Available online
Description
This programme is an introduction to the decomposition of beech leaf litter. The following techniques are seen: field sampling with soil corer and soil plate for culturing micro-organisms; field sa...mpling of a soil block, followed by impregnation and examination of soil animal in situ in a soil section. A variety of soil organisms are seen in close up and under microscopes.
This programme is an introduction to the decomposition of beech leaf litter. The following techniques are seen: field sampling with soil corer and soil plate for culturing micro-organisms; field sa...mpling of a soil block, followed by impregnation and examination of soil animal in situ in a soil section. A variety of soil organisms are seen in close up and under microscopes.
| Module code and title: | S323, Ecology |
|---|---|
| Item code: | S323; 03 |
| First transmission date: | 12-03-1974 |
| Published: | 1974 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:21 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Edward Milner |
| Contributors: | John Anderson; Mary Bell; C. H. Dickinson |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Beech leaf-litter; Collembola; Electron microscopes; Field sampling; Fungal mycelium; Model; Soil arthropods; Soil fungi; Soil organisms; Soil profile |
| Footage description: | Shots of beech woodland at Castle Eden Dene, County Durham. Commentary discusses, very briefly the eco-system of decomposing leaves on the woodland floor. Shots of Colin Dickinson and John Anderson looking for soil samples. Shots of Dickinson taking soil samples with a corer. He bisects one of his cored samples and explains its composition. Shots of Dickinson in the laboratory. He demonstrates the soil plate technique for culturing micro-organisms. Dickinson shows incubated soil samples and points out the various micro-organic cultures found there. Shots of micrographs and film (under magnification) showing several species of fungi found in the sample. Shots of Dickinson in woodland. He removes the top layer of leaves and points out the fungal growth beneath. Shots of beech leaf samples from several layers of woodland floor in various stages of decomposition being prepared for electron microscopic examination. Shots of beech leaf samples under the stereo electron microscope. Commentary points out the micro-organisms found there. Shots of John Anderson in Bagley Wood, Oxfordshire. He demonstrates a technique for removing chunks of soil in situ. Anderson adds dry CO2 to freeze his sample. Anderson with his frozen sample in the laboratory. He demonstrates a technique which prepares the sample for examination. Shots of a sample section. Commentary by Anderson points out its constituent parts. Shots of the following animals found in the sample: Mites; Millipede; Woodlice. Shots of a woodlouse being dissected to determine gut content. Micrograph of gut contents shows large, broken up pieces of beech leaf. Shots of springtails (Collembolla) Commentary describes the animal. Shots of springtail being dissected to determine gut content. Micrograph of springtail gut content shows main fungi. Shots of soil mites. Shot of micrograph of soil mite gut contents (Gut content analysis can determine the position of the animal in the soil). Shots of Collembolla found in the soil humus layer. Its adaptation to this environment is discussed. Shots of Enchytraeid worms from the humus layer. Commentary discusses their role in litter decomposition. Mary Bell, Colin Dickinson, John Anderson with a model of the woodland decomposition layer. It shows the upper litter layer, and the humus layer. They discuss the way in which fungi and small animals described above form an ecosystem which effectively decomposes leaf litter. They use the model to aid their discussion. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/71212 |
| Production number: | 00525_1125 |
| Videofinder number: | 1026 |
| Available to public: | no |
