Abstract:

In this study we looked at samples of soil from different habitats to isolate amoebae.  A small sample of soil was placed on an agar gel surface in the center of a petri dish.  A ring of food bacteria, Enterobacter aerogenes, was swabbed around the soil samples.  Under low power, amoeba were seen coming from the soil as well as nematodes, fungi, and other protozoans.

We recommend this lab.  It is an excellent means of illustrating biodiversity in a micro environment. It is appropriate for this lab to be done as a parallel investigation of the biodiversity found in the macro environment of leaf litter.