first-slime-mold"> Lycogala epidendrum - Wolf's Slime or Toothpaste Mold </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-28-hypholoma-sublateritium-the-brick-caps-35d2484f199ac"> Hypholoma sublateritium - "Brick Caps" </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-lycogala-epidendrum-my-first-slime-mold"> Lycogala epidendrum - Wolf's Slime or Toothpaste Mold </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-30-cordyceps-capitata-a-detailed-analysis-of-the-strangest-mushroom-i-ve-yet-found"> Cordyceps capitata </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-probable-crepidotus-genus-a-gorgeous-species-with-spores-that-defy-macro-microscopic"> Probable Crepidotus Mushroom </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-myxomycetes-slime-molds-and-my-ongoing-moist-chamber-experiment-or-how-to-grow-your-own-slime-mold-in-a"> Myxomycetes Overview</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-probably-metatrichia-vesparium-behold-some-serious-slime-mold-wierdness"> Metatrichia vesparium</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-random-find-best-guess-is-a-hemitrichia-or-trichia-species-based-on-rudimentary-microscopy">  Probable Hemitrichia or Trichia Species </a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/steemstem/@dber/the-amateur-mycologist-32-hypholoma-fasciculare-sulfur-tufts-plus-practical-safety-advice-for-mushroom-foragers">  Hypholoma fasciculare, "Sulfur Tufts" </a></li>
    </ul>
</div>
   </td>
   </tr>
</table>