Sunday, November 15, 2009
Week 4
Thursday November 12, was the final day to look at my microaquarium. The first organism I noticed was a cyclops. Two weeks ago I observed a juvenile cyclops; however, this cyclops was much larger. I'm not sure if this was a new cyclops or if this cyclops was the same as I had observed a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, he was playing hide and seek with me for quite a while. Obviously he was annoyed by the light of the microscope chasing after him. In the left hand corner, I saw the difflugia moving it's finger-like appendages in and out. It continued to move in this way for quite a while. Next, I saw a rotifer at work. This rotifer was attached to a piece of algae and appeared to be sucking. After approximately three minutes, the rotifer stopped sucking and rested beside the algae for a moment and then quickly jetted off. I have enjoyed observing my microaquarium over the past few weeks and learning about the different organisms living in it.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Week 3
On Tuesday November 3, I observed my MicroAquarium under the microscope. Compared to last weeks exceptional discoveries this weeks observations are somewhat unexciting. However, I was able to take what a learned from last week and recognize the organisms on my own. The right hand corner of my microaquarium was teeming with life and activity. I noticed two vorticella and six rotifers moving around. Also, on th right side a seedling has sprouted in the dirt. My unidentified beetle friend was very still today, which is uncommon. Eventually he began to move; however he was not as active as usual. Hopefully next week I'll be able to take more pictures and maybe even identify some new organisms.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Week 2
On Monday October 26, one Beta Food pellet was added to my microaquarium. "Atison's Betta Food" is made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas, 3528 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. Ingredients: Fish meal, wheat flower, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins and preservatives. Analysis: Crude Protein 36%; Crude fat 4.5%; Crude Fiber 3.5%; Moisture 8% and Ash 15%. On Tuesday October 27, I looked at my Microaquarium under the microscope and took pictures. Today was quite a busy day in the microaquarium and I was able to identify several organisms.
The first organism I found was the vorticella. These were not very active.
(Patterson 1992, Fig. 233)
The next organism I saw was a rotifer. These were very active and quick moving.
(Patterson 1992, Fig. 15)
The third organism I saw was a nematode. This nematode was in the bottom of the microaquarium buried in the dirt.
(Patterson 1992, Fig. 18)
Next, I found an actinosphaerium.
(Patterson 1992, Fig. 394)
Then, I saw a juvenile stage cyclops. These were quite prevalent in my microaquarium.
(Ward and Whipple 1918, Fig. 1172)
Another organism in my microaquarium is difflugia. Notice the finger-like apendages.
(Rains and Russell 1996)
The pictures below show some sort of cyanobacteria that I have yet to identify.
Another organism in my microaquarium is the euglenoid.
(Rains and Russell 1996)
Finally, I got a closer look at the insect that is in my microaquarium. It was very active, just as before. While I have not identified this insect yet, I know it is an insect because it has six legs. I would suspect it to be some sort of beetle.
The first organism I found was the vorticella. These were not very active.
(Patterson 1992, Fig. 233)
The next organism I saw was a rotifer. These were very active and quick moving.
(Patterson 1992, Fig. 15)
The third organism I saw was a nematode. This nematode was in the bottom of the microaquarium buried in the dirt.
(Patterson 1992, Fig. 18)
Next, I found an actinosphaerium.
(Patterson 1992, Fig. 394)
Then, I saw a juvenile stage cyclops. These were quite prevalent in my microaquarium.
(Ward and Whipple 1918, Fig. 1172)
Another organism in my microaquarium is difflugia. Notice the finger-like apendages.
(Rains and Russell 1996)
The pictures below show some sort of cyanobacteria that I have yet to identify.
Another organism in my microaquarium is the euglenoid.
(Rains and Russell 1996)
Finally, I got a closer look at the insect that is in my microaquarium. It was very active, just as before. While I have not identified this insect yet, I know it is an insect because it has six legs. I would suspect it to be some sort of beetle.
Bibliography
Patterson, D.J. 1992. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa: A Color Guide. London (UK): Manson Publishing, Ltd. p. 27-169.
Rains, Kenneth, Russell, Bruce. 1996. Guide to Microlife. Danbury (CT): Franklin Watts. p. 160.
Ward, Henry, Whipple, George. 1918. Fresh-Water Biology. Boston (MA): Stanhope Press. p. 140-744.
Rains, Kenneth, Russell, Bruce. 1996. Guide to Microlife. Danbury (CT): Franklin Watts. p. 160.
Ward, Henry, Whipple, George. 1918. Fresh-Water Biology. Boston (MA): Stanhope Press. p. 140-744.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Week 1
After properly labeling my MicroAquarium, I added water from water source 10, which was extracted from a water pool below a spring at Lynnhurst Cemetery in Knoxville, TN. First, I gathered water from the bottom of the container, then the middle, and finally the top. Then, I collected samples from both Plant A and Plant B and added them to the MicroAquarium. While looking at my MicroAquarium under the microscope, I noticed lots of movement and lots of different organisms. Some spun in circular motions and some had oval shaped bodies with tails (most likely nematodes). The most exciting thing I observed was a large (visible the naked eye) creature that was very active. I was able to focus the microscope and observe its multifaceted eyes. I have not been able to identify any of these organisms yet; however, I look forward learning more about them as the weeks progress.
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