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.