How to Create a Moist Chamber Culture to View the Biodiversity Growing on Live Tree Bark

This instructional preparation video was created by the Fungi, Myxomycetes, and Trees Research Team. It is intended for use by beginners of all ages and backgrounds. Many microscopic organisms spend their life cycles on live tree bark surfaces. Moist chamber cultures provide ideal conditions to observe the growth and development of these life forms on bark samples. With this activity, you will enjoy the discovery of myxobacteria, algae, mosses, liverworts, lichens, fungi, myxomycetes, nematodes, insects, mites, and tardigrades, among others. The microenvironment of live tree bark is filled with understudied and diverse life forms. Join us under the microscope and share your findings with us: Follow this link for a downloadable PDF version of these instructions: