This week I was able to identify some of the microorganisms. Most of the larger creatures were rotifers. There were many one celled protists who lived everywhere in the aquarium, but were most common in the middle region and around food sources. There was also algae and bacteria. I was able to identify Epiphanes and Limnias Rotifers according to Kenneth G. Rainis and Bruce J. Russell's book Guide to Microlife. The Limnias were very interesting. They were attached to a plant stem and had two loops on the head. Cilia lined the loops and moved in a rotating fashion. When you tap the aquarium, the heads of the Limnias suck into their tube bodies and slowly come back out.
Overall, most of the organisms I was able to identify were rotifers, and they lived mainly in the middle regions with the plants, but occasionally ventured towards the sides.
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