Final Observation

Final Observation--

Last Thursday I observed my micro-aquarium for the last time. There was quite a bit of life and movement at the bottom near the dirt. I learned that the specks that are scattered everywhere are called diatoms, a major group of algae (Pennak 1989). Interspersed among the diatoms were many varieties of protozoa and rotifers.

This is a diatom called a melosira (Pennak 1989).

This is an acanthocystis (Pennak 1989).

An amoeba swimming around some diatoms.

Anisonema have two flagella on opposite sides. One is used to latch on to firm objects and the other propels it through the water (Pennak 1989)

Here is a broad view of the bottom of the micro-aquarium showing the large amount of cynobacteria that is growing. 

The Euchlanis Rotifer has a forked "foot" that is used to latch on to a firm object (Pennak 1989). 

I also found a few of these insect larvae. I was not able to identify the specific species they belong to. They preferred to stay hidden among the algae and dirt.

November 7th--Fourth Observation

Immediately as I looked into the microscope I saw a two large rotifers swimming around. This gave me false hope, sadly not all of the organisms have not done so well as the rotifers. I noticed that more organisms have died and sank to the bottom, however I haven't noticed a smaller population. Hopefully this indicates that my micro aquarium.
     
 It seems that worm-like larva like attaching to the bottom and I have noticed some on the hedwig plant sample. I also was able to identify hydra at the bottom as well.  Last time I observed organisms thriving in the condensed water in the air bubbles but they are no longer as numerous.

October 31, 2013--Third Observation--With Betta Fish Pellet

October 31, 2013--Third Observation

This week my micro aquarium received a new food source, a beta fish pellet. Before putting my micro aquarium under a microscope I saw a speck moving jaggedly and very quickly. I followed it under the microscope and discovered it was a rotifer. Many of the organisms that I noted last time have grown bigger. There is also a large amount of dead organisms, I specifically noted a tardigrade and a worm, at the bottom of the container.
 I noticed that the three places crammed with life was at the bottom where the dead had sunk to, near the betta fish pellet, and in the little air bubbles where water droplets condensed on the glass. The latter had many tiny bacteria and single celled organisms floating around everywhere like how picnic ants completely cover the fallen bits of food.

October 24th---Second Observation

October 24th, 2013

Before viewing the micro aquarium under a microscope, I noticed that it had lost water and there were air bubbles scattered randomly throughout it. I also noticed that the plant samples in the micro aquarium are losing chlorophyll.

While using the microscope, I was able to find most of the organisms in the dirt at the bottom rather than near the plant samples possibly because they find more food in the dirt. I found two organisms around the two plant samples. I spotted a rotifer that was free swimming floating around a leaf and I spotted a worm-like larva attached to the stem of the hedwig. At the bottom, I found two more worm-like larvas, a dead rotifer, an arthropod that resembled a flea, a water bear, and a gastrotrich eating a strand algae or maybe a disattached leaf.

Bibliography

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 10/24/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/

Pennak, Robert W. 1989. Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States. 3rd ed. New York. Ronald Press Company

             
October 15--Setting up


               On October 15th I set up a micro aquarium. I filled the glass container with water that came from Third Creek in Tyson Park, in Knox county, Knoxville Tennessee under partial shade exposure. Collected at N3057 13.53 W83 5632.37 824 feet. Collect on October 14th, 2013 (McFarland, 2013). I took dirt from this water source and placed it at the bottom of my micro aquarium.
   
                Next I placed two plant samples. One was Amblestegium Varium, commonly known as Hedwig, Lindberg. This moss collection is from Natural Spring at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Rd, Knox County TN (McFarland, 2013) found in partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. October 13th, 2013 (McFarland, 2013). The second plant sample I added to the micro aquarium was Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. This was originally from Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35 degrees W088o20 degrees 47.00) Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta TN in White County (McFarland, 2013). This sample was taken from the Utricularia gibba grown in water tanks outside of the greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN on October 13th, 2013 (McFarland, 2013).

This is a picture of what my micro aquarium after I had set it up. 

Once I had placed this under a light microscope using 10x I observed very few organisms. The first organism I identified was a hydra. Halfway across the aquarium from the hydra was a worm. Near this worm was a clearish brown tardigrade.