Elizabeth Beston
@elizabethbeston.bsky.social
1.3K followers 1.2K following 1.4K posts
Marine plankton, home educator, biology undergrad, autistic, non binary. Norfolk UK. Runs The Plankton Project linktr.ee/elizabethbeston
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elizabethbeston.bsky.social
It’s #worldalgaeday and my most favourite of algae is the diatoms! Single-celled and microscopic, these algae are so important, storing carbon, making oxygen, cycling nutrients, providing food, and even helping innovations in science and medicine! #marineplankton 🦑
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
It’s definitely been a cooling kind of day. A lovely turkey ragù for lunch and I’ve just made some choccy mousse. And now to watch a movie! Lovely Sunday
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
She definitely looks like a Gertrude!
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
The NHS need to produce a leaflet called ‘The extraordinarily disgusting things that will come out of your nose after sinus surgery’
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
This Paracalanus sp. copepod has racing stripes!
#marineplankton 🦑
Reposted by Elizabeth Beston
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elizabethbeston.bsky.social
Tintinnina! These little ciliates have beautiful ‘cups’ called loricae.
#marineplankton 🦑
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
Good evening! A little night sampling for an outreach event tomorrow.
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
There were so many Ctenophore larvae in this week’s plankton sample! Ctenophores aka comb jellies are gelatinous animals that use ctenes (combs) to move about, and some have sticky tentacles to capture prey.
#marineplankton 🦑
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
Hello little tardigrade! Found in last week’s plankton sample. If anyone can help me with ID, let me know!
#marineplankton 🦑
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
#marineplankton sample day! Good morning!
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
Well…I didn’t actually know. I guessed it was something to do with digestion but that was it. So I looked it up! It appears that bivalves have a ‘rod’ that can rotate the contents of the stomach and release enzymes to aid digestion! Any experts, feel free to weigh in!
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
Very similar! Nature is amazing!
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
The insides of a bivalve larva! Bloomin’ gorgeous!
#marineplankton 🦑
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
This little müller’s larva (a Platyhelminthes) is stuck in a copepod moult! I wonder if it’s dizzy? Sound on!
#marineplankton 🦑
elizabethbeston.bsky.social
So I sliced and sautéed the mushrooms in butter and a bit of oil, with garlic and pepper. Juice of a lemon, a handful of spinach and a splash of cream. Served on toasted bread. ‘Twas delicious!