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.

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.

A Variety of MicroOrganisms

Friday October 21, 2011, I spent close to 3 hours observing and documenting microorganism in my MicroAquarium with the aid of Dr. McFarland. The first organism I observed was a Vorticella sp. I was able to record video of it's movement as I observed it. Dr. McFarland demonstrated just how sensitive to any vibrations they are by gently tapping the side of my MicroAquarium. The Vorticella contracted inward to protect itself and a few seconds later slowly uncoiled into its normal position.

This video shows the Vorticella sp. collapsing on itself in order to protect itself from the "shock wave" that occured when Dr. McFarland tapped the MicroAquarium.

 Dr. McFarland showed me how it uses its cilia help it move and produce a current to draw in and catch its food in its opening. Attached to the Vorticella was a Notosolenus like organism which I was also able to capture additional pictures of.

Vorticella sp. with Notosolenus-like Organism. Patterson D.J. 1996. p113

Close-up of Notosolenus-like organism. Patterson D.J. 1996.  p52 Figure 80.

Next I observed an Arcella, a type of amoeba, located behind what Dr. McFarland described as a dead bladderwort. I also observed and took pictures of a Rotifera swimming along the sediment of my MicroAquarium. I observed 3-4 Pinnularia, which are a type of algae or diatom and the same number of Saprodinium Epalxis' whose body was covered in cilia and had rigid folds and ridges on it. The most interesting microorganism I observed was a juvenile copepod called a Cyclopoid nauplis. I observed one dead and one active one. Upon closer inspection you could could see two appendages located in the rear and several groups of antennae on its upper body. Next week we will be observing our MicroAquariums after food pellets have been placed in them.

Dead baby cyclops. Smith D.G. 2001. 4th ed. p495 Figure 19.6

Arcella behind bladderwort. Patterson D.J. 1996.  p91 Figure 171

Swimming Epalxis. Patterson D.J. 1996.  p141 Figure 311

Pinnularia. Patterson D.J. 1996.  p25 Figure 6

Rotifera. Smith D.G. 2001. 4th ed. p143 Figure 7.15

Botany 111 Term Project - MicroAquarium: A Brief Overview

For the next four weeks in Botany 111 lab, I will be observing and documenting many microscopic organism in a MicroAquarium we constructed during lab class. The purpose of this observation and documentation is to have a better understanding of how things work and organisms thrive in their microscopic environment.

The class was given a MicroAquarium to set up and make our initial observation with. The MicroAquarium consisted of a plexiglass tank, a lid, and a stand. We were given 3 colored dots to place vertically on the side of MicroAquarium for identification purposes. Each dot represented our lab sections, our table in lab, and our seat number at that table. We also initialed each dot for further assurance against misidentification of our MicroAquariums. We were then given pipets and a choice of water in containers from 13 different locations. I chose the water source from Spring Creek off Woodson Dr which runs through Dean's Woods Road frontage in Knox Co. Tennessee and had a partial shade exposure. I filled my tank 1/3 way full with sediment and water from the bottom of the container. Then I filled the next 1/3 with water from the middle of the container and lastly filled my aquarium within a few centimeters from the top with water from the top of the water container. We decorated our MicroAquariums with cuttings from 2 plants given out during lab. The names and locations of those original source plants were given to us by Dr. Ken McFarland, our lab instructor. The first plant was Amblestegium, a moss collected from Natural Spring at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road in Knox Co. TN that grew in partial shade exposure. The second plant was Utricularia gibba, a carnivorous flowering plant. The original source material came from south shore of Spain Lake on Camp Bella Air Rd in Sparta Tn. This plant was grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville TN. We used putty placed inside the lid of our MicroAquariums to provide a water-tight seal to the lid of our tanks when they are attached to their base.

We were given a chance to observe our MicroAquariums under the microscopes in lab. I was able to observe very little microscopic activity during this time. I did manage to see one microscopic organism briefly swirl around in a circle and then disappear back into the tanks sediment. Over the next couple of weeks I will be making more observations and documenting them on my blog.