Final Observation

During my final observation I noticed an overall decrease in number for the majority of the organisms that I had observed in my aquarium, but an increase in the amount of organisms that I encountered of each species, other than rotifer euchlanis sp. I observed around 20 rotifer euchlanis sp. in the top layer, another 5 in the middle layer, and 1 in the bottom. While I have observed large numbers of them during all of my other observations, they have previously concentrated themselves along the bottom near the soil, instead of the top layer of the MicroAquarium. There were a handful of dead ones laying along the bottom of the tank, though. There appeared to be significantly fewer live ones than there have been in my previous observations.

(Smith Fig. 7.15)

I also counted twenty-eight more gastrotrichs, with the majority being in the top and middle layers. I observed only two live vorticella along the bottom of the tank, although there were also two dead ones laying on the substrate, as well. I did discover ten philodyna though, at all levels of the tank.

(Smith Fig. 7.15)

What surprised me the most was the amount of nematodes that I discovered during this observation. I had previously only found two or three, but this time I counted fourteen live ones. Half of them appeared to be smaller in size than the others, so are perhaps younger. One in particular was thrashing around in the soil, and looked to have gotten itself tangled in some plant matter. I was also surprised to find at least another seven that were dead along the bottom layer of the tank.

Van Egmond "Worms"

Observation 3

For the first time this week, I noticed quite a number of dead organisms in all layers of my MicroAquarium. I noticed at least seven stationary vorticella on top of the substrate at the bottom of the tank, and another one that was dead and stuck in the plant material in the top layer of the tank. There were also two dead nematodes on top of the dirt at the bottom, and a couple of dead rotifers, as well.
I haven't discovered any new types of organisms since the last observation, but the number of overall organisms in the aquarium has continued to increase. I counted three live nematodes, which are more than I had previously seen. Two were in the middle layer of the tank, and the third was attempting to burrow into the soil at the bottom. There were also more rotifers than the last time, as well. They tend to concentrate on top of the soil in the bottom layer, as they had been, but a number are now also clustering together in the top layer of the water. I noticed a large increase in the number of philodinas and gastrotrichs in the aquarium, at all layers. I also counted five tachysomas, which I had identified last week. They continue to move and suddenly jerk back and change directions.
In my last observation I had discovered an organism that I was unable to identify, and I spotted three this week as well. I was able to identify them as paramecium, and found them towards the bottom of the tank. The only other difference of note was the algae buildup that is becoming apparent on the sides of the tank.

Reference:
Ward, Henry B. Fresh-Water Biology. John Wiley & Sons: NY, 1918. Print.

Observation 2

On Friday October 21, 2011, Dr. McFarland added a food pellet into the tank. It was "Atison's Betta Food" 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%. 

(Raines and Russell 188)

I observed quite a number of microorganisms in my Micro-Aquarium this week. While I did observe a number of creatures during my last observation, the number increased dramatically over the past week. The most abundant creature continues to be the rotifer euchlanis sp. This week I observed four clustered in one section at the bottom of the tank, and another five moving around the substrate in circular motions. I also counted seven swimming in the middle layer of the tank, and at least another two in the top layer of the tank.

The nematode that I observed last week was still moving about towards the bottom of the aquarium, and I also discovered a second one, also in the bottom layer of the tank.  I was able to identify the circular microorganisms from the last observation as a variety of ciliates, that continue to circle around the various layers of the tank. Something new that I observed was an abundance of vorticella, which were clustered around some of the plants in the tank. I also found a single philodyna, which is a type of rotifer, also in the middle layer of the tank. I was also able to identify two tachysomas near the bottom layer of the tank (Patterson 125). I observed the both of them moving in straight paths and then suddenly jerking back and moving in the opposite direction. All of the organisms that I observed were moving, with the exception of stationary diatoms and cyanobacteria that I am continuing to find in all three layers of my Micro-Aquarium.

Smith Fig. 7.15

References:

Patterson, DJ. Free- Living Freshwater Protozoa. John Wiley & Sons: NY. 1992.

The First Observation

     This week I observed quite a number of microorganisms in my MicroAquarium. While there appeared to be a few organisms around the middle layer of the tank, the majority of the ones that I was able to observe were towards the bottom of the tank and in the sediment. Dr. McFarland helped me to identify a stationary diatom at the bottom of my tank. It has a silica cell wall, and is single celled. It was shaped like an oval and yellow-green in color. I also identified a roundworm nematode close to the area of the diatom (Van Egmond). It was whipping around in the sediment and attempting to burrow into it.
     Near the bottom of the tank I also found two moving Rotifer euchlanis sp (Smith 143). They were moving in somewhat circular motions, but both would also occasionally move further up in the tank. They appeared to have cilia on them and were somewhat round in shape. I also observed what appeared to be a gastrotrich (Micrographia). It was found circling around the sediment at the bottom of the tank, where it eventually burrowed into it.
     In other areas of the tank, especially towards the middle layer, I was able to find a variety of green algae that has begun to form. I also found a few single celled, clear, round organisms that were moving in circles around the bottom of the tank. I was not able to identify them, but hope to be able to during my next round of observations.


References:
Micrographia. "Gastrotrichs." Microphagia. 21 Oct. 2011. Web.
Smith, Douglas Grant. Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States: Porifera to Crustacea.  
     New York: Wiley, 2001. Print.
Van Egmond, Wim. "Worms." Microscopy-UK. 21 Oct. 2011. Web.

Starting the MicroAquarium

In lab on Tuesday, I set up my MicroAquarium. After Dr. McFarland explained to us the basics of the project, he went on to show us thirteen different water samples that he had collected, and told us about where each one had been found. I chose to use sample #10 from Lynnhurst Cemetary, the details of which are below.

10. Water pool below spring. Lynnhurst Cemetery off of Adair Drive. Knox Co. Knoxville TN. Partial shade exposure Spring Feed Pond N36 01.357 W83 55.731 958 ft 10/9/2011


After attaching the base to the rest of the MicroAquarium, I extracted a layer of mud and water from the bottom of the sample and added it to the aquarium. I then added a layer from the middle of the sample, and a final layer from the top. I used water from different layers in order to hopefully capture different types of microorganisms that may be living in the three layers. Afterwards I added samples of the two following plants:
Plant A . Amblestegium sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/9/2011
Plant B. Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN.


I finished the setup of my MicroAquarium by adding a cover in order to decrease evaporation rates which may have otherwise caused changes to my results.