I use books, pictures, experienced specialists and the internet to determine and confirm what the species are that I'm looking at.
Working with a sample is intense and it takes long. The more I became familiar with the species, the quicker I was able to go through an entire sample. The number of individuals in one sample of a few grams of peatland soil can reach a few thousand! I always plan my days accordingly. Once I’m done processing my soil sample, I return the ethanol and the oribatid mites that never went onto a slide back into the vial and my job is done, until the next sample! Fun fact: I have processed more than 150,000 oribatid mites during my college (Ph.D) program!
These soil fauna extractors are professional equipment, but I'll guide you through the building of a home-made extractor using simple materials when we connect over video. You’ll need to be supervised by an adult, but it is easy! Stay tuned for more.
