Microlife

  • Microlife
  • Algae
  • Bacteria
  • Rotifers
  • Algae
  • Rotifers
  • Detritus © Ken Davis
    Photo by David Rosen, Wildside Photography
    Detritus © Ken Davis
  • Protozoa
  • Algae

Algae

common name: Algae
scientific name: There are thousands of species of freshwater algae.
Three vernal pool algae are: Volvox, Chara and Zygnema.
classification: Most algae are plants. Some are in a special group that is neither plant nor animal.
habitat: most aquatic habitats on Earth.

Bacteria

common name: Bacteria
scientific name: over 100,000 different species
classification: Kingdom: Bacteria
habitat: Every habitat on Earth contains bacteria, including vernal pools, lakes and streams.

Detritus

common name: Muck, Rotting Stuff
scientific name: Detritus (pronounced di-TRY-tis)
habitat: bottom of vernal pools and other water bodies
size: microscopic to big chunks

Protozoa

common name: Protozo
scientific name: There are thousands of species of protozoa. Some groups found in vernal pools are: Vorticella, Heliozoa, and Ameoba
phylum: Protozoa
habitat: most aquatic habitats on earth
size: microscopic, 2 to 70 microns (0.002 to 0.07 mm)

Rotifers

common name: Rotifers
scientific name: many different species
phylum: Rotifera
habitat: vernal pools and other aquatic habitats
size: microscopic, 100 to 500 microns (0.1 to 0.5 mm)
Sacramento Splash - Helping children understand and value their natural world picture
Meet Christopher Rogers, Invertebrate Zoologist

Christopher Rogers is an Invertebrate Zoologist, which is a scientist who studies animals without backbones. Specifically, he studies the invertebrates that live in vernal pools. He has travelled all over the world looking for new species in new places.

Find out more about Christopher's fascinating job...
Sacramento Splash - Helping children understand and value their natural world picture
What's in a name?

For Splash students, a "Tadpole Shrimp" is an endangered species that lives in vernal pools. For rice farmers, a "Tadpole Shrimp" is a common pest that destroys their rice fields. A rice farmer would think you were crazy wanting to save "Tadpole Shrimp" from extinction!

With scientific names, there's no room for confusion: the rice pest is Triops longicaudatus and the endangered species is Lepidurus packardi. Even a scientists who speak different languages can understand one another when they all use the Latin name!

Learn more about tadpole shrimp!