ABSTRACT
Compared to the large numbers of bacterial species and related microorganisms which have been maintained in pure culture in the laboratory, few protozoan species have been placed in axenic culture. This chapter provides an overall approach for the collection, isolation, cloning, and cultivation of microorganisms, which greatly reduces the need to manipulate them individually and may be carried out with materials and equipment easily attainable from commercial sources. The bacterized isolates are placed in a suitable growth medium and maintained as axenic cultures. The chapter discusses the isolation, cloning, and cultivation of a group of marine philasterine ciliates. Small samples of seawater are taken from shallow pools, inlets, near submerged vegetation, decaying logs, tree roots, etc. by immersing 30-ml capacity screw-cap scintillation vials under the water at the desired location and allowing them to fill to about two thirds their capacity. Upon return to the laboratory, small dip samples may be examined immediately for the presence of protozoa.
