Observations Week 4

I observed my MicroAquarium for the last time November 11.

Once again, the water level was low. I added a few drops of distilled water to account for evaporation.

The two food pellets added in previous weeks were completely dissolved. Whereas last week the aquarium was swarming with microorganisms, this week movement was scarce.

There was almost no movement in open waters, and I noted the most movement around the plant samples: namely Aeolosoma.
Last week there were dozens of Paramecium, however, this week there were very few. Additionally the numbers of cyclops, flatworms, and other motile microorganisms were greatly reduced.

There was a thick layer of dead organic matter lying on the bottom of the tank in the substrate, primarily consisting of dead Paramecium and Aeolosoma.

Because of the lack of movement, I noticed many more non-motile organisms.

New organisms I observed this week included:

-Coleochaete irregularis, a small green alga found in open water. It exhibits radial and lateral branching from a central filament.

-Several diatomatic organisms. Especially abundant were Tabellaria sp., a colonial alga of the phyla Diatom.

-Some dead green alga, notably Closterium sp. : a chlorophyllic, crescent shaped organism found in open waters.

An organism observed in previous weeks, but more closely noted this week are the Vorticella sp., a small tulip-shaped protist attached to plant samples with prominent cilia.

Observations Week 3

I made observations this week on November 3rd.

Changes and observations:

I added some distilled water to my MicroAquarium to account for evaporation.

It appeared as though a second food pellet had been added to the tank, and under the microscope, it was swarmed with Aeolosoma and Paramecium, most of which were smaller than previously observed organisms.


Under the microscope, I spotted a greatly increased number of cyclops, aeolosoma, paramecium, and other microorganisms. I also saw some new small organisms not observed in previous weeks, but unidentified.

Aelosoma was especially prevalent around the food pellet, the plant samples, and in the upper level of the substrate.

Some dead organic material sat on the bottom of the tank.

I identified pictures taken from my MicroAquarium of the following:

Observations October 28

I observed my MicroAquarium for the second time October 28th.

Changes and Observations:

The water level in the MicroAquarium was lower, a result of evaporation. I added distilled water to replenish it. Additionally I spotted a small round solid in the center of the tank, a food pellet Dr. McFarland added to each aquarium this week.

Under a microscope, I observed a greater number of different microorganisms. The aquarium is much more active this week, than last. I noted many organisms not only in the top of the substrate and along the plant samples, but throughout the water.

Most prevalent were paramecia, nematodes, and annelids- an increased population of the species I observed last week. I also saw a greater frequency of cyclops in the water.

Species observed both last week and this week:

Stenostonum sp. 
- a flatworm
- found this week both in substrate and surrounding plant materials

Heterophrys sp.

Aelosoma sp.
-annelid found throughout the aquarium this week

Epalxis sp.
-Whereas these microorganisms were scarce last week, many more were observed near the substrate material.

Cyclops

Observations: Week of October 17

Observations made on October 21

I observed my MicroAquarium October 21 in the lab, using a compound light microscope. Many organisms were found in the water sample, both in open water and near the small samples of Amblestegium and Utricularia gibba. 
I observed some larger organisms. One was identified as Cyclops. 
Most organisms, however, were very small. These included:

• Stenostomum sp. - a species of flatworm
• Several of these flatworms were found in the upper layer of the soil substrate of the Mircoaquarium. They are quick moving, and can move in and out of the soil at will. 
• Heterophrys sp. - a freeliving freshwater protozoa
• These were found in the open water, moving at a mild rate. 
• Heterophrys was relatively abundant in the sample.
• Aelosoma sp. - a member of the class Annelida
• These annelids were found, as the flatworm, in the substrate and the water suspended directly above it. They are a motile species.
• Fewer Aelosoma were found than Stenostomum. 
• Epalxis sp. 
• These microorganisms were found just above the substrate. They are motile, and move rapidly via long tendrils or cilia. 
• Only a couple Epalxis were found in the MircoAquarium.

and some other species of paramecium. 

Photographs of these organisms have yet to be processed, but will be properly identified and labeled in the coming week. 

Many other small, moving organisms were present in the Mircoaquarium, as well as some more stationary organisms. 

Additionally, I added distilled water to the sample to replace the water that had evaporated from the tank. 

Exploring microorganism diversity from various water sources.

I assembled my MicroAquarium in three parts. I slid my sealed two-pane glass aquarium into a glass base, and loosely plastered on a top, to prevent evaporation.

My aquarium is filled with water from Tommy Schumpert Pond, Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge located on Kelly Lane in Knox Co. Tennessee. This pond is exposed to partial shade, and is filled by runoff into a sinkhole which lies below. Microorganism diversity in this pond has been shown to be relatively high. 
I filled my MicroAquarium with sediment, lower level water, mid-level water, and surface water from the Tommy Schumpert Pond sample. Additionally, I added small sections of both Amblestegium, collected from a Natural Spring in Carters Mill Park, Knox Co. Tennessee, and Utricularia gibba from Spain Lake in Sparta, White Co. Tennessee.


Initially, under a microscope, I observed movement of microorganisms in the water sample. Detailed observations of microorganism diversity to be taken next week.