Week 5 Observations

This week, the MicroAquarium had a lot going on in it. The number of seed shrimp increased, as well as the amount of worms and difflugia. There was a great deal more of spirogyra, and the amount of ostracod casings increased. The aeolosoma grew in size over the past week, and more of them seemed to be outside of the pond scum than last week. The cyclopes present also got bigger, but there did not seem to necessarily be more of them.

Week 4 Observations

This week, there were more organisms and objects in the MicroAquarium. Several more ostracod shell casings were present, and therefore, more seed shrimp were seen swimming through the water and on the plants. In comparison to last week when only one difflugia was noted, there were a multitude seen this week. Also, there was at least one aeolosoma that ventured from outside of the pond scum and was in the plants. However, the majority of them remained in the pond scum. There were many tiny worms this week swimming amongst the plants. There was an increase in the number of spirogyra present also. The biggest increase, though, came in the number of cyclops in the MicroAquarium. It was difficult to count them, however, due to their fast movement.

Week 3 Observations

This week, there seemed to be less living organisms. There were several casings from seed shrimp. However, there were some living seed shrimp and one of them was videoed (Thorp and Covich 1991). Also noted were a cyclops, spyrogyra, difflugia, difflugia, and aeolosoma (Ward and Whipple 1918).

Thorp JH, Covich AP. 1991. Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates. San Diego (CA): Academic Press, Inc. p. 695. fig. 19.9

Ward HB, Whippl GC. 1918. Fresh-Water Biology. Boston (MA): Stanhope Press. fig. 981

Week 2 Observations

There were many more organisms present during this week's observation. More single celled organisms were seen swimming in circular patterns through the water. There were also larger organisms, though currently unidentified, that remained close to the plants. They seemed to move along the plants using small legs. When they needed to move to a different plant, they tumbled through the water. More nematodes were visible this week, also. while some of them remained close to the plants, most of them swam throughout the pond scum. They also grew in size. There were a few "spinner" organisms and a great deal of diatoms. A number of feeders were present inside of a seed strip carcass. Some of these organisms were Halteria and Colpidium. The Halteria are cilia lined on their outsides (Patterson 1996). They propel themselves in a jerking motion. The Colpidium have contractile vacuoles and use their cilia to bring food into the food vacuoles (Patterson 1996). After observing the MicroAquarium, one beta food pellet was added. "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%. Information on Halteria and Colpidium came from: Patterson DJ. 1996. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa: A Colour Guide. Mason Publishing Ltd. p. 139 & 151.

Week 1 Observations

The water used in setting up the MicroAquarium came from Fountain City Duck Pond, west of Broadway at Center Lane full sun exposure, spring feed pond, N36 02.087 W83 55.967 963 ft 10/12/2009, in Knoxville, TN. Some pond scum was added to the water, as well as plants A ( Amblystegium varium (Hedw.) Lindb. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/11/2009Plant B. Utricularia vulgaris L. Flowering) and B ( 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) that were provided on the lab table. There were many small organisms present in the water. Most of them were likely single-celled organisms. Some of the organisms moved linearly, while others seemed to tumble through the water. These organisms moved fast through the water, regardless of which type of movement they utilized. There was also a wriggling organism that might have been a nematode. Also, there were some organisms that did not venture too much into the water; they stayed in the scum at the bottom of the MicroAquarium and seemed to dig through it.