Final observation 11/10/11

It's hard to believe this project is coming to an end! Admittedly, it was quite difficult finding extra time to come view the project, as in addition to being a full-time student, I have a job, children, and live in Lenoir City. Nonetheless, I was there each week for viewing-- I just haven't been writing in my blog until now.

Although the girl sitting next to me had very little going on in her aquarium, mine was still very full of life! I still had numerous Rotifers, Vorticella (I found some that were definitely alive this week), and numerous nematodes. An absolutely enormous amount of nematodes were congregated in the soil area between the two plants. I took a photo of it and titled it "A nematode party," but it looks like I didn't save it. I may try to go in this week and try to get another shot.

Update 11/19/11: I went back in on 11/16/11 to gather information on my resources. I had planned to try and get another shot of the nematodes but didn't view the project on this date.

Shorter observation day 11/3/11

I had a doctor's appointment on the day I usually view my microaquarium, so I had to come in on my lunch break on Friday. Unfortunately, this didn't give me as much time as I would've liked. I didn't obtain images this day, but I did note that some of my Vorticella were either dead or dying, as their movement had slowed a great deal.  The Rotifer were going strong, and I noted a couple of nematodes.

Second observation 10/25/11

This was a marvelous day in the lab!! I was able to use the imaging equipment to photograph and video life in my microaquarium! I spent two hours in the lab, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I observed the following named species:

Rotifer sp. (fig. 15, Pennak)
Vorticella sp. (fig. 233, Patterson)
Acanthocystis sp. (fig. 411, Pennak)
Diffugia sp. (fig. 186, Patterson)
Lacrymaria sp. (fig. 138, Pennak)

There were also some small, round, unidentified organisms around the Vorticella, and a couple of nematodes. Many other unidentified species were seen as well.  There was SO much going on in my microaquarium this week, I was surprised.

References:
Pennak, Robert W. Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States. New York: Ronald, 1953. Print.
Patterson, David J. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: a Colour Guide. New York: Wiley, 1996. Print.

First observation 10/20/11

I apologize that my blog entries have been lacking. I've viewed my microaquarium each week, many weeks spending 2 hours in the lab, but for whatever reason have forgotten to blog about it. Ok, here goes....

The first week of observations was very hectic! It appeared many other classmates had waited until Thursday afternoon to view their project, as the lab was very crowded, and Dr. McFarland was pulled in every direction attempting to answer everyone's questions regarding the life they found in their own little ecosystems.

This week I spent an hour and forty-five minutes viewing my project and not really having any idea what I was seeing. There was quite a bit of movement going on, and the organism I saw the most of was determined to be a rotifer (I didn't get a chance to ask Dr. McFarland on this date what it was, and there were several organisms in the books and on the posters that looked similar to what I was seeing).  I didn't note a great deal of water loss but added a small amount of water as instructed.

The day after this observation, food was added to the microaquarium.  "ONE" Beta Food Pellet was inserted into each microaquarium. "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%.

Setting up the MicroAquariums

We set up our MicroAquariums during lab on Wednesday, October 12. We were able to choose between MANY different water sources. I chose water source #12. Water pool below spring. Fountain City Park west of Broadway at Hotel Ave. Knox Co. Knoxville TN. Full shade exposure Spring Feed Pond N36 02.253 W83 55.986 990 ft 10/9/2011. I spent many afternoons at Fountain City Park climbing on the rocks above this water source when I was in middle school, so it seemed like a good choice.

After adding the water & a bit of soil from the water sample, we added bits of the 2 plants on the lab bench. The plants were: Plant A . Amblestegium sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/9/2011. Plant B. Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous 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.

After setting up the MicroAquarium, we viewed them under the microscope. Although I saw many particles in the water, I only saw a few things moving around. I wasn't able to identify any of them, but there were some square things that looked like they had pancakes stacked up inside them and some long, wormy looking things with green centers in them as well.

I look forward to watching this ecosystem grow and change over the next few weeks! Stay tuned!!!