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.