Diary Of A Narcissus: November 2011

Monday, November 14, 2011

Last week of observations

This is my last week of observing my MicroAquarium. I went to the lab and made observations on November 11,2011. I noticed that while there were many dead organisms including Bacteria and a few juvenile cyclops, a few microorganism where still thriving. As with the second week of my observations, I saw many Vorticella sp. still living. There were many Bacteria still floating around as well as a few amoeba. I observed two juvenile cyclops, one adult cyclops, and one nematode in my MicroAquarium. The one microorganism that surprised me was how many Colpidium sp. there were. I didn't observe any of them in my MicroAquarium the first couple of weeks and now they are so numerous in number it would be too difficult to count.

I have enjoyed observing my MicroAquarium each week and look forward to recreating it at home for my family and friends to also enjoy.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Week 3 Observations

On Friday October 21, 2011 "ONE" Beta Food Pellet was inserted into each MicroAquarium according to Dr. McFarland. On Thursday October 27, 2011, I observed that my MicroAquarium was teaming with life. I observed groups of Vortecilla sp. on the plants placed in my MicroAquarium. I also observed mites, nematodes, and Rotifera swimming around my MicroAquarium. I observed what looked like an amoeba surrounded by small moving dots, Dr. McFarland told me that it was an amoeba and it was surrounded by bacteria. The amoeba would slowly move over clumps of bacteria and engulph them in a vacuole like substance so that it could absorb them and use them as a food source. As I was observing an Epalxis, Dr. McFarland pointed out an unuasual organism that moved quickly past the screen. We took pictures of it and after doing some research discovered that it was a type of amoeba know as Amoeba radiosa. It is the floating form adopted by an amoeba. I was also able to observe a Volvox and Saprodinium in the aquarium.

Amoeba sp. absorbing bacteria. Patterson D.J. 1996. p80.

Floating Form adopted by amoeba. Patterson D.J. 1996. p80 Figure 142.

Sources

Food Source

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%.

Water Source

Spring Creek off Woodson Dr runing throught Dean's Woods Road frontage., Knox Co. Tennessee. Partial shade exposure. Tennessee River water Shed N35 55.274 W083 56.888 848 ft 10/9/2011 Fissidens fontanus moss in stream

Plant Source

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.