November 18th: Saying Goodbye

November 18th,

This is the last day with my microaquarium. It was sad to finally let it go after over a month of watching it grow. My last observation was bleak, there were far fewer microorganisms in my aquarium this week, but to say there were far fewer doesn't mean there weren't any at all. There were a couple of nematodes that I found quickly moving through the middle and lower surface of the tank. In comparison to past week there were significantly more diatoms in the lower regions of the tank moving slowly and a further increasing number of cyanobacteria throughout the tank.

Image 1. Cyanobacteria

Image 1 shows the cyanobacteria which have been growing larger every week in the micro aquarium. The organism has a spiral shape as shown from the image and obtain there energy from photosynthesis (Forest p. 147).

Image 2. Chaetonotus (Gastrotricha)

Image 2 is taken of a Chaetonotus, which is a species of Gastrotricha that range from 0.1 to 1.5 millimeters long (Pennak p. 165). They are the largest species of Gastrotrich and have spiny cilia surrounding the body and can be quick to move, the organism was found near the bottom of the aquarium with the soil and algae.

Bibliography:

Forest, Herman S. Handbook of Algae. Knoxville: Knoxville, 1954. Print.

Pennak, Robert W. Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States. New York City: John Wiley & Sons, 1978. Print.

November 13th: Graveyard Shift

November 13th,

It has been nearly two weeks since I have visited my aquarium and no more food has been added to the tank, only water. Compared to nearly two weeks ago there are significantly less microrganisms in the tank, it looks like a graveyard. Two weeks ago the majority of the tank was green, now there is little green and mostly yellow-brown colors. Now that's not to say there's none, you just have to look for them!
For example I found two nematodes in the middle of the tank which were very fast moving. There was also two protozoa and tons of cyanobacteria! At the bottom region of the tank near the soil were hundreds of diatoms and were significantly smaller than the diatoms I had seen in previous weeks. Maybe they were not as mature, or a different species?

Image 1.

Image 1 above shows a picture of the cyanobacteria Nodularia. The filamentous blue-green algae is nitrogen fixing and grew in various places throughout the tank, especially towards the middle and the top (Prescott p. 200).

Next week is the final week I observe my microaquarium. I'm hoping to see larger diatoms and maybe an increase in cyanobacteria, because I have noticed it has been growing and increasing in quanity every week I have observed.

Bibliography:

Prescott, G. W. How to Know the Freshwater Algae. Dubuque: WMC Brown, 1994. Print.



October 30th: Feeding the Organisms

October 30^th,

In addition to extra water, due to evaporation within the microaquarium, there was one food pellet added on October 24^th, 2014. The pellet was “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%. With the addition of the pellet food there was an increase in organisms (McFarland 2014).

The microaquarium had many different organisms this time, there was less water in the aquarium, but many more organisms. There were 5 rotifers which were moving quickly on the bottom of the aquarium. There are many fast moving nematodes throughout the tank. There were many dark organelles in the middle of the aquarium and spin in the circles constantly. I also saw many diatoms, which we wormlike organisms with a gold color that we very slow moving. Also finding 3 stinters, and the bring  green algae eutricularia.

Image 1.

Image 1 shows the euplotus rotifer from two different views, from the side (left) and from looking over the top (right). In my microaquarium there were four euplotus rotifers total. The rotifer has a transparent body and large spine like cellia. (Patterson p. 124) The cellis of the euplotus make the organism look like it is "walking".

Image 2

The image above shows the euchlanis  rotifer. A different species of rotifer than what was shown in Image 1. The organism has a ciliated corona, or head (Stemberge p. 60). It also has two toes used for swimming and live near the middle of the tank most likely looking for smaller organisms to snack on.

Image 3.

The stentor is one of the largest organisms I would in my microaquarium. They are horn shaped and reproduce asexually through binary fission. (Patterson p. 113). I found many of these organisms in my microaquarium and throughout the middle sections and moving fairly slow.

Bibliography

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2014. Nov 1. Available from http://botany1112014.blogspot.com/

Steberge, Richard. A Guide to Rotifers of the Laurentian Lakes. Pellston: U of Michigan, 1998. Print.

Patterson, DJ. Free Living Freshwater Protozoa: A Colour Guide. Washington DC: Mason, 1996. Print.