Entry #5

Since my last observation the water level of my MicroAquarium seems to have stabilized this could be due to the fact that I discovered a way to better secure my top. At first glance this go around I noticed paramecium are once again abundant within the aquarium especially around the aquatic plants I placed in the aquarium. I was also able to relocate both species of the difflugia I identified in previous observations. With my last observation now behind me I’m still pondering the apparent absence of green organisms. This may be linked to me confusing them with parts of the plants located inside the aquarium, which is easy for me to do. Upon further examination I found the paramecium to be the most common occurring species I’ve observed in my aquarium occurring in both the top water and the lower lying soil areas. Cyclops seem to have all but disappeared. I found zero examples of this organism during my final observation. Throughout the length of this experiment I found their numbers decrease with every observation. This experiment has taught me that life can exist within basically any water source even the filthy #7 water from the pond at the University of Tennessee Hospital Cherokee Trail. I have also learned the valuable lesson that maybe human beings should be more observant of where the water they are drinking comes from.  

Entry #4

Cyclops
   (Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States, D.G. Smith. Fourth Edidtion.)

Lacrymaria
   (Free Living Freshwater Protozoa, Patterson D.J., 1996, Figure 301, Page 138.)

Today during my fourth observation my first since adding new water the movement spurred in the tank by the food pellet had ceased. There was much much less movement. I was able to discover a few new organisms during this observation and was able to take one excellent photograph of a Lacrymaria in which you can see the hairs on its flagella. My water level continues to decline and I refilled it again today for the second time. I hope to see my aquarium once again bustling with life next week.

Entry #3

During my third observation of the aquarium there appeared to be much more movement I believe this is due to the single beta food pellet added on October 22 (: "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%.). I was able to relocate the three organisms I’ve already identified in my previous observations. The organisms, however, were moving much more rapidly although the water level had declined. I decided to add more water from the water bottle on the sink as instructed by Professor McFarland. I’m anxious to see if the newly added water has an effect on the life already present.  Due to the fast pace of the organisms this week I was unable to capture any photographs I felt were worth keeping. During next week’s observation I hope that I am able to photograph the organisms I have just recently noticed so I am able to identify them.

Entry #2

Paramecium

   (Free Living Freshwater Protozoa, Patterson D.J., 1996, Figure 343, P 153.)

                             Difflugia Acuminata

          (Report of the United States Geological Survey of the territories, Hayden F.V., Volume XII, Washinghton Government prining office 1879.)

Difflugia Pyriformis
    (Report of the United States Geological Survey of the territories, Hayden F.V., Volume XII, Washinghton Government prining office 1879.)











Today during my observations I was able to locate, photograph and identify the three organisms shown above. I started by finding my slide using the color coded dots. I placed the slide under the microscope and navigated using the computer screen. I noticed that towards the top of the aquarium there wasn't much activity, but if I observed closely around the plants and mud areas I could see many different organisms scavenging around. A lot of the students around me where finding dead organisms, but I didn't find a single stationary being in my thriving aquarium. It was actually relatively difficult for me to snap a picture of most of the organisms I observed.

Entry #1

            Today in lab we started our term project-a MicroAquarium. Setting the aquarium up was a relatively easy procedure. I started by taking two glass slides that had been glued together and filled it up with water from the container labeled number seven. This water is from the pond at the University of Tennessee Hospital, Cherokee Trail. The water was very murky and basically what I would consider dirty water. I filled the aquarium’s bottom with a thin layer of the soil in the water and then finished filling the aquarium with water. After that I proceeded by placing a sample from plant A and a sample from plant B into the water. I made sure my lid fit correctly and then placed the aquarium under the microscope for observation. While observing my aquarium I noticed lots of movement and rather unusual looking things. For instance I saw something that resembled a microscopic tick. I also found several green orbs that contained smaller green orbs. The most common organisms that I noticed were very small black circles that moved like they were rolling. The soil was where most of the activity was going on. Also around the plants were several different things I’m not familiar with. This was as far as my first observation of the aquarium went, but I look forward to continuing my research.