Life in a drop of water

Biologist George Schwartz explains how the microprojector microscope, which he developed, displays the microcosm in a drop of water on a television monitor. He shows slides of the shells of diatoms, the basic food source in fresh and salt water; amoeba, which move by protoplasmic flow; blepharisma, a one-celled organism; rotifers, multi-celled organisms; and euglena, used in anemia research because of their sensitivity to vitamin B-12. Mr. Schwartz discusses producers (such as diatoms), consumers (animals), and reducers (bacteria, fungi, mold) and shows a diagram of a food pyramid of the producers and consumers in Antarctic waters. A film of a microdissection apparatus introduces new ways to research microscopic life.