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.

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.