Final Observations

I viewed my aquarium for the final time on November 9, 2010.  It is sad to see my project end as it has really come to life.  I was able to see a nematode as well as other organisms pictured below.  I believe the food that was added 2 weeks ago spawned a great boost of organisms.  Well, on to my lab report to finish my project and Botany 111.

Cladocera Daphnia is a shrimp like, small crustacean with a shell-like enclosure (1).

Not yet identified

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(1) Thorp, James and Alan Covich. Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater invertabrates (1991). Academisc Press, Inc. Page 752, Figure 20.27.

Observations from week 3

The Coleochaete Scutata is a fairly common plant with cup-shaped chloroplasts found on rocks and in vegetation (1).

Platyhelminthes Stenstomum (2)

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(1) Forest, Herman Silva (1954).Handbook of Algea. U.T Press.

(2)http://www.berkley.edu/platyhelminthes/platyhelminthes.html

Week 3

My aquarium was once again observed under a light microscope.  It is alive with microorganisms!  I observed cyanobacteria surrounding a carcass.  Algea has taken over and my plants and mosses are a haven of life.  I was able to see Coleochaete Scutata and the most amazing find so far.... a Platyhelminthes Stenostomum... a flat-worm!  It was so exciting to watch it eat and swim about.  I will post pictures of my aquarium later today so stay tuned!

Day 17!

I veiwed my microaquarium again today under a light microscope.  It appears that the amount of organisms seen has doubled since last week.  On Friday October 22, 2010 "ONE Beta Food Pellet was inserted into my microaquarium. It 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%. I was able to see that the green algea is flourishing.  Most of the organisms I veiwed were surrounding the plant material, which is also growing. 

Diatoms are the most numerous organisms making up marine plankton

(The New Book of Popular Science, 2006).

I observed several different organisms in the Phylum Rotifera.  These rotifers are wheel- bearering wormlike or spherical animals with complete digestive tracts.  Most,of the 1500 species,  are free living although some can be parasitic (The New Book of Popular Science, 2006).

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The New Book of Popular Science-Plant and Animal Life. New York: Scholastic Library of Publishing, 2006.

First Viewing

We observed our aquariums under a light microscope.  There was a lot of activity. Most organisms were seen surrounding the plant material.  The Gastrotrich was observed near the bottom, just above the soil line. Also, observed were Rotifers, Diatoms, and Perimysium.

 

Tachysoma: "A hypotrich with well developed (immotile) dorsal bristles "(Patterson, 1992)

In most Gastrotrich species female eggs develop without fertilization (parthenogenesis); therefore, males are rare.  Gastrotrich lack circulatory, respiratory, and skeletal organ systems.  (Ranis, et al, 1996).

Bladder or juvenile 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.

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Patterson, D.J.(1992). Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. Washington, D.C.: Wolfe Publishing Company.

Ranis, K.,B. Russell (1996). Guide to Microlife. New York: Grolier Publishing.

 The plants I used in my aquarium are:

Plant A . Fontinalis 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. 10/10/2010

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.

My Aquarium was set up on Tuesday October 12, 2010. First, Water was placed in the aquarium from a water source list provided by my Lab Professor Dr. Kenneth McFarland. We also collected dirt from our source. I chose Dean's Woods because of it's close proximity to my home. It can be found at Spring Creek off Woodson Drive running throughout Dean's Woods Road frontage., Knox Co. Tennessee. Partial shade exposure. Tennessee River water Shed N35 55.274 W083 56.888 848 ft 10/10/2010. After placing Water and dirt in the aquarium, we placed plant parts and other mosses to create a mini eco- environment. We were then able to view our project under a light microscope. I can't wait to go to lab next week and learn about the organisms I saw. It truly came alive!

October 13, 2010 4:13 PM

This is the beginning of my Botany Lab Term Project.  I will be setting up an aquarium soon- so stay tuned to see what grows!