Blog 5- Observations on November 13, 2013

This was the last observation on my microaquarium. The aquarium was fairly unchanged. I did not observe any new species, but many, such as the rotifers, died out. I found my unknown ciliate and he had reproduced. There were at least two, maybe three, of this unknown species. Dr. McFarland and I were still unable to identify him after three weeks of searching. Last week I stated that he lacked a central vacuole. This week, we believe that there may be a vacuole, however, he still does not match any species in the books. There is not much research being done on microorganisms currently, so the ciliate could have simply been missed with the older research, or it is a new species. I hope someday I will find out what he really is, but for now he is a mystery.

Blog 4- Observations on November 6, 2013

(Patterson 2003)

(Forest 1954)

(Forest 1954)

(Patterson 2003)

(Rainis 1996)

(Pennak)

(Rainis 1996)

(Patterson 2003)

(Pennak)

(Pennak)

 

 

Not much changed occurred in the microaquarium from when I checked the week before. However, the rotifers do seem to be dying as I have found a few dead rotifers and did not observe any that were alive this week. The two organisms that state that they are unknown are very difficult to identify. They almost fit in with certain species, but something is always off. Most notably, they are missing a central vacuole at their tip. It is possible that they are not listed in the books available in the lab room, or it is also possible that they are a new species, which is very possible with microorganisms.





 

Bibliography

Forest HS. 1954. Handbook of Algae. The University of Tennessee Press. 464 p.

Patterson DJ. 2003. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. Washington DC: Wolfe Publishing Ltd. 223 p.

Pennak RW. 2001. Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States Protozoa to Mollusca. 3rd edition. 648 p.

Rainis KG, Russell BJ. 1996. Guide to Microlife. Franklin Watts. 288 p.

Blog 3- Observations on October 31, 2013

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.

Blog 2- Observations on October 24, 2013

(There will be no pictures or actual identification in this post because I was unable to finish cropping and identifying all the photos during my session)
Most of the moving organisms were one celled, very tiny, and lived mostly in the middle plants section.
There were a few rotifers. One was off floating on the side alone, while another was in the middle near the plants. They had little cilia that formed into wheels and rotated like wheels.
There was another organism that appeared to be multicellular that moved in an inch-worm like fashion. It was long and oval-rod shaped when stretched out, but would contract and become a blog half its length, then stretch out again.
Algae was common and plentiful in the middle section of the aquarium.
Overall, most organisms tended to congregate in the middle-plant section. A few drifted to the tops and sides, and some crept through the soil, but most interacted with each other and the plants in the middle section.  
On October 28, a Beta Food Pellet was added to the aquarium. "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%.

Blog 1-Observations on October 15, 2013

A. I set up my aquarium by adding water from source #6. I added water from the soil layer, the middle layer, and the surface. I added moss and plants to the aquarium so the organisms would have a source of oxygen and food.

B. The water source was Spring Creek off Woodson Dr runing throught Dean's Woods Road frontage., Knox Co. Tennessee. Partial shade exposure. Tennessee River water Shed N35 55.274 W083 56.888 848 ft 10/13/2013 Fissidens fontanus moss in stream. 

C. I added the following plants to the aquarium: Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/13/2013, Fontinalis sp. Moss. Collected from: Holston River along John Sevier Hwy under I 40 Bridge Partial shade exposure Holston River water Shed N36 00.527 W83 49.549 823 ft 10/13/2013, and Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivorous 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. 10/13/2013.

D. I was able to identify at least one mosquito larva, which moved in a spastic manner, as well as what appeared to be a Protista that fed on the soil. It had a flagellum and moved quite easily.