| Step 1 | Find a sample of moss Collect moss that has fallen from a roof, that is on low walls or between paving slabs. ! Do not take risks to collect moss from high or difficult to access places. |
| Step 2 | Soak the moss sample Place the moss in a shallow dish and cover it with mineral water. Note: Very dry moss samples will need soaking for at least 48 hours in mineral water. |
| Step 3 | Prepare a filter paper in a funnel Place a folded filter paper in a funnel stood in a beaker. |
| Step 4 | Squeeze the soaked moss Agitate the moss with some tweezers, then pick up the moss and squeeze it into the shallow dish to remove the water (and organisms within it). ! Consider wearing plastic gloves, especially if you have cuts on your hand |
| Step 5 | Filter the moss squeeze water Empty the moss squeeze water from the dish into the filter paper. |
| Step 6 | Before the all the water is gone, use a pipette to suck up the last millilitre of moss water and any ‘bits’. |
| Step 7 | Place one drop of moss water into the well of a concave glass microscope slide. |
| Step 8 | Place a glass cover slip over the droplet and observe at the lowest magnification. |
Sources
Basic Moss Squeeze is described in Hingley, M. (1993). Microscopic life in Sphagnum. Naturalists’ Handbook 20. Slough: Pelagic Publishing. p.56
I was introduced to this approach by Professor Jonathan Bacon, University of Sussex.
Moss Safari 