Abstract
Theoretical calculations based on the depth of field of standard microscope objectives and the visual acuity of normal observors show that direct microscopy of natural samples is rarely able to reveal the presence of small microorganisms at the densities found in natural systems. Over-estimation of the importance of bacterial aggregates is also likely from an uncritical use of light microscopy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barer R (1956) Lecture notes on the use of the microscope, revised edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford
Chamot EM, Mason CW (1958) Handbook of chemical microscopy, Vol. I. John Wiley and Sons, New York
Piller H (1977) Microscope photometry. Springer-Verlag, Berlin
Zimmermann R (1977) Estimation of bacterial number and biomass by epifluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In: Rheinheimer G (ed) Microbial ecology of a brackish water environment. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, and New York, pp 103–120
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brock, T.D. How sensitive is the light microscope for observations on microorganisms in natural habitats?. Microb Ecol 10, 297–300 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02015555
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02015555